Macon's Old Criminal Investigations Building Demolished for Jail Expansion

The demolition kicks off a 14-16 month project to build a new parking lot and expand the county jail.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 7:19pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a single piece of concrete rubble from the demolished Higgins Memorial Building, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conceptually illustrating the gritty, investigative nature of the building's former use.The demolition of Macon's former criminal investigations building marks the start of a major jail expansion project aimed at improving access and operations.Macon Today

The James F. Higgins Memorial Building, which previously housed the criminal investigation unit for the Bibb County Sheriff's Office, was demolished on Thursday, April 16, 2026 in Macon, Georgia. The building's demolition marks the start of a larger jail improvement and expansion project that is expected to cost between $28.5 million and $31 million.

Why it matters

The old building had outlived its usefulness and was causing structural problems, so its demolition clears the way for a new parking lot and the next phase of the jail expansion project. This project aims to improve convenience and access for those visiting the jail and courthouse, as well as allow construction without disrupting jail operations.

The details

The existing parking lot will be where the new jail expansion is built, and the demolition of the James F. Higgins Memorial Building will create a new, updated parking lot that should take 14 to 16 months to complete. The next phase of the project will include a new housing unit and other jail upgrades, though rising costs due to tariffs and fuel prices have impacted the pricing for this next phase.

  • Demolition of the James F. Higgins Memorial Building began on Thursday, April 16, 2026.
  • The new parking lot is expected to take 14 to 16 months to complete.

The players

Lester Miller

The Macon-Bibb County Mayor who swung a sledgehammer to begin the demolition of the old building.

David Davis

The Bibb County Sheriff, who said the building had 'outlived its usefulness to the sheriff's office' after decades of 'good police work' being done there.

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What they’re saying

“It's going to be more convenient for people coming to court and coming to visitation here for the parking and also allow us an opportunity to do construction without interfering with jail operations.”

— Lester Miller, Macon-Bibb County Mayor

“The legacy of the folks that worked in this building and that work that was done out of this building will always be remembered, and this space will always be sacred to those folks that worked in it.”

— David Davis, Bibb County Sheriff

What’s next

The next phase of the project, which will include a new housing unit and other jail upgrades, will follow the completion of the new parking lot. The county is finalizing the pricing for this next phase and plans to bring it to the commission in May and June.

The takeaway

This demolition and expansion project aims to modernize the Bibb County Jail facilities, improve access and convenience for visitors, and allow construction to proceed without disrupting jail operations - all while honoring the legacy of the old criminal investigations building that served the community for decades.