Through the agreement among the city, the Army and NativeAmerican tribes, Columbus will get title to the 2,156-acre tract,according to a published report. In exchange, the city will pay$3.8 million and deed 2,124 acres of land in Chattahoochee Countyto Fort Benning, a major Army base in the Columbus area that willuse the land for training purposes.

The city gets 32 more acres, but is paying $3.8 million extra,essentially for the development potential of the land it willreceive in the swap. The Chattahoochee acreage has limitedinfrastructure and utility support. The tract that will go to thecity has access to all utilities and telecommunications.

By developing the land, Columbus expects to attract about $1billion in capital investment and also anticipates a substantialboost to its tax revenues. Developers are likely to begin biddingfor projects during the first quarter of 2001 after the Secretaryof the Army approves the deal, according to the report.