Jane and Everett Royal, 2010

Everett Royal, Jane Royal and Georgia Cities Foundation President Mike Starr.
Madison developers Jane and Everett Royal have been selected as the recipients of the Georgia Cities Foundation’s “Renaissance Award.” The Royals, who own several properties in Madison, accepted the award at the Georgia Municipal Association’s Annual Convention in Savannah on Sunday, June 27. 

The Renaissance Award recognizes an individual or organization that has made a significant contribution to the revitalization of one or more of Georgia’s cities. The Royals, who were nominated by the city of Madison, have been involved in downtown development for a number of years. Everett was part of the team that launched the Downtown Development Authority's first project, Walker Rose Lane, an award-winning development of workforce housing in downtown. Jane is chair of the Main Street Advisory Board and has worked actively to promote and educate downtown businesses.

In 2007, the Royals invested more than $11 million to redevelop a large parcel in downtown Madison that included a historic gin, warehouse and vacant land. Today, the land hosts The James Madison Inn & Conference Center, which Everett operates and the Madison Markets, a shopping district located in a renovated group of turn-of-the-century cotton warehouses that Jane operates. Madison Markets has more than 20,000 square feet of shopping space and a collection of 75 antique dealers.

“Jane andEverett Royal have shown a great passion for a vibrant and healthy Madison through their leadership,” said Georgia Cities Foundation President Mike Starr. “The two have worked hard to help ensure that Madison—‘the town General Sherman refused to burn’ continues to attract tourists from all over the world; tourist who come to marvel at the town’s antebellum architecture and bustling historic district.”