Acworth makes pitch for mixed-use community

With its historic Main Street developed into a thriving retail center, the city of Acworth has ambitious plans to redevelop land across the railroad tracks into a mixed-use community.

Acworth Mayor Tommy Allegood showed off the city’s 88-acre design plans to the Marietta Housing Authority board this week. The site is flanked by two public housing projects.

Marietta Housing Authority administers Acworth’s low-income housing program. Acworth wants a partnership with the housing authority in the long-range planning and development of the site that runs parallel to the railroad tracks. It is bordered by 100 acres of permanent green space.

At this stage, the city has two preliminary designs for the acreage and is studying its economic viability. Officials want to make sure the project doesn’t adversely affect Main Street businesses. The new development must be in keeping with downtown’s historic look, Allegood said.

Application has been made to demolish older public housing units at School and Moon streets on one end of the project site and at Carruth Street on the other end, said Ray Buday, MHA executive director. Residents will be given vouchers to relocate into other low-income housing. Affordable housing units will be part of the proposed redevelopment.

“Vouchers are the key to this project. Had we not had the Marietta Housing Authority to move these people to another place and a better place, we never could have done this project,” Allegood said.

The site will be developed in stages, with the first expected to be on the Carruth Street end, the mayor said. The project is in the early planning stage, and it could take 30 years to fully build up the site.

“We want walkability. We want connectability. We want pocket parks and retail and senior living units,” Allegood said. He envisions a community where residents will not need a car to live, shop and play.

“You guys in Acworth have really been forward thinking the last few years,” said Ed Hammock, MHA board chairman. The housing authority will work with the city in leveraging housing development incentives in the overall project.