The recently-formed Airport West Community Improvement District near Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is on a mission to reduce crime.
Along with increasing safety for residents, shoppers, workers and businesses in the area, leaders of the district also hope travelers with long layovers will feel comfortable coming to the Camp Creek Marketplace shopping center, College Park and other areas near the airport for lunch, dinner or shopping.
“We want everyone to feel comfortable coming to this area,” said Natalie Tyler Martin, board chair of the Airport West Community Improvement District. With issues such as smash-and-grab theft, “We want to get it out of our side of town.”
“It’s easy for travelers to come out and have a nice dinner and shop,” Martin said. Today, travelers would need to get to the areas by car, but there’s “talk of making that easier with a shuttle system,” she said.
The Airport West Community Improvement District, funded through an extra tax business property owners within the district pay to improve the area, is working with local law enforcement agencies and will spend $200,000 to hire off-duty police and private security officers to conduct 24-hour patrols in the area focusing on criminal trespass, loitering and theft. It also plans to hold safety awareness classes for local businesses.
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