LAST WEEK: What do you want to see in Marietta Square?
Marietta has approved a plan to makeover the Marietta Square. The project is intended to make the city’s downtown more pedestrian friendly and attractive to locals and tourists. Mayor Steve Tumlin proposes relocating the Marietta Visitors Bureau to a more visible spot on the square. He’s eyeing a vacant lot owned by city councilman Philip Goldstein who said he plans to build a brew pub on the site. The majority of readers who weighed in on updating the square favored the brew pub over a welcome center, said no to parking meters and yes to a balance of retail and restaurants on the city square.
Here are some of the responses:
Yes to the brew pub. Yes to wider sidewalks and put in a smoking ban on sidewalks as well. Move the Marietta Visitors Bureau to the old Theatre in the Square building and redo the gaudy façade. The tourism board needs to promote the city at interstate visitor centers. Roswell, Alpharetta and other cities have pamphlets, maps and such at state crossings, but nothing for Marietta. — Ron Germain
I am in favor of a three-level brew pub with a rooftop bar/dining I have always thought we should take advantage of Kennesaw Mountain and the sunset. — Janet Walker
In terms of dining, options are few and "upscale options" even fewer. I'm sure the city council is familiar with downtown dining in Roswell and Decatur. Both offer numerous excellent restaurants. We would love to dine more on the square, but for now we go to Roswell and restaurants on Johnson Ferry. — Don Jones
I would love to see feedback about the parking meter proposal from the community. As a restaurant owner, I am a bit concerned that it may deter our guests from dining at the square, especially for lunch when there is currently a two hour free parking time frame. That might push diners to another market. — Alexis Aleshire-Kinsey
Divert more money to a vibrant, up-to date website with a professional mobile version. Twitter and Facebook are a must as well. Updates need to be done in real time as possible. Focus on these items first. We certainly need a list of live music options. Invest in high-tech. Let the young experts run it. We don't need a visitors center. People in 2015 use smartphones to do research. — Don Schrampfer
I would lean toward more restaurants, as Marietta and west Cobb seem to lag behind and we are regarded as less sophisticated in our culinary desires. — William Lang
The problem is every time they have a large event, there is zero signage directing people to that free lot. Roads are closed right by the tracks. If we locals don't know how, how do they expect visitors to know. The Marietta website is a joke. — Anastasia Beverhausen
I think Marietta may be Atlanta's best kept secret. A brew house sounds good with roof top views. Clean farm to table restaurants that are open on Sunday. No loitering or being creepy in Glover Park. — Heather Gapanovich
More restaurants and business in the Marietta square are needed. And do something with the vacant, unused Theater in the Square which brought lots of patrons to the square. — Richard Kozicki
Love the Square. Use Decatur as an example of how to revitalize. — Tripp Boyer
With the stores closed on Sunday, people are not likely to visit the square as a way to spend a leisurely Sunday afternoon. The restaurants are not enough of a draw. I frequently take out-of-town guests to the Marietta Square when the shops are open to shop and eat. — Tracey Brabant
Tucker McQueen for the AJC
Downtown Alpharetta development is on the move, and the next phase is on the horizon.
City fathers formulated an earlier downtown plan in 2003 which gave rise to the 22-acre Alpharetta City Center project moving toward completion, with a just-opened city hall and parking garage.
Now a new document has been unveiled after nearly a year‘s worth of work. Consultant Kimley-Horn presented the draft proposal to the Alpharetta Planning Commission on Jan. 14.
Among key recommendations: creating mixed-use live/work developments on the east and north sides of downtown, addressing parking issues west of Main Street with structures and metering, pedestrian and bike improvements to a number of secondary streets and more residential development to the south.
Elected officials and staffers have toured other downtown areas, including a recent retreat to Greenville, SC. As the largest city in South Carolina’s Upstate region and an anchor city to that area, does Greenville present a model that Alpharetta should try to emulate? Is there another city that is more like what residents want?
Many have expressed a desire that Alpharetta not lose its small-town feel. Is that possible with some of the development planned for the next decade and beyond?
The planning commission holds a public hearing on the proposal Feb. 5 but here is your chance to sound off now. Post comments here or send e-mail to communitynews@ajc.com.
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