It’s anticipated Avondale Estates will appoint three new members to its Downtown Development Authority during a special work session 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Avondale Estates City Hall, 21 North Avondale Plaza.
DDA Chairman Robert James and Co-Chairman Megan Grove resigned in August. Mayor Jonathan Elmore said that by January as many as five of its seven members may get replaced due to resignation or the end of terms. The three getting appointed Wednesday will be chosen from among 12 applicants.
Elmore’s hoping this turnover marks the beginning of re-shaping the DDA. He wants a funded DDA that’ll be invested with power to buy property, take out a bond, develop property and market the city’s downtown.
“A funded DDA can achieve those economic goals that city boards can’t,” Elmore said. “[The commission’s] charge is to govern—[DDA’s] have a whole lot more flexibility. You look around and a lot of small towns like Suwanee, Madison and Duluth are doing fantastic things because they have a strong DDA.”
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