The Avondale Estates commission spent most of a special called meeting last week discussing potential uses for the four acres it owns several blocks west of the Tudor Village.
Several commissioners have advocated hiring a consultant to come up with a plan. Commissioner Terry Giager suggested skipping a consultant and going directly to a developer and ask what is sustainable for those four acres.
David Burt, recently hired by the city’s Downtown Development Authority as a part-time economic development consultant, had his own suggestions.
“You need to come up with a list of what you absolutely want and what you don’t want,” Burt said. “You also want to find a developer who’s done amazing things, who has done the kinds of things you want.”
For at least the next three months, Avondale is holding one extra special meeting per month solely to discuss development.
“I liked [Burt’s advice],” Mayor Jonathan Elmore said. “We know that at least we want 12-inch wide sidewalks and green space. Hopefully by the next meeting (May 3), between the DDA and [commissioners], we will come up with a definitive vision that we can provide a developer.”
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