East Roswell residents hoping for new businesses and a new look for their community, vented their frustrations to a planning committee and elected officials Monday night.
About 60 residents attended a presentation by Roswell's Economic Action Committee, which was asked by the city to research the local economy and suggest solutions to revitalize the area. But when the committee, made up of business owners and residents, gave few specifics on plans for future improvements, residents grew dissatisfied.
“I want to know what the city is doing to encourage businesses to stay,” said Joe Finegan, who lives in Horseshoe Bend subdivision. “That’s what I came here to see — not a feel good [presentation].”
After hearing reports on the loss of businesses and how neighbors travel outside of the community for shopping and services, residents like Finegan asked the committee members if they had a plan to reverse the trend.
“The blight on Holcomb Bridge Road is there for all to see,” said Finegan. “I want to hear what’s going to happen in terms of correcting the blight. The east side of Roswell has supported the west side of Roswell interests with our tax money. It’s time that the city take a look at us, and consider our concerns.”
Less than 30% of the 5,500 small businesses in Roswell are located in East Roswell, according to the committee. And in the last few years, Kohls and Target have closed their stores on Holcomb Bridge Road.
Resident Joyce Cross suggested diverting money away from Roswell Inc., an economic and business development organization hired by the city to attract new businesses.
Other residents agreed that Roswell Inc. has failed to deliver new businesses to East Roswell and said the city should stop paying the organization and handle its own economic development.
“The way that we get this solved is we need to get economic development in-house,” said Jason Sabatino.
Mayor Lori Henry acknowledged the level of frustration in the gymnasium. “That is something we are going to have to deal with because we fund Roswell Inc. to the tune of about a half-million dollars a year.”
The firm concentrates on retaining businesses in Roswell, rather than attracting global companies, she added. "That doesn't mean we can't augment that with in-house economic development and looking at other options for us," said Henry.
Next steps in overall redevelopment of East Roswell includes the question of whether citizens are open to increased taxes, or funding a bond issue to pay for projects, the Mayor added.
“All of this was to put a spotlight on East Roswell,” Henry said.
Steve Stroud, executive director of Roswell Inc. said among East Roswell’s challenges are existing zoning guidelines and location. The company has worked with NextSite retail data firm to help attract businesses, he said.
Roswell Inc. is also working with Kimberly Clark, which plans to lease to outside businesses on its 92-acre campus. “They reorganized their current space, and opened up a full building of new offices to bring new business to East Roswell,” said Stroud. “At the end of the day we try to work with everybody. It’s very complicated.”
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