Mayor: Laredo won’t look the same in five years

Avondale Estates Mayor Pro Tem Terry Giager has spent the entire week walking the 60-acre Rio Circle commercial district trying to persuade business owners of annexation’s advantages. Giager said Thursday he isn’t asking for a petition, but that he’s only “creating goodwill, answering questions and educating.” Giager believes Rio’s main corridor, Laredo Drive, will completely change in five years. “I can see that stretch becoming like (Decatur’s downtown), with first-floor businesses, residences on top, wide sidewalks, bicycles and trees. I definitely see (Laredo) changing the face of the city.” Giager added that Avondale will vote on its annexation master plan the first week in January, though an exact date hasn’t been set.