Powder Springs has scheduled a community meeting Monday night on downtown redevelopment.
First, the Powder Springs City Council will meet at 7 p.m. Monday in the Municipal Court building, 4483 Pineview Drive, Powder Springs instead of in the Council Chambers in the Community Development building, according to an announcement on the city website at CityOfPowderSprings.org.
Then the public meeting on downtown redevelopment will follow from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., also in the Municipal Court building. Anyone wanting to address the City Council during the public comment portion at the beginning of the 7 p.m. meeting must sign in by around 6:30 p.m.
A crowd of about 150 residents showed up Feb. 7 during the second workshop of the Powder Springs Comprehensive Plan with no opportunity given to them to voice their questions, support or concerns except through written means. Community Development Director Tina Garver and Economic Development Director Stephanie Aylworth facilitated the meeting which also included city consultants from TSW Design. They all said the meeting did not concern downtown redevelopment but instead a 10-year citywide development plan that is required by the state.
However, they admit downtown redevelopment will be a part of that plan. Also, a printed agenda distributed at the registration table listed “What Makes a Downtown Work?” and “Open Forum” among the topics at the Feb. 7 meeting.
Views vary among Powder Springs residents such as no redevelopment until the city pays off its $8 million in debt to one option that would tear down the city’s Municipal Court and Community Development buildings and acquire a commercial building for $1 million.
That proposal would free up five to seven acres downtown to offer to a developer for 250 multi-family residential units in hopes of drawing dining and entertainment to the many vacant storefronts.
Aylworth said Feb. 7 no contracts have been offered and many options are being considered for downtown redevelopment.
Both the City Council and the Downtown Development Authority will make final decisions about downtown changes.
“Support for Downtown Redevelopment” survey: SurveyMonkey.com/r/NTHQV95.
About the Author
