The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) recently announced new investments through its Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) and Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP) to help metro-Atlanta communities become healthier and better connected. Of the current awards, four of the six LCI planning studies and four of the seven CDAP projects go directly to cities, channeling grant dollars and technical expertise into municipal efforts that promote walkability, sustainability, and overall quality of life.
Livable Centers Initiative (LCI)
ARC has awarded $1,040,000 in Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) grants for six planning studies across metro Atlanta to help communities transform into more walkable, bikeable, live-work-play environments. Once studies are completed, grant recipients become eligible to apply for federal transportation funding to bring their visions to life. Now in its 26th year, the LCI program helps reduce vehicle miles traveled and improve air quality by creating vibrant, mixed-use developments that encourage walking or other alternate modes of transportation. The four city recipients are:
Project Name: Ashby MARTA Station Connectivity Study
Project Sponsor: City of Atlanta
Grant amount: $200,000
This study will advance the vision for a safe, connected, and active Ashby MARTA station. Building off the 2009 Vine City/Washington Park LCI Plan, this tactical study will focus on:
- Eliminating traffic fatalities through safer street design, speed management, and other proven safety measures
- Expanding equitable and affordable mobility options through accessibility improvements, bike/ped projects, and wayfinding to connect more people with the station’s transit service
- Connecting the nearby commercial district with neighborhoods
- Elevating the historic and public spaces around the station to make the public realm more enjoyable, functional, and welcoming.
Project Name: Avondale Estates Downtown Master Plan Update
Project Sponsor: City of Avondale Estates
Grant Amount: $160,000
The 2014 Downtown Master Plan has been a crucial roadmap for Avondale’s downtown revitalization. The 2025 Downtown Master Plan Update will build on the 2014 plan’s success by incorporating recommendations from supplemental studies and policies established over the past 10 years to provide a clear vision for the future in collaboration with developers, city organizations, and regional agencies. This updated plan will provide a vision for land-use and urban design in the downtown area. It will also suggest policies, programs, and partnerships to support better transportation options, more housing, environmental sustainability, and creating enjoyable public spaces through art and placemaking.
Project Name: Cobb Parkway Gateway & Connectivity Study
Project Sponsor: City of Kennesaw
Grant Amount: $160,000
The Cobb Parkway commercial corridor is the most significant corridor in Kennesaw, featuring three access points to the city’s downtown. The corridor’s appearance and function has been negatively impacted by vacant and poorly maintained structures. This study will identify locations for trails and entrances that connect Cobb Parkway to downtown Kennesaw, create design standards for how Cobb Parkway should look and feel, and include a market analysis to identify catalytic sites and concepts that will complement existing uses in downtown Kennesaw. The study will also suggest places for “green” stormwater systems that can support additional development.
Project Name: Olde Town Conyers Master Plan Update
Project Sponsor: City of Conyers
Grant Amount: $160,000
As Rockdale County is currently constructing its new Justice and Administrative Complex in the heart of downtown Conyers, the city recognizes the importance of updating the existing downtown/Olde Town Conyers LCI Plan to provide a stakeholder-driven vision for the area. Given the increased activity that this large county facility is expected to generate, this plan update will identify multi-modal connection and market opportunities for Olde Town Conyers to create a vibrant, safe area for workers, residents, and visitors to enjoy.
Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP)
Through its CDAP program, ARC will provide a combination of staffing resources and grants to the selected communities to support a wide range of initiatives that aim to improve the quality of life for residents. Each project addresses at least one of six regional challenges: Access to healthy food, creative placemaking, historic preservation, housing affordability, smart technology, and impacts of climate change.
The four city projects are:
Clarkston Housing Summit
Project Sponsor: City of Clarkston
Assistance Type: Staff
The Clarkston Housing Summit will enable community members and stakeholders to better understand their city’s housing situation and provide feedback to city officials and ARC staff. The summit is designed to inform future city planning efforts.
City of Decatur Heat Mitigation Strategy
Project Sponsor: City of Decatur
Assistance Type: Partner (Georgia State University)
The City of Decatur will receive support from Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies to develop strategies to mitigate the city’s urban heat island effect. These strategies will guide short-term actions and long-term improvements through updated city development codes and support the necessary policy changes to combat the urban heat experienced within city limits. This work will build on the city’s ongoing efforts to collect hyperlocal climate data that provides the necessary baseline data to understand Decatur’s current heat risk.
Douglas Boulevard – An Economic Envisioning Plan
Project Sponsor: City of Douglasville
Assistance Type: Partner (Georgia Tech Urban Design Studio)
The City of Douglasville will receive assistance from the Georgia Tech Urban Design Studio to conduct a visioning plan to develop Arbor Place Mall as a walkable place with a mix of retail, office, and residential uses along with public green space. It will also provide traffic mitigation tactics and smart technology to move people and commodities more efficiently along the corridor. The plan will focus on actions that the city and property owners may consider to further the advancement of the retail corridor. The planning process will use creative placemaking strategies to suggest ways to connect individuals using multi-modal transit to the shops and restaurants along the corridor.
Blacksville Neighborhood Plan
Project Sponsor: City of McDonough
Assistance Type: Partner (Georgia Conservancy)
This study aims to address long-standing community desires to address resiliency through the creation of more green spaces and implementation of beautification projects. Blacksville residents will use creative placemaking efforts to enhance the community’s aesthetic appeal while creating safe and accessible public spaces. Through collaboration with residents, local leaders, and community organizations, the plan will offer solutions to balance growth with the Blacksville neighborhood’s needs for historic preservation and resiliency, which will help create a more livable, connected, and environmentally sustainable community.