Stormwater Pond Will Anchor New Urban Development Project
Mayor Shirley Franklin recently joined City commissioners from the departments of Watershed Management (DWM); Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs (DPRCA); and Public Works (DPW) to celebrate the construction of the “Pond at Dean Rusk Park.”
The Pond is the lynchpin of the new CollegeTown at West End development project. Functional as well as beautiful, the pond serves as a stormwater management feature, holding stormwater until it can be transferred to sewers.
“This pond is an amenity that the community can enjoy,” said Mayor Franklin. “But it’s also a structure that will help eliminate flooding in the area. It’s a win-win for the residents of Atlanta.”
Located near the Atlanta University Center and West View community, the park and its surrounding neighborhoods had fallen into disrepair. The City partnered with the Atlanta Housing Authority (AHA) and private developer, The Integral Group, to improve the quality of life in the area and transform it into a vibrant, urban environment.
Amenities at the new CollegeTown at West End development will include high-quality rental and for-sale housing in a mixed-income community; quality retail along the Joseph E. Lowery Blvd. Corridor; improved parks and green spaces; new, separated sewer lines, streets, sidewalks, streetscapes and buried power lines; and a 100-room hotel with meeting space and town homes facing the water feature.
For more information about the CollegeTown at West End development project, watch this week’s Featured Video on Demand where Mayor Shirley Franklin and the City join its partners at a news conference.
Mayor Shirley Franklin celebrates the construction of the new Pond at Dean Rusk Park. The new pond is both beautiful and functional, serving as a water feature that will re-route stormwater to sewers. The pond also anchors a new urban development project, CollegeTown at West End.
Construction of the new Pond at Dean Rusk Park was another example of a successful City of Atlanta public-private partnership. Pictured: (front row, l-r) Gwen Webb, Atlanta Housing Authority; Mayor Shirley Franklin; Renee Glover, Atlanta Housing Authority; Dianne Harnell Cohen, commissioner, Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs; Joy Fitzgerald, Atlanta Housing Authority. Pictured: (back row, l-r) Rob Hunter commissioner, Department of Watershed Management; David Scott, commissioner, Department of Public Works; Vicky Lundy Wilbon, The Integral Group; Joe Basista, deputy commissioner, Department of Watershed Management; Egbert Perry, Harris Redevelopment LLC; Bakari Brooks, Atlanta Housing Authority; and Keith Morton, Atlanta Housing Authority. |
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City Considering Creation of Four New Tax Allocation Districts
The City of Atlanta is currently evaluating the creation of four new Tax Allocation Districts (TADs) in south and west Atlanta that will revitalize underserved areas of the city.
The proposed TAD areas are: the Campbellton Road corridor; the Metropolitan Parkway commercial corridor; around three Hollowell Parkway corridor development nodes; and the Turner Field area.
The areas were identified based on a 2005 study commissioned by the Atlanta Development Authority (ADA). The study evaluated redevelopment opportunities in the “Priority Areas” identified in Mayor Shirley Franklin’s New Century Economic Development Plan, and additional areas of interest.
The Atlanta City Council will consider legislation to form these new TADs later this year. The Fulton County Board of Commissioners and the Atlanta Board of Education will likely consider the legislation in early 2007.
To view the New Century Economic Development Plan, click here.
To view redevelopment plans for the four proposed TADs, click here.
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City, Atlanta Urban Land Institute Join Forces in Annual Developers Conference
The Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) recently participated in the Atlanta Urban Land Institute’s 3rd Annual Urban Marketplace conference, which also served as the City’s 7th quarterly Developer’s Day workshop.
The theme was “Cracking the Urban Code: Keys to Bridging the Financial Gap.” City leaders from the Bureaus of Planning, Housing and Buildings provided advice as roundtable experts. Roundtable discussion topics included permitting, affordable housing, tax allocation districts (TADs) and more.
Steve Cover, DPCD commissioner, served as a conference panelist and Terri Y. Montague, new president and CEO of Atlanta Beltline Inc., was the keynote speaker. “Every part of Atlanta, particularly the Beltline area, has great potential in growth for affordable housing in a city where the population grows an estimated 10,000 a year,” Cover said.
Shane Totten, an architect with Gerding Architects, was among the 500 attendees who converged on the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC), where the conference was held. “It’s good to know what’s happening throughout the City of Atlanta and to see what government agencies see as a priority, which is why I came,” Totten said.
The City’s next Developer’s Day event will take place in 2007. For updates within the Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) visit here.
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Atlanta Police Department Continues to Recruit Officers
Last week, the Atlanta Police Department (APD) welcomed 32 new officers to the force, supporting the City’s plan to have 2,000 sworn officers by 2009.
There are currently 1665 sworn APD officers. The men and women of new recruit class # 195 will mostly work in the downtown Atlanta area as foot patrol officers. The APD lateral class program recruits experienced officers from around the nation. New officers from lateral class #5 will work in specialized areas.
Chief Richard Pennington welcomed the new recruits and Gwen Keyes Fleming, district attorney for Dekalb County, gave the graduation address. Awards were given to recruits for highest academic average, physical fitness and highest firearms certification score. New recruit, Officer Staci Mueller, gave the valedictory address.
Under Chief Pennington, the APD has decreased overall crime levels in Atlanta to record lows. In 2005, homicide was the lowest since 1963; rape was the lowest since 1970; robbery was the lowest since 1971; aggravated assault was the lowest since 1978; burglary was the lowest since 19676; larceny was the lowest since 1973 and auto theft was the lowest since 1985.
For more information about the Atlanta Police Department recruitment efforts, visit here.
Answer the Call: Become an Atlanta Police Officer. |
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The new pond at Dean Rusk Park is a model of form and function. The beautiful water feature retains stormwater that helps to control flooding, and a walking path allows strollers to enjoy nature in an urban setting. Mayor Shirley Franklin recently gathered with other city officials and community partners to celebrate the opening of the pond. Click here to go to Video On Demand (VOD) webpage where you can watch the news conference.
This is just one of the many videos you can view on the VOD page. Video clips include many of the programs you see on City Channel 26, like news conferences, groundbreakings and other events, as well as special programs that profile City departments and services.
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Rave Reviews!
- Mayor Shirley Franklin recently welcomed China’s Ambassador to the United States, Zhou Wen Zhong, during an official visit to Atlanta.
Mayor Shirley Franklin (right) officially welcomes His Excellency Zhou Wen Zhong, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the U.S. (center) to the city of Atlanta during a banquet in his honor. Also pictured is Lani Wong, Chair, National Association of Chinese Americans. |
- On November 4, Mayor Shirley Franklin met with seniors from North Atlanta and Southside High Schools during the second ‘Meet with the Mayor’ session, part of the 2006-07 “The Atlanta Promise” education program. The “Atlanta Promise” program has assisted hundreds of APS seniors with their transition from high school to their next phase in life, whether they are going to college or want to learn a technical trade. During the session, students attended a college and career fair. Participating colleges included Atlanta Metropolitan College; Atlanta Technical College; Clayton State University; Dekalb Technical College; Emory University; FAMU Alumni Association; Georgia Perimeter College; Lincoln University; Miles College; North Carolina A&T; Spelman College; and Virginia Union University. For more information, visit The Atlanta Promise program.
Mayor Shirley Franklin meets with high school seniors from North Atlanta and Southside High Schools during Saturday “Meet with the Mayor” sessions, as part of the 2006-07 Atlanta Promise education program. |
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Upcoming Events & Volunteer Opportunities
- In Atlanta, every day is an opening day … Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, is coming to the Atlanta Civic Center on Saturday, November 11. Visitors will be drawn back in time as they step into fully reconstructed replicas of Titanic’s first and third class rooms. More than 300 actual artifacts recovered from Titanic’s debris field will be on view, including a 3,000 pound piece of the ship's hull. The exhibit will be open seven days a week from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m., Monday – Thursday, and 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Friday - Sunday. For more information, click here about the exhibit or to purchase tickets.
- The Atlanta City Council will host a Finance/Executive Committee Equal Business Opportunity Work Session on Wednesday, November 8 from 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in Committee Room #2 at Atlanta City Hall. For more information, visit here.
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Job Announcements
With the City of Atlanta’s online application system, you are able to create an account and select a Username and Password and then log in to your account.
After your account has been established, you can create an application by clicking on the “Build Job Application” link. Once your application is completed, it will be stored in the system and can be used to apply for future job openings. To get started by viewing current open positions, click here.
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Weekly Features
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