Avondale Estates Receives $64,000 Grant

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded a $64,000 Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) grant to the City of Avondale Estates.

The grant will help pay for a major plan update and a downtown master plan.

The city recently hosted ARC representatives on a walking tour of the downtown area.

The city hopes to redevelop the downtown to attract new businesses, improve walkability and make downtown a place where people will gather.

As part of the process, residents were asked to complete an online survey.

The ARC also awarded a $120,000 LCI grant to fund a study on potential redevelopment around DeKalb Medical, just outside the Decatur City Limits.

The ARC says the plan will focus on "underutilized and vacant properties to create a variety of housing options and an appropriate mix of commercial, office and retail. The study will incorporate Lifelong Communities concepts and the establishment of a 'wellness district' for the DeKalb Medical Center area. Additionally, the plan will address sidewalk and bicycle facilities along the major corridors in the area to create a more walkable center and to improve connections to MARTA bus routes and Emory’s Cliff shuttle."

According to ARC, LCI grants "help communities create new plans for quality growth and help develop innovative policies that support more vibrant, connected communities. Once their studies and plans are complete, these communities will be eligible for additional LCI funding for transportation projects needed to implement their plans."