News Line for Athens-Clarke County

Athens-Clarke County Economic Development Dept. sets community up for continuing success
The economic downturn of the past few years and the budgetary concerns on all levels of government have brought to the forefront the necessity and positive impacts of economic development in our community.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Prince Avenue, 'a jewel,' and subject of planning look
Prince Avenue, the thoroughfare that doubles as a neighborhood road, described as a “jewel” and “uniquely Athens,” draws strong opinions when its future is being plotted.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Board names two finalists to direct Athens Downtown Development Authority
The board of the Athens Downtown Development Authority has named two finalists for the authority’s executive director post — one of them an Athens resident — to replace the departing Kathryn Lookofsky, according to a Friday ADDA news release.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Athens downtown board OKs parking contract renewal with mayor and commission
The Athens Downtown Development Authority voted Tuesday to renew its parking management agreement with Athens-Clarke County, despite concerns from one board member and changes to an earlier draft.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Athens-Clarke County commissioners restore Lyndon House funding, add to library with $250K budget boost
The mayor and commission added almost $255,000 Tuesday night to the mayor’s budget proposal, restoring funding to tours to the Lyndon House Art Center and boosting funding for the library and pension benefits.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Booting cars temporarily suspended in downtown Athens
Booting cars in downtown Athens temporarily gets the boot as city officials examine due process issues associated with the controversial deterrent to illegal parking, according to a Athens Downtown Development Authority board member.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Athens commissioners debate proposed budget
Athens-Clarke County commissioners want a magnifying glass on the proposed elimination of tours of the Lyndon House and the cost for a voter-approved tennis center.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Treatment plants one part of water conservation efforts
When Athens residents pay their monthly water bill, they are funding an intricate and high-tech water sanitation process which cost local government nearly $54 million in expenditures in the 2013 fiscal year, according to public budget documents.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Jefferson road expansion instills hopes of industry growth
As the expansion of an industrial park project nears completion, Jefferson officials hope the work creates a snowball effect to start more projects and attract more industry.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Athens-Clarke County Economic Development committee aims to hit balance on level of details required in planned developments
Finding a balance between levels of specificity for planned developments was a sticking point Wednesday as an Athens-Clarke County committee worked toward implementing recommendations from the economic development strategic plan finalized last fall.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

The market-based future of downtown Athens
New plans for the Selig Enterprises development proposed for nine acres between Oconee Street and East Broad Street in the eastern edge of downtown Athens further indicate that the future of the much-discussed downtown area will now lean heavily toward student-oriented housing.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Frets over public use law dominate Athens-Clarke County commission meeting
An item absent from the Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission’s agenda, simultaneously described as “fascist” attacks on individual rights and the homeless and an attempt to clarify public use laws, dominated public input at its Tuesday meeting.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Downtown Athens step closer to getting grocery store
Once the Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission gives its OK, package beer and wine sales will be possible closer to the University of Georgia.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Selig submits new plans for Armstrong & Dobbs project
A new set of plans for the Selig Enterprises project at the 10-acre Armstrong & Dobbs tract in the east end of downtown Athens has been submitted to the local planning board, showing a scaled-down commercial component and more residential units.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Athens planning dept. targeting Prince Avenue for study
The Athens-Clarke County Planning Department was asked to take a more comprehensive look at Prince Avenue, from zoning to transportation, as it moves forward with its analysis of how to maintain its kaleidoscope of characteristics.
Source: Atlanta Business Chronicle

Denson 'absolutely' will seek re-election as Athens-Clarke County mayor
Athens-Clarke County Mayor Nancy Denson gave an unequivocal “absolutely” when asked Thursday if she intends to run for re-election in a year.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Mayor signs order to allow three-day-a-week watering
Athens-Clarke County residents can now water outdoors three days a week. Athens-Clarke County Mayor Nancy Denson signed an order that went into effect Wednesday to relax the restrictions.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Athens-Clarke County budget proposal includes mill rate bump, employee raises
Athens-Clarke County Mayor Nancy Denson is asking for a small property tax increase in the next fiscal year for a budget that is slightly larger than last year’s, according to a proposal released Monday.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Receptive crowd greets newest draft of Athens downtown master plan
The team behind the plan, in the works since last summer, presented ideas of what could be accomplished in the district, including transit systems and a public park at City Hall, at a town hall meeting at the Classic Center.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Athens commissioners, mayor, excited to work with new economic director
The hiring of the first director of the Athens-Clarke County Economic Development Director left some local officials optimistic about the new department.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Reddish hires first director of Athens-Clarke County's new economic development department
The first director of Athens-Clarke County’s Economic Development Department was hired Thursday afternoon.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

UGA professor pitches special tax district for downtown Athens
The University of Georgia professor putting together a master plan for downtown Athens asked the Downtown Development Authority to back a proposed tax allocation district to pay for public infrastructure improvements that come out of its plan.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Athens-Clarke County Commissioners blast Georgia bill that would have allowed guns to be carried on UGA campus
Some Athens-Clarke County Commissioner’s blasted a bill that would have allowed guns to be carried on college campuses when local legislators gave post-session feedback Tuesday night.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Athens wins historic preservation grant
Four Georgia communities, including Athens, recently won federal grants to conduct historic preservation projects.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Arts make Athens great place to visit or to live
Much has been written about the ways in which art and culture are woven into the local economy. But it’s not just about drawing in dollars from visitors. The thriving arts and cultural scene, and the many venues in which to enjoy them, bring an enhanced quality of life that makes Athens-Clarke County a great place to work and to raise a family.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

ADDA to chip away at executive director applicant pool
The Athens Downtown Development Authority board plans to meet in private this afternoon to further narrow down applicants for its executive director spot.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Athens airport tower shutting down April 2
Athens-Ben Epps Airport staff members are scheduled to meet with representatives of the Federal Aviation Administration this week to discuss how the facility will make the transition from a tower-controlled airport to a non-tower airport, according to Airport Director Tim Beggerly.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Firefly Trail in Athens could see construction before 2014
The Firefly Trail rail-to-trail project is set to break ground around the new year, according to officials from the Athens-Clarke County Special-Purpose Local Option Sales Tax office.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

The Standard, with downtown Athens master plan, makes progress
The foundations are being laid for the start of one of three developments with perhaps the most potential to change the footprint of downtown Athens.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Downtown grocery bill 'opens door' for Athens district
It’s a difference of 100 yards, but that’s enough for a local developer to call it the difference between an open door and a locked one when it comes to bringing a grocery store to downtown Athens.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Process underway to find leader for new Athens economic development dept.
The application acceptance period for the director of the new Athens-Clarke County Economic Development Department ended Friday with Manager Alan Reddish saying he’s already begun the interview process.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Athens government searches for chief of new economic development dept.
While the Athens-Clarke County government searches for the first director of the new economic development department, the Economic Development Foundation board set a plan this week to dissolve.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

City on lesbian and gay rights: 'We follow state's lead'
As the U.S. Supreme Court begins weighing the issue of gay marriage at both the state and federal level this week, officials at in Albany say, for the meantime, that their lesbian and gay employees will have as many rights as the state gives them.
Source: Albany Herald

As parkway nears completion, officials hope for traffic alleviation
As a “piece of the puzzle” to ease Atlanta Highway traffic congestion nears completion, at least one developer is looking on with hope for economic development.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Athens-Clarke commission signs off on $40M school bond
The Athens-Clarke County Commission gave its OK on a $40 million bond — paid for with sales tax dollars — for a slew of projects for the Clarke County School District.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Georgia bill to stagger Danielsville council terms passes
Legislation that staggers the Danielsville council terms passed the Georgia Senate Wednesday and heads to the governor for his signature.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Athens prepares for new state water regulations
Each Tuesday — rain or shine, cold or warm — Athens-Clarke County stormwater workers trek to a handful of spots at area creeks.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Athens-Clarke commissioners want to grow interest in community gardens
Some Athens-Clarke County commissioners are taking an interest in making community gardens an official part of the local code.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Athens-Clarke County commission faces digging for cash or rethinking Tallassee roundabout
The failure of the state transportation sales tax referendum over the summer is pushing the Athens-Clarke County Commission to revisit a roundabout at Tallassee and Whitehead roads.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

'Nest' shows public art program can work well
When the initial drawings of what Maureen Kelly’s sculpture “Nest” would look like in the Classic Center’s new Atrium were released, some of us in the Banner-Herald newsroom — OK, it was mostly me — opined that we could do much the same thing with PVC pipe, a few cans of red spray paint and a bunch of rolls of aluminum foil.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Athens police substation named for first black police officers
Thursday marked the 51st anniversary of the Rev. Archibald Killian and the late Donald Moon taking the oath as Athens’ first black police officers. Athens-Clarke police and officials recognized the occasion by naming the Baxter Street police substation for the two men.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Bill to make possible downtown Athens grocery passes state House
The Georgia House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday pushed by the area legislative delegation with the hopes of making the dream of a downtown Athens grocery store a reality.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Saunders named Athens-Clarke environmental coordinator
Athens-Clarke County’s former community forestry coordinator has been named the county’s new environmental coordinator. Andrew Saunders assumed his new duties on Monday, according to a news release from the county government.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Athens-Clarke commission OKs smaller Buena Vista historic district
The Buena Vista historic district map proposed by Commissioner Kelly Girtz was voted in place Tuesday night.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Georgia Supreme Court upholds Athens-Clarke County stormwater fees
The Georgia Supreme Court unanimously upheld Monday an Athens-Clarke County ordinance allowing the government to collect fees to fund stormwater management.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Alcohol sales bill that could benefit downtown Athens passes on for House vote
A bill that would allow beer and wine to be sold within 100 yards of a college — which proponents say would make it easier for a grocery store to set up in downtown Athens — passed committee Monday evening.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Athens government, schools, Athens Tech deserve credit for economic development roles
Much has been written over the last year about some of the community economic successes we have achieved and challenges that we face.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Athens agencies make case for government funding
Several tax-funded agencies made their case Thursday for their slice of $5 million from the Athens-Clarke County government.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Bill allowing alcohol sales could help bring grocery store to downtown Athens
Rep. Chuck Williams filed a bill Thursday to make it easier for a grocery store to set up in downtown Athens, a local developer said.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Athens makes Forbes list of 'Best Places to Retire'
Once again, Athens has made a Forbes magazine list of noteworthy communities, this time as one of “The 25 Best Places to Retire in 2013.”
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Classic Center expansion is the 'crown jewel of Athens'
Athens-Clarke County Mayor Nancy Denson called it “the crown jewel of Athens.” The expansion also shows the city’s resilience, she said, as it pushes forward with its tourism industry while other communities are still “licking their wounds” from the Great Recession.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

ADDA boots cars while Washington St. deck sits empty
Downtown parking faces a conundrum. The College Avenue Parking Deck, with its 338 spaces, is full. Some drivers are racking up hundreds of dollars in parking tickets, leading to a car-boot campaign to stymie meter violations. Yet the relatively new Washington Street deck often is far from full of vehicles.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Five Points Parking dispute nears end, maybe
A long-running lawsuit over 22 parking spaces in Athens’ Five Points shopping district might finally end next month, or at least enter a new phase.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Athens-Clarke commission shows no tilt on Buena Vista historic designation
No clear consensus emerged on the Buena Vista neighborhood’s historic designation at Thursday’s agenda setting meeting of the Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission, with even the district’s commissioner saying he wasn’t sure which way to lean on the issue.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Mayor and commission to get first look at potential Kroger in northeast Athens
If an almost 28-acre parcel near U.S. Highway 29 North and Hull Road makes it over some final hurdles in the Athens-Clarke County Commission chambers in coming weeks, it would mean a $40 million development centerpieced by a grocery store that straddles two federally designated “food deserts.”
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Map for Buena Vista neighborhood's historic district ready for commission
An historic district map for the Buena Vista neighborhood 40 properties fewer than initially proposed recently emerged.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Athens commission to see concept for new evidence room
The Athens-Clarke County Police Department is looking to build a new evidence facility that would more than triple the usable floor space.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Audit committee gives Athens DDA time to make action plan for litter, parking problems
The Athens-Clarke County Commission’s Audit Committee is giving the Athens Downtown Development Authority board time to develop an action plan for the parking and cleanliness issues raised in a recent audit before taking further action.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Job description for downtown Athens post finalized
The Athens Downtown Development Authority has finalized a job description for its soon-to-be-open executive director position.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Expansion gives hope to rising economic tides
When $24 million takes shape in the Classic Center, it’s in the form of a covered atrium, hanging art displays and vast halls where workers on the opposite side of the room look like yellow-vest specs putting the final touches on an expansion years in the making.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

License plates readers help police in Athens ID violators, criminals
Senior Police Officer Geoff Walsh last week drove on a street downtown when an alarm in his patrol car sounded. It went off again a few seconds later, accompanied by a computer-generated voice that said, “Medium priority alert.”
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Planning Commission gives blessing for planned Kroger in northeast Athens
The Athens-Clarke County Planning Commission gave its blessing Thursday night on a planned Kroger grocery story in northeast Athens.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Water will be issue for UGA, Athens, says UGA president
A future lack of water in northeast Georgia might create problems for both the University of Georgia and the Athens area, outgoing UGA President Michael Adams said Wednesday.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Athens economic development committee targets building code
Local officials started to wrestle with building design standards Wednesday as the next step in implementing recommendations from a mayor’s task force on economic development.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Commission signs off on economic development department
The Athens-Clarke County Commission approved Tuesday an ordinance creating a new government department focused on business and industrial expansion and retention.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Athens commission to vote on economic development tonight
A proposal to create an Athens-Clarke County Economic Development Department might come to fruition tonight.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Athens mayor recaps 2012 in State of the City address
If Athens-Clarke County Mayor Nancy Denson summed up 2012 in a word, it would be “growth.”
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

ADDA audit recommends restructuring parking, better waste controls
The Athens-Clarke County Auditor’s Office recently recommended that the Athens Downtown Development Authority seek more flexibility in its funding and how parking rates are determined.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Oconee St. park and ride opens to the public
Almost 10 years in the making, the Oconee Street Park and Ride complex is now up and running.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Commissioners continue paring down Buena Vista district
Athens-Clarke County commissioners have dropped some non-contributing properties from their proposed historic district in the Buena Vista neighborhood.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Historic designation divides Buena Vista neighborhood
Damien Schaefer considers his home a castle, one he can design to meet his desires without fear of meddling from the city. But for Deborah Stanley, her home and his are parts of the same quilt, where even newer patches contribute to its historic fabric.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Deal Adds 'Local' Wrinkle To Ethics
Gov. Nathan Deal added a new wrinkle to the state’s ethics conversation in his State of the State address Thursday.
Source: GPB News

Athens Mayor and Commission push Buena Vista historic designatio
The Buena Vista neighborhood will remain in limbo a month longer as the Athens-Clarke County mayor and Commission pushed the vote on possibly designating it a historic district from February to March.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Police chief asks for money for computer personnel
For the first time in his 16-year tenure, Athens-Clarke County Police Chief Jack Lumpkin is asking the county commission for a budget adjustment in the middle of a fiscal year.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Walmart officials plan redesign in Jefferson
Walmart announced Friday it has withdrawn its application to build a supercenter store in Jefferson in order to redesign the site plan.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Five Points parking trial ends, but verdict won't come for weeks
Testimony concluded in a lawsuit over parking in Athens’ Five Points shopping district Thursday, but the opposing parties won’t get a verdict for weeks.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Athens-Clarke commissioners consider economic development ordinance
Athens-Clarke County’s mayor and commissioners took their first public look this week at a proposed ordinance detailing how the county government would pursue an economic development function.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Five Points losing friendly feel, witnesses say in parking space trial
Athens Five Points isn’t quite as warm and friendly as it used to be, business owners testified Wednesday in a civil suit over control of 22 parking spaces on Lumpkin Street.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Lawsuit underway over control of 22 Five Points parking spaces
A trial in Athens-Clarke County Superior Court might finally decide who controls 22 precious parking spots in the parking-starved Five Points area of Athens.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

As values rise, what's next in development along Broad Street gap?
The explosion of growth along Broad Street near Alps Road, and announcements of mass development in downtown Athens and its outskirts, has rippled into the section of Broad Street sandwiched between Pulaski Street and Milledge Avenue, buoying property values there — and the tax bills that go with them.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Commissioner: 1,000 new bedrooms in downtown Athens, but at what cost to rest of city?
New development is slated to bring hundreds of new bedrooms to downtown Athens — an “exciting” happening in Athens-Clarke County Commissioner Kelly Girtz’s view, but one that leaves him with another question: What does this mean for the housing outside of that core?
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Newly sworn commissioner jumps into zoning issue
Freshly sworn-in Commissioner Jerry NeSmith wasted no time Wednesday, leaping into a zoning issue almost a year old with amendments that were met with unanimous passage.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

'Super districts' run course in Athens-Clarke County
As things change, they stay the same. At least that’s the attitude the elimination of the so-called super districts is drawing from Athens-Clarke County Commissioner Kelly Girtz.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

New Athens-Clarke commissioners to take oath of office tonight
Two new commissioners will take their seats at tonight’s meeting of Athens-Clarke County’s mayor and commission.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Downtown authority chief to step down
The executive director of the Athens Downtown Development Authority will not seek a contract renewal for the next fiscal year.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Athens Housing Authority receives tax credits for Jack R. Wells transformation
The Athens Housing Authority (AHA) recently received nearly $8.7 million in tax credits from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) for the first phase of the transformation of the Jack R. Wells neighborhood in the Hawthorne Avenue corridor.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Opinions sought for downtown infrastructure improvement
Athens-Clarke County officials and engineering firm T.Y. Lin International solicited feedback from downtown stakeholders at an open house Thursday about what they’d like to see happen in that area.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Mission, function of Economic Development arm still to be laid out
Though the Athens-Clarke County mayor and commission approved the creation of a new Department of Economic Development last week, it still needs to be actually created.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Future streets to consider more than just cars
When new roads are built, or existing ones go through a major overhaul, planners will be keeping more than cars in mind if the so-called Complete Streets Policy is followed.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

With little fanfare, new economic development office OK'd
The Athens-Clarke County government will have a new Department of Economic Development.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Athens participating in Mayors' Christmas Motorcade
The Athens-Clarke County government again will take part in the statewide Mayors’ Christmas Motorcade, helping to collect items to make the holiday season special for residents of Georgia’s mental health hospitals.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Athens-Clarke commissioners set for final vote on economic development departmen
Athens-Clarke County commissioners are slated to vote tonight on the creation of a Department of Economic Development to serve as the primary contact for existing businesses looking to move into town and existing businesses seeking to grow.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Floyd County manager to take assistant manager role in Athens-Clarke County
The manager of northwest Georgia’s Floyd County government has been hired as an assistant manager of the Athens-Clarke County government, local officials said Monday.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Athens Historic Preservation Commission shoots down frat house proposal
The Historic Preservation Commission shot down a proposed fraternity house at 340 N. Milledge Ave. Wednesday night, with those opposing saying it would be too big for the area.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Downtown Master Plan enters next phase
The downtown master plan has officially entered its next phase as a town hall meeting soliciting feedback wrapped up Tuesday night.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Clarke County to preserve 310 acres near Oconee River
More than 300 acres along the Middle Oconee River in northwest Athens have been marked for preservation, the Athens-Clarke County government announced Wednesday.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald