Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Vote Update

City Council Punts on Old National Development Authority

Next Vote: Tuesday, April 23 • 7PM

5PM • South Fulton Annex
5600 Stonewall Tell Rd, 30349

After hours discussing the Old National DDA at this week's South Fulton meeting, elected officials never took a vote on the issue. Even though Old National is "South Fulton's number one commercial corridor," according to the city's Director of Economic Development, Christopher Pike, a majority of City Council seemed reticent to move forward with the Development Authority.

Councilman khalid has been pushing for an Old National DDA since first introducing the idea with Georgia Municipal Association Development Authority expert Dan McRae at an Old National Economic Development Summit in July 2018. khalid has broached the issue with South Fulton's Mayor, Council, City Manager & Economic Development Director on numerous occasions over the past 9 months. This month he hosted a tour of 50 residents and state & city elected officials of Sandy Springs' new $235 million downtown development: City Springs. The 14-acre project includes retail, a park, performing arts center, 275 apartments & 19 townhomes.

Yet at last Tuesday's meeting, some Councilmembers claimed they had no idea khalid was planning to propose the DDA. Others Councilmembers alleged that, while they had heard of the proposed DDA, they felt the issue needed more study.

View the entire debate below.

The true purpose of the DDA is not to name Old National as the "cultural center" or "gathering place" for South Fulton. A DDA is a financial tool used to build revenue-generating commercial properties like hotels, restaurants and condos, through privately-backed bonds. This attracts investors to development projects with little or no risk to taxpayers. The City of Atlanta's DDA, Invest Atlanta, works much the same way. In recent years, Invest Atlanta has been the development engine behind high profile projects like the Gulch, Ponce City Market and the Atlanta Beltline.

According to the city's Director of Economic Development, Christopher Pike, Old National is "South Fulton's number one commercial corridor." Situated just one exit from Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, Old National's South Fulton council districts 5, 6 & 7 are the most densely populated in the south metro region, holding most of South Fulton's commercially-zoned land. A 2016 study by the Urban Land Institute (in the document center below) has already concluded Old National is primed for commercial development.

"Old National Highway is just one exit away from the World's Busiest Airport — and the City of South Fulton doesn't have a single hotel here," explains Councilman khalid. "The City of College Park has 34 hotels within a few miles of the airport. College Park has made millions from them. Every day we don't take action on Old National we're giving money away. A DDA could help South Fulton build revenue-generating commercial properties like hotels, restaurants, retail & apartments at minimal cost to our taxpayers."

College Park's Airport City Open House
Friday, April 12 • 9AM-5PM

College Park Police Station
Community Room
3717 College St • College Park, 30337

While South Fulton delays a decision on an Old National Development Authority, the City of College Park is planning the largest mixed-use development south of I-20 in Atlanta history. The 320-acre, master-planned community known as Airport City includes housing, retail & offices.

College Park officials are offering free preview of their plans for the site at an all-day open house Friday, April 12, at the College Park Police Department off Main Street. The city is also planning a similar mixed-used project for the old Richway/Target building & Discount Mall on Old National.

College Park is breaking ground on its 35th hotel — a Ramada with a Starbucks. The City of South Fulton has no hotels on Old National, and only one hotel in its city limits, off Senior Road near Fairburn.

Relationship Talk Hosts Old National Development Debate
Sunday, April 14 • 8PM

Burn Lounge
3461 Roosevelt Hwy, 30349

Old National Promoters Torrey & Tiffaney Tomlinson host a regular, Sunday night talk show at South Fulton's Burn Lounge. The show, whose discussions usually center around relationships and other current topics in popular media, caters to an under-50 demographic which is generally unaware of South Fulton politics. The husband & wife team are dedicating this Sunday's entire show to a conversation about economic development on Old National. Councilman khalid, who has been a regular guest on the show, will be in attendance.

You can learn about the Old National DDA at khalidCares Economic Development page below.

If you have any questions about Sunday's meeting, please feel free to text or call Councilman khalid at (404) 545-3900.

More News & Events

Get even more news on Old National & South Fulton at: khalidCares.com.

Help khalid fight for political education & progressive policies in Atlanta's new "twin city" — South Fulton, GA.

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