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Revitalization and economic opportunities for the Tucker and Northlake areas of DeKalb County are the goals for the Tucker-Northlake Community Improvement District and it is looking to residents for input and assistance.
District president Ann Rosenthal said the district, which consists of commercial property owners in the area, is an economic development arm to local, state and federal governments that specifically works on transportation, infrastructure, landscaping and economic development initiatives.
“Immediately upon formation, we were approached by the Northlake Community Alliance, an organization made up of both community and commercial stakeholders, asking if we would work to bring Northlake into the district,” Rosenthal said. “We were successful and the annexation was approved by the DeKalb [County] Board of Commissioners last May.”
A community improvement district is formed when a majority of private commercial property owners within the district’s boundaries vote to form an alliance, agree to self-tax and use the funds raised for improvements within the district.
The district’s goals include the creation of a clear identity for the area, development of transportation improvements and alternatives, fostering economic development, improving public safety and implementing overall landscaping and beautification of the area.
Now the district is working on a three-month long master plan survey to find out what residents, consumers and visitors want for the area.
“The master plan will be our road map that will help us transform the area and bring about the community’s vision for what we want Tucker-Northlake to look like in three, five, 10 years and beyond,” Rosenthal said.
The public is invited to visit the group’s website, www.tuckernorthlakecid.com, and take the survey that will provide information about what business and community stakeholders wish to preserve and protect in the area, which community improvements should be created to retain existing businesses and attract new development as well as how to best connect people and places in the district.
Rosenthal said the master plan will also include recommendations for improving multimodal and safe access to businesses and connections to residential neighborhoods, followed by a market analysis for the area.
“Bettering this part of the county is a huge win-win for everyone involved,” she said.
The public is also invited to participate in the process through local, community meetings.
“The first public meeting was very well attended and we expect the second one to draw an even larger crowd of interested citizens and business owners,” said member Julie Herron Carlson. “The next meeting will be Feb. 26 at Rehoboth Baptist Church, 2997 Lawrenceville Hwy. in Tucker from 6 to 8 p.m. in the auditorium on the ground floor.”