The Tucker-Northlake Community Improvement District (CID) has been awarded a $160,000 Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) grant from the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) to develop the One Northlake plan. A transformative vision to better connect people, places, and opportunities across the Northlake commercial district and surrounding neighborhoods.
The One Northlake Plan will outline multimodal connections linking top-end I-285 express lane access points, MARTA routes, proposed express lane transit (ELT) infrastructure, and multi-use trails with sidewalks, streets, and bikeshare stations. The plan will unify transportation and development strategies across the City of Tucker and unincorporated DeKalb County, helping shape a more accessible, vibrant, and economically competitive area.
“The ARC is an excellent partner and this grant allows us to chart a coordinated course for the future of the Northlake side of our district,” said Matthew Lee, Executive Director of the Tucker-Northlake CID. “Past ARC investments helped deliver streetscapes throughout Northlake, a reimagined Main Street, and the Downtown Tucker Grid Plan. That plan points Downtown Tucker in the right direction. With all the opportunity in the Northlake area, now is the right time to focus on a stronger plan for the future.”
The One Northlake Plan will also help position the CID and its partners to compete for future federal funding that can help bring these connections to life and guide private development in alignment with new infrastructure.
The grant is part of ARC’s 2025 Livable Centers Initiative awards, which provided a total of $1.04 million to six communities across metro Atlanta. The LCI program—now in its 26th year—helps cities and counties create walkable, bikeable, mixed-use places that reduce reliance on cars and improve overall quality of life.
“ARC is also wrapping up a comprehensive assessment of the LCI program, which will inform scoping and execution of this year’s projects,” said Samyukth Shenbaga, Managing Director of Community Development at ARC. “More substantial changes will be shared and implemented for the 2026 cycle and beyond. We look forward to sharing these improvements with our communities this year.”
Other 2025 LCI grant recipients include:
- City of Avondale Estates – Downtown Master Plan Update
- DeKalb County – Kensington Area Master Plan Update
- City of Conyers – Olde Town Conyers Master Plan Update
- City of Kennesaw – Cobb Parkway Gateway & Connectivity Study
The One Northlake Plan will begin later this year. Learn more about the LCI program at: atlantaregional.org