Kevin and Laurie Morrison are Downtown Tucker’s live, work, and play couple. Business owners, commercial property owners, and residents, these two Tuckerites are thrilled at the opening of the alleys.
The much anticipated first section of alleys in Downtown Tucker officially opened at the end of February. The alleys run parallel to Main Street from Lavista Road to Railroad Avenue, and east to west from Main Street to Second Avenue.
“I love them,” says Laurie. “They add a vibrancy that wasn’t there before and makes Main Street more of a destination. Being able to stroll around before or after you visit a store or eatery adds to the experience. It’s an inviting social space for the community.”
Kevin and Laurie began strolling along Main Street over twenty years ago. Kevin says, “We fell in love with Main Street real quick.” That love motivated them to start a business, purchase a building on Main Street, and eventually purchase a townhome on First Avenue.
“Over the past twenty-two years we have lived in Tucker, Smoke Rise, and Lilburn. It was time to downsize and move back to Tucker, so we started looking at various neighborhoods. We were incredibly lucky that the townhome in Downtown Tucker became available. We just love that our work commute is one block and that we can walk to bars and restaurants.”
City Council member Cara Schroeder says there is an “incredibly positive and exciting buzz” among Tucker residents for alleys, but also for the citywide trail project starting in the alleys. “As I connect with neighbors, many consider our trail efforts to be vital to our city’s future.”
“I can envision the trail making us a stronger and more connected community. The Economic Development Strategic Plan identified the Tucker Trail as one of our most important assets for business development in and around downtown.”
Mayor Frank Auman says this section in the alleys was chosen carefully “to be an example and an inspiration to the other thirty-two miles of trail we expect to build before we are finished.”
“We wanted it to be in a place where it be well seen, well used, increase the demand, and help people understand what it can do for them and their neighborhood or between public places like libraries and schools and shopping in Downtown.”
Laurie Morrison say the alley have been well used already. “We walk our dog probably five times a day. We’ve noticed many more people over the past two months, especially with the warmer weather.”
“Kevin laughs that we can’t go out and about without makeup because we always bump into friends, old neighbors, and art school families. Everyone comes to Downtown Tucker. We love the liveliness of “intown” living and we joke that we are aging hipsters!”
Development of the alleys supports the Tucker-Northlake CID’s Downtown Tucker Grid Plan funded by the Atlanta Regional Commission through a Livable Centers Initiative grant in 2019. The plan envisions a restoration of the street and alley grid created in 1892.