When most people think of transportation infrastructure, they imagine expressways or train stations. But in Downtown Tucker, some of the most powerful tools for walkability, community life, and business growth are already here, and have been for over a century — they just need to be reactivated.
What is that hidden backbone? Our alleys and the downtown grid.
A Shared Vision, Built on Partnerships
The Tucker Strategic Transportation Master Plan (2023) highlights the role alleys and short two-way grid streets play in Tucker’s future. With guidance from the Downtown Tucker Grid Plan, ULI Alley Activation Study, and Art in the Alleys initiative, the City of Tucker and the Tucker-Northlake CID are partnering with local businesses, property owners — and regional leaders like the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) — to bring new life to these spaces. Alleys and short streets are no longer leftover infrastructure to be abandoned, they are strategic civic assets.
Together, we’re working to complete the grid network to improve local circulation. Rehabilitate alleys as safe, multimodal corridors with expanded opportunities for development. Connect alleys into Tucker’s emerging trail system forming a permanent, walkable link to the surrounding community in all directions, and activate these spaces for events and performances.
Why It Matters Now More Than Ever
Across the region from Avalon to Avondale and Woodstock to Walton County smart planners and investors are working to protect and expand their street grid and alley networks. The grid has survived around the world for millennia because it meets human needs in a way no other street system does. Just 40 years ago local governments, including DeKalb County, were abandoning alleys and unused streets. Today, because they’ve fallen out of daily use, these spaces are ideally positioned to become forward-facing community assets — capable of attracting investment while strengthening Tucker’s identity. With coordinated investment and smart partnerships, they are evolving into:
- Pedestrian corridors that offer safer, quieter routes.
- Vital connectors between shops, parking, and public spaces.
- Trail extensions within the emerging Tucker Trails network.
- Invite redevelopment within a classic grid model and universal appeal.
- Flexible service zones that support business operations without crowding storefronts.
Enhanced with lighting, wayfinding, landscaping, and public art, these spaces can offer both form and function — and reflect Tucker’s unique identity.
Managing Growth Without Cutting Corners
As Tucker grows, so does the need for better mobility — without sacrificing our small-town connections. The downtown grid allows circulation to be shared across multiple routes, reducing bottlenecks on Main Street while preserving a walkable, welcoming environment. Likewise, street width and parking options do not need to be reduced to make room for pedestrians. Downtown Tucker can accommodate those who drive and those who walk without compromising access or safety.
Short blocks provide a flexible framework for smart growth, allowing development to scale with minimal strain on existing infrastructure. In this framework, Downtown Tucker can support residential growth and authentic mixed-use opportunities that will stand the test of time.
Early planning and coordination can unlock major returns on investment. Returns that can last into the next century.
Moving Forward, Together
The effort to build out Tucker’s alley and grid system isn’t about starting from scratch. It’s about recognizing the value of what we already have — and investing in it, together.
With support from the City of Tucker, the Tucker-Northlake CID, Tucker Development Authority, Tucker Trails, Atlanta Regional Commission, local businesses, and engaged residents, we’re transforming these quiet corridors into vibrant, welcoming spaces that define a thriving, connected downtown.
Let’s keep building that future — one alley at a time.