Updated: Athens Downtown Development Authority Discusses Budget, Potential Move

The is considering moving from the 4th floor of the to the Chamber of Commerce building on West Hancock Avenue.

ADDA officials discussed the location change during Tuesday afternoon's meeting. If the move is approved, the ADDA's rent would decrease by about $12,000 a year. Several ADDA members also argued the authority might be more accessible to citizens.

"I didn't know where this Downtown Development Authority was until I became a commissioner," said Commissioner and Authority member Mike Hamby. "I think for the customers and for the general public it's going to be more visible and more centered in Athens."

The authority's lease in the Fred Building expired at the end of May, and the ADDA has been leasing its office on a month-to-month basis.

ADDA officials also approved the authority's 2013 budget during Tuesday's meeting. Expect expenses for this fiscal year are $313,175, about $41,000 more than the previous year. Budget expenses will require the ADDA to take about $81,770 out of savings. During the previous year, the ADDA went over revenue by about $25,000. Officials say the increased cost is due to the recently constructed Washington Street Parking Deck.

Other major changes include reducing the advertising budget from $50,000 to $20,000 and reducing the hours for part-time booth attendants at the Washington Street Parking Deck to avoid layoffs.

ADDA members are also considering a partnership with Four Athens, a company that mentors, subsidizes and supports budding technology companies. Four Athens clients include DealMobs, Prolific Methods and StratOS.

If the partnership is approved, the ADDA would allow Four Athens to lease vacant office spaces downtown to young tech entrepreneurs, in hopes that the company would grow and add to the local economy.

"Right now we have such a monoculture with the types of businesses that we have mostly being food and beverage service and we have some retail," said Chris Blackmon, owner of Atlas Rea Estate Advisors and ADDA member. "We can look at an inexpensive investment in something that's meaningful to the people that support this organization."