Downtown Master Plan Proceeding Ahead of Schedule in Athens, Ga.

There's going to be another public meeting in March on the Athens Downtown Master Plan. UGA professor Jack Crowley, the director of the project, told the board of directors of the Athens Downtown Development Authority that a few Big Ideas have emerged from the input his team and he have received thus far. These include:

*Establishing a "green" corridor along Jackson Street from downtown across Dougherty to the Lyndon House and the Foundry Inn.

*Creating a pedestrian extension of Clayton Street to Foundry Street.

*Reconstructing the railroad trestles off Oconee Street and tying into the Firefly Trail. This development could provide a safe way to get into downtown for bicyclists and pedestrians, thus offering an alternative form of transportation. A related proposal is a bridge over Oconee Street at Peter Street, opening the area on the west side to cyclists. Rebuilding the trestles could "transform the River District," Crowley said.

*Establishing a Tax Allocation District in the area along the Oconee River. He said the properties could be indexed to their present value before projects around there start going up. Crowley said he realized this is an proposal for the Mayor and Commission to consider, not the ADDA board, but he said, "If you're ever going to do this, now's the time."

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