New citizens group focused on improving South Cobb Drive

A small group of city council members, community leaders and concerned citizens met at City Hall Tuesday night to try “to make the world a tad better” at the first meeting of the Smyrna South Cobb Drive Coalition (SSCDC).

Long-time Smyrna residents, Gary and Jane Chapman, founded the SSCDC an attempt to engage private citizens and business owners along South Cobb Drive to improve the corridor through community pressure and code enforcement.

“We have noticed, all of us, that if you’ve been here for any amount of time you’ve seen businesses leave South Cobb Drive,” Gary Chapman said. “Now of course we’re left with empty buildings—vacant. And we need to see businesses move in, but positive businesses that are going to stick around.”

One such business to close is the Piccadilly Cafeteria at 2781 South Cobb Drive that shut its doors last month after almost a quarter of a century in operation.

Last night the group focused on establishing the coalition’s mission statement and identified key areas that need improve. Most attendees identified South Cobb Drive from Windy Hill Road to Ridge Road as most needing improvement. They also discussed the future of the coalition.

“If we can get the press to be aware that this is a whole organization and a movement to make change, then this small grassroots can be a major effort,” said Sean Murphy, founder of the Smyrna Heights Neighborhood Association. “There’s been success all over the country with this exact thing. People have motivated businesses to change what they do.”

One strategy Murphy suggested is what he labeled a “call and complain campaign.” Private citizens can call local businesses that aren’t maintaining their landscaping or disobeying sign ordinances and threaten to stop patronizing them. Murphy cited that such campaigns have been successful nationwide.

Mike McNabb, Smyrna City Council Ward 4, agreed with Murphy insisting that “community pressure is the most important pressure that we can bring to them.”

However, Mary Rose Barnes, a member of the Oakdale Neighborhood Association, said the SSCDC should also highlight businesses that are taking steps to improve. As an example she cited the King Springs Shopping Center for the recent improvements to its parking lot.