CID Update: Projects, Merger, Grants Coming

Tucker Community Improvement District President Ann Rosenthal told Patch Wednesday she's looking forward to seeing people come to the area and stay here.

"Tucker-Northlake is in the center of DeKalb. Our goal is to bring people here. It should be a destination point, not an errand point," said Rosenthal. "We want folks to stop here." Rosenthal explained there are over ten thousand employers with 134,000 jobs within a five-mile radius of Tucker.* 

"We are also doing an inventory throughout the CID of quick repairs around street signs, lights, and beautification efforts that can be done quickly," said Rosenthal. 

The CID's board recently agreed to expand its operation to include the Northlake business district, after NCA representatives initiated discussions. The joint CID is waiting for approval for the merger from the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners, which could take six to eight months.  

A Northlake businessman seems to like the idea. "Put me in the positive column," said Brian Mock, General Manager of the Hampton Inn on Northlake Parkway. His was the first business in the area to "jump across," as he put it, to the CID. "It's a good opportunity," he said, adding that some locals don't want to bear the potential cost of cityhood, making this plan a good alternative.   

CID Chair for Economic Developement Honey Van De Kreke agreed, telling Patch, "we're in the throes of annexing businesses, and the name will change." 

The new group will be called the Tucker-Northlake CID once the green light is given. "We're interviewing stakeholders right now," said Chairman Bill Rosenfeld. "We're very excited about it."  

Rosenfeld listed other recent actions by the CID. "We are in the process of applying for grants to improve pedestrian safety along Lawrenceville Highway. We have committees such as Public Safety, Transportation, Economic Development, and Beautification, and are looking to make Tucker the most desirable location in DeKalb County."

*Figures are based on the 2010 U.S. census.  

More CID coverage on Tucker Patch