A Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) grant awarded to Newnan to develop a strategy for addressing future growth, redevelopment and transportation needs in and around downtown is about to be put to good use. The city on Oct. 17 will hold the first of four public meetings designed to receive public input on needed changes that will span the next 20 years.
“(The Oct. 17 meeting) is the first of four public workshops designed to solicit input on Newnan’s downtown area and surrounding neighborhoods,” said city planning director Tracy Dunnavant. “The workshop is a means for the city to partner with its citizens in developing strategies and a future vision for its downtown.”
A $120,000 Livable Centers Initiative grant from the Atlanta Regional Commission was awarded earlier this year to study its historic downtown and the neighborhoods to its east, Dunnavant said.
“The study is primarily focused on formulating a strategy to balance growth and redevelopment while simultaneously addressing transportation related needs,” said Dunnavant. ”Issues to be discussed include but are not limited to future land use, development patterns, transportation, economic development, housing and historic preservation.
Aside from the public workshops, citizens can also provide comments by contacting Dunnavant at 678-673-5481 or at tdunnavant@cityofnewnan.org.
“I cannot stress how important it is for our citizens to be involved in this process,” said Dunnavant. “It is their chance to determine how they want their downtown to evolve and grow over the next twenty years”.
The meeting will be held Thursday, Oct. 17, from 6-8 p.m. at the Carnegie Library in downtown Newnan.
“We are hoping for a great turnout”, said Dunnavant. “Our downtown is a remarkable place and we need the public’s help in developing a solid plan to ensure that it remains that way”.
