Fayetteville

has been awarded a $1.5 million grant to create a passive recreation area

downtown that will feature walking trails and other amenities.

The grant came

from the Atlanta Regional Commission through a special program called

the Liveable Centers Initiative, which is designed to increase pedestrian

traffic and reduce automobile traffic.

The "Village

Green" would be located off Ga. Highway 85 just north of Hwy. 54

and will likely feature a signature feature just off Hwy. 85 the same

way the fountain at Heritage Park sets off that area, Morton said.

The idea is

to increase the area downtown and hopefully encourage mixed use buildings

around the Village Green area, Morton added. He envisions more specialty

retail outlets coming to the downtown area.

"It will

basically make downtown larger," Morton said. "It's a nice downtown,

but it's relatively small compared to other places."

The city completed

its LCI study process earlier this year, and a report recommends that

the Village Green be used as a place to hold community events including

the city's art festivals and summer gatherings.

A nationally-known

real estate consulting firm has said Fayetteville has a future need for

more small-scale specialty stores even though there is a glut of normal

commercial space.

Morton said

the public area would also connect downtown and the new Villages at LaFayette

subdivision.

The city does

not own the property for the Village Green now, and acquiring the land

and designing the project will begin next year, with construction slated

for 2005, Morton added.

Back

to News Home Page |