Downtown Development Authority

DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MINUTES Monday, March 09, 2020 Council Assembly Room 6:30 PM 70 S. Clayton St, GA 30046 Call to Order Lee Merritt called the meeting to order at 6:33 PM recognizing a quorum. PRESENT Board Member Donald Thrower Board Member Linda Nash Board Member Katrina Fellows Board Member Jeremy Higginbotham Board Member Lee Merritt ABSENT Board Member Victoria Jones Board Member Brad Cox Approval of Agenda Motion to approve the agenda with the removal of the section: Approval of Minutes was made by Board Member Nash, Seconded by Board Member Higginbotham. Voting Yea: Board Member Thrower, Board Member Nash, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt. Downtown Development Business 1. Approval of March 2020 Treasurer’s Report Board Member (Treasurer) Nash presented the March 2020 Treasurer’s Report. Motion to approve the March 2020 Treasurer’s Report made by Board Member Thrower, Seconded by Board Member Fellows. Voting Yea: Board Member Thrower, Board Member Nash, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt. 2. Presentation on Lawrenceville Housing Authority There was no presentation from the Lawrenceville Housing Authority. Linda Nash has a meeting scheduled next Tuesday to find out more about the Housing Authority. 3. Update on Retail Master Plan Mapping the city blocks usually take two days to complete and the nine block square would need to be completed first, showing mapping on what retail is on the square to determine what the needs or wants for the square would be. David Thompson in Planning and Development is working on this project. 4. Update on College Corridor Master Plan Board Member Cox spearheaded this, but he was not able to attend the meeting. Board Member Nash shared that she was impressed with the work that has been done to date. The College Corridor is very long and narrow and was hard to look at in one photo. Board Member Nash and Board Member Cox and Barry Mock reviewed sample boards and were asked to react to things that they liked or disliked. Barry Mock noted some of the items they could make changes to right away like sidewalks and crosswalks. The narrow area means some of the retention ponds are right up against the highway. 5. Discussion of Proposal from Ackerman Retail for College Corridor The Downtown Development Authority will need to provide what we want to see on the College Corridor master-plan map and then approach Ackerman Retail Chairman Merritt talked to Ackerman and they indicated they would work on a consulting basis. They would need to know what residential is going in or near the College Corridor because that will drive the retail that is put in. Chairman Merritt will ask them to provide a proposal. Mainstreet Business There was no Main Street business to discuss. Other Business Board Member Nash shared that a couple of years ago, groups from the City went to Columbus to see how the Riverfront was developing. They learned and heard a lot, but they did not get to spend a lot of time there. Board Member Nash was there for a personal event and was very impressed. She noted that they have very wide sidewalks, seating is available at the curbs of the sidewalks and the walkway is between the businesses and seating. This was very desirable with young children. Board Member Thrower asked if anyone had asked Columbus, what they would have done differently and Chairman Merritt indicated they had not. Citizen Comments There were no citizen comments. Executive Session - Real Estate Motion to move into Executive Session made by Board Member Nash, Seconded by Board Member Thrower. Voting Yea: Board Member Thrower, Board Member Nash, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt. Motion to adjourn Executive Session made by Board Member Higginbotham, Seconded by Board Member Fellows. Voting Yea: Board Member Thrower, Board Member Nash, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt. Final Adjournment Motion for Final Adjournment was made by Board Member Thrower, Seconded by Board Member Nash. Voting Yea: Board Member Thrower, Board Member Nash, Board Member Fellows, Board Member Higginbotham, Board Member Merritt. The meeting was adjourned at 8:18 PM. Minutes Signature ___________________ Lee Merritt, Chairman ___________________ Barry Mock, Secretary