Athens-Clarke County is reaching out to residents about the future of the West Broad and Hawthorne area.

The area is one of six special tax allocation districts, or TADs - a strategic redevelopment tool designed to accelerate growth in areas that haven't kept pace with the rest of the community. These districts don't create new taxes; instead, they redirect existing tax dollars specifically for local development projects.

Daniel Young with the ACC Economic Development Department says community input is essential to the TAD’s development: “It's very important that we get our community's input and that’s really what we want. ACCGov really respects the engagement from our residents and so we want to know from them how they would like to see us apply our tax dollars in this area.”

According to Young, the feedback so far has centered on one major theme: connectivity. "They want their neighborhoods to intersect and interact with the rest of the county, they want to be able to travel safely and freely, not just in a car but by bus or walk.” “They really want to enhance that vibrant feel of the community and broaden that.”

The TAD has a 20-year lifecycle, and according to Young, just talking about these projects has already stirred significant development interest in the area. The ACCGov Economic Development Department is focusing on four key priorities: public infrastructure, economic development, affordable housing, and youth development opportunities.

Residents can weigh in on specific improvements like sidewalks, streetlights, and traffic calming measures. There is an online survey running through February 23rd allowing residents to help guide economic initiatives, including support for minority and Black-owned businesses, potential grocery stores, and financial institutions. Additional focus areas include affordable senior housing and youth development projects such as community gardens and recreation facilities.
For more information, visit the ACCGov website.