James_March-April_2026_web - Flipbook - Page 9
Chances are if you have driven
around metropolitan Atlanta lately,
you’ve passed through a self-funding
Community Improvement District.
There are now more than 30 operating in the metropolitan region.
Since the advent in 1988 of the first
one— the Cumberland CID in Cobb
County— more than $1.5 billion
has been collected for community
improvements. That $1.5 billion has
been leveraged to $5 billion with
matching type funds, fueling infrastructure investments, new parks
and greenspace, public safety, traffic
mitigation projects and landscape
improvements.
CIDs have a nimbleness that
is difficult for an entire municipality to duplicate, moving the
ball forward on projects unique
for the area and generally with
already built-in buy-in from
relevant commercial property
stakeholders.
Park was a collaboration between the
CID, the airport and Cobb County to
turn a vacant property into an aviation-themed space for families and
visitors of all ages.
What started out as an aviation-themed playground in 2017
eventually led to a Phase II aviation
history and science museum of sorts,
complete with panels, photographs
and interactive elements that add up
to a Georgia Standards of Excellence
level. This makes the area perfect for
field trips. There is also an Aviation
Town Center CID: a new park
Park Teacher Packet developed with
With 36,000 jobs and over $238
the assistance of the Department of
million in annual public revenue, the
Town Center district is a critical piece Museums, Archives and Rare Books
at Kennesaw State University.
of not only Cobb County but also the
state economy. One of the priorities
Buckhead CID: its new leader
of many CIDs is to create a sense of
The Buckhead CID within Atlanta
place and community and that is an
has been around for nearly 30 years
area where Town Center CID excels.
Using an open space at the end of the and, until this January, had only had
runway at Cobb County International two executive directors. But Executive Director Jim Durrett recently
Airport, the CID saw an opportunity
to engage visitors in an open environ- retired and a longtime leader and
innovator in urban development and
ment and provide amenities along
community leadership, Katharine Kelthe Noonday Creek Trail. The threeley, has stepped in as number three.
acre space that became Aviation
“I am thrilled to step into this
leadership role with two organizations so committed to Buckhead’s
progress and vitality. As a Buckhead
native and resident, my DNA is rooted in this community,” said Kelley.
“Buckhead is poised to play a great
role in Atlanta’s future, and I’m excited to work alongside our Coalition
members, the Buckhead CID board,
civic partners, and residents to
drive growth that benefits both our
community and the broader metro
Atlanta region.”
Among the numerous community improvements Kelley
will lead to fruition is a new
roundabout at Wieuca Road and
Phipps Boulevard. Atlanta’s first
multi-lane roundabout at one
of Buckhead’s busiest intersections will help to smooth traffic
for both motorists and the increasing number of cyclists and
pedestrians making their way
around the neighborhood.
Cumberland CID: traffic innovation
Another common priority among
many CIDs is transportation or
transit. CIDs by their nature are more
common in growing areas, and such
areas— particularly in metro Atlanta— often share the same problem:
traffic. In this regard, Cumberland
CID is moving into the next phase of
transportation innovation. Through
the Federal Transit Administration’s
(FTA) Low or No Emission Vehicle
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