James May-June 2025 web - Flipbook - Page 9
Across Georgia, community improvement districts (CIDs)
have quietly become powerful engines for economic vitality,
infrastructure upgrades and urban livability. Nowhere is this more
evident than in Atlanta’s Buckhead district, where the Buckhead CID
has served for 25 years as a standout model of what these districts
can achieve when public and private sectors work together with a
shared vision.
At their core, CIDs are self-taxing districts where commercial
property owners voluntarily fund local improvements. These
funds often leverage additional public investment, multiplying
their impact. Unlike traditional government bodies, CIDs are
locally controlled and laser-focused on projects that directly
benefit the area’s businesses and residents.
It’s very significant that, by putting resources behind
targeted upgrades, CIDs empower communities to
take ownership of their growth, fast-tracking improvements that boost quality of life and attract private
investment.
INFRASTRUCTURE & MOBILITY IMPROVEMENTS
One of the most visible impacts of CIDs is
in transportation and infrastructure upgrades.
In Buckhead, the CID has spearheaded projects
that have transformed how people move through
and experience the area. A standout example is the
Peachtree Road transformation project, which was the
impetus for creating the Buckhead CID more than 25
years ago. Three phases of work over nearly two decades
created a signature thoroughfare in Buckhead by widening
sidewalks, adding landscaping, improving traffic flow and
creating a more pedestrian-friendly environment on one of
Atlanta’s busiest corridors.
Another forward-thinking initiative is the roundabout currently under construction at the intersection of Wieuca Road and
Phipps Boulevard. By replacing a traditional signalized intersection, the roundabout is expected to ease traffic congestion and improve safety— enhancing both the flow of vehicles and the walkability of the area.
The project is much more than just a roundabout; it is also making
way for eight-foot-wide pedestrian walkways, two-way protected bike
lanes and a $1 million renovation of North Buckhead Park.
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