Accomplishments
Downtown redevelopment projects have been going on since the Envision Decatur Plan was released in 2004. More recently, the efforts of the Decatur Downtown Redevelopment Authority have been guided by the 2010-2014 Strategic Plan, which focuses on key areas from the Envision Decatur Plan that are vital to the success of redevelopment of downtown Decatur.
2010-2014 Goals and Accomplishments
The following goals and accomplishments are from the 2010-2014 Strategic Plan. The goals are expected to be completed by the end of 2014.
Goal: Assist 10 Existing Business in the City Center to Expand.
- A downtown business owner was able to open a new business (an outgrowth of an existing business) in part because of an infrastructure grant provided by DDRA.
- Another downtown business is currently in the process of expanding.
Goal: Create 50 Residential Units within the City Center
- Six units were approved on 2nd Avenue, with one being close to completion.
- A loft committee was formed to help with research of loft development issues.
Goal: Establish $20 Million in New Capital Investments
- At the time that the 1st Year Annual Report was released, the DDRA had a record of $11,266,425 in new capital investments going into the downtown area. This included investments that had already been made and those that are scheduled to be made in 2011.
Goal: Enhance Decatur's Tax Base by $5 Million
- According to the records, the taxes in Decatur increased from the 2009 figure of $23,514,153 to the 2010 $24,255,824. While this increase is not huge, it is a move in a positive direction.
Goal: Recruit 25 New Business in Decatur's City Center
- A minimum of 17 businesses either opened or relocated to the downtown area.
Goal: Create Green Space and Promote the Use of Green Technologies in Downtown Projects
- One pocket park has been completed by the Beautification group.
- Funds were designated to construct a second pocket park and the DDRA purchased a small piece of property for the development of a third pocket park.
- Materials from old downtown buildings have been repurposed in other projects. This includes the use of bricks from the old Decatur Utilities building in Frazier Park and the use of beams from the Bailey-Robinson building being used in the new Ingalls Harbor pavilion.
Grants Awarded to Date
DDRA received several state and federal grants in 2010 through early 2011. The State Transportation Enhancement Grants were achieved through much effort from Senator Arthur Orr. The Partnership for Progress funds were instrumental in these matching grants to facilitate the maximum leverage with the DDRA's strategic plan budget dollars.
| ALDOT | Transportation Enhancement | Lower Bank Streetscape | $500,000 |
| ALDOT | Transportation Enhancement | Railroad Depot | $900,000 |
| ALDOT | Transportation Enhancement | 2nd Avenue Streetscape | $712,000 |
| Federal Appropriation Sessions & Aderholt |
Streetscape | Downtown Corridor | $570,000 |
| Federal | ARC | Retail Study | $10,000 |
| GREAT TOTAL | $2,692,000 | ||
Earlier Accomplishments:
The following accomplishments were part of the original Envision Decatur Plan.
- The DDRA was established and Rick Paler was hired as the organization's executive director.
- Negotiations have been completed and still continue for purchase agreements and land banking key properties.
- Decatur's Park & Recreation Department began supplementing ALDOT's maintenance responsibilities along the northeast causeway in an effort to improve causeway and the North Gateway into Decatur.
- A wayfinding signage system was designed by McWhorter Communications, fabricated by J&M Signs, and installed by Decatur Parks & Recreation in January 2009.
- The Envision Decatur Plan called for the acquisition of land and razing of warehouse buildings for the development of Decatur Commons. ADM is currently considering donating their downtown warehouse to the City of Decatur to serve as a catalyst for the Decatur Commons Development.
- To address the Fire Protection Infrastructure issue outlined in the Envision Decatur Plan, DDRA worked with the Decatur Fire Marshall and Decatur Utilities to begin the first phase of fire protection infrastructure along upper Bank Street.