City Center Development

For Decatur to thrive, we must focus on sustainable economic development in Decatur's City Center. The Decatur Downtown Redevelopment Authority, together with the City of Decatur and the area's corporate leadership must establish a collective partnership to address the critical challenges and opportunities confronting our downtown area in the years ahead. Assisting existing businesses downtown, recruiting new targeted businesses, developing the riverfront and establishing a sense of destination are vital to the Decatur area's economic well-being. With the Sweetwater project establishing major commercial and residential growth across the river, we have the opportunity to have downtown Decatur become the center of the city once again.

Goals for this project as outlined in the strategic plan are:

  • Establish the Calhoun / Athens State Fine Arts School in the Decatur City Center
  • Develop a plan to refurbish both water towers in the City Center with one logo promoting downtown and the other logo promoting the Farmer's Market
  • Establish incentives to promote new development in the City Center including the establishment of a Revolving Loan Fund, façade & sign grants, fire protection, rent subsidy and business retention grants. These would be combined with programs to encourage a wide range of residential development, to recruit new targeted businesses compatible with existing businesses and assist existing businesses with expansion and marketing. Works in Progress
  • Support the continued development and mission of the Princess Theatre
  • Establish a fund to purchase empty lots and buildings that are in key development areas of the City Center and advocate favorable development incentives to potential developers. Accomplishments
  • Develop a plan to fund and build a parking deck in the City Center
  • Continue to expand and enhance the website as a primary focus for marketing and promotion of the downtown area for development
  • Develop free public WiFi in Decatur's downtown parks
  • Advocate rezoning those properties in the downtown area appropriate for B-5 zoning
  • Encourage the City to donate existing vacant downtown properties for rehabilitation and sale
  • Establish a Museum District in the City Center to include the old Railroad Station
  • Work with Decatur Downtown Merchant and Business Association (DDMBA) and the Farmer's Market to create and implement new events to draw people to the City Center

Water Tower Refurbishment

The Redevelopment Authority is developing a plan to refurbish both water towers in the City Center to include promotional logos. One water tower would feature the official logo for the City of Decatur and the other would feature a logo for the farmer's market.