IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Alot can change in 25 years. Cobb long-timers may remember Town Center as an up-andcoming retail area with a new mall surrounded by emergent neighborhoods. Folks might even recall the pastures and farms pre-dating the mall. Town Center Community’s landscape looks vastly different today with a variety of economic engines amidst burgeoning single family, multi-family, and active adult communities. Today, the district still nurtures a robust retail environment but is now home to manufacturing, industrial, freight & logistics, and fin-tech companies, an international airport, and several global and North American corporate headquarters. Importantly, Town Center also is the home of Kennesaw State University with more than 43,000 students, an expanding campus, state-ofthe-art facilities, championship winning athletics, and world-class academics.

Growing communities do not happen overnight. They take vision, leadership, and investment. For 25 years, Town Center Community Improvement District (Town Center CID) has led with a vision to help make Town Center Community a vibrant place to grow a business, raise a family, shop and work, earn a degree, and enjoy the outdoors. Town Center CID has innovated throughout its history to meet the

needs of the community, helping deliver transformational projects that have made significant transportation, safety, and traffic improvements. These advancements help more parents and students get home quicker, reduce travel time for the region’s workforce, and increase access to parks and trails.

As community infrastructure and placemaking leaders, the Town Center CID has completed numerous large-scale road projects, produced detailed corridor studies to inform smarter development, and beautified district landscaping. Large infrastructure projects include the Skip Spann Bridge, Big Shanty Connector, Noonday Creek Trail, South Barrett Reliever, Aviation Park, Bells Ferry Trailhead, and Founders Park. The CID’s non-profit placemaking partner, Town Center Alliance, has developed projects to compliment the extensive infrastructure investment such as public art and education exhibits at Aviation Park, a Chimney Swift Tower and bridge mural along Noonday Creek Trail, a bikeshare program, and community programming like Yoga in the Park.

“We have so much to celebrate in Town Center and are excited to build on our 25-year legacy of impact,” says Town Center CID Executive Director Tracy Styf. Now, we have an opportunity to focus our priorities to meet the future needs of our changing community. With our non-profit placemaking partner, we are engaging our community to create a shared vision for a more prosperous future of Town Center that includes unique spaces, public art, expanded and connected trail systems, smart technologies and electric vehicle infrastructure, and forward-thinking transportation and roadway improvements.” n

Remembering a Change Maker: Lanie Shipp Hoover

Lanie Shipp Hoover served as Executive Director of the Town Center CID from its inception in 1997 until her retirement in 2014. During her tenure, the organization launched transformational projects, such as the Big Shanty Connector, Noonday Creek Trail, and the Skip Spann Bridge, in addition to countless studies and beautification projects. Those who knew Lanie described her as the “epitome of elegance and Southern grace,” “hard working,” and someone who “always wanted what was best for Cobb and the community she served.” Her tireless commitment to Cobb and Town Center has positioned our organization to continue for the next 25 years.

“The foundation, created by Lanie, our founding board members, and businesses that have shaped Town Center allows us to focus our passion for building community and lead with a shared vision for its next chapter,” said Kelly Keappler, CID Board Chair. The Town Center CID will honor Lanie Shipp Hoover at a 25th anniversary celebration and will announce an exciting new initiative in her memory.