PlaceKeeping

Public investments like the Carrollton Center for the Arts, Barnes Avenue and Newnan Street parking decks, the Carrollton Depot, downtown hotel, GreenBelt, and the amphitheater, have transformed this once sleepy downtown into a regional destination. These projects, coupled with private sector investments, have made downtown Carrollton into the vibrant heart of the surrounding community.

Amid this progress, the small, locally-owned businesses that define downtown’s unique atmosphere face challenges on the horizon. As downtown growth accelerates, local leaders must once again take a proactive role to preserve the qualities that residents love about Carrollton. An unfortunate trend has occurred alongside the revival of downtowns in cities like Athens, Decatur, Savannah, and others. As growth has returned to these downtowns, rising rents and development pressure have priced out small, locally-owned businesses that once lent these downtowns their unique character. Often, national chains that lack the distinct character and personal touch of local businesses displace them.

Carrollton’s unique local businesses are an undeniable element of downtown’s sense of place. Practicing “placekeeping” can help inform downtown development in a way that preserves the qualities that make downtown special. Placekeeping celebrates the cultural ties, built environment, and social fabric of a place while empowering local citizens to maintain their way of life. With this in mind, the local government, Downtown Redevelopment Authority, and allied institutions should see any vacant or underperforming downtown spaces as a way to sustain local arts, entertainment, and small businesses. Strategically acquiring key properties could preserve leasable space for locally-owned small businesses. Entities like the Downtown Redevelopment Authority could make space available in these locations at affordable rates for local businesses. This proactive approach aligns with Carrollton's commitment to preserve local quality of life, ensuring that this “altogether original” downtown endures for generations to come.

Through the determined efforts of Carrollton’s proactive leadership and engaged business owners, local citizens and public officials have already begun to enact the vision for the future outlined in the Carrollton RSVP. Even before the conclusion of this planning process, local officials stepped up to improve downtown by investing in upgrades to the Amp and the streets surrounding it, installing a sophisticated parklet with outdoor seating along Bradley Street, and adding features that allow closure of Adamson Square for events. Additionally, noteworthy city accomplishments include the creation of the Tax Allocation District (TAD) and the issuing of a Request for Proposals (RFP) for redevelopment at US-27 and Alabama Street. Through the hard work and perseverance of Carrollton’s mayor, council, city manager, and dedicated staff members, the city stands ready to move on many of the recommendations of the plan. Momentum exists to move forward with projects such as installing a new mid-block crosswalk to improve pedestrian safety at the Amp, reconfiguring traffic signals at Adamson Square, improving the public parking area on Rome Street, adding new street trees throughout downtown, enhancing lighting at Adamson Square, and more. These initiatives, already in motion, are the stepping stones to an even brighter future.