Press Releases

 Mayor’s Office of Communications
55 Trinity Avenue, Suite 2500 • Atlanta, Georgia 30303

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 02/15/13

News Release

Lakewood LCI Community Workshop – Citizens Brainstorm Solutions for the Future

Workshop provides citizens and business owners with a chance to help shape the future of their community

ATLANTA - Improving transportation options, reviving underused commercial and industrial property and new ways to boost economic development are topics to be explored with interested Lakewood community members. The City of Atlanta Department of Planning and Community Development invite you to attend a Community Workshop for the Lakewood Livable Centers Initiative (LCI), Saturday, February 16, from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. (registration and refreshments - 8:30am to 9am) at Atlanta Technical College, Dennard Building Conference Center Ballroom – Building B. 

This interactive workshop will include a presentation of the existing conditions analysis of land uses, transportation, demographics and market conditions. Using this data, meeting participants will have an opportunity to work side by side with planning facilitators to brainstorm solutions addressing issues facing the community and identify both short and long-term goals for the future for housing, economic development, infrastructure, safety, recreation and much more. This event is free to the public and children/ youth are welcome to participate.

To learn more about the project and opportunities to participate, visit www.lakewoodlci.com.

About the Lakewood Livable Centers Initiative Program:

The purpose of the Lakewood LCI study is to formulate strategies to encourage growth and development in the area. The plan will focus on the following:

• Leverage the Lakewood Fairgrounds and attract new film and television production jobs and related businesses.
• Increase the number of jobs and businesses to serve the community.
• Promote transit supportive redevelopment of underutilized commercial and industrial areas.
• Improve mobility and accessibility for all modes of transportation to people of all ages and income levels.
• Improve connectivity among various commercial nodes, employment districts, neighborhoods, and community facilities.
• Improve transportation infrastructure while providing opportunities for mixed-use/mixed-income developments.

The Lakewood LCI study area includes 1,900 acres of land around the Lakewood Fairgrounds and portions of the following neighborhoods: Betmar LaVilla, Joyland, Lakewood Heights, Lamar Heights, Perkerson Park, Sylvan Hills, South Atlanta, and The Villages at Carver. Significant amounts of land along Pryor Road, Jonesboro Road, Lakewood Avenue, and Metropolitan Parkway are included in the study area.  Funded by the Atlanta Regional Commission, the City of Atlanta, and other local partners, the Lakewood LCI will create a vision for the future of the Lakewood Fairgrounds and surrounding communities, with particular focus on the film industry as an economic driver. The planning and community input process will run from December 2012 to April 2013.

About the Department of Planning and Community Development:

The mission of the Department of Planning and Community Development is to plan and implement the future by guiding the physical and economic development of the City while enhancing the quality of life for all through a comprehensive range of planning, design review, construction plan approval, and housing preservation and assistance services and programs. Learn more at www.atlantaga.gov.

About the ARC Livable Centers Initiative Program:

The Livable Centers Initiative is a planning program sponsored by the Atlanta Regional Commission that provides funding for planning studies and transportation projects in downtowns, activity centers, and corridors throughout the metro region. The program’s goal is to balance transportation and land use, promote a mix of land uses, and encourage sustainable growth. The ARC Board has approved $1 million annually for studies in years 2000 to 2017. The ARC Board also approved an initial allocation of $350 million for priority funding of transportation projects resulting from Livable Centers Initiative studies. http://www.atlantaregional.com/land-use/livable-centers-initiative.

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For more information about the City of Atlanta, please visit http://www.atlantaga.gov or watch City Channel 26. Follow the City of Atlanta on Facebook and Twitter @City_of_Atlanta. Follow Mayor Reed on Facebook and Twitter @Kasim Reed