By: Chuck Warbington, PE - Executive Director, Gwinnett Village CID
As I reflect over the past week concerning our recent trip to Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina with the Gwinnett Chamber, I cannot help but get excited about the potential and opportunity for Gwinnett as we begin a concerted effort to improve the southern part of the County.
The focus of the end of the strategic trip centered around revitalization of old growth areas. In some cases, old buildings were demolished and new mixed-use developments rose in their place while in other areas, we saw where large existing tobacco warehouses were structurally maintained and internally gutted for class A office space. It was clear that this resurgence was not by accident. Several deliberate actions were common in both Raleigh and Durham that set in motion positive revitalization of areas that had in recent years been considered areas of blight and decay.
First and foremost, a champion organization was formed that brought vision and focus to these declining areas called Business Improvement Districts (BIDs). The BIDs, similar to Gwinnett's CIDs, are self-taxing districts that were formed over 15 years ago. The labor of their efforts were certainly evident with significant decreases in crime, triple digit property value increases, and a overall improved quality of life. These champions were business and property owners who organized and did more than just talk about change. The BIDs were results driven reaching out to elected officials, community leaders, and residents in the surrounding community to engage and foster full buy-in for positive change. Although early in its tenure, Gwinnett County can be encouraged that champion organizations are already in place in declining areas called Community Improvement Districts (CIDs). The CIDs are providing the leadership to begin the transformation of blighted and decaying areas.
Secondly, the start of any successful initiative begins with a plan. Each of the communities began over 15 years ago with visioning and masterplanning that included the desires of the surrounding residents while building upon the wishes of the business community. Bringing together these two entities were at times a challenge, but in the end an ultimate plan for the area was agreed upon. The success story does not end there. I was most impressed with their ability to understand how to stay committed to the plan for improvement while maintaining a flexibility to address economic and political pressures over time. This balance was uniquely and carefully navigated by the "champion" organizations (BIDs) that ultimately created what can now be clearly seen in Raleigh and Durham as a destination where residents desire to live and businesses thrive.
Finally, public funding was strategically used to spur signifigant investment in the private community. From a $10 million dollar streetscape project to construction of $43 million worth of shared parking decks for businesses, it was certainly clear that public investment is needed in declining areas to set the table for the significant private investment. The public investment was strategically spent on projects of impact meeting the goals of the overall masterplan for the area. For example, over the 15 year period, the public investment in the declining areas totaled $314 million causing just under $1 billion worth of private investment. This was a true win-win investment for the public and private investors.
I feel encouraged in the initial efforts that Gwinnett is making to transform our declining areas of the County. We are finally reaching the point of understanding that we need to address urban issues with urban solutions (not suburban solutions). These include the plans of all three CIDs, the Chamber's focus to bring in high paying jobs through Partnership Gwinnett, and the County's long range vision outlined in the 2030 plan that will be presented to the public in November. Be encouraged and be involved in the movement to transform the southern part of Gwinnett.
Links to other sites for more information: Gwinnett Village CID
This article has been posted to Suwanee Talk with the express consent of the author.
