City Awarded $96,000 Grant for Town Center Study

Gwinnett's newest city just received a nice financial shot in the arm - a grant of almost $100,000 to fund a study for the new Peachtree Corners City Center and surrounding area identified as the "Central Business District."

The center, planned for the 20.6 acre city-owned property across from The Forum, is still in the planning stages. 

Peachtree Corners was one of only two town-center grants awarded to metro Atlanta communities. The actual amount of the grant was $96,000. The ARC also awarded $60,000 to the city of Hiram.

"It's exciting news," said Mayor Mike Mason. "And it's a great compliment to the city's town center project."

The Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) grants which began in 1999 is designed to assist cities create plans for quality growth including strategies to reduce traffic congestion and finding ways to better connect residents to shops and businesses.

"This LCI award allows us to continue the work that we began last year with the Comprehensive Plan," said Diana Wheeler, the city's Community Development Director. "We’re especially excited about working on this project because when it's completed, we’ll have the blueprint for a much needed town center in Peachtree Corners."

The LCI program is funded with federal transportation dollars. The grants fund 80 percent of the study, the cities match with a 20 percent contribution. Peachtree Corners match is $24,000.

The city's plan will focus on creating a strategy to help the city develop a walkable, downtown core and create community identity according to the information provided by the ARC.

The ARC also granted nine other grants for supplemental studies to help communities implement their existing plans.

In Gwinnett the Gwinnett Place CID received a $90,000 grant to study the feasibility of a roundabout, road diet and "Better Block" project. The Lilburn CID received $60,000 for a Lawrenceville Highway Urban Design Implementation study.

For more on the ARC's Livable Centers Initiative program, visit www.atlantaregional.com/lci


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