Avondale Estates is planning to annex old mill property
- 12/9/10
- Categorized in: Business, DeKalb News
If the city of Avondale Estates gets its way, it will one day be several acres larger and there will be a new multi-use development within its borders.
For about a year, the city has been eyeing the vacant 13.14-acre Fenner Dunlop mill property that is bounded by Laredo Drive, Parry Street, Center Street, Franklin Street and Oak Street. About nine acres are located in unincorporated DeKalb County and approximately three acres are in Avondale Estates.
This month, the city of Avondale Estates is holding a series of meetings aimed at paving the way for a mixed-use development by annexing the portion of the property that is in unincorporated DeKalb County and rezoning the area, according to Ed Rieker, mayor of Avondale Estates.
“This would allow for flexibility for a development,” Rieker said. Currently, no specific developer has plans for the property.
Under the city’s vision for the area, there would be pedestrian-friendly streets complete with sidewalks, crosswalks and bike accommodations. There could be a museum, a community center, community gardens, charter school and a residential area. The buildings would be no higher than five stories.
Avondale leaders looked at Inman Park Village and Atlantic Station in Atlanta when they designed the concept for their mixed-use development.
A key element for the development of the property is a buyer. To that end, Keri Stevens, Avondale Estates’ city planner and community development officer, would act as a liaison between business and property owners, the city and potential retail developers, she said.
Fenner Dunlop, formerly known as Georgia Duck and Cordage Mill, was founded in 1916. The company moved its headquarters from DeKalb County to Pittsburg, in November 2009.
The city’s board of commissioners is expected to vote on the annexation and rezoning on Monday.
The County does not own the property and Avondale is not buying the property.
The City is only annexing the property, at the request of Fenner Dunlop.
Also, the zoning for the property allows a developer to build up to 400 apartments and another 150+ condos/townhomes plus office/commercial, etc.
Avondale was just considering incorporating within the county, why now do they want to buy land from the county.