At DHA's Annual Meeting, Several Visions for Dunwoody's Future

Sunday afternoon, two visions for Dunwoody’s future were brought forward.

At the Dunwoody Homeowners Association Annual Meeting Mayor Mike Davis spoke about sustaining Dunwoody’s neighborhood character while fostering growth. Perimeter Center Improvement Districts CEO Yvonne Williams talked about vision for a more walkable, built-out Perimeter area.

The two visions are pretty well geographically defined to the Perimeter area and the residential areas of the city. Davis said the visions could coexist, but that the city must look out to sustain its character as well.

“We know that change is coming to Dunwoody,” he said.

“We recognize that we can’t stop it, but we have to step up and control it and be in charge of our own destiny,” he said.

Williams spoke Sunday about the ten-year vision for the PCIDs. The PCIDs just finished up the half diamond interchange at Hammond Drive and 400, led the charge for the new diverging diamond interchange at 285 and Ashford Dunwoody Road and just received money for improvements along Lake Hearn Drive that are projected to support 2.7 million more square feet of office space and bring in 800 new hotel rooms.

Williams pointed out that economic engine for the city is in the commercial district.

“71 percent of your net fiscal impact is from the core of the perimeter,” Williams said. “From an economic tax base, its very important that we maintain this significant economic engine.”

The PCIDs are self-taxing districts in the perimeter area that use the collected funds to back infrastructure and road projects.

Williams said currently there is 29 million square feet of office space, more than 5,000 companies, 100,000 employees and $3.36 billion in corporate real estate value in the perimeter area, which also includes Sandy Springs and unincorporated DeKalb County.

“It is important for us to stay relevant and focused,” she said.

Among the PCIDs’ plans are to make the area’s four MARTA stations and entire perimeter area more pedestrian friendly. Increase interconnectivity and push for an overlay district.

Williams’ presentation included a slide of projected growth in the area in the next ten years, including 35,000 more jobs to the area, 6.9 million square feet of new office space and 9,377 more housing units.

Davis said the Perimeter Center Improvement Districts and Atlanta Regional Commission also have visions for Dunwoody.

“That’s where the city council really has to show some leadership, with the ARC [Atlanta Regional Commission], PCID and all these organizations that are active in pulling the city into an urbanized area” he said. “We live in neighborhoods. We have swim and tennis clubs. We have half acres. This is what Dunwoody is. This is where I want my kids to come back to.”

Davis said the council should be firm holding onto the city’s neighborhood feel.

“The key is, can we control it and get it to bend to our will? That’s what I really want to be doing as a city council – make sure this doesn’t get out of our control and get away from us,” he said.

Davis announced he would be attempting to meet with 15-20 CEOs in the Perimeter area each month, as a sort of listening tour, which will also promote Dunwoody.

“I want to hear about they have to say about what we’re doing and I want them to hear what we are doing and see if there’s a way we can do things better,” he said.

Davis also said the city council was given a mandate in the election.

“We as a new city council received a fairly strong message loud and clear,” Davis said. “It’s all about focusing on providing city services at the best value we can and pretty much stop spending other people’s money.”

Davis said the city should focus on rebuilding infrastructure, look at the city’s parks system and zoning moving forward.

He finished by asking citizens to keep up what they’ve already been doing.

“I want you guys to stay involved,” he said. "I know I'm speaking to the choir. This is the involved part of Dunwoody right here. but stay involved, get your neighbors involved. We have a great story to tell. All I do is urge you lets go out there and tell them."