As The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Tuesday, the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners has approved plans for a new tax district to pay for improvements in the Sugarloaf Parkway area.
The Sugarloaf Community Improvement District would raise more than $184,000 a year from property taxes paid by 43 commercial property owners near I-85 interchange at Sugarloaf Parkway. One property owner told the AJC he hopes the new district will help spark a new walkable business district in the area.
“We have the arena (Infinite Energy Center), some nice restaurants around it,” said developer Brand Morgan, who owns and manages property in the district. He envisions a district “where you can come in, stay at a hotel, have dinner, go see a show and walk home.”
Gwinnett already has five other community improvement districts. They usually focus on redeveloping areas that have lost some of their shine. Morgan sees the Sugarloaf CID differently – as sort of a preventive measure.
“It looks great today,” he said. “But we need to make sure we have the available resources, if needed, to make it look good 20 years from now.”
Gwinnett already plans a large commercial and residential development at the arena, and county officials say the Sugarloaf CID will compliment that effort.
The district can spend its money on projects like building and maintaining roads and sidewalks and providing public transportation. But Morgan said there are no specific plans at the moment.
You can learn more about the Sugarloaf CID here.
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