The Town Center 2.0 Plan represents a groundbreaking assessment of Downtown Decatur, the first in over 40 years. By evaluating past planning efforts and the current landscape, this plan offers a fresh and inspiring vision for the future of our downtown area.
Beginning with a comprehensive introduction, the plan thoroughly reviews existing conditions. The "Snapshot of Downtown Decatur Today" provides vital insights into the physical environment, demographics, and market dynamics. Together, these elements create a robust understanding of downtown’s present state. To complement this analysis, an extensive community outreach initiative was undertaken, detailed in the Community Engagement chapter, ensuring that local voices are heard and included.
The synergy between in-depth analysis and community feedback has refined our goals, shaped the planning framework, and culminated in actionable concepts and recommendations. The "Vision for Downtown" chapter articulates how to achieve these goals, presenting detailed objectives and action items that empower the City, the community, and its partners to advance Downtown Decatur's evolution. This section features comprehensive recommendations, necessary policy changes, and innovative concepts for new streets, enhanced streetscapes, inviting public spaces, and promising opportunity sites.
Finally, the Implementation chapter outlines a clear route for turning this vision into reality, identifying initial priorities, timelines, and potential partners for each action item. Embracing this plan is an investment in today and a commitment to a vibrant future for our downtown.
Decatur Square Transformation Project Development – Phase 1
The Decatur Square Transformation is the first project from the Town Center 2.0 Plan. The initial phase focuses on creating a vibrant, welcoming space with:
- A new performance stage
- New public restrooms
- Expansion into N. McDonough St. with green infrastructure
- Improvements to the plaza, including landscaping, hardscape, play equipment, and furnishings
The City Commission received an update on the Square Transformation during a public work session on October 21. Click here to view the presentation.
In fall 2024, we held several community engagement opportunities to gather input on the project. These included a Public Information Open House (PIOH) on September 19, an online survey, two pop-up events on Decatur Square, and youth engagement through afterschool programs at local elementary schools.
Your input is vital to our community's vision! We will continue to post updates on the project's development as they become available.