Downtown Development Authority members took a peek into the future on Wednesday, imagining the city of Newnan's downtown area 10 years from now.
Ideas that emerged covered a wide path: upscale town homes, public restrooms at city parks, alleyway promenades, more restaurants, increased night life activities, walking maps, storefront upgrades and an art museum.
The two-hour brainstorming session, facilitated by Niki Knox, a senior community economic development consultant with Georgia EMC, focused on prioritizing goals -- what could be done in one to three years, three to five years and what agency or department would take ownership.
"Go to the year 2022 -- you're looking at Newnan," Knox said. "What makes you say 'wow.'"
During their monthly meeting, the authority split up ideas into four broad categories: design, promotions, economic restructuring and organization.
In the design area, top goals were maintaining clean streets, a beautification program, banners and wayfinding maps, incentives and education on facade grants, storefront rehabilitation and restrooms.
Longer range plans included a comprehensive parking plan, improving the city's gateways, better sidewalk connectivity, north and east area public spaces and enlarging the historical district.
In the promotional area, top goals were concert series in the park, walking maps, on-line promotions, storefront contests and enhancing tourism. The overriding long-term goal was to make Newnan a destination for tourism.
The organizational category included formalizing the Main Street Newnan organization, educating potential developers and property owners on "how-to" follow regulations on construction of second-floor apartments over businesses, cleaning alleyways into promenade-type walkways, better pedestrian crosswalks and a comprehensive sign ordinance.
Economic restructuring goals included redevelopment of the former Newnan Hospital facility on Jackson Street, possibly into some type of business incubator; bringing in a downtown grocery; and develop a market study. Longer range goals focused on residential dwelling, acquiring property for economic development and an art museum.
"The goal was to try and set a vision for the Downtown Development Authority," said Hasco Craver IV, Newnan's city business development director. "There was some good information presented.
"On the staff side, there are achievable items," he added. "Simultaneously there are some long-range goals that will benefit downtown."
