Tucker is undoubtedly one of the fastest-rising business destinations in the Metro Atlanta area. Each month, the Business Boom will seek to show different examples of how Tucker’s business scene is flourishing. This month's column is written by our Economic Development Manager, Jackie Moffo.
South of Main
On a rainy January morning in 2021, a group of five real estate and planning professionals from the Urban Land Institute “Mini-TAP” (ULI mTAP) toured Downtown Tucker and the area “south of the tracks”, below the railroad and south of Main Street. Joined by members from Tucker-Northlake Community Improvement District (TNCID), the Tucker Downtown Development Authority, and the City of Tucker Economic Development Department, this group was guided through Tucker’s sidewalks, alleys, and major corridors to kick off their research into a study that would focus on “reimagining the district south of the railroad”.
Every year ULI Atlanta District Council (ULI Atlanta)’s Center for Leadership program takes on projects to help organizations come up with new solutions to challenges relating to land use issues. Recently, the ULI mTAP program has accepted and completed seven projects a year on average. These projects range in scope and size but are all focused on assisting public and/or non-profit organizations. ULI mTAP projects are not new to Tucker, the City of Tucker took advantage of the ULI mTAP program with a 2021 study focused on Northlake Festival and TNCID utilized ULI mTAP for a Downtown Tucker Alley Activation study in 2020.
The partnership between the TNCID and the City of Tucker DDA led the way for a joint application for this study of “South of Main”. Both the TNCID and Tucker Downtown Development Authority provided feedback during the initial launch of the study. ULI mTAP researchers proceeded with the study utilizing resources such as Tucker’s Comprehensive Plan Tucker Tomorrow, the Downtown Masterplan, the City of Tucker’s zoning codes, and feedback and conversations with organizations such as TNCID.
The completed Tucker South Main (SOMA) study was shared on Monday, June 27, 2022, during the City Council Work Session and featured a presentation from the ULI mTAP project team. Tucker’s Downtown Development Authority attended the Work Session and provided their feedback in which they engaged with both the project team and City Council. While the Tucker South Main study provides one group’s input and suggestions on redevelopment opportunities for our community, which may be used as a tool for Tucker’s future, it does not reflect a solidified plan endorsed by the City such as the Downtown Master Plan.
Examples of ULI mTAP projects that have been published in the region include Vine City-MLK, JR. Drive Redevelopment (2021), Avondale Western Gateway (2021), Apple Valley Entertainment District “The District”, City of Brookhaven (2020), The Georgia Western Cotton Mill, City of Douglasville (2019), and more. For more information about the ULI mTAP program, you can visit their website, atlanta.uli.org.
