Beginnings and endings
JUNE 27 — It’s Cathy from Rough Draft with my weekly newsletter on Tucker. As I write this, it’s a pleasant 85 degrees, a reading that normally wouldn’t be listed as “pleasant.”
👓 This newsletter discusses a proposal floated out by developers at Northlake Mall who want to build 500 apartments in order to draw attention to the area, some sad news about a possible closure of a Tucker institution, a brief look into the city’s transportation future, and a bit of news about the Kelley Cofer pool.
This newsletter will be on pause for the July 4 holiday, but will resume the following week. I hope to see you in Tucker on July 3.
🎆 Have a great weekend,
Cathy
✨ Help provide life-changing mental health support to kids and families across metro Atlanta by attending CHRIS 180’s 25th anniversary CHRIStal Ball on Aug. 16! Get tickets here. SPONSOR MESSAGE
City Council lukewarm on Northlake proposal
🏬 Developers asked the Tucker City Council at its June 23 meeting for input about the future of Northlake Mall, floating the possibility of constructing almost 500 apartments in the former JCPenney site.
It would be part of a bigger initiative that Trammell Crow and mall owner ATR Corinth Partners envision for the mostly empty property that could include a Planned Unit Development (PUD), which is a multi-year process involving the Atlanta Regional Commission and other agencies.
Attorney Den Webb, presenting an economic development report on behalf of the companies, suggested a parallel path that would allow the construction of multi-family units while a master plan or PUD is developed.
🗯️ But the council wasn’t that jazzed about the “build-it-and-they-will-come” approach. Read about the meeting here.
$10M to Help Atlanta Entrepreneurs Expand
SPONSORED BY THRIVING CITIES FUND
🏙️ Two Atlanta-based companies, Flock Safety and Homegrown, have partnered to launch the $10M Thriving Cities Fund, supporting multi-location brick-and-mortar entrepreneurs across the city.
Entrepreneurs in Atlanta and beyond can now access growth capital without selling their ownership or putting their personal assets up as collateral. Neighborhood businesses like El Tesoro, Sugarcoat, and Switchyards were among the first to benefit.
➞ Is there a multi-location brick-and-mortar business you love? Send them to Thriving Cities Fund or Homegrown to learn more.
Tucker Meat goes silent
🥩 Is the Tucker Meat Market permanently closed?
Social media was abuzz this week with speculation after passers-by noticed that the beloved establishment seemed to be out of business. Others noted that they observed people moving equipment out of the building, located at 2187 Brockett Rd.
A Rough Draft reporter drove by the site on June 24 and June 25 and observed the front windows covered from the inside with brown paper, and a sign that said simply, “Kitchen closed today.”
While the business phone is still in operation, calls are diverted to a voice mailbox that indicates that it is full, and messages cannot be left. Rough Draft also reached out to the meat market’s listed email address and is awaiting a response.
☹️ This would be terrible news for lovers of quality steaks and the market’s famous Mammoth Burger. This is what we know so far.
✨ Help provide life-changing mental health support to kids and families across metro Atlanta by attending CHRIS 180’s 25th anniversary CHRIStal Ball on Aug. 16! Get tickets here. SPONSOR MESSAGE
A look at Tucker’s transportation future
🚵 On June 25, the city held an open house to solicit feedback for the city’s roadways and trails system, as well as the Lawrenceville Highway Access Management and Beautification project. About 40 people came to city hall to look at the myriad of improvement projects, some of which may happen soon, and others that could take years to implement.
The project “aims to enhance the city’s transportation infrastructure by building on the 2018 Strategic Transportation Master Plan, 2019 Trail Master Plan, and 2023 Comprehensive Plan,” according to the city’s website.
When complete, it will provide a comprehensive review and analysis of the city’s transportation and connectivity issues, focusing on major corridors, intersections, school zones, and access management.
The project will also evaluate transit, pedestrian, and bicycle systems and develop a dedicated trail network plan to offer alternative connectivity options and reduce vehicular traffic.
If you weren’t able to be at the open house and want to provide input, here’s the link to a survey.
🚗 A brief report about the open house is here.
Kelley Cofer pool repairs underway
🏊 On June 18, the city’s parks department announced on social media that the Kelley Cofer Pool would be closed until further notice. Apparently there was a fire in the pump room, according to witnesses.
There’s been no official word on a timeline for repairs yet, so Rough Draft reached out to the city for comment. Communications Manager Sonja Szubski said electricians have been hard at work all week to fix the issues. Officially, the pool’s reopening date is July 4, but it may be earlier than that, she said.
📱Stay informed about updates by following Tucker’s social media channels.
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