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SANDY SPRINGS REVITALIZATION, INC |
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SSRI Boosts Business Association Efforts
Sandy Springs business leaders will come together to discuss ways to become "one voice" as a Sandy Springs business association at their next general meeting scheduled for 8:00 AM Wednesday morning, December 9th at the Phoenix Brewing Company. Organizers are looking to build relationships among Sandy Springs businesses and improve the image of the downtown business district. Last summer, Sandy Springs Revitalization, Inc. (SSRI) conducted a Business Needs Assessment Survey of approximately approximately one hundred respondents. According to Sandy Springs Business Association Coordinator Donna Gathers, marketing and achieving visual improvements on Roswell Road have generated strongest interest. "The first project we’re looking into is creating a directory of all participating businesses," Ms. Gathers said. "Consumers often choose to support merchants who are vested in the community," she added. The directory will be distributed to the Sandy Springs business community as well as to new and existing homeowners. Local businesses are offered the opportunity to join the association and be published in the directory for a minimal fee to encourage participation. Gathers says she is anticipating a Spring publication. Several businesses have volunteered to work as an organizing committee to plan the structure of the organization and prioritize its objectives. Businesses participating on the committee are:
Other issues under discussion include: Economic Development - How to stem decline of the downtown business district and improve economic viability of the area. Marketing & PR - Developing a downtown Merchandising Plan, and coordinating joint promotions for the downtown business district. Forum for Information and Education - Keeping business owners informed about what's going on in the community, and educating them about innovative ways to improve the district. Advocacy - Advocacy on behalf of the Sandy Springs business community with local and state agencies and elected officials. For meeting information call Donna Gathers at (404) 252-9352 – office, (404) 252-0228 – facsimile, or E-mail SSRI@SandySprings.org
BLUEPRINT Sandy Springs officially ended in October when Sid Kirschner, General Chairman of the campaign, announced to the Board of Directors, that pledges to the five-year revitalization and economic development initiative sponsored by Sandy Springs Revitalization, Inc. (SSRI) had surpassed the $1 Million dollar mark.
work and expand our scope well beyond the level county funding alone has allowed us to consider in the past." During the seven-month campaign every major business in Sandy Springs was asked to invest in the initiative. Affirmative responses came from more than sixty companies including Northside Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital, United Parcel Service, Lucent Technologies, Northside Realty, Georgia Power and BellSouth. A number of other business also responded to the opportunity with five-year pledges. Click here for a complete list of "BLUEPRINT" Sandy Springs" investors. MARTA also made a significant pledge to the campaign by agreeing to provide one-half of the local match required for federally funded grants through the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) process. It is estimated that this investment alone could amount to an additional $1 million over the five-year period. "By combining private sector funding and MARTA’s commitment, we can eliminate the financial hurdles of seeking these grants and assure ourselves of a much higher success rate," said Mr. Anderson. "I want to personally thank each of the campaign volunteers for their efforts in making this campaign so successful. You have served this organization and our community well in exceeding this ambitious goal," said Mr. Kirschner about the more than 75 volunteers who contributed time to the community-wide effort. Volunteers worthy of special recognition include:
Pledges were made over a five-year period so SSRI will continue to reap the rewards of this campaign with a steady income stream over the next five years. It will not only enable SSRI to accomplish an important part of the mission but will also provide significant leverage with which to petition Fulton County to increase its rate of reinvestment of tax dollars. "Though funding fell short of our goal, raising $1 Million dollars from the private sector in Sandy Springs is a monumental success, said Charlie Roberts, Campaign Vice-Chairman and President of Roberts Realty Investments. The overwhelming response from all sectors of the business community reaffirms our belief that the plan of work outlined in BLUEPRINT Sandy Springs is but a first step in taking charge of the economic and community development in Sandy Springs and positions us well for future fundraising campaigns." "BLUEPRINT" SCRAPBOOK
SSRI and Foundation Join With Local Businesses To Light Up Sandy Springs
Mixing both holiday and community spirit, the Sandy Springs Foundation, Sandy Springs Revitalization and local businesses will join forces to light up Sandy Springs on Friday evening, December 11th. Festivities for this “first ever” event will begin at 5:00 PM at the Williams-Payne House, with the actual lighting ceremony scheduled for 6:30 PM.
For a one dollar community donation, participants can win a $100 Kroger gift certificate, a gingerbread house also donated by Kroger, or a 7 ½ foot Christmas Tree donated by Ace Hardware. Target is going all out with holiday decorations and lights, while Kroger will supply refreshments and Ace Hardware is bringing the tree. “We really owe a debt of gratitude to Bill Rosenfeld for pulling it all together,” says Sandy Springs Revitalization Project Manager John Cheek. “He has been very energetic and imaginative in finding ways to bring businesses and residents together for their mutual benefit, and for the benefit of civic organizations like the Foundation and SSRI.” Since his magazine, Sandy Springs First, arrived on the scene in April of this year, publisher Bill Rosenfeld has been looking for ways to combine business with his enthusiasm to do something for the community. Bill, who is a member of Sandy Springs Revitalization, the Sandy Springs Foundation, and the Sandy Springs Civic Roundtable, found that one way he could help was by donating advertising to promote these organizations in his magazine. Then he got the idea to do an event. According to Bill, “I got the idea to do ‘Lighting the Lights of Sandy Springs’ when I was planning the cover for my Holiday magazine. I remembered the tree lighting at the Whitehouse and thought, ‘Wouldn't ’t be neat to have a Chanukah candle and Christmas tree lighting in Sandy Springs, and let kids bring home made ornaments and decorate the tree?’” He adds, “When I talked up the idea to Reuben and Shawn (Reuben Fernandez of Kroger and Shawn Kruglewicz of Target), they immediately got behind it, and shared their ideas and support.” According to Junie Brown, Executive Director at the Sandy Springs Foundation, "Bill has brought the businesses into this in a very real way. They have always been very generous, but this year even the managers of the stores are participating, and he's got their employees actually producing this event. It’s a wonderful gift to the community from the businesses. That’s what’s so exciting about it.”
Secretary of State on November 18, 1993. Five years is both a very long and a very short time. It is a long time when we look at the physical progress we have made in transforming the public spaces of Sandy Springs. But five years is a short time in which to come from just an idea and vision with no money and little power, to where we are today. We now have transformed our vision into a tangible example of the future with our Demonstration Project and the Whispering Pines sidewalk and traffic calming project. We have firm goals and plans for achieving those goals. Our most important accomplishment however, is intangible. Our efforts have energized our community to demand change. Our Fulton County Commissioners are now besieged with requests for meaningful improvements to our public spaces. Our private and corporate citizens are together demanding sidewalks, street lights, landscaping, removal of overhead utility lines, traffic calming measures and a multitude of other improvements designed to ensure that our community can and does realize its great potential. Our recently completed capital campaign has secured pledges of over one million dollars from the business community. This groundswell ensures that our voices will be heard and respected. Now is the time for our leadership to change, but not our vision. With your continued support and guidance we will succeed.
Project Status Report: Whispering Pines Neighborhood Streetscape
Construction of sidewalks on Chaseland Road is approximately 75 percent complete as Phase 1 of the Whispering Pines Streetscape Improvements project progresses. Additional sidewalks are underway on Wright Road with Wright Circle to follow soon. Fulton County Commissioner Tom Lowe’s endorsement of the area’s need for pedestrian accessibility made much of the work possible. In addition, the neighborhood’s streetscape improvement project includes retaining walls, traffic calming devices, entranceway street treatments, and conduits for new lighting fixtures expected to be installed in the future.
SSRI Participates in ARC’S Vision
SSRI’s Transportation Committee representatives participated at a recent Atlanta Regional Commission’s (ARC) Detailing the Vision Stakeholder Group meeting to hear firsthand from planners about the proposed amendments to the 1998 Interim Transportation Improvement Program. Last July, the ARC Board adopted the ITIP for fiscal years 1999 through 2001, which programs federal transportation money for the region over a three-year period. And what’s in the ITIP for Sandy Springs? One piece of good news is that the widening of Glenridge Drive between Roswell Road and High Point, previously excluded, has been reintroduced to the ITIP. What’s more, starting in January 1999, the region can add projects for the next funding year, which begins in July 1999. With the passage of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA 21), high priority projects and funding were identified for the Atlanta Region. Projects which may qualify for the federal and state funding include intersection improvements, mass transit, sidewalks, bike paths and other projects which can improve air quality and relieve traffic congestion. The Transportation Committee is currently engaged in ongoing efforts to improve transportation corridors in and around Sandy Springs, and to insure SSRI’s involvement in the regional transportation planning and decision making process. In addition to representing Sandy Springs as stakeholders to ARC over the past two years, the Transportation Committee meets regularly with Fulton County transportation planners.
Community Profile: Egleston Scottish Rite Pledges Support for SSRI
metropolitan area. One such effort is demonstrated through its support for SSRI as an Advance Division investor of the BLUEPRINT Sandy Springs fund-raising campaign. In addition ESR has endorsed the concept of the Sandy Springs Business Association. Dr. Tally was previously president and chief executive officer of Scottish Rite Children’s Medical Center in Atlanta. He held a variety of positions in the School of Medicine at Southern Illinois University including executive director, patient and clinical services prior to becoming vice chancellor for administration and fiscal affairs at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Dr. Tally earned his bachelor’s degree in history and business (1965), master’s degree in education (1971) and doctorate in higher education administration (1977) from Southern Illinois University. Dr. Tally and his wife, Carol, reside in Atlanta. They have two children and three grandchildren.
The Sandy Springs Civic Roundtable will host its annual forum to receive taxpayers’ input regarding the 1999 General Fund and Special Services District Fund budgets on Thursday, December 17, 1998, at the North Service Center, 7741 Roswell Road. The agenda includes presentations from Commissioners Tom Lowe and Robert Fulton. Fulton County will host the final public hearing on Wednesday, January 6, 1999, at 10:00 a.m. at the Government Center Assembly Hall, 141 Pryor Street. Following are names and numbers of the Fulton County Commissioners: Commissioners representing Sandy Springs on the Board
Other Commissioners
*Officers-elect Mike Kenn , Chairman and District 2 Commissioner Karen Webster will be sworn in on January 6, 1999.
Contact SSRI to speak at your next group or organization event about its missions, goals, and achievements. Call (404) 252-9352 - office, (404) 252-0228 - facsimile, or e-mail: ssri@sandysprings.org.
For information contact us at
404-252-9352, ssri@sandysprings.org. |
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