Avondale Estates mayor discusses city’s transformation at new Town Green space

According to Mayor Jonathan Elmore, the ongoing construction throughout the approximately 1.2 square miles that make up the city of Avondale Estates is the promise of a more connected community in action.

Elmore gave his 2022 State of the City address in the nearly completed south lawn portion of the city’s Town Green project, which will include a play area, pavilion, dog park, walking paths and other features once completed.

The space will be used for a summer concert series starting in June and will serve as the city’s new location for the annual Christmas Tree lighting and July 4 fireworks show, stated officials.

Elmore also stated that by the end of summer, the Town Green market pavilion will be complete at the corner of North Avondale and Oak Street across from Skip’s. The open-air market pavilion will be a space to host a farmer’s market and other events and will expand the Town Green project by 4,200 square feet, stated officials.

As officials anticipated, the Town Green project is catching the attention of developers; “City leadership strongly believed that building the 2.5-acre Town Green in the heart of our downtown would catalyze future development,” stated officials. “Since construction began, there has been tremendous private interest to develop parcels throughout the downtown, and particularly on property adjacent to the Town Green owned by the city and its Downtown Development Authority (DDA).”

More information about three different development proposals city officials are considering, including a boutique hotel, marketplace and townhome community, can be found on the city’s website.

“Town Green is just one example of being action-driven,” said Elmore. “Not only are we strategic with our planning; we’re backing it up with results and we’re just getting started.”

Elmore said other projects in the works include:

• A Town Green Commercial Development that will bring 20,000 square feet of retail,  including restaurants and businesses with public outdoor spaces.
• A project to widen sidewalks and improve landscaping throughout the city.
• Completion of a comprehensive stormwater management program to reduce flooding.
• A paving plan to improve roads that will run from 2022 into 2023.
• The North Woods Project, which will create a walking trail from the existing trail at Lake Avondale to Berkeley Road.

Elmore also said he was proud of the city’s efforts in 2021 to rewrite the city’s zoning codes, keeping the new historic design guidelines with community input in mind; the completion of a proactive plan to save and maintain trees; and Avondale Estate’s designation as the first city in the nation to enter into a recycling program with SC Johnson that breaks down plastic bags and converts them back into usable plastic.

“I think it’s safe to say we are in a transformative time in Avondale Estates,” Elmore said.

For more information, visit www.avondaleestates.org.