James March-April 2024 online - Flipbook - Page 64
Since then, Milton and Johns Creek
were formed and Forsyth County— just
outside the district’s boundary— is one
of the fastest growing counties in the
country. The CID rebranded last year to
True North to create its own brand and
distinguish itself as more than just a
geographic area.
“We at True North 400 are eager to
continue our mission, making a lasting
impact on the North Fulton area. In
fact, our new tagline, ‘A Catalyst for
Community Improvement,’ reaffirms
that dedication to bringing transformative changes through innovative
roadway enhancements, strategic
interchanges, critical infrastructure
updates and connections to trails
and parks, increasing our members’
property values and driving economic
development,” said state Sen. Brandon
Beach, the executive director.
There is a slew of projects in
progress in the district, from trails like
Encore Greenway Park and Gateway
to traditional infrastructure like the
Dryden Road extension and culvert
64
JAMES
M ARCH/ A PR I L 2024
repair. Also just completed is a strategic master plan for the Windward/
Highway 9 area.
South Forsyth CID
Just a little further up Georgia
400 is the South Forsyth CID, created
five years ago. They are weeks from
unveiling their first major project,
a $1.5 million beautification project
around the Georgia 400/McFarland
Parkway interchange. With support
from Forsyth County and the Georgia
Department of Transportation, the
project has transformed the not-solong ago country interchange into a
Chamber of Commerce-type showpiece, bringing visitors to the relatively new Halcyon development, a 135acre shopping and food experience.
Jon Antoine is the executive director, coming to Forsyth from the Aerotropolis Atlanta CIDs where he was the
public safety director. Antoine said that
the CID had more landscape projects
planned in addition to the interchange
but development is happening so fast
in the area that they have paused some
of that to allow property buyers to implement their own plans, with the CID
adjusting priorities on the fly.
One major item rumored in the
South Forsyth CID is a new stadium,
perhaps a future home to an NHL
team. The stadium is still in the plans
for The Gathering at South Forsyth
project, currently under review by the
county and slated to cost some $2
billion. Directly adjacent to Halcyon,
once complete the area would feature
as much shopping and entertainment
space as anywhere in the state.
Indeed, every CID in the region
has something big happening. Whether it is a bridge project, shopping development or beautification design, metro
Atlanta remains on an exciting growth
path. For long-time Georgians, it can
be hard to wrap your mind around the
level of growth and change that has
happened. But it’s exciting!
Baker Owens is a staff writer for James and James
Magazine Online.
