Smyrna Sets 3 Public Input Meetings For Downtown Redesign

SMYRNA, GA — The Smyrna Downtown Redesign Task Force has spent months developing plans for the city's $6.5 million downtown redevelopment, and residents will have a chance to see them and provide input at multiple open house meetings this month.

Smyrna City Council already approved an overall concept plan for the $6.5 million redesign in June, which includes replacing the fountain and roundabout at the front of the city's library with a green space and splash pad; building a 250-spot parking deck; extending King Street to Powder Springs Street; and adding a stoplight at the corner of Powder Springs Street and Atlanta Road.

But council members faced opposition from residents who said the changes feel rushed, as well as two council members who voted against the initial concept plan — so Mayor Derek Norton created the task force, which consists of the five council members who voted for the redesign and three citizens with expertise in landscape architecture, building and marketing.

Both plans feature a lawn stretching from the community center south to Bank Street, but the first plan also includes a plaza and walkway that cuts through the lawn.

Architects added an "Instagrammable moment" into the plaza, featuring big sculpture-like letters in front of the library that spell Smyrna in all caps, but without the Y. Visitors could then pose and fill in the Y themselves, Patch previously reported.

The second option was more traditional, offering structures for shade on both sides of the lawn, but no sculpture. Some task force members said the Smyrna letter sculpture would likely be a big draw for visitors.

The three open house meetings are scheduled as follows:

• Thursday, Sept. 16 at 9 a.m. and again at 4 p.m. at Brawner Hall, 3180 Atlanta Road, Smyrna
• Tuesday, Sept. 21 at 4 p.m. at Smyrna Community Center, 200 Village Green Circle, Smyrna

The task force will show the two concepts for the redesign, and attendees will be able to ask questions and give their thoughts on the plans. Online participation options will be available closer to the date, according to the city's website. For more information, visit www.smyrnaga.gov or the city of Smyrna's Facebook page here.

Read more:

• New Details Unveiled For Smyrna Downtown Redevelopment
• $6.5M Downtown Redesign Approved By Smyrna City Council
• Downtown Smyrna Makeover Is In The Works