The read

From my Sunday column in the Athens Banner-Herald ...

It's amply evident there are parts of the corridor in need of renovation and reinvestment. A vacant parking lot is overrun with grass and weeds. Empty big-box stores dot the route. Perimeter Square, once a thriving shopping center anchored by Wal-Mart and Books-A-Million, now has more vacancies than occupancies.

The forlorn nature of the empty spaces is magnified by poor design. Massive power lines define much of the corridor, which also has few sidewalks, little landscaping and no dedicated alternative transportation lanes.

While other Athens-Clarke corridors, like Prince Avenue or North Avenue, frequently draw the attention of area officials, Atlanta Highway remains the (lackluster) centerpiece of the county's west side. It's heavily trafficked, funneling cars from Oconee, Barrow and Walton counties into the community every day. Yet it is, for all practical purposes, the forgotten corridor of the county.

It doesn't have to be that way, and the utilization of a pair of popular and successful economic development tools might offer a viable solution. Community Improvement Districts have revitalized blighted areas across the state, while Tax Allocation Districts - an initiative approved by Athens-Clarke voters - have helped spur $2.3 billion in private investments in Atlanta. A strategy that incorporates both of those methods could yield an impressive return for Atlanta Highway.