Message from the Executive Director: Presenting the 2010 Annual Report

I am pleased to present the Cumberland Community Improvement District’s 2010 Annual Report. In it, you will see updates on a wide variety of our initiatives, including roads, streetscapes, trails, transit and land-use plans.

A few of the CID’s accomplishments over the year include:

• Completion of a groundbreaking Green Transit Oriented Development Framework to take the steps necessary to achieve the vision of a transit-ready, vibrant community.
• Advancement of transit plans along the U.S. 41 Corridor. Cobb County was the recipient of a $1.3 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration for the analysis of a high capacity transit system — a feat made possible in part by the Cumberland CID’s foresight, studies and plans.
• Construction of $6 million in streetscape improvements along heavily traveled corridors, as well as the installation of gateway signs creating a sense of place for the community.

If you would like to receive a copy of the annual report, please email Gail Bailey. For more information about the Cumberland CID and our projects, please visit the newly refreshed www.cumberlandcid.org, or feel free to contact me with any questions.

Thank you for your continued support of the Cumberland community.

Best,

Malaika Rivers
Executive Director, Cumberland CID

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Cobb County SPLOST Passes

On March 15, Cobb County residents approved a new Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) designed to raise more than $492 million in public improvements throughout Cobb County. The one-cent sales tax will provide for the immediate needs of parks and recreation, transportation, county facilities, public safety and municipal improvements.

The new SPLOST will focus on revitalizing and preserving the county’s infrastructure, which includes more than $25 million in improvements for the Cumberland area, including Windy Hill Road improvements and the development of plans necessary to achieve a Cobb County rail system. The SPLOST program will extend the existing sales tax for another four years. Collections will be leveraged against other sources including funding from federal and state agencies and community improvement districts. Results of the March 15 vote are tentative until certified by the Cobb County Board of Elections. For more information, visit www.cobbsplost2011.org.

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Project Update: Look For New Signs This Spring

Rendering of signage to be installed this spring.

As you make your way through the district by street or trail this spring, you will spot directional signage pointing to places of interest. The installation of wayfinding signage is part of the Cumberland CID’s extensive streetscape program. Pedestrians and drivers alike will benefit as they travel through the district.

Both wayfinding and gateway signs create a sense of place for the area. Additional signage will be constructed in conjunction with future projects.

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Track Your Trek on Cumberland’s Trails This Spring

In addition to the warmer weather, the Cumberland CID and Commuter Club are providing even more reasons to hit the trails in Cumberland this spring. The Spring Road section of the Kennesaw Mountain to Chattahoochee River Trail is nearing completion. Once complete, the entire 13.5-mile trail will connect users to Kennesaw Mountain and the Chattahoochee River, adding to Cumberland’s nearly 20 miles of trails — an amenity especially unique for a burgeoning office market like Cumberland.

Track Your Trek, the Commuter Club Walk Challenge, also kicks off in April. Through Track Your Trek, Commuter Club encourages participants to walk instead of drive, which improves air quality, promotes good health and can help you save money on vehicle-related expenses. Track Your Trek is an easy way to get in the habit of walking by simply clipping on a pedometer. Registered walkers are entered into a drawing for the chance to win one of four weekly prizes. And, at the end of the Challenge, the walker who logs the most steps will win a grand prize. Registration has begun and participants can begin logging their steps daily April 1.

For more information on Track Your Trek, or if you work in the Cumberland area and are interested in joining a vanpool or learning more about how the program can benefit your employees, please visit www.commuterclub.com.

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Commuter Club Partners with The Clean Air Campaign

The Cumberland CID has formed an innovative new partnership with The Clean Air Campaign to manage many of the commuter services currently offered through Commuter Club, the CID’s Transportation Management Association (TMA).

Through this partnership, the CID has launched a four-month pilot program in which The Clean Air Campaign will provide commuter services for employees of three companies located within the CID. As part of the program, The Clean Air Campaign will provide outreach services, develop programs, coordinate and promote events and provide commute alternative programs to Cumberland area employees. The CID will retain its identity as a partner in this endeavor and maintain the existing administrative functions of the vanpool program.

This partnership will allow the CID to focus its resources on its $232 million local work program, including capital improvement projects and planning initiatives. For more information on Commuter Club and its programs, please visit www.commuterclub.com.

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Realm Realty Announces Redevelopment of Cumberland Area Shopping Center

Houston-based Realm Realty, a developer, owner and manager of single and multi-tenant retail properties, and partner American National Insurance Co. recently announced the redevelopment of the Terrell Mill Village Shopping Center, located at the southwest corner of Terrell Mill and Powers Ferry Roads.

Construction of the center begins next month and will include full renovation of the center’s façade, lighting, parking and grounds. The new center will also include a new 45,000-square-foot LA Fitness facility, which will open by the end of the year. Realm also intends to re-tenant Terrell Mill Village’s remaining 31,000 square feet of available retail space.

The intersection, which offers exposure to a high-density residential population, a large daytime population and daytime traffic exceeding 67,000 cars, is a major gateway into the Cumberland area. The property is located near large corporate offices, including Coca Cola Enterprises, Genuine Parts (NAPA), IBM, Bluelinx Holdings, and Lockheed Martin, among others.

Click here for more information.

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