Lilburn CID Asks Schools for Help

Officials from Lilburn-area schools met with the executive director of the Lilburn Community Improvement District on Tuesday morning to discuss how the CID can help better the three school clusters of Meadowcreek, Parkview and Berkmar high schools. 

"Part of the process is working with the schools and figuring out how to help the schools, [which is] part of the revitalization and redevelopment effort," said Gerald McDowell, the executive director of the Lilburn CID. 

Eleven officials from schools such as Camp Creek Elementary School, Mountain Park Elementary School and Lilburn Middle School listened to McDowell explain what the CID is, its  and how the school system plays a deciding factor in these plans. 

"Before [the investors] put the money in greater Lilburn, they're going to ask questions about the schools ... because they're comparing our area to other areas that they're looking at," said McDowell. 

For example, McDowell explained that the CID has asked couples in their 20s and 30s if they would move to Lilburn, and those that were hesitant said it was because of the schools. 

"They started to point out, 'Well, we're not comfortable with all of the schools. This school's OK, but this school's not OK,'" said McDowell. "After we heard that several times, we needed to find out why it's not OK, where you need help and what we can do to help you."

McDowell asked the officials to take some time and discuss with other school officials on what their schools would need, whether its funds for a specific program or books, so that he can meet with them again, possibly in August, to start working on the 2012-2013 school year.

McDowell made the point that the Lilburn CID deals with the city, state and federal governments, so if school officials come to him with needs, it adds one more medium for the schools to meet their wants. 

"It's going to be very powerful for me to go to the boards and say, 'This is not me coming up with an idea. This came from the principals, and this is how they're asking us to help,'" said McDowell. 

While the main focus was on the schools, McDowell also mentioned a few other city topics, such as the possible TSPLOST penny tax that would financially benefit the CID projects and could generate $7.5 billion to $8 billion in 10 years; the new shops that are moving into Old Town, including a bicycle shop that has been in the metro Atlanta area before; buying local, which would create more revenue for the community; and the much talked-about sports complex on Indian Trail near Highway 29, called Big League Dreams, which is in the process of happening. 

"When that happens, it's going to encourage all of this other stuff to happen," said McDowell, pointing to the CID's mixed use plans for Highway 29. "But the time table when it would happen is going to depend on our relationship with you, the schools."