From Gwen O'looney
626 Cobb Street
Athens, Georgia 30606
April 28, 1999

To: Mr. Carl Nichols, Chairman
Program & Facilities Committee
c/o Athens Regional Medical Center
Public Relations Office
1199 Prince Avenue
Athens, Georgia 30606

Thank you for the opportunity to briefly outline a few of my concerns and recommendations related to the growth of Athens Regional Medical Center.

ARMC growth offers an opportunity to solve major Normaltown community problems and strengthen these five intown neighborhoods. Normaltown is recognized as a growth center in the Master Plan of the Unified Government. This lovely commercial node of OIB-zoned property offers ARMC high visibility, easy accessibility and an attractive community image. Below are some of the elements which could lead to the next 20 years being a period of growth and change supported and appreciated by all.

1. Plan with the neighborhoods. Whatever the format worked out, each neighborhood is well organized and committed to working out a 20-year plan which will solve problems for all and leave no neighborhood abandoned to destruction. All understand the efficiency and preference for identifying a small group representative of all neighborhoods.

2. Plan using the Urban Village Concept. Fronting Prince Avenue with appropriate outpatient and therapeutic services would compliment the commercial atmosphere, support historic design standards, and allow mixed use with commercial on street levels and offices or residential integrated. Development plans for the Foundry Street or Downtown East site demonstrated the high density, traditional village concept with commercial, institutional, office and even industrial uses complimenting multi-family residential. All buildings within the core of the 5-year campus could be built to higher levels and denser capacity.

3. Target depreciated OIB properties. Major unattractive and deteriorated properties fronting Prince Avenue and the intersections directly across from ARMC offer blighted areas that can be improved with ARMC growth.

4. Employ Traffic Calming Techniques. Current plans for the Prince Avenue intersections of Talmadge and Oglethorpe offer opportunities to create pedestrian- friendly crossings to facilities. However, 20-year plans to straighten and widen adjacent streets will destroy an excellent opportunity for traffic calming which would benefit Normaltown businesses, the hospital campus, and the residential neighborhoods. Bulbing pedestrian crossings would create a safe pedestrian-friendly access to the hospital.

5. Shuttle Employees to Parking. Move the bulk of employee parking to an offsite location near Loop 10. Employee parking represents the majority of spaces needed until the 20-year plan. Shuttle services and arrangements with Athens Transit at peak shift changes would assure high security in lots and solve neighborhood traffic, high runoff water management, and parking problems.

6. Urban Water Management Solutions. Again, development plans for the Foundry Street or Downtown East site demonstrated the multitude of water management solutions available to high density areas with major runoff problems. In no urban area would you see an entire block of land sacrificed for a detention pond. Treatment and reuse systems are just one of the solutions which would benefit all.

7. Return residential properties to the neighborhoods. In the mid-80’s, the hospital demonstrated its commitment to not destroy the historic homes of Cobbham by returning those properties to the neighborhood. Without the same demonstration of retreat from the neighborhoods now endangered, property values will depreciate and rental properties will continue to decline. As long as buyers, sellers and homeowners believe that the hospital is considering a takeover, few families will be confident enough to make investments in the area. The hospital must return those residential properties not needed for the buildings of the five-year plan to the neighborhood. Historic Cobbham already operates a revolving fund which is ready and willing to begin taking these homes off your hands and returning to owner-occupied status.

8. Create a Legacy of Pride and Partnership. National Institute of Health shows that this is a time of growth for major intown hospitals across the country. Most are fighting, winning and losing battles with adjacent neighborhoods. ARMC could create a reputation and a model for working with its neighbors and community to create a win-win situation. If ARMC incorporated the highest standards of urban design and growth management in its 20-year plan, it would deserve and receive accolades from across the country. What a legacy to leave for the future – a hospital and neighborhoods with a plan embraced and supported by the entire community.

With confidence that we are just beginning to realize the opportunities for mutual growth and improvement inherent in this planning process, I would be proud to meet with you as a representative of remain

Sincerely,

cc

Citizens for Healthy Neighborhoods
Historic Cobbham Foundation
Mayor Doc Eldridge
Commissioner Hugh Logan
Commissioner Cardee Kilpatrick