Question 6
What would you like to see done with the General Motors property? What should we do to prepare for the loss of the GM revenue?
The GM property presents our city with a unique opportunity to make our city a Better Place to
Live. GM has its own development department in Detroit. While GM has not yet informed us of
its ideas for re-development, I will make sure that at the appropriate time, GM informs us of its
plans. I will make sure that GM is aware of the needs of the City, and I hope to steer GM's
development decisions in a manner that benefits the City and its citizens and businesses.
The GM property has been studied by different groups including Georgia Tech. I am
Chairman of Doraville's Blue Ribbon Committee on the GM property. Most of the studies have
suggested that the GM site be developed in a manner similar to Atlantic Station retail and
business development near the Georgia Tech campus. I feel that such development has merit.
As to the loss of revenue from the GM closing, we must work to bring new businesses into
our city. I am willing to meet with anyone who is concerned and with businessmen who want
to locate in Doraville to work out the best plan for our City, keeping in mind that those businesses
must comply with our Zoning Ordinance. We should take a hard look at any new projects that
are funded from the general fund. In other words, we must be ever watchful of spending
taxpayer money, making certain that we always have funds in reserve for future projects,
expenditures and operating costs.