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BUSINESS
dekalu Chamber
the Power of one voice
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CHAM I*JOM
April 7 - 13,2016 » Page 17A
APRIL 1016
News and events of the
DEKALB CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Two Decatur Town Center, 125 Clairemont Ave. Suite 235, Decatur, GA, 30030 • 404.378.8000 • www.DeKalbChamber.org
By redeveloping Suburban Plaza, Selig Enterprises will help bring in $150 to $200 million annual sales and 400 to 450 full- and part-time jobs.
Selig Enterprises awarded inaugural DeKalb Cham
ber Economic Development Project of the Year
Earlier this year, The DeKalb
Chamber of Commerce presented Selig
Enterprises with the inaugural Economic
Development Project of the Year for
their work to redevelop Suburban Plaza
in Decatur.
"DeKalb Chamber's role in
promoting the economic viability of our
community is pivotal.This award is a
way for us to show appreciation to the
organizations who provide the vision
and foundation for economic growth in
DeKalb County," said Vaughn D. Irons,
Chair of the Economic Development
Committee and CEO of APD Solutions.
The redevelopment will bring an
estimated 400 to 450 full-and part-time
jobs, and generate $150 to $200 million
in annual sales, resulting in $3 to 4
million in sales taxes. Tenants include
Walmart, HomeGoods, Ross, Jo-Ann
Fabrics, L.A. Fitness, Starbucks, and The
Comet Pub and Lanes.
What is the history of Selig
Enterprises and Suburban Plaza?
Suburban Plaza was designed in
the late 1950s and built in the early
1960s and is often dubbed the first
suburban mall in Metro Atlanta. The
original center was developed by Steve
Selig's grandfather, Ben Massell, in
partnership with Morris Arnovitz, and
was approximately 290,000 square feet.
Why was there a need to
redevelop Suburban Plaza?
After nearly 50 years, Suburban
Plaza reflected outdated design
philosophies, including a "sea
of asphalt" method of parking.
Additionally, due to the growth of
the area around Suburban Plaza, we
were constantly getting requests from
retailers for space.
What enhancements have been
made to Suburban Plaza for a better
shopping experience?
Approximately two acres of
greenspace have been added to
this redevelopment. The site did not
previously contain any storm water
detention or water quality control
features. Now more than 50 percent of
the storm water runoff is retained and
treated before being discharged into the
county's drainage system. More than 90
percent of the electrical and mechanical
systems have been upgraded to become
more energy efficient. White TPO roofs
have been installed on 95 percent of
the buildings, which helps reduce heat
island effect and energy use associated
with interior cooling of the buildings.
The redevelopment provided an
opportunity for drastic improvement
by incorporating underground parking
for Walmart, shielding it from view and
allowing the building to be located
closerto North Decatur Road. This allows
better accessibility for and adheres
closely to the planning ideals the
community expressed in the LCI Medline
Study. In addition, the parking areas for
the remaining portion of the center have
been redesigned to include extensive
landscaping and sidewalks to make
them pedestrian friendly.
,The status of health in
DeKalb County & its impact
on economic development
The 2015 Nationwide County Health
Rankings Report ranked DeKalb as the 19th
healthiest county in Georgia, demonstrating
there is room for improvement.
On April 21, DeKalb Chamber will host
"The Status of Health in DeKalb County and
Its Impact on Economic Development"for the
public to hear about health issues facing the
county, steps to take to improve quality of life,
and the effect of health on economic growth.
Stephen Vault, Ph.D of Grady Health System
will moderate the conversation. Speakers
include Dr. S. Elizabeth Ford of the DeKalb
County Board of Health. Additional speakers to
be announced.
Cost to attend is $40 for Chamber members
and $50 for nonmembers. For more information
and to register, visit www.bit.ly/DeKalbSOH.
San Francisco tech firm
makes stop in DeKalb to
help local entrepreneurs
The DeKalb Chamber of
Commerce is partnering with Weebly,
a global tech firm, to empower
entrepreneurs to create their own
website at the "Like a Boss" Bus Tour
on Friday, April 15 at Decatur Square.
At the event, Weebly web
experts will help entrepreneurs
build a website in just 45 minutes;
host on-site web workshops; take
free headshots; and give away swag
items and a $1,000 cash prize. DeKalb
Chamber will also raffle away 2 one-
year Partner memberships for new
members.
The public event is free. For more
information and to register, visit www.
bit.ly/DeKalbWeeblyTour.
PFOSIIMM® EVENTS
April 12 - Cuba Trip Informational Meeting - 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. -
DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, 125 Clairemont Avenue, Suite 235,
Decatur
April 15 - Weebly "Like a Boss" Bus Tour - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. -
Decatur Square
April 21 - The Status of Health in DeKalb County & Its Impact on
Economic Development - 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. - Atlanta Marriott
Century Center, 2000 Century Boulevard NE, Atlanta
April 28 - DeKalb District Attorney & CEO Candidate Forum -
6:00 to 8:30 p.m. - Oglethorpe University, Conant Performing Arts
Center, 4484 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta
April 29 - DeKalb Relay for Life - 6:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. - DeKalb
County Exchange Park & Recreation Center, 2771 Columbia Drive,
Decatur
May 25-2016 APEX Business Awards - 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- Atlanta Marriott Century Center, 2000 Century Boulevard NE,
Atlanta
For more information and to register for any of these events, please
visit www.dekalbchamber.org.
Brought to you in partnership with: The Champion Newspaper