There is a new energy in Roswell, which is born of new leadership and new attitudes. As Roswell’s first female mayor, communication and transparency are my cornerstones in building a more open and accountable city government.
As a first step, we have begun to utilize technology to encourage citizens to participate in city government by video recording all City Council, committee, and work session meetings, which are then posted on the City of Roswell website within 24 hours. Our next goal is to redefine “being there” by live streaming these events. The heart of Roswell is her people, and increased transparency and accountability are keys to an informed and respectful debate on the direction we are heading and what we want to be as a city.
Roswell won the geography lottery, and we will continue to be good stewards of the river that defines our history and our borders. The people of Roswell are the guardians of our riverfront greenspaces, and the river’s current sets the pace for our renowned Recreation and Parks Department, nationally recognized for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration. The recent purchase of Seven Branches shows both community and City commitment to preserving and respecting fragile landscapes with historical significance.
Roswell is a city of living history, and we have long been a leader in historical preservation, which was witnessed again when the City purchased historic Mimosa Hall, saving it from the Georgia Trust’s 2016 Places in Peril list. Mimosa Hall joins her historical sisters, Barrington Hall, Bulloch Hall, and Smith Planation as the jewels of Roswell’s historic district.
Around the world, the alley is known by many names — “little street” in Japan, “laneways” in Australia — but in Roswell, the East Alley off Canton Street is currently transforming into a pedestrian friendly pathway and hub of connectivity and opportunities. We are looking forward to the completion of this project by year’s end, which was funded by the City and a grant from the Environmental Protection Division.
A key to Roswell’s economic vitality is responsible development. Thoughtful revitalization of our commercial properties is a citywide need, one that is particularly pressing along the Holcomb Bridge corridor. Proactive recruitment of quality businesses and innovative adaptive reuse will grow our economy and generate support of local businesses. As a city, we will invest in an all-encompassing, strategic economic development plan to meet Roswell’s needs of economic growth and vitality. Utilizing the talent of our community through the establishment of an economic development council is a natural step in continuing to strengthen our private-public partnerships.
The coming year will see continued progress addressing our residents’ foremost concern — traffic and congestion issues. The City is on schedule and has begun right-of-way acquisition for the Rucker Road improvement project and the Big Creek Parkway project.
The year ahead will be exciting, as Roswell grows while maintaining our unique character and charm. Our safe, family friendly neighborhoods, our schools, and our quality of life will continue to attract a diverse group of residents, businesses, and visitors. I am looking forward to working with City Council and our residents to make Roswell an even better place to live, work, and play.
to your business!