*Update: On Monday, July 25th, Wall Street Conyers will host the second Salem Road Alliance / Chamber of Commerce Meeting. The meeting will be held from 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm, at 2375 Wall Street, Suite 240 (upstairs). Please RSVP to S[email protected] or call Cindy Jones at (770) 922-1090 for more information.*

Senator JaNice Van Ness, the representative for District 43, coordinated a meeting on June 14, 2016, for business owners and homeowner association presidents for the Salem Road Corridor. As the business owner of Peachtree Academy, she wanted to coordinate efforts to unify the efforts in the areas of beautification, the widening of Salem Road to four lanes, enhancing safety measures and community policing.

The commercial corridor is a great example of a true live, work, and play community. There are excellent walking trails and recreational opportunities tucked into the neighborhoods that are easily accessible to retail and commercial stores.

Over 40 people attended the lunch and learn meeting held at Wall Street Conyers office park on Salem Road. Cindy Jones, leasing agent for Wall Street Conyers, and Senator Van Ness provided lunch to an engaged audience who want positive outcomes as more development is planned for the thoroughfare. In attendance were Rockdale County Economic Development Director Marty Jones, Planning and Zoning department members, and representatives from Sheriff Eric Levett’s office.

The goal is for the community to fight for a stronger business/neighborhood alliance, cleaner streets, the redesign of Salem Road when it is converted to a four lane road system, illegal dumping of trash, and improved markings of roadways. A discussion centered on the lack of churches in the corridor and the need for greater faith based outreach to families in a five-mile radius. Other issues discussed included the demolition of the former Waffle House location, signage ordinance, crime trends, lack of islands along the road, and overgrown vegetation.

The meeting concluded with excitement from many about how they can positively influence the direction that development will take in their community along the corridor. Also, it allowed the group to recognize the enhancement needs for the area and to initiate a plan to make improvements with group support. Several members volunteered to help the cause and strengthen the area through volunteerism and focused efforts of the stakeholders.

Senator Van Ness worked on legislation during the 2016 Senate session to deal with vacant structures and blight. Her efforts are aimed at enhanced beautification and the removal of blight and crime, and developing signage requirements to address issues so that property values for both the housing and business industry will increase.

Information provided by Senator JaNice Van Ness