Board
and Commissions
Downtown Development Authority
The Avondale Estates Downtown Development Authority (DDA) was created in 2001 by local legislation enacted by the Georgia General Assembly. The DDA is comprised of seven members who are residents of the city. Four of which must have a specific economic interest in the downtown area.
The members are appointed by the Board of Mayor and Commissioners and each serve 4-year terms. The DDA holds regular meetings on the second Tuesday of every month and are open to the public.
The DDA’s mission is to encourage redevelopment activities and provide assistance to private and public partners for the purpose of improving the downtown area.
The DDA is empowered under state law to borrow money, enter into contracts, receive grants and gifts, sell revenue bonds, purchase property and provide loans.
Downtown Development Authority Bylaws
Downtown Development Authorities Law
Downtown Masterplan
Robert James, Chairman - Robert@rvsmjames.com
Megan Graham, Secretary/Treasurer – meganwgraham@gmail.com
George Kennedy, Interim Chair – aikiatl@mindspring.com
Tres Indermark – indermarklaw@yahoo.com
Allan Kirwan – akirwan@mindspring.com
Bart Webb – bart@bartwebbstudios.com
Layne Whitehead-Lee - layne@sweetnsinful.com
The Ethics Board shall consist of three (3) members, one appointed by the Mayor, one appointed by a majority vote of the Board of Mayor and Commissioners, and a third appointed by the two above named subject to approval by a majority vote of the Board of Mayor and Commissioners. The third member of the Ethics Board shall be a member in good standing of the State Bar of Georgia and each serve 5-year terms. The Ethics Board meets on a as needed basis and meetings are open to the public.
The Ethics Board shall have the power to:
(1) Establish procedures, rules and regulations governing its internal organization and conduct of its affairs;
(2) Receive and hear complaints of violations of the standards required by the ordinance;
(3) Adopt forms for formal complaints, subpoenas, notices, or any other forms the Ethics Board deems appropriate;
(4) Report its findings to the Board of Mayor and Commissioners for such action as the Board of Mayor and Commissioners deems appropriate.
Members of the Ethics Board
Meghan Gurley - theologian@mindspring.com
Andrew Cohen - andcohen@comcast.net
Donald Horace - donald_horace@yahoo.com
Historic Preservation Commission
Avondale Estates is the only documented example in the Southeastern United States of an early twentieth century planned new town. The Avondale Estates Historic District was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in December of 1986 and is considered to be of national importance. This level of significance is attributed to the planning efforts behind the development of Avondale Estates as well as to the architectural and landscape components present in the district.
Avondale Estates is the only documented example in the Southeastern United States of an early twentieth century planned new town. The Avondale Estates Historic District was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in December of 1986 and is considered to be of national importance. This level of significance is attributed to the planning efforts behind the development of Avondale Estates as well as to the architectural and landscape components present in the district.
Acknowledging that the “historical, cultural, and aesthetic heritage of the City is among its most valued and important assets,” the City initiated measures to preserve and protect these characteristics of Avondale Estates. These efforts provide a basis in which to enhance the community’s visual appearance, promote harmonious growth and ensure that the old will blend compatibly with the new, strengthen community awareness of the values of historic preservation and capture the benefits of tourism and economic development.
In July 1986, the Board of Mayor and Commissioners adopted the Historic Preservation Ordinance which created the Historic Preservation Commission. The Commission is a volunteer board of residents of the City of Avondale Estates with professions or special interests in architecture, history, planning, landscape architecture or other historic preservation-related disciplines. The Commission meets on the first Monday of every month to review applications for Certificates of Appropriateness from property owners within the Historic District and the meetings are open to the public. The Historic Preservation Commission consists of 5 members who are appointed by the Board of Mayor and Commissioners and each serve 3-year terms.
Historic Preservation Application and Process
Historic Preservation Ordinance
Historic District Guidelines
List of properties in the Avondale Estates Historic District (Tier Designation List)
Members of the Historic Preservation Commission
Todd Pullen, Chairman – toddpullen@hotmail.com
David Sacks, Vice-Chair - david@davidsacks-rla.com
Jim Glover – jpglov@hotmail.com
Dana Rector - rector@rabunarchitects.com
Peter Yoxall - peteryoxall@hotmail.com
Monica Callahan, Consultant
Ken Kocher, Consultant
