By: Dave Deiters
Chair of the Avondale Estates Downtown Development Authority

We had a couple of house guests recently—longtime residents who moved away from Avondale several years ago.

These friends and former neighbors were true community leaders, widely loved and respected in the city. They had not been in the Central Business District in several years, so on the Saturday morning of their visit, I suggested we take a stroll. We stopped for coffee and bakery treats, which we enjoyed at the Town Green. We meandered over to Olive & Pine. Along the way, we saw so many families at play, enjoying treats and each other. As we headed over to one of our breweries for a frosty beverage, our friends kept saying how amazed they were at our city. They talked about how lovely it was to see the downtown so alive, and how exciting it was to see all the flourishing businesses. 

One friend was a former commissioner who well understands the economic importance of a healthy business community. He kept remarking on how much more financially stable our overall city must be now, versus just 10 or so years ago.

A Moment of Pride

As we walked through downtown, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of pride in the role the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has played in its transformation. This kind of progress doesn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of a strong partnership with the Board of Mayor and Commissioners (BOMC), with each group doing its part to move things forward. While our investment in The Dale has been a big one, I’m just as proud of the support we’ve given to our small, local businesses—many of them owned by Avondale residents. Our DDA Board is made up of people who live here, own property here, and run businesses here. We really understand the day-to-day challenges, especially with all the construction happening around us. We’ve stepped in with creative solutions, filling in gaps where the BOMC couldn't.

• In 2025, we awarded $44,000 in microgrants to help existing businesses. Sometimes, a little extra support can really help.
• We amped up our communication efforts, including the debut of our lovable “barrel people”—a fun way to remind people that businesses are open.
• We launched the Shop Local Throw Down, a friendly competition designed to get residents shopping and dining locally. Giving financial support is important, but creating regular, loyal customers? Even better.
• We’ve hosted annual community events like the Wine & Art Walk and Avondale Ale Day (now in its fifth year!) to bring more foot traffic to our downtown spots.
• We added a full-time digital marketing specialist dedicated to promoting downtown and amplifying the voices of Avondale’s businesses.
• We’ve also made it a priority to maintain clear and consistent communication during construction so businesses can respond quickly and stay ahead.

And it doesn’t stop there. We’ve helped property owners and new tenants navigate the application process for state tax credits and low-interest loans to renovate their spaces, making it easier for new businesses to open and grow.

Downtown: Progress in Motion

Spending time downtown with friends really made me reflect on just how far we’ve come in such a relatively short time.

It’s easy to forget that Avondale’s so-called “good old days” meant a downtown filled with tire shops, machine and repair shops, dilapidated warehouses, and abandoned buildings. (Thank goodness we had Finders Keepers, Skip’s and Avondale Pizza Café to keep things going!)  When you're in the middle of a big transformation, it can be hard to see the progress clearly. But make no mistake, downtown Avondale is deep in the middle of something special right now.

Yes, the Complete Streets projects have brought some noise and temporary disruption, but that’s part of real, meaningful change. This phase, while sometimes inconvenient, is laying the foundation for a more beautiful, walkable, and accessible city center. We’ve added so many truly top-quality places we can now walk to and enjoy. And how many exciting new projects are just around the corner?

So, the next time I’m stuck behind construction traffic or bothered by a jackhammer, I’m going to remind myself of this:

• There are so many more great places to visit now.
• Downtown looks better than it has in decades.
• And the economic benefits to the city? They’re already becoming clear.

When we step back and look at the big picture, one thing is obvious: progress is happening—and we’re just getting started.

Next Up: Tax Abatements and the TAD

Thanks again for reading. Next time, we’ll discuss real examples of two very important tools the DDA can use to make investments, tax abatements and funds from the tax allocation district (TAD).