Pedestrian-friendly changes pitched for Georgia Street, Convention Center district

Driving the news: Part of Mayor Joe Hogsett's 2025 budget plan includes using $50 million in tax increment financing bonds backed by the downtown TIF district to fund the street improvements.

What they're saying: Dan Parker, Hogsett's chief of staff, said financing the projects through TIF bonds allows downtown development to pay for downtown improvements and frees up the Department of Public Works to focus on pedestrian safety and infrastructure needs in other parts of the city.

Zoom in: The proposal would largely close Georgia Street to vehicular traffic, creating an outdoor plaza made up largely of greenspace.

• It would become an additional asset for Convention Center users and be managed by the Capital Improvement Board.

• One lane would remain in place, primarily for emergency response access to the new hotel.

Flashback: The current iteration of Georgia Street, which includes a paved pedestrian-friendly path centered between single lanes of vehicular traffic, was completed in 2010, ahead of the 2012 Super Bowl. It was designed with sporting events and conventions in mind and is often closed to traffic during big events.

The latest: A City-County Council committee unanimously recommended passage of the TIF proposal last week.

What's next: The full council is expected to take final action on the 2025 budget in October.