Decatur City Council adopts 2026–2029 revitalization plan, approves incentive package for downtown redevelopment

Decatur City Council unanimously adopted a 2026–2029 Economic and Community Development Revitalization Plan and approved a bundle of incentives and grant programs aimed at encouraging downtown and neighborhood investment.

City Manager Ms. Hahn said staff revised the plan after an extended public-comment period to expand the strategy from single neighborhoods to a regional approach and to schedule ordinance and policy reviews over the next three years. "We then left it open for public comment, review and discussion," she said, introducing Lacey Elzey, the city’s Economic and Community Development director, to summarize changes.

Lacey Elzey said the most noticeable changes include a revised focus on three broader regions (the Oakwood region, the Near East region and the Jasper Street region) and new language committing staff to review ordinances, policies and procedures over the plan period. "The most noticeable changes that we made in the Revitalization Plan were we updated some of the language to include review of our ordinances, as well as our policies and procedures over the next 3 years," Elzey said. Councilman Horn praised the short-term outcomes the plan provides but urged clearer benchmarks tied to Decatur Public Schools' demographic findings.

As part of implementation steps tied to the plan, the council approved a development agreement and tax-abatement package for Notice Development LLC to redevelop a currently vacant former health-care building at 136 South Dipper Lane into a 14‑unit apartment building. Elzey told the council the developer proposed more than $1.2 million in private investment; in return the city will abate its portion of property taxes for seven years after substantial completion and waive approximately $15,000 in building-permit fees. "This is a proposed 14 unit apartment of a currently vacant building...they are proposing to invest over 1,200,000 into the project," Elzey said. Developer Levi Layman, who spoke during public comment and was present at the meeting, asked the council for support "to move forward with that project."

Council also authorized a $100,000 business façade program and approved a $600,000 residential exterior improvements program targeted at homeowners, with staff noting the residential program is expected to fund a minimum of 10 homes and will use ALICE (asset limited, income constrained, employed) thresholds as guardrails to prioritize applicants. On the façade program, Councilman Horn asked whether TIF increment could be used to expand grant reach and whether the city could limit some advertising on facades; staff said TIF-funded grant programs could be explored and legal staff cautioned that content-based restrictions would raise First Amendment issues but that time, place and manner rules (size, placement) are regulable.

The measures passed on unanimous votes. Council members repeatedly emphasized the programs are stopgap measures to guide short-term spending and will be folded into a larger, forthcoming comprehensive plan. Elzey said the Revitalization Plan and these pilot programs were informed by a recent community survey and stakeholder input.

Implementation steps noted at the meeting include developing specific benchmarks for measuring blight-reversal outcomes, exploring TIF usage as a funding source, and incorporating the plan into a future comprehensive plan update. The council directed staff to follow up with the Mayor and Council as the plan moves toward implementation.

The council adopted the Revitalization Plan and the set of incentives and programs by unanimous vote; staff said they will return with implementation details and any proposed TIF program adjustments for future consideration.