News

City Explores Next Phase of Downtown Streetscape Improvements

Decatur leaders are taking a closer look at the future of downtown streetscapes, with a proposal to align downtown improvements with the ongoing Sixth Avenue project.

During Monday night’s City Council meeting, the Decatur Downtown Development Authority outlined a plan to evaluate landscaping, walkability, lighting, and overall streetscape performance along key downtown corridors. The proposed study would assess how existing features have aged and identify opportunities to refresh and improve public spaces.

If approved, the downtown streetscape review would focus on the following corridors:

• Lee Street from Sixth Avenue to Cain Street Northeast
• Bank Street from Cain Street to Church Street Northeast
• First Avenue Northeast from Lee Street Northeast to Grant Street Southeast
• Second Avenue Northeast from Lee Street Northeast to Gordon Drive Southeast
• Moulton Street from the Norfolk/CSX railroad to Sixth Avenue
• Fourth Avenue Southeast from Lee Street Northeast to Gordon Drive Southeast

The review would examine pedestrian access, ADA compliance, utilities, irrigation, lighting, plantings, furnishings, and traffic flow. Council members also discussed the importance of long-term maintenance planning and the potential expansion of the study area.

The study would include stakeholder input and produce preliminary cost estimates for each corridor, helping the City Council determine next steps and future investment priorities.

City Council is expected to consider the downtown streetscape proposal at its 10 a.m. meeting on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.