The Buckhead Community Improvement District has formed the nonprofit organization, POG 400, LLC, that would manage the fundraising, operation and construction of the proposed park over Ga. 400.
The proposed park, which would cap Ga. 400 between Peachtree and Lenox roads, provide green space and bring a redesigned Buckhead MARTA station, was originally spearheaded by the CID, but it is now pushing that responsibility to this new nonprofit, although the CID will still play key roles in it if it moves forward. Jim Bacchetta, who represents Highwoods Properties on the CID board, will serve on the nonprofit. The CID will also help fund the park if it continues to move forward.
The CID also announced Barbara Kaufman, a local entrepreneur and a former MARTA board member, will chair the nonprofit. The other members of the nonprofit will be released later, Bruce Bowers, a consultant working with the CID, said.
Bacchetta will represent commercial properties on the nonprofit. Other members will assist with local, public relations and fundraising, Bowers said.
The name for the nonprofit is POG 400, LCC, a placeholder name that may change later, Bowers said.
How to fund the park is still the main question. Rob Rogers, a consultant from Rogers Partners Architects + Urban Designers who has been leading studies on the park, said he expected to have more funding answers by this point, but transitions in Atlanta government and MARTA leadership has pushed back some decisions.
Jim Durrett, the executive director of the CID said. said the possibility of creating a “special services district,” or SSD, which imposes special property taxes, is still on the table because all funding possibilities are still on the table. However, an SSD would only tax apartments, not single family homes or condos, Durrett said.
Coxe Curry & Associates, a fundraising consulting firm, is working with the steering committee to determine the capacity and interest of the philanthropic community in funding the park, Durrett said. The steering committee, which was launched in November 2017 and includes members from major corporations and the former CEO of MARTA, Keith Parker, is supporting the nonprofit and helping determine funding sources.