Cleghorn/Anderson residents have only recently become aware of the extensive residential and commercial developments planned for their quiet, residential neighborhood. 

Additionally, Villa Rica has generated tens of millions of dollars from Cleghorn/Anderson residents because their neighborhood is located in a special “Tax Allocation District.” (See the Sept 4, 2024 Update) Ironically, the money raised from the TAD funds the very projects that threaten to displace them from their homes.

Wondering how the City engaged in so much planning without residents from Cleghorn Anderson knowing about it? Villa Rica has been calling the Cleghorn/Anderson neighborhood “East Village” in the plans.   

This is a name that Cleghorn/Anderson residents have never used for their community. Using a different name and not mentioning the names of their streets allowed City officials to proceed with plans right in front of the residents without them realizing that the City was referencing their neighborhood. 

As you can hear from this video, former Villa Rica mayor Gil McDougal called the area to be developed, across from Mirror Lake “a section of completely undeveloped property between Mirror Lake…and the downtown part of Villa Rica.” Mr. McDougal describes the project impacting Cleghorn/Anderson as a $140m development that would include retail space, a new gas station and multiple restaurants. This area is not "undeveloped," it is home to a historically Black community of single family homes on spacious lots.

Villa Rica received a Livable Centers Initiative grant to study development in the city. The documentation about that grant describes what the city envisions for the “East Village” area. East Village would have an "Urban Village" character which would have moderate to high density and wide streets with on-street parking.  

These plans would dramatically change this community.

Cleghorn/Anderson residents have asked and are still waiting to receive more information about the “East Village” neighborhood and the plans that the City has for their neighborhood. 

Additional Source: City of Villa Rica Comprehensive Plan Draft 2023-2043

Note that the City's video explaining the TAD can no longer be found on the City's Youtube channel. This message came up when we tried watching it: This video has been removed by the uploader