“Dahlonega is, of course, a tourism-based economy,” says City Manager Allison Martin.“We’re a destination location and a desired place for people.They want an area they can live, work, and play in.” The community of 7,500 residents is nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, offering visitors everything from gold panning adventures to award-winning wineries that have earned the region recognition as the Heart of Georgia Wine Country, with 12 tasting rooms and eight wineries producing wines from 100 acres of vineyards. Martin points to the University of North Georgia as another key asset. “Our community is home to the University of North Georgia—the Senior Military College of Georgia—and Camp Frank D. Merrill, a ranger training school for the mountain phase of training.” The university, one of only six senior military colleges nationwide, hosts 8,200 students at its Dahlonega campus alone, more than the town’s 7,500 permanent residents, creating both opportunity and challenge for local leaders managing growth while preserving the area’s historic character and natural beauty. PRESERVING HISTORY WHILE PLANNING FOR GROWTH Dahlonega’s success story begins with visionary preservation efforts that created the foundation for today’s thriving downtown. The historic square, anchored by the 1836 Lumpkin County Courthouse that now serves as the Gold Museum, represents one of Georgia’s oldest standing courthouse buildings. Built with locally made brick containing trace amounts of gold, the structure houses a complete collection of rare gold coins minted in Dahlonega’s U.S. Branch Mint, which operated from 1838 to 1861 and produced more than $6 million in gold. “We continue to focus on preservation of our historic downtown area,” Martin explains. “We’re looking at the zoning update process that we’re finishing this December to examine the blocks that surround the square and how we can attract businesses or residential growth in those areas.” The Downtown Development Authority is simultaneously updating the downtown master plan, with projects planned for East Main Street and streetscapes leading into the downtown area. 57 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 10 DAHLONEGA, GA
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTI5MjAx