Kelly Girtz
-
Athens-Clarke County
Map of Community That was Taken; Researchers’ Search for Residents Who Lived It
When Claire Hagan first began her work as a mayoral fellow for Athens Mayor Kelly Girtz, she never imagined how much work she would pour into the R-51 urban renewal project “I mean, where I picked it up, it was in the very, very early stages of research,” Hagan…
-
Athens-Clarke County
Mayor Kelly Girtz Criticizes Loss of Federal Government Grants to Reduce Violence
Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz demanded that grants rescinded by the U.S. Department of Justice be restored to the state and local governing bodies. The federal grants, initially calculated as $820 million, were rescinded in April after the Trump administration sought to cut federal spending. Many of the grants were…
-
Q&As
Q&A: Athens-Clarke Mayor Wants Opportunities to Be His Lasting Impact
Kelly Girtz is in his final term as mayor of Athens-Clarke County, which has more than 128,000 residents. Q: Alright, so you’ve had a long history of working in the Athens community, from education to District 9 commissioner. What inspired you to become the mayor? A: I really wanted to…
-
Athens-Clarke County
Athens Implements North Thomas Street Crosswalk, Public Safety Measures
Athens-Clarke County will add a pedestrian crossing on North Thomas Street near The Classic Center following two car accidents that resulted in fatalities, Mayor Kelly Girtz said Sept. 23 in a news conference. This project will make the city safer for pedestrians and drivers, Girtz said, while discussing public safety…
-
Athens-Clarke County
Mayor Girtz Proposes $1 Million for Affordable Housing, Promotes Future Land Use Plan
Athens’ population is expected to increase by about 30,000 residents over the next 20 years, which includes the students expected to enroll in UGA’s forthcoming School of Medicine. The Athens-Clarke County Commission and Mayor Kelly Girtz are working on a Future Land Use Plan that will help determine zoning and…
-
Athens-Clarke County
Delays, Increased Costs, Traffic: Mayor Kelly Girtz Provides Update on The Classic Center Arena
Editor’s note: Students in Reporting I covered a Dec. 1 press conference with Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz about The Classic Center Arena. Following the press conference, they interviewed secondary sources ranging from Danny Bryant, general manager of the arena, to business owners and managers to members of the UGA…
-
Athens-Clarke County
East Athens Residents, Commission Disagree Over Development
Tess Cunningham, 71, in front of her property of 25 years on Shadybrook Drive. (Photo/Willie Daniely III) Some residents of a small street off Lexington Road are frustrated with the city and developers after the Athens-Clarke County Commission voted to approve the construction of a high-density development in their…
-
Athens-Clarke County
A Win For Affordable Housing: Inclusionary Development Charge One Step Closer to Reality
The push for more affordable housing in Athens has reached a significant moment, as the Athens-Clarke County Planning Commission agreed to submit their response to Mayor Girtz’s Inclusionary Development Charge during their meeting on Oct. 8. The Inclusionary Development Charge, which was originally created in Fall of 2019 and presented…
-
Athens-Clarke County
Athens-Clarke County Commission Approves Redevelopment of Bethel Midtown Village Apartments
The Athens-Clarke County Commission voted to approve the North Athens Downtown Development Project on Sept. 30. Today, Mayor Kelly Girtz and the chair of the housing authority will meet again to sign a memorandum on the development project. So, What Does This Mean? The Athens-Clarke County government will partner with…
-
Athens-Clarke County
Mayor Kelly Girtz’s Office Advocates for Appropriate Purchasing Card Usage in Athens-Clarke County
Roughly 600 government-issued credit cards, or purchasing cards, are issued to various individuals and institutions within Athens-Clarke County Unified Government. Not one of them, however, belongs to the mayor. Mayor Kelly Girtz, sworn into office in January 2019, has not elected to have a purchasing card provided to him in…