Gwinnett Daily Post

ATLANTA -- Norcross Town Center was one of five developments honored recently by the Atlanta Regional Commission and Livable Communities Coalition.

The downtown Norcross development was among those honored as "the region's most innovative developments," taking home the Livable Centers Initiative Achievement award at the ARC's annual breakfast.

According to a news release about the award, "few communities have done more with their Livable Center Initiative funds than the city of Norcross has since receiving its first LCI grant in 2001 with a vision of transforming its underutilized downtown into a walkable, livable community."

In recent years, the city has converted an old church into a cultural arts and community center and turned a worn-out baseball filed into a public space for concerts and other events. Sidewalks and bike facilities are currently being improved.

Also receiving awards from the ARC -- which covers 10 counties around metro Atlanta -- were the Historic Fourth Ward Park, downtown Decatur, the College Park Gateway Center, Ivy Hall and Emory Point.