Tucker Business Owner Responds to Slum Designation

Tucker Business Association President Bill Rosenfeld says that the DeKalb Board of Commissioners’ decision to declare most of Dekalb County a slum is “inappropriate.”

“I think Tucker is thriving very well,” said Rosenfeld, who also owns Rosenfeld Jewelry in Tucker.   

“A slummy area would be where houses are falling down and the yards are not taken care of and just a depressed area,” Rosenfeld said.  

The slum designation came from a unanimous decision by the Dekalb Board of Commissioners to create an urban development commission, which will allow businesses that create two or more jobs in the area to receive tax breaks.  

“On one hand it might help them get more money but it might hurt their tax base if people decide to move out of the slum area,” Rosenfeld said, noting that labeling most of the county a slum might also prevent businesses from wanting to move into the area.

Tucker established a Community Improvement District (CID) in February, which allows the community to apply for funding independent of the county that will support the economic growth and development of the Tucker community.

“We just formed it and we’re in the process of getting it off of the ground,” Rosenfeld said, noting that the CID plans to work on improving the aesthetics of the area.  

See also:

Is Your DeKalb Neighborhood a Slum?

I 'Buy' Ugly Houses (and Rent Them as Slum Property)

Tucker CID Is DeKalb’s Newest Community Improvement District