Bucks Ready to Hit the Streets

The buck stopped at Phipps Plaza Thursday night. Actually, several bucks were present as a festive crowd gathered at Phipps' Court of the South for the Bucks on the Street campaign.

The "Buck Naked" Party showed several models of decorated bucks to give folks an idea of how they can look when finished. The Bucks are being offered for sponsorship under the Buckhead Business Foundation's fund-raising effort, benefiting Livable Buckhead's green space initiative, the Buckhead Collection. The foundation is associated with the Buckhead Business Association.

Under the campaign, a business sponsor can acquire a buck, to be decorated according to the business's specificiations, for display at the business location. Campaign co-chair Donna Kain, who appeared along with co-chair Elizabeth Gill, said the bucks would be displayed "on the streets" for six months, and then they would be available at an auction party. She said the campaign has two levels of sponsorships, the Piedmont, $4,000, and the Peachtree, $10,000. She said several businesses and organizations have already purchased sponsorships.

When the bucks are on the street, walking maps will be available so that people can travel around Buckhead to "see where the coolest and the best buck is," Kain said.

Livable Buckhead Executive Director Denise Starling gave an overview of the Buckhead Collection program to increase green space in Buckhead. Livable Buckhead is spearheading the green-space program.

Starling said Livable Buckhead's misson is to improve the community's sustainability, which she sees as blending commercial, community and environmental purposes.

"Expanding Buckhead's appeal through sustainability is what Livable Buckhead is all about," she said.

After her talk, Starling said that the architectural firm Heath & Lineback has been hired to do the design of the Ga. 400 trail, an intregral part of the Buckhead Collection. The same firm is desiging the Ga. 400-I-85 interchange, so "there's really a good kind of synergy there."

She said the design process will take several months, after which public meetings will be held.