Tallahassee’s infrastructure development agency, Blueprint, has broken ground on its Northeast Gateway project. The agency’s leadership predicts the new project will have a major impact on Leon County’s economy.
Blueprint Director Autumn Calder says she’s expecting increased development in Northeast Tallahassee and that Welaunee Boulevard will be what she calls a “spine road” for that growth.
“The planned growth in the Welaunee area for which the Northeast Gateway supports has an estimated economic value of $2.2 to $8.2 billion, which is a huge benefit," she said. "Development brings economic opportunity and positive growth.”
Calder says construction of the new roadway will also benefit the local economy by bringing as many as 600 jobs.
Artie White is the agency’s leader. He’s the director of PLACE, which stands for planning, growth management and community enhancement.
“Going back to the adoption of the comprehensive plan in 1990, this area was identified as a critical planning area, really looking long-term at where Tallahassee and Leon County will grow into the future,” White said. “And the Welaunee development, along with Southwood, were the two areas that were identified for future growth.”
The corridor will extend roughly 6 miles from where the boulevard ends now, east of Fleischmann Road, over I-10 to connect at the existing intersection of Centerville Road, Bradfordville Road and Roberts Road.
