KENNESAW, Ga. — A town with roots tied to railroad tracks stands at a crossroads for how to move forward.
Avis Cimaron has called Kennesaw home for 35 years. She's seen the mix of new development lead from past to present.
"I love the quaintness of it and how it grew up," Cimaron said. "This was an old parking lot with lots of potholes in it and lots of rocks, just very junky. I can’t believe my little town looks like this now.”
Cimaron stood outside the Piedmont Bank Amphitheatre downtown, just across from places like Wildman's Civil War Surplus store on Thursday.
Some of that history is tied to a contentious time in American history, and it can be painful for people like Nora Colon. But she admitted it helps tell a more complete story.
"To me, it looks like the city is really trying to keep the historic side of it," Colon said. “It’s still a great place to raise kids, I have to say, a really safe town. Even though there’s a lot of construction going on, there’s still some nature left for you to enjoy.”
Colon has lived in Kennesaw for 24 years. She's noticed a lot more younger people and families moving to Kennesaw, especially with the growth Kennesaw State University has experienced. With that, she said she's spent a lot more time on the road in traffic. The city has grown more than 10% in the last 15 years, according to census data. It's now the ninth-largest city in Metro Atlanta.
City officials are currently surveying residents on what changes they'd like to see to the historic district's standards and design. Residents are able to give their feedback through Aug. 26. Then, next month, the historic preservation commission will meet to go over any proposed changes.
New apartments, town homes, parks and restaurants are welcome signs of a growing city for some. But for others, they serve as a growing nuisance that takes away what makes Kennesaw unique.
As the city grapples with how to move forward, it will work to remember its roots -- preserving the past with an eye toward the future.
"It's still here; you just have to look for it," Cimaron said. "There's a lot more people here, but this old town is still here."