315 West Ponce Development Back On The Table

(Editor's note: The author of this article is a resident of the 335 West Ponce condo building.)

A big mixed-use development in downtown Decatur that was tabled years ago because of the economic downtown has come back to life.

Apartments, shops and a parking deck would be built in the parking lot that spreads out behind the tall office/bank building at 315 W. Ponce de Leon Ave. A five-story building with shops on the ground floor would be built in front of the office building, facing West Ponce.

The City of Decatur will hold a public meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26, for people who own adjoining property. They will be the only ones allowed to make comments at the meeting, said Amanda Thompson, city planning director. (See the attached PDF for a plan of the proposed development and other papers sent to residents.)

The plans, including sketches of what the buildings will look like, have been posted on the city website. Copies are now available at city hall.

When the project was discussed several years ago, people living in single-family homes on nearby streets like Montgomery complained loudly.

The project lost steam when the economy crashed in 2008.

People who want to comment may attend the meeting or send an email to Thompson at amanda.thompson@decaturga.com.