Monday, April 15, 2013
The police say the Wahoo! Grill robbery probably was not connected to the six other robberies that have occurred since Feb. 7.
On Monday morning, Decatur City Hall issued this "updated community advisory" on the spate of robberies that have occurred in the city. The advisory said the police department has scheduled more than 200 hours of overtime in the last two months and that the Wahoo! Grill robbery does not appear related to other robberies. Police report that seven robberies have occurred since Feb. 7, including the after-hours armed robbery of the Wahoo! Grill and four women approached on the street by men with pistols. A woman sitting in an ATM drive-through said a man with a pistol approached her and a woman reported that her iPhone was snatched off a restaurant table. The Decatur City Commission is expected to talk about the crime problem during a meeting…
Friday, March 22, 2013
The Decatur Downtown Development Authority is scheduled to vote Friday on the 315 West Ponce project. The meeting starts at 8 a.m. in city hall.
(Editor's note: The writer is a resident of the 335 West Ponce condo building.) A mixed-use project that would create 235 apartments, 10,000 square feet of retail space and a seven-story parking garage will be considered Friday morning by the Decatur Downtown Development Authority. The project would be built behind and in front of the tall office building at 315 W. Ponce de Leon Ave. The project appears to have proper zoning already and fit into the city's strategic plan, which calls for more apartments to create more housing diversity. If the authority votes for a resolution of approval, the developer, Carter, could apply for building permits. People who live around the proposed building site have complained about the size and scope of …
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315 W Ponce de Leon Ave, Decatur, GA
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Monday, March 18, 2013
The Decatur school system typically doesn't get involved in big residential projects the city considers, like 315 West Ponce.
(Editor's note: The writer is a resident of the 335 West Ponce condo building, which is adjacent to the 315 West Ponce project site.) During a meeting last week on a proposed mixed-used development, Decatur Planner Amanda Thompson was asked what effect 235 new apartments would have on the city school system. "Minimal to none," she said. She and the developer say the 25-to-40-year-old demographic expected to rent at the 315 West Ponce project is transient and unlikely to have children. The marketing and amenities are aimed at childless young professionals, an age group that doesn't have a lot of housing options in Decatur. Conor McNally, chief development officer for the developer, Carter, said in an interview after the meeting: "To suggest…
The Decatur City Commission will vote on a budget and a contractor for renovation of the Beacon Hill Complex.
The Decatur City Commission is scheduled to vote Monday night on a budget for renovation of the Beacon Hill Municipal Complex. The building on West Trinity used to be the black school before integration. It will will house the police department and municipal court, City Schools of Decatur administrative offices and recreation facilities. The project will have a total budget of $38.3 million. The contract manager would be Potts Construction of Conyers, with a $30.4 million project. The biggest unexpected cost, Deputy City Manager Hugh Saxon said in a memo, is a $10 million, two-acre stormwater management vault under Ebster Field. It will prevent flooding at the Beacon Hill site and at downstream properties. Also on the agenda: a vote on …
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
People who own property next to the proposed mixed use development are invited to the meeting at 7 p.m. in Decatur City Hall.
(Editor's note: The reporter is a resident of the 335 West Ponce condo building, which is adjacent to the proposed project.) A second meeting will be held Wednesday night for people who own property adjacent to a massive mixed-use development at 315 W. Ponce de Leon Ave. in Decatur. The developer, residents and city officials will meet starting at 7 p.m. in Decatur City Hall. The public is invited, but the meeting is designed for the property owners. The groups first met Feb. 26. The Atlanta Business Chronicle says developer Carter USA plans to spend $40 million on the mixed-use project in the parking lot behind the Decatur Court building at West Ponce de Leon Avenue and Ponce de Leon Place. The project would include retail, more than 200…
Monday, January 14, 2013
He talks about why he opposes the popular election of Decatur's mayor and why he decided to run last time.
New Decatur Mayor Jim Baskett fielded a few questions from Patch on Tuesday, the day after his fellow city commissioners elected him to the top job. The first installment of the interview ran Friday. When I talked to Bill Floyd he said he thinks the city should go to a popularly elected mayor. What do you think? This issue is not new. It comes up every number of years, every few years it comes up again. I have not been in favor of it the entire time I’ve been on the city commission. The first time it came up … Bill wasn’t even mayor. I was the one person who represents at large. So the proposal was that the at-large seat be the mayor’s seat and that way be elected by the city. Really Bill’s idea was to do that, too. So there was a time …
Sunday, January 6, 2013
The soon-to-be-former mayor talks about what he's proud of, annexation, why the city needs a popularly elected mayor and what he sees in Decatur's future.
Bill Floyd talked to Patch recently about his years on the Decatur City Commission. He was first elected in 1991 and began serving as mayor in 1998. Part 1 of the interview has already run. As mayor, what are you proudest of? I’m most proud that this is an incredibly well-run city, you know, a financially sustainable city. I think we do a very good job of spending taxpayer money on things taxpayers want it spent on. I get [fewer] complaints about taxes than probably anything. People will complain about the value of their house going up, and that can be a good thing. Taxes are like anything else you buy. If you don’t think you getting your money’s worth, then you paid too much. People in Decatur see that what they paying taxes for, they’re …
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Vote in the Patch Poll. Do you think the annexation will go through?
The Decatur city attorney does not think a referendum is necessary to proceed with the most recent annexation proposal, City Manager Peggy Merriss said Wednesday. Merriss sent Patch this email: [City Attorney] Bryan Downs responded this afternoon that after reviewing the relevant sections of OCGA, he did not believe that a referendum would be required if the properties annexed by local Act of the General Assembly were less than 50% residential. The Decatur City Commission meets Monday, Dec. 17, and will decide whether to move ahead with annexation. Merriss recommended Decatur annex the two heavily commercial areas on the northeast and northwest corners of the city limits. Even if the commission votes yes, there will be many more steps in …
Monday, August 13, 2012
A developer wants to build a mixed-use project at Commerce and Clairemont in downtown Decatur. However, the item will not be discussed Tuesday by the Decatur Planning Commission.
UPDATE, 11 A.M. MONDAY: This project has been taken off the agenda for the Tuesday night meeting of the Decatur Planning Commission. Assistant City Manager Lyn Menne said in an email to Patch: "The Bank of America redevelopment proposal was pulled while the developer continues to try and reach an agreement with Bank of America to locate into a temporary operating center." THE PREVIOUS STORY: A six-story mixed-used development is planned for the land at Clairemont Avenue and Commerce Drive in downtown Decatur now occupied by a parking lot and the Bank of America building. Decatur Clairemont Holdings LLC wants to build 192 apartment units, 10,000 square feet of retail and commercial space on the ground floor and a 300-space parking garage. …
David White
7:58 pm on Monday, April 15, 2013
I think it might be coming out of Scottdale - seriously. more ›