Monday, October 1, 2012
The anti-Walmart group said they hoped to raise between $5,000 and $10,000 at Saturday's rally and concert.
At a "Rock to Stop Walmart" rally and concert Saturday night, Good Growth DeKalb leaders said they're still pursuing a legal case against the international retailer as it plans to move into Suburban Plaza in North Decatur. The concert was held at the Beacon Hills Arts Center. The group said it hoped to raise between $5,000 and $10,000 at the rally, according to a story by WSB-TV. "We think there is a possibility we can move forward on a legitimate cause," Betty Blondeau told Channel 2's Ashley Swann. Blondeau says they support local, small and mid-sized businesses in the Surburban Shopping Plaza, not Walmart, which they believe will damage the community and lower property values. Here are some of our most recent postings on the project:
Thursday, September 20, 2012
The international retailer said last week the construction of a Supercenter in Suburban Plaza will benefit the North Decatur community.
The vocal opposition to the construction of a Walmart Supercenter in Suburban Plaza doesn't reflect the majority opinion of their customers, the international retailer said last week. Walmart released a statement to the Atlanta Business Chronicle for an article about the opposition Walmart faces across the Atlanta metro area as it seeks to move into neighborhoods inside the Perimeter. From the story: "Local customers here are already traveling great distances to shop our stores," a Wal-Mart spokesman said in an email to the Atlanta Business Chronicle. "The louder voices in this discussion just don't represent the majority opinion, as the customer voice on this issue is clear. Many of those who would benefit most from the jobs and lower …
The Sept. 29 event in downtown Decatur will raise money for the group's fight against the construction of a Walmart Supercenter in Suburban Plaza.
Good Growth DeKalb is holding a concert fundraiser next weekend to raise money for their fight against the construction of a Walmart Supercenter in Suburban Plaza. The Saturday, Sept. 29 event in downtown Decatur will feature performances from a number of bands, and it will include a silent auction. Tickets to the event will cost $22 to $25 and can be purchased at the group's website or at Intown Ace Hardware at 1404 Scott Blvd. Performing at the benefit will be Mudcat, Aviva & the Flying Penguins, Andy Makely Band, Janna Nelson and Scott Hooker, Veronika Jackson, Moira Nelligan & The Dixie Jigs and poet Theresa Davis. The silent auction will include a collection of original art, vacation home stays, and tickets to several popuar Atlanta …
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
People in the neighborhood off the northeast corner of Decatur created www.annexmenot.com to collect petition signatures to oppose annexation.
Residents of a neighborhood that might be annexed into Decatur have created a website to collect signatures on an anti-annexation petition. Www.annexmenot.com represents people living in the area called B-1 on Decatur's map of six areas for potential annexation. The website defines area B-1 as "directly east of the Suburban Plaza shopping center ... and to the south of DeKalb Medical Center." A petition that opposes annexation needs to be submitted to the city by Nov. 1, the website says. If an annexation referendum happens, it would be held in November 2013. The city commission held a public information hearing Aug. 20 at which it talked about the pros and cons of annexing six areas scattered around the borders of Decatur. The commission …
Monday, September 10, 2012
The cafeteria was located in Suburban Plaza shopping.
The Piccadilly Cafeteria at Suburban Plaza has closed. A sign on the door said the cafeteria is no longer in operation and urged patrons to visit he Northlake location. The Suburban Plaza shopping center is going to be renovated and part of it will be demolished to make room for construction of a Super Walmart. It's not known if Picadilly closed because of the renovation. Piccadilly corporate offices in Baton Rouge, La., issued this statement when contacted by Patch: “When it comes to our team members and guests, closing a Piccadilly Restaurant is the last option that we consider. We are currently working to place existing team members in positions at other locations where ever possible. We value our guests and team members and we thank …
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Out of 1,457 households the protest group approached in the area, just 60 said they supported the construction of a Walmart Supercenter in Suburban Plaza.
How many people in the Decatur/North Druid Hills area support the construction of a Walmart Supercenter in Suburban Plaza? It's not a question easily answered, but on Aug. 8, Good Growth DeKalb, which is protesting the construction of the retail store, said they figured it was about 5 percent. From a press release they sent out: In the last 8 months, Good Growth DeKalb has done extensive neighborhood canvassing and found that 75% of residents are opposed to Walmart and only 5% are in favor, with the remainder neutral or undecided. North Druid Hills-Briarcliff Patch asked the group last week to explain how they arrived at those percentages. We'll let you judge the explanation. In short, the group canvassed across several neighborhoods on …
An update from the Medlock Area Neighborhood Association says all construction should be finished by fall 2014.
The Medlock Area Neighborhood Association (MANA) has posted another update about plans for Suburban Plaza. Developer Selig Enterprises plans to demolish part of the aging shopping center, rebuild, renovate and add a Super Walmart. Highlights of MANA's update:
Friday, August 10, 2012
Good Growth DeKalb claims only 5 percent of the local community favors the construction of a large Supercenter retail store in Suburban Plaza.
Leaders of Good Growth DeKalb say the group will gather at at the intersection of Medlock Road, North Decatur Road and Scott Boulevard at 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 10, to protest the forthcoming construction of a Walmart Supercenter in Suburban Plaza. This will be the last of three summer rallies Good Growth DeKalb has conducted. GGD says the Walmart will create traffic problems for the neighborhood, clog already busy streets and is overall a bad fit for the area. A message from GGD said, In July, Good Growth DeKalb met with Selig Enterprises and presented 3,056 petition signatures. In the last 8 months, Good Growth DeKalb has done extensive neighborhood canvassing and found that 75% of residents are opposed to Walmart and only 5% are in …
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
A Good Growth DeKalb representative said the group could still challenge an incoming Walmart Supercenter "with whatever legal means we can find."
Good Growth DeKalb, a local group fighting the construction of a Walmart Supercenter in Suburban Plaza, says they're still considering a legal battle against the developers and the international retailer. The group has threatened legal action before but has focused on protesting the store construction several times in front of Suburban Plaza over the spring and summer. Their final protest is scheduled for 5 p.m., Friday, Aug. 10. But Robert Blondeau, one of the group's activists, told Neighbor Newspapers this week a legal challenge remains on the table. From the story: “Selig has their position — there will be a Walmart,” said Blondeau. “And we have our position … we will continue to fight with whatever legal means we can find. Selig is …
Saturday, July 28, 2012
The groundbreaking ceremony was held Friday for the store coming to Memorial Drive and North Hairston Road.
Construction of the new Walmart on Memorial Drive and North Hairston Road in Stone Mountain could start within a month, a Walmart spokesman said at Friday's groundbreaking ceremony. Glen Wilkins said the 150,000-square-foot store is slated to open in the second quarter of 2013 and will create 250 full and part-time jobs. The store will be smaller than the one on Memorial and Columbia. A Super Walmart is also planned for Suburban Plaza, just outside the Decatur city limits. Developers have said demolition of the existing stores and site preparation should start in 2013. In addition to Walmart reps, local business and community leaders, commissioners Sharon Barnes Sutton, Stan Watson and Larry Johnson and DeKalb County Superior Court Clerk …
Ralph Ellis
9:34 am on Monday, October 1, 2012
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