1st Annual Medlock Neighborhood 5K Jingle Jog [Dec. 15]

For more information or questions, visit http://www.facebook.com/events/133360976818983/

A brief zoning update

Some quick announcements from the MANA Zoning committee:

• Selig has all three permits (demolition, land disturbance, and building) required to build the Walmart.  They are on schedule to begin construction in early 2013. Everyone who has left the center already has done so by choice and Selig has let them out of their leases without penalty.

• Maggie Monastesse, the owner of Decatur Estate & Wayback Antique (and longtime tenant at Suburban Plaza), reports that they have secured a site for their store at 2272 Lawrenceville Highway. This is the location of the old Jake's Toadhouse, across from Home Depot and next to O'Reilley Auto Parts. The new location is a bit bigger than the current space and Maggie says they are very excited and happy that after 20+ years in the community, purchasing this property means they can set roots and stay local for many years to come. They plan to open in Spring 2013.

• Observant Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve users noticed survey flags around the Subaru dealership (which backs up to the nature preserve); it seems that there is a team working to survey South Fork Peachtree Creek for purposes as yet undefined. UPDATE: The Shepherd family is planning to sell the Subaru dealership.

• The Royal Dealership is currently performing environmental remediation (tanks and soil removed, working on asbestos removal).

• We have not heard any news regarding the sale of Scott Boulevard Baptist Church or nearby homes.

Addendum: two more updates!

• Suburban Custom Awards and Framing has moved from Suburban Plaza to 215 Laredo Dr., close to Your DeKalb Farmer's Market.

•  OnStage Atlanta (OSA) has found a new home in a 18,000 square foot facility at 2969 East Ponce de Leon Ave. This is very close to DeKalb Farmer's Market and Kudzu Antiques.  The new location will feature two performance spaces, a rehearsal hall, gallery/second lobby, offices, and storage. Although smaller in square footage than the Suburban Plaza space, OSA's press release promises the new space will offer better flow for both patrons and performers. OSA also reminds everyone that they are still at Suburban Plaza so come enjoy their current plays: Nuncrackers, Merry Little Holiday Shorts, and Dear Edwina.

DeKalb to discuss budget decisions this week

from today's AJC:

By the end of the week, DeKalb County residents should find out what services the county’s chief executive officer wants to cut and whether he will ask for a second tax hike in three years.  Read it all @ AJC.

The CEO must release his plan this week (expected Friday) and the County Commission will then review the final budget next February.

Annexation "Areas of Interest" -- a closer look

The City of Decatur has released updated maps of areas it wishes to annex; the focus is on commercial properties. For City of Decatur annexation plans, refer to their annexation page.

Highlights of nearby areas included in City of Decatur's most recent annexation plan. 
The outlines of the proposed annexation areas are based on City of Decatur's maps below. Click to enlarge.

MANA is working to ascertain the effect these annexations would have on DeKalb County at large as well as on our own long-term interests, given the current discussion about other possible cities that may include us. Annexation of these commercial properties by City of Decatur is not a desirable outcome in either scenario. 

"Area of interest" A.3 includes the Clairmont/North Decatur Rd. intersection. Proposed annexation area B.3 includes the nearby corridor encompassing North Decatur Rd., Medlock Rd. and Scott Blvd.

Source: City of Decatur website. 
The green line borders the annexation target.

Area A.3, among others, includes North Decatur Plaza Shopping Center (Publix, Petco, UPS Store, Edible Arrangements, etc.), Holiday In Express, Decatur Package Store, Clairmont Animal Hospital, Emory Alliance Credit Union, North Decatur Center (Willy's Mexican Cantina, Eagle Eye Bookshop, Kinko/FedEx, Suntrust Bank, etc)... McDonald's, Chevron gas station, Shell gas station, Jiffy Lube, Los Loros Restaurant, Yami Sushi Restaurant, Kaplan, North Decatur Plaza (ChocoLate, Saigon Cafe, Camera Doctor, Wuxtry, Bicycle South, Mattress Firm, Rainbow Grocery, McMahon Shoes, Mediterranean Grill, Finders Keepers, Little Caesar's, Philly South Side, Suno's)...

Area A.3, overlaid on Google map, using roads as anchor points.  Area within proposed annexation line is highlighted in light green. Click to enlarge.

Source: City of Decatur website.
The green line borders the annexation target.

Area  B.3 includes, among others, Suburban Plaza (to include Walmart and others), Intown Ace Hardware, Eye Physicians and Surgeons, Correct Med, Family Practice of Atlanta, Scott Auto Repair, Fiesta Package, Chevron gas station & Hertz car rental,  Gulf (formerly Marathon) gas station, Avon, future site of Meehan's (formerly Maddy's)...

Area B.3, overlaid on Google map, using roads as anchor points.  Area within proposed annexation line is highlighted in light green. Click to enlarge.

Per DecaturMetro, 

These area don’t achieve the goal of cleaning up the city’s boundary, but they do provide the city with some commercially heavy areas – Area A.3 is 97% and Area B.3 is 62% commercial – a frequent, publicly stated goal of the commission, who is openly worried about the great reliance on residential property taxes in the city. (Residential taxes account for more than 4/5ths of the city’s revenues currently.) 

The city’s cost/income calculations for the two areas are as follows… 

Area A.3
Expenditures – $344,500
Revenues – $429,520
Net Diff – $85,020 

Area B.3
Expenditures – $355,000
Revenues – $395,840
Net Diff – $40,080

Annexation is certainly a hot topic. Remember to check CHCA's cityhood information page and if you have questions, attend the January 13 info session organized by the Briarcliff Woods East Neighborhood Association.

Cityhood discussion [Jan 8]

Kevin Levitas asked us to share the following information:

Click to enlarge.

A panel will discuss the pros and cons of incorporating additional cities in DeKalb on Tuesday, January 8, 2013, at 7:00 p.m., at the Oak Grove United Methodist Church.

Speakers will include State Reps. Billy Mitchell and Tom Taylor, DeKalb County Commissioner Kathie Gannon and former Dunwoody Councilman Robert Wittenstein.

City of Decatur updates its annexation menu: two sides of commercial, hold the residential

Decatur Patch reported on last night's City of Decatur commission meeting that the new recommendation is to

1) drop most of the residential areas being considered. By dropping most of the residential areas, the City may be able to bypass the need for a referendum and still secure the commercial properties.

2) annex the heavily commercial areas comprised by Suburban Plaza and Emory Commons. This plan reduces the pressure on City of Decatur schools (by not adding as many students) and benefits the City's budget (by securing commercial area revenues they can use to provide services to City of Decatur residents without, hopefully, having to increase their tax rates).

As noted elsewhere [see the Impacts on county taxes or services, Scenarios section, @ CHCA website], the County will still receive some taxes from these properties, just not as much. The textbook explanation is that these transfers should be neutral: the revenue that is "lost" by the County is offset by their being relieved from providing certain services the City now assumes. The entity on the "losing" side of such an exchange is expected to adjust its overall budget (via planning and management) to ensure level of service is maintained.

An example of how these plans affect us directly would be police and firefighting duties--City of Decatur would be responsible for patrolling and serving Suburban Plaza, Emory Commons, and any other annexed properties.

Additional information should be available next week at the City of Decatur's Annexation page.

Annual Christmas tree sale benefits North Druid Hills High School

The Druid Hills High School PTSA benefits from holiday tree sales at the Suburban Plaza lot at the corner of N. Decatur Rd. and Scott Blvd.  

This annual event continues to be a significant source of funding, providing instructional technology, books and digital media for classrooms at DHHS. 

Please encourage your family, friends and neighbors who buy live trees for the holidays to buy trees at Suburban Plaza and to make your checks payable to Druid Hills High School.  For visuals, check out their video.