Work day @ Ira Melton Park [May 4]

There is a workday at Melton Park (Desmond across from Park Lane) on Sunday, May 4, from 9:30am - 12:00pm.

Help is welcome to maintain the loop trail. There's always trash to pick up and evil privet to remove, and wood chips to be spread to keep the trail tidy and dry. There are also a few plants that need to be planted.

Please bring your own gloves and drinking water, and a wheelbarrow if you've got one.

Suburban Plaza redevelopment can resume

via Selig Enterprises:

"Selig Enterprises, Inc. is pleased to announce that after an almost two year legal delay over the redevelopment of Suburban Plaza, all litigation between Good Growth Dekalb (GGD) and Dekalb County has been resolved and the redevelopment can resume.  During lengthy discussions with GGD, Selig was able to address most of GGD’s concerns in a manner that will only improve our planned redevelopment of Suburban Plaza, including agreeing to the installation of additional sidewalks along Medlock Road, as well other improvements such as landscaping and fence repair next to the neighborhood of homes located directly to the rear of the shopping center.  

Selig has always worked diligently with neighborhood representatives during its construction projects and this case has been no different.  Selig would like to recognize and thank the representatives from the Medlock Area Neighborhood Assoc., Clairmont Heights, Medlock Place, Springdale Heights and Decatur Heights, Sycamore Ridge, Sycamore Station, Glendale Estates, and the Christian Towers for providing valuable input over the past three years and helping Selig to transform the area with quality development.  Many details of the project have been the result of years of collaboration with these neighborhoods and have resulted in numerous features of the redevelopment, such as:  sidewalks, bike paths, and /or multi-use paths around all street frontages, interior pedestrian connectivity, several pocket parks, increased landscaping, the addition of almost an acre and a half of green space, architectural design elements, and traffic calming measures on surrounding streets. 

Selig also appreciates GGD’s efforts to improve its community.  The additional items Selig agreed to do will further enhance the surrounding area.  Selig hopes to continue to work collaboratively with representatives from all surrounding neighborhoods and Dekalb County to continue to enhance the redevelopment of Suburban Plaza. 

In addition to the Walmart, Selig is excited about the continued interest in the project by potential tenants – including LA Fitness (which will include a daycare facility), HomeGoods, Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, and others to be announced at a later date.  

The proposed redevelopment will significantly transform the appearance of the center and has already shown to be a catalyst for other development projects in the area.  Selig expects to begin construction immediately and looks forward to completion of the project that will serve the community."

Decaturish.com has posted Good Growth DeKalb's press release on this matter.

ICS Fundraiser at Seven Hens and Suno [Apr 29, 5-9pm]

Fundraiser for the International Community School...

Know your candidates: forum and fair [Apr 27]

The Civic Association Network (CAN) Candidates Fair + Forums is this Sunday (April 27), 1:30-5:30pm, at the Thalia N. Carlos Hellenic Community Center, 2500 Clairmont Rd, Atlanta 30329.

THE FAIR:  Wander among candidates grouped by office-sought.  Pick up their literature; get a sense of the candidates.  Find out who's expected at http://www.can-dk.org/candidates-fair-forums/can-fair-forums---response-list

THE FORUMS:  Two panel discussions are planned for the other end of the ballroom:
1:45pm.   COUNTY GOVERNANCE, featuring current and former commissioners, moderated by Commissioner Kathie Gannon.
3:00pm.   THE FUTURE OF CITYHOOD IN DEKALB, featuring local speakers, some who think cityhood is essential, others who are not so sure.

DeKalb Transportation Plan: multimodal emphasis & local impact

DeKalb County has recently completed a transportation plan that will prioritize developments until the plan is again reviewed in five years. Starting in late 2012, the County hosted a variety of meetings and online surveys (as advertised here and here), and the result is their 2014 Transportation Plan Draft Recommendations Report. The report emphasizes that in order to remain competitive with other regions of the country and leverage existing strengths, DeKalb must invest in transportation upgrades. It is also noteworthy that "because of the strong interest expressed by policy makers, stakeholders and the public concerning safe and efficient travel for alternative modes, including for bicyclists, pedestrians, and transit users, a Complete Streets Policy has been developed as a standalone formal policy document..." The plan draws input from representatives from a variety of government agencies, cities, community investment districts and the Atlanta Regional Commission.

Overall, the project aims to improve mobility for all people (using all transport modes); enhance quality of life (via improved multimodal safety and preservation of community attractiveness and character); improve economic viability (by enhancing transport for all stakeholders); and focus on implementation (maintain existing resources, identify new projects and funds to develop them).

The report explains how projects are being prioritized. Below are a few maps zoomed to our area.

Recommended bicycle network. As noted in the report, "the bicycle network is not itself a project list, but rather, a vision
for an expanded and cohesive county wide bicycle network. Some portions of this network already exist; others... may prove unfeasible... The envisioned network will need to be revised with future transportation updates. ... Although there is no set timeframe.... many segments shown in the network are also included in projects on the recommended list of priority projects developed as part of this Transportation Plan."

Several of the future PATH trails in the map above fall under Tier 2 and Tier 3 recommendations (i.e., lower priority). Page 36 outlines Tier 1 (priority) projects by mode. In our neighborhood, project 1591 refers to an extension to the South Fork of Peachtree Creek's PATH.

Expansion of the South Fork of Peachtree Creek PATH.
The fact sheet for project 1591 can be found on page 112 of the Fact Sheet Report This project will connect the existing trail end at Mason Mill Park to North Druid Hills Rd.

from page 35 of DeKalb's 2014 Transportation Plan.

Page 35 describes the Clifton Corridor's light rail plan, noting a 10+ year window (assuming funding were available). 

The Appendix to this report is available here and includes information on the complete streets concept, additional maps and specifications for proposed improvements, and a comprehensive project list.

For additional details and documents, visit the DeKalb transportation plan website.

Critters in the 'hood [Apr 27]

Fuqua's Scott Blvd. Baptist Church project approved

From the Cross-Neighborhoods Committee, via Theresa Same (MANA Zoning Chair)

Site plan. Full-size image appears in the zoning agreement document.

On April 8 and 9, 2014, the Board of Commissioners (BOC) and the DeKalb County Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) reviewed Fuqua Development’s Scott Boulevard Baptist Church (SBBC) proposal. The plan was presented to the community last February and is outlined here. The BOC and ZBA approved Fuqua Development’s application to rezone and the variances required to redevelop the SBBC site and nearby residential properties on Barton Way. This vote clears the way for Phase 1, to include apartments and townhomes and a “coffee shop.” There was no opposition to the application and the BOC voted to accept the request with conditions negotiated by the Cross-Neighborhoods Committee*. Relevant Cross-Neighborhood Committee documents are available in pdf format: letters of support to the BOC and ZBA, conditions, and schematics.

In addition to the conditions, the Cross-Neighborhoods Committee also negotiated a separate, legally binding zoning agreement that among other things secured $60,000 in off-site improvements. This fund will go towards finishing pedestrian improvements at the Medlock / North Decatur Rd. / Scott Blvd. intersection as well as a future sidewalk on Scott Boulevad  between Willow Lane and Medlock Road. The legally binding agreement was signed by MANA with the support of the entire Cross-Neighborhoods Committee. 

Fuqua Development anticipates submitting permits in June and hopes to start site work in August or September. Site work will take about four months and entails demolition, grading, building the underground water detention, etc. We should expect construction  to begin in early 2015 and continue for up to 18 months. In the meantime, the Cross-Neighborhoods Committee will begin meeting with Fuqua Development to provide community input for Phase 2 of this project [see our previous post for Phase 2 details].

It will be very sad to lose the Scott Boulevard Baptist Church that served as a landmark and spiritual center in our community for so long. The SBBC congregation will continue to worship as Pastor Greg Smith discusses in this article. With the Medline LCI study in progress, we believe that this area will see great change in the coming years. We feel this development sets a precedent for our area and reflects the collective vision of our community for livability, amenities, walkability and economic sustainability.

_________

* The Cross-Neighborhoods Committee includes the following neighborhood representatives:
Nancy Ciliax, Clairmont Heights Community Association Representative; Deanne Thomas, Decatur Heights Neighborhood Transition Team Representative; Theresa Same, Medlock Area Neighborhood Association, Inc. Representative; David Duncan, Medlock Place Neighborhood Association, Inc. Representative; Mary Shellman, Good Growth DeKalb, Inc. Representative; Debra Robinson, Blackmon Drive Resident; Garrett Asay, Ridgeland Park Resident; Todd Link, Springdale Heights Neighborhood Resident. Fuqua is represented  by Jeff Fuqua (Principal, Fuqua Development), Heather Correa (Partner, Fuqua Development) and Dennis Webb (Attorney, Smith, Gambrell and Russell).