Decatur Gets Shout Out in WalkScore Article
July 24, 2008 | 12:10 pmEven though Decatur scores only an 80 out of 100 on WalkScore.com (and that’s if you live at the very center of town – my house gets a 60), Decatur recently was singled out in a recent Marketbreak article about the website that evaluates how walkable your neighborhood/address is based on the proximity of necessary stores/activities.
“While acknowledging that people probably won’t want to give up their cars completely, Goldberg said it’s quite possible that neighborhoods that allow residents to be less car-dependent will become the new norm for many Americans in the coming years.
“We’re not talking about everybody moving downtown,” Goldberg said, adding that even in cities that aren’t very walkable there are neighborhoods that are friendlier to pedestrians.
Atlanta, for instance, has a reputation for being “the poster child of sprawl,” he said. However, there are places nearby, like Decatur, Ga., that offer amenities and transit options without being a high-density neighborhood, he said.”
As to why Decatur doesn’t score higher on the list…I’m gonna go out on a limb and say it has a lot to do with the lack of a real downtown grocery (and hardware store). We can have the Kroger debate again if anyone wants, but I can’t tell you how many times I hear unprompted comments from residents about the need for a downtown grocery.
And I, for one, am beginning to think we should stop begging TJ’s to show up, take the matter into our own hands, and look into starting a community-owned co-op. It a HUGE undertaking I know…especially for a bunch of hyperactives with no free time, but at its most functional, a co-op could cater to this community like no chain grocery store ever could.
At a minimum, I think its worth investigating and then maybe eventually even doing a feasibility study.
What do you think? Pie in the sky?
A co-op grocery in dowtown Decatur is an AWESOME idea! Like Sevanda in L5P but with a bigger selection of common foods and less hemp soap.
I’ve got issues with the walkscore methodology as well. And I don’t think the Decatur scores are hurt by grocers – they list the nearest grocery store to me as “Shields Grocers”, the little convenience store next to Raging Burrito, which is as central as it gets, but I’ve never set foot in there.
The biggest drawback to Decatur’s score seems to be the movie theatre, which is a BS metric to me – people go to the movies a few times a year, tops. Ditto libraries or book stores. The algorythm should put more weight on proximity to schools, transit, groceries, restaurants, and bars – things that people do daily or weekly.
Grocery Store Weekly?
Check.
Bars Daily?
Check.
What is the Kroger debate? It’s clearly a grocery store. It’s blocks from the square. How is it anything but a downtown grocery?
Also, the building that now houses Taco Mac used to house an upscale grocer, did it not?
Bottom line, the fact that YDFM is so close to downtown kind of kills the idea of a downtown grocer. What could you possibly get at a co-op grocer that you could not get cheaper at YDFM, just a mile or so down the road?
@DEM: Toilet paper.
XD
I think the idea of an in-town co-op is great. You should really look into the feasibility. YDFM is nearby, yes, and it is inexpensive and has a great variety, but the produce really isn’t all that local.
I wonder if CSA’s would be interested in getting involved – you could get local produce delivered to the co-op.
I have been amazed by daily street markets full of fresh, local vegetables in several parts of the world; recently I have wondered why Decatur – one of the more upscale areas in one of the larger cities in the richest nation on earth – doesn’t have a daily market. The co-op suggestion is probably the best way to get there.
DEM
The Kroger debate revolves around the fact that many people don’t like it and others don’t want to cross Commerce to get to it. So the debate is try to change it or bring in/create something better.
re: Taco Mac: when was that? What was it? How “upscale” was Decatur at the time?
The farmer’s market is amazingly great, but its a pain in the butt to get in and out of there most of the day and face it…it can be just plain stressful when its crowded. So the advantage for a downtown store would be in convenience, walking distance and if it was a co-op supporting the local community (since its members would own the store – in theory)
re: Taco Mac
It was in 1999 or 2000 … had a similar feel to Harry’s in a Hurry that used to be on Ponce. It was great.
I think the walkscore methodology is flawed, out of date and— let’s face it– just something of a gimmick. I plugged in my off-Church street address and got a 60. Interestingly, this was not 2 hours after we’d walked to Taqueria, stopped by CVS and Kroger and passed countless other “commercial opportunities” on the way.
No, the Kroger’s not perfect but you can buy much of what you need there. No community is perfect but there is little that I need/ need to do that I can’t taske care of on foot– safely, day or night. You can’t say the same in many other walkable ATL neighborhhoods.
You mean everyone doesn’t buy/borrow books at least weekly and go to the movies twice a month? And why isn’t there a bicycle/skate shop somewhere near the multi-use trail? Not that I don’t love Bike South and all the ways they give back to the cycling community, but with gas prices the way they are it seems to be an opportunity there.
Hey, Sheila… It depends on how far you walked. Walking distance is defined as a quarter to half mile and walkability is measured in terms of what can be found within that sized radius. It may be true that *you’re* willing to walk further — and that’s commendable — but walkability measures are based on the average person. There’s about a bazillion studies that show the 5-10 minute, quarter to half mile walk as the point where people make what the wonks call a “mode shift” — switching from foot to some other form of transportation. There’s no doubt Decatur far surpasses most other ATL places in terms of walkability but, for most people, living totally without a car here still remains a challenge, even if you’re able to cut out a lot of the usual trips.
I’m willing to help research the co-opportunity
A friend of mine from b-school choose the topic for his major project in our entrepreneurship class and afterwards he got the co-op started in his neighborhood. I think it would be an awesome idea for downtown Decatur, especially with some guidance from someone who has been through the process. It didn’t sound easy, in fact quite hard, but it could be worth the effort.
I have been shopping at YDFM since they were located on Medlock but have all but stopped shopping there in the last six months or so. The odd chemical smell of the place has been growing steadily worse over the years (the one that permeates the cheese and baked goods) – but the final straw was their silly policy of forcing you to “check” your own bags to prevent theft.
I am now buying my meat at sawicki’s (thankfully this is walkable), sundry at Publix and produce at whole foods or the state farmers market. I would love a dependable source of good quality (possibly even local!) produce in Decatur. I think a decent market within walking distance of downtown is the last thing we are really lacking as a city – a co op would be a dream come true!
I do remember the market that was in the old Taco Mac space. It seemed like a great idea at the time but I do remember the few times I went in there that the selection seemed very limited (and honestly did not look that fresh). It was not open very long from what I remember. Perhaps if they had been able to ride out a couple of years the business would have picked up but I would not hold that example up as a reason not to try a small local grocery in Decatur.
Is anyone out there currently taking a CSA that has a delivery near Decatur? And if so, how is it working out?
Yes! A co-op is an awesome idea! I love it and would go probably 2 or 3 times a week. I don’t find Kroger satisfies my needs for consistent or local produce, for a variety of vegetarian/healthy options for my family (food and cleaning supplies and toiletries), and the big farmer’s market is just too much of an ordeal, including the smell. I would join a Decatur co-op in a heartbeat and would be a big promoter of it.
Hey, Stacy. Here’s a cut-n-paste edit of a comment I left under the Locavores posting that answers your CSA question:
We use Taylorganic, a great local farm in Ellenwood, run by Neil Taylor. Runs about 30 bucks a week for a family of 3. They also have eggs and some other dairy that you can order on an as-needed basis. Pick-up is even more convenient than the grocery store (at least for a Southsider like me) — right behind the East Lake Marta station (on Ridgecrest) on the north side of the tracks.
As I understand it, they’ve got room right now for a number of new members. Visit their blog at http://taylorganic.blogspot.com to learn more or contact the farm directly at taylorganic@bellsouth.net.
Hope it helps.
I’m with you on the stresses of YDFM. The worst part is people who leave their cart in the middle of an aisle as they lokk at produce, etc. Enraging.Also agree that the checking your bags policy is insane. But I still love the place.
Scott,
Thanks! I called them this morning and we should get our first share next week! although I may need to see if any of my neighbors want to share all those eggs =D
I view the Decatur Kroger as a chore and often drive farther to not go there…simply because:
unless it is pretty basic, they don’t have it (selection/array related to small size);
it looks filthy all the time, with trash overflowing bins in parking lot;
store entry is so packed with…well…everything that it is almost claustrophobic;
laissez faire attitude of employees…usually!
Kroger in general is losing favor with me, what with adding furniture, TV’s,
grills, etc…..I go to the grocery store for groceries, and negotiating around endcaps with dishware, cheap TSHIRTS, and other non grocery store items like patio furniture and tent awnings is just nuts. I won’t be surprised to see
tires and the like for sale in Kroger soon.
Small groceries or “bodega’s” like in MANHATTAN are tough to do feasibly, as the definition limits array (see above), and folks will go elsewhere. Still, I would have to believe that a small, CLEAN, attractive non perishable bodega
in downtown Decatur could work for the condo and apartment folks. The owner would have to be really on top of what his clientele wants and needs.
SUGGESTION: DO NOT sell lottery tickets or cigarettes…that would garner my business right there…
I mostly drive down to Whole Foods in midtown myself. It would be great to have a local co-op in town that sells fresh produce and has a nice selection of fine foods. Jim is right. Kroger is dirty and the selections are terrible. The ‘fresh’ produce is most like irradiated produce. Its just an overall depressing place to shop in.
The best option for Decatur would be for Sherlock’s to expand their business into high end grocery/produce. They have the best location in town – central, walkable, while also having parking. They already draw the same customer base, for related goods (wine, kitchenwares). Hopefully they are a small enough chain to be nimble and recognize the opportunity here.
They should also pay me some $$$ for the brilliant idea.
I would like to see an affordable place to shop with good, local, fresh produce and as much food from the local area as possible. Keep it lo-fi, no frills to keep costs down, so everyone can have access to good food.
I noticed my address gets an 86, so apparently I’m even better than the center of town. Still, I’d love to see that program updated to include retailers like Kroger.
Metromarket (the predecessor to T’Mac) was an idea whose time hadn’t quite come. There were too many mainstream grocery items like pet food and litter that of course were higher priced than Kroger. I think something more like the former Harry’s in a Hurry would’ve been a much better fit.
For what it’s worth, it’s possible to take the free CCTMA shuttle during the week to shop at Publix and Rainbow. It’s not the same as walking, but it could save you from driving.
E,
I agree with you about movie theaters being overweighted in the score, but I disagree with you on bookstores and libraries. Libraries are especially important to people with kids,and they are cultural centers for a community. Same with bookstores and educated people, though unfortunately they are on the decline. Movie theaters are for seeing movies, nothing else, so their importance to a community are minimal. But it would be wonderful if Decatur had one.
Decatur’s walkability score would be much lower if it weren’t for the library and the local bookstores.