It goes without saying that infill housing is a really hot topic in Decatur. And as part of the Unified Development Ordinance process, last fall Decatur commissioned an Infill Housing Analysis from Market & Main, an Atlanta based City Planning Consulting Firm.
Well, the results/analyses are in and they were presented to the Commission in a work session last night. You can view the entire presentation on the city’s website HERE.
I’m providing snapshots of the presentation slides here and you can view the full, hi-res version of the analysis HERE.
The presentation includes two slides of “findings” on the current state of the real estate market in Decatur and the Atlanta area, one slide showing Decatur’s related policies regarding infill housing, six slides of “options” taken from approaches in other cities of how to diversify the housing base, and finally two slides of “next steps”, which suggest potential paths Decatur could take based on the initial findings and the most applicable options.
Feel free to browse through below and after the jump, but to really get the full extent of what was presented, you will want to view the 50-ish minute presentation.
Thank you for posting DM, I also read this information early this morning on Decaturish.
It is truly honorable when elected city officials strive to ensure diversity and inclusion. As mayor Baskett states, “This is all very difficult, to figure out how you can both maintain the kind of character you want, maintain the other kinds of diversity that you want and still maintain the kind of school system that we have.”
Mayor Baskett, city commissioners, and city staff should be praised for taking the time and making the effort to ensure that Decatur remains a diverse community. Thank you.
The infill presentation by the City was very interesting and has many implications on sustainability and trees. It disappoints me that under challenges existing healthy tree removal was not listed, especially after presenting a no net tree loss policy. Infill as presented has the potential for many positive outcomes, but in my mind must be considered with existing healthy green space in addition to the creation of new green space. These are interesting times, Ultimately, I believe if done properly and with intention density and greenspace can compliment each other but like yin and yang, you cannot discuss one without the other. We are discussing both, but in separate conversations.
Treesrock, I completely agree. And Marty, plus 1 on your comment as well.
I am glad the city is doing this.
Is “increases overall residential density” code for “increases stress on schools”?
Tree canopy
School capacity
Density
Affordable Housing
Commercial / Indie-Catur
All of these are related and should be discussed together. Isn’t that the purpose of a UDO? I don’t understand why (it seems like) the consultants aren’t talking to each other and these issues are being discussed separately.
The infill report presented is intended to provide quantifiable data for use in the UDO effort. That’s why it was commissioned.