Free-For-All Friday 4/17/15

Sorry, a bit tardy this morning!

Feel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local issues not yet discussed here over the past week.

79 thoughts on “Free-For-All Friday 4/17/15”


  2. Tomorrow is Fernbank Science Center’s spring plant sale. I know there are lots of other plant sales going on, and it’s going to be rainy, but they’ve got plants there you just don’t see every day.

  4. Paint and body shop recommendations? My car’s bumper cover is scuffed and scratched and needs to be sanded and repainted.

    1. We’ve had cars repaired at Gerber Collision on Dekalb Industrial twice. Pleasant experience and good work both times.

      1. Thanks, Fern. My insurance company has them on their preferred provider list, but it’s good to hear from someone who actually used them.

    2. I used Prestige once (over by Wag-A-Lot, near YDFM). They quoted a good price and did fine work.

  8. Can someone tell me where the ordinance about tear-downs versus new construction ended up? I thought something was passed last year regarding that, but I have noticed quite a few more almost torn down houses around me keeping tiny, silly features like a piece of a front porch or seventeen almost rotten 2×4’s. I thought the UDO was going to tighten up this issue, but I can not find it in the UDO. Anyone know?

    1. Depends on if it is in a historic district. Demolition in a historic district requires a certificate of appropriateness after review by the Historic Preservation Commission, although “construction, demolition and relocation of accessory structures less than 100 square feet of gross floor area is not subject to review.” Check section 5.2.3. Regulation of Historic Districts and Properties.

      If this doesn’t involve a historic district, then section 10.1. Buildings and Building Regulations covers it. Look under subsection G. Demolition of Structures. But it’s could just be a building code issue, which isn’t a zoning issue. If the demolition was properly permitted and the remaining structure meets building code, then there’s not much that can be done. I would also look at section 11.2.8. Demolition Permit.

      1. Rival, thanks for the input, that is exactly what I found when I looked a few days ago. I just recall a year or so ago that the city proposed to make it harder to tear down houses and actually tie the rules into the construction cost ratio to house value. Before that, builders had been buying small houses and maintaining a tiny portion of the house to grandfather the original footprint, maybe a part of a wall or foundation, so they could call their project a renovation. Then they would build a much taller and larger house, often closer to the property line than would have been allowed if it were a new build and not a renovation. Essentially, they were building a new home but using the loophole to not have to follow setback or storm water requirements. I thought that was tightened up last year and I was curious to read how that was handled, but maybe it was struck out at the last minute? It looks like it is still going on based on the houses going up in my neighborhood. Anybody know?

  10. Suggestion for a new DM feature: Market Monday. So I can sell my Mustang to a lucky DM reader.

      1. She’s a well-cared-for, gently-driven 1994 6 cyl coupe, cute as a button. I’m the original owner, less than 147k miles, no rust or scratches, one small area of damage to front bumper on driver’s side. Have replaced the light covers so they are clear and shiny–not cloudy. Just had her mechanics checked out and had clutch throwout bearing and seat motor replaced. Confirmed there are no other issues with one exception: speedometer works intermittently. Buyer would need to have a speedometer specialist (there is one in Roswell) look at it. Odometer is/has been working, I just haven’t driven the car more than 2,000 miles per year for the last 15 years. Teal blue.

    2. +1 We have a beater to sell to a newly licensed driver as soon as final report cards come out. 🙂

      1. Looks like Decatur has not yet been fully consumed by the ravages of unchecked affluence. Happy to know that some new drivers still get a POS at best rather than a new Beamer. Keep ’em hungry!

        1. Buying a teenage son or daughter an expensive car like a BMW is a parenting decision I will never understand.

          1. DHS has a superlative for “Worst Car” and our kid was disappointed she didn’t win. However, since then the car has been stolen (from the HS parking lot) and recovered with additional body damage and Decatur PD writing all over windshield, so I think the next owner of the car has a really good shot at the win.

            1. Had a ’71 Pinto Runabout with the “exploding gas tank” design, in faded red with duct tape covering the rust. And the inside was even worse.

              Do I win?

              1. ’65 dung brown Mercury Comet, a.m. only radio, no springs in the seats, no heat, no air- and once, no breaks (which was ok, b/c it was a solid tank). That car DID win the Sr superlative & was so popular my younger sister’s friends, one of them asked my sister a decade later to drive her and the rest of their high school gang to the friend’s wedding ceremony!

              2. I learned to drive on a 1973 Pinto with a vinyl top and those classy vinyl buckets seats. Before learning to drive, it was also where my dad gave me the “birds and the bees” talk while driving back from dropping my older brother off at band camp on a very hot, sticky August day. We sold it for $250 but the buyer showed up with $243. We didn’t hold out for the $7.

        2. My teen, who will be licensed within the next six or so months, but who really seems to have no more of a sense of urgency about finishing drivers’ ed than he does about any of his schoolwork, has a beater waiting for him and is excited about it. Maybe beaters are a “thing” now? I had a terribly uncool, ugly car as a new driver and daily, I died of mortification. But my kid can’t wait to REALLY rag this car out, no doubt with offensive stickers and even more dings and dents than it already has.

          1. Encouraging responses! My kid’s at a similar age. Awaiting her is one step below a beater: limited access to *my* beater.

          2. I too drove a beater in my teenage days. But I grew up in a small town where no one had any real money, and so pretty much everyone had a beater. In that way, a lack of diversity was good — there was no one to be jealous of!

            In some ways, I still find it hard to fathom that we now live in an area where people can afford German sedans not only for themselves, but for their kids as well. My son thinks my German sedan is super cool (he’s right of course!), but he’s already been instructed that his path to a luxury car involves much hard work and delayed gratification.

    3. It’s been suggested before. I’ve thought about doing it on Saturdays because things are slower then and that’s when folks are in the mindset to shop. Only reason I haven’t pulled the trigger is because I think we’d have to set certain parameters. Like would businesses be allowed to advertise? Non-profits? If so, could they advertise anything or just certain things, like specials? I’m obviously worried it could be abused, but maybe I just worry too much. 🙂

      1. I suggested Monday for alliterative purposes. If you go with Saturday, how about “Sell it! Saturday”? For now, you could just restrict it to people selling 1994 Mustangs and beaters available to newly licensed drivers.

  12. Boo to the developer of Grindhouse Burgers on McDonough for clear-cutting the few trees lining the back of the property. Looks horrible and seems pointless. Not to mention, birds were nesting for spring as they always do.

    3. We have other trees for the birds, I’m sure.
      I’m excited about the continued growth of delicious and innovative eateries around town.

      1. On my part, much prefer growth of deciduous and native eastern trees than growth of delicious and innovative eateries (eaters of trees?). Just another addition to the cost of animal protein.

      1. The stone wall appears to have been better at looking quaint than at preventing the neighboring lot from tumbling onto the property.

        As for the trees, we have a new ordinance that seems to reflect the values of our community as much as practical and was debated publicly. Assume the owner followed it. If not, call the city.

  14. Anyone have recent experience with the passport services at the Decatur Post Office? I want to give myself a couple of weeks cushion for the 4-6 standard processing time, so I need to make an appointment within the next few days. I’m having a hard time getting someone to answer the phone. :\

    1. check out one of the last few FFAF strings- there was some good advice about this topic (basically, don’t use Post Office for this).

      1. Thank you! I knew I’d read about this recently but couldn’t remember at which website.

      2. +1 go to the courthouse – this was one of our spring break stay-cation activities/to do items – to get the tween a passport. We were in and out in less then an hour. FYI – I completed the form online and printed before we went.

    3. Courthouse! I tried the PO too and though they did call me back, the first appointment they had was weeks away. Just make sure you have all your paperwork and the right combination of funds (cash was necessary for some portion of it).

      1. Yeah, the PO called me back after the first two replies to my question. She was very nice but the first available appointments were in May! No thanks, I’ll try the courthouse.

  16. Does anyone have a good handyman that does shows up does good work and is not too expensive?

    1. Yes! Ben Brackner, 678-920-8204. Keep calling him if he doesn’t call back. He’s busy.

  18. just heard that the little running store in oakhurst village will begin offering all kinds of kids shoes starting in a couple of weeks…. They had a “grand reopening” sign and so I asked what was what. The owner is still there selling adult shoes, but he seems to have partnered with someone who will do kids shoes on one side of the store……

  20. We are likely going to rent our Decatur house out at the end of summer. It’s small and not conducive to a large family with kids, pets, etc. A couple or visiting professional would likely be more comfortable. Does anyone have a recommendation for a property management company that we can contact for some basic questions- we are trying to understand the potential of rent differential between the scenarios above, whether to rent furnished or unfurnished, how to manage the utilities, etc. ?

    1. Allaro Realty Team. I have used them as property managers for my rental home for the last three years (and as a seller’s agent), and they’ve been great to work with. 404-969-2730

  22. Two questions:

    (1) Nobody has any information on the “redevelopment” of the Hop N Shop property that was discussed at this week’s ONA Meeting?

    (2) What did the Planning Commission do with the request for a drive thru juice place at the 315 West Ponce building. There are, of course, no minutes or summaries on the City of Decatur website.

    1. The Hop and Shop property owner is considering a second story with some office space or perhaps an apartment. The Hop and Shop would remain the first-floor use.

      The Planning Commission recommended denial of the requested Juice Bar exceptions to the Downtown Special Pedestrian District regulations. City Commission will make the final call next week.

      1. “The Planning Commission recommended denial of the requested Juice Bar exceptions to the Downtown Special Pedestrian District regulations.”

        Good.

    2. FYI – The meeting minutes from ONA Meetings can be found here http://www.oakhurstga.org/ona/ona-monthly-meeting-minutes.

  24. Tava Indian Bistro, in Patel Plaza. Just had lunch there with my old lady. Really, really good eats. Talented chef. Homemade lime pickle. A keeper.

    3. Two star review in the AJC this week. Sounds like a winner. Wish they’d allow brown bagging, though.

  26. Congratulations to Gov Deal, Rep Peake, and the legislators who voted to pass the progressive legislation that is House bill 1.

    “House Bill 1, which took effect immediately, makes it legal for people who suffer from cancer, sickle cell disease and other illnesses to possess up to 20 ounces of cannabis oil if a physician signs off. The state estimates hundreds of thousands of residents could be eligible for the drug, and at least 17 Georgia families have had to temporarily move to places like Colorado where the cannabis oil is legal.

    The biggest obstacle for those patients remains how they’ll obtain the oil. It’s illegal to cultivate marijuana in Georgia, which means families have to trek to Colorado and other states that have legalized the drug for medical purposes. That makes travel a tricky prospect, since most states, as well as the federal government, make possessing the drug a crime.”

    1. Wow, didn’t know that. 20 oz of cannabis oil? I am no expert, but I am guessing one dose is about a 1/4 gram, if that — ~1/100th of an oz. So, you can possess about 2,000 doses? That is surprisingly generous legislation…

  28. Random Question – I am looking to purchase bulk shaved ice for an upcoming party – like 40 pounds or so. Surely there is an ice vendor somewhere who can supply. Does anyone have a name of someone who could provide?

    1. Maybe a local restaurant that you frequent could help you. Or try Dixie Ice Co. 2040 Steel Dr # G, Tucker, GA 30084
      (770) 414-1125

  30. Anyone have any success nullifying an APD parking ticket when you were parked within City
    of Decatur? (Oakhurst about 2 blocks north of the line.) I’ve talked to a number of
    folks in the DPD, APD, Solicitor’s Office, Clerk’s Office, and even left a message with
    ParkAtlanta but have seem to hit a dead end.

    I’d rather get this resolved without attending court because it just wastes everyone’s
    time. Ticket’s only but I don’t want APD or ParkAtlanta to think they have dominion over the whole area.
    (trying this again … previous entry could not be verified)

    1. Go to the Municipal Court Clerk’s window in the PD building and see what you can do.

    2. Sgt Ross asked me to share this…

      “We have received recent complaints about City of Atlanta parking citations being issued to vehicles parked in Oakurst near the Decatur/Atlanta border. We had a similar issue on a different street some months back. We are working with the City of Atlanta to clear up the confusion about the jurisdictional boundaries between City of Decatur and City of Atlanta. If you have received a City of Atlanta parking citation while parked in Decatur, please scan a copy of the parking ticket and email it to Deputy Chief Lee at [email protected]. Thank you.”

    3. Park Atlanta has an on-line appeal process you can pursue from their web site. I had success having a ticket nullified where the time-stamp on the ticket was 3 minutes later than the time-stamp on my parking receipt. I would think you should have similar success where the ticket is issued outside of their jurisdiction. Good luck!

      1. Thanks all!
        I’ve sent an email to Deputy Chief Lee. I’m trying to avoid spending a half-day in Atlanta Traffic Court so if this eliminates that need, I’m all for it. Not an expensive ticket but I don’t want to start a pattern.

  32. Anyone interested in a ticket to the sure-to-be-amazing Sleater-Kinney show coming up on Tuesday? I’m selling it for less than what I paid for it and really, I just want it to go to a person who will enjoy the show (I’ll be there too!). Email me at marlatiara at yahoo and we’ll tawk!

  34. Sad to hear that Ann Price died yesterday. Will the Snack Shack and Ghetto Burger survive?

    2. Rumor is that Miss Ann’s brother is going to continue to run the place. Hope it survives–she was really what made it iconic.

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