The AJC provides a few more details on the Decatur City Commission’s decision to cut off city staff support and funding from the Oakhurst Historic District effort.  Included are a few more quotes from Mayor Bill Floyd.

“Historic districts “are not the devil,” Floyd said. “But not everyone wants them. You want to do it to preserve history — not to keep out infill housing. You want to do it for the right reasons.”

Floyd said there wasn’t money in the budget to cover the cost of surveying Oakhurst homes and notify residents about the process. He also believes the preservation commission, which operates independently of the City Commission, erred when it expanded the district boundaries beyond the original proposal.”

In my own reaction to the commission’s decision, I explain why technically its too early to announce the death of the Oakhurst Historic District nomination.  However, without the political support of the commission this nomination will almost certainly die.

Additionally, expanding the district boundaries may have been a political error, but it wasn’t necessarily a technical one.

Comments?

The AJC reports that part of the Avondale MARTA parking lot south of Columbia Drive East College Ave will soon be developed into apartments and street level shops (named Columbia Park) by the Decatur Housing Authority. The property will be leased from MARTA to the housing authority for $136k a year.

Though it may not stack up in size and number of chain restaurants with Lindburgh Station, I’m glad to hear that funding has been granted for this project. Well-built and attractive mixed income housing is important to keeping Decatur diverse and eclectic.

Also, check out the Decatur Housing Authority’s other mixed income development project just down the street, Talley Street Lofts.