Yesterday, in a letter to the AJC, Sembler Co. asserted that it wasn’t a vocal neighborhood opposition, but the hideous real estate market, which led to a scaled back version of “Town Briarcliff”.

That got me thinking about the proposed condo on Hillyer that prompted Old Decatur to become a historic district.  It’s on the lips of residents again, but not because its beginning to cast a shadow over the homes of Old Decatur, but because a similar battle is in early stages over at 315 W. Ponce.

I believe it’s been a good four months since this plan was approved by the planning commission, but today the property remains a vacant, grassy lot.  What gives?
Is this another casualty of the weak real estate market?  Or is the sister building of 345 W. Ponce still a go?

(Photo Courtesy of DecaturHighRise.org)

Carl reports that Benedetti’s in the Fed Ex/Kinkos Plaza at the corner of Clairmont and N. Decatur is closed.

Whether this closing preceded the recent liquor license crackdown or the old school Italian joint is just the latest victim of a Dept. of Revenue sweep through the Decatur area is yet to be determined.  Can anyone help pinpoint a date?

If you like old-fashioned Italian dining, your closest option might now be Alfredo’s on Cheshire Bridge.

I’m getting a bit worried about what this rash of closings is saying about the local economy.

Unless he’s moved out of state.

The AJC has an online searchable database of names given to children born in Georgia in the past 18 years.

Take a look. You won’t be disappointed by the creativity of Georgia parents. To assist your search the AJC has also broken out a bunch by name “types”, in case you want to see lists of kids named after animals, cities, alcohol or brand.

If you feel moved, post your favorites below.

InDecatur has done a good job the last couple weeks of keeping us up-to-date on the controversy surrounding the PATH Foundation’s new proposed bike path through Mason Mill Park. Now Radical Georgia Moderate informs us of plans by the Three Forks Alliance to sue PATH to stop construction.

Bikers vs. Hikers. (Obviously I’m generalizing here. I’m sure there’s a lot of crossover.)

I’m deeply conflicted. Two groups usually in close agreement might be fighting it out in court. Once I get any sort of grasp of both sides of this issue, maybe I’ll post an opinion. But for now, I’m having trouble choosing between my bike helmet and day pack.

Can’t we just go back to saber-rattling at those pesky developers?

An inside source from the Dekalb County Office of Economic Development tells Decatur Metro poster, Rus, that “the Georgia Department of Revenue made a “sweep” through Decatur targeting restaurants and bars who were behind in paying their sales taxes.”

He goes on to say “My source said there would be more businesses to lose their licenses but didn’t know yet which ones.”

See this post for the list of Decatur restaurants currently on “the list”.

This is going to hurt a lot of area restaurants in 2008. Who will be able to keep their heads above water and who will not?

Pasta Please and the Angel might just be the first victims.

Stay tuned. I’ll have it all here.

Thanks Rus!

If my report from the city commission meeting on Tuesday didn’t do it for you, GoDeKalb also has a recap this morning.

As opposed to the misleading and sloppy AJC article from Wednesday that asserted the plan for annexation was “on hold”, Mary Swift of GoDeKalb does a good job of summing up the evening’s events as well as reporting on Avondale’s ad-hoc annexation counterstrike against Decatur’s plan.

Since this is the first real report on Avondale’s plan, let’s take a closer look at what’s going on in the Tudor city according to the GoDeKalb article.

The city appointed an ad hoc annexation committee on Jan. 15 after Decatur indicated it might attempt annexation of the property between the cities this legislative session.

Allan Kirwan, chairman of the Avondale Estates ad hoc annexation committee, told city officials at a special called work session on Jan. 23 that it appeared Decatur would not try to get annexation approved this year. Huh? Where did they get this impression? The AJC article?

“The committee finds that at this point we are not ready to annex substantial properties,” the ad hoc committee’s first report said. The committee suggested city officials develop an immediate, 2-year, 5-year and “an ultimate year” annexation plan and the city should try to assess the positions of the property owners regarding annexation. Committee members also said the zoning code should be revised to accommodate different types of properties that might be annexed.”

Don’t bite off more than you can chew Avondale. Don’t you have a revitalization plan to implement?

So the $64k question for the morning is: if you owned a commercial property on E. College, which city would you rather be annexed into? Or would you rather remain in unincorp. DeKalb limbo?

Personally I think Decatur’s Downtown Development Authority and our police force are reason enough to tip the scales in favor of Decatur, regardless of the higher property tax.

h/t: InDecatur

My wife came across this 2008 list of Non-Renewed Alcohol Licenses (effective thru today) on the Department of Revenue website. There’s also a search function here.

Below are Decatur establishments without a current “consumption on premise” liquor license according to the list

Not Yet Reported on Decatur Metro

• Nathalie’s Key West Fish House (giving out complementary glasses – Carl)

• Ted’s Montana Grill (claims they haven’t lost it – Carl)

• Benedetti’s (lost consumption on premise license)

• Los Loros (has 2008 license)

• Crescent Moon (lost retail license)

• Twain’s (lost BWP-brewpub? license)

• Maddy’s (lost retail license)

• Duck’s Cosmic Kitchen (lost retail license)

• Amaryn’s Thai Bowl (lost retail license)

Already reported on Decatur Metro

• The Angel – Closed

• Pasta Please – Closed

• Zocalo – Already Confirmed

• Mick’s – Closed

Can anyone confirm or deny the “new ones”?

I know I sound like a broken record, but what the heck is going on? Ted’s? Can that be believed?