At least the AJC got that part right.

But to claim that the developer is planning a 10 story condo is absolutely FALSE. Yes, the Wachovia building is 10 stories tall, but C2 zoning no longer allows commercial development of that height in the city without a serious variance.

As the city’s update on DecaturResidents.com clearly states: “New residential building will not exceed 80’ in height (6 stories max.)”

10 stories! Geez! That kind of misinformation is SO unhelpful.

UPDATE: The AJC has removed the “10 stories tall” claim from the online article.

A forward from Cherie linking to a 1999 article about Decatur’s “round tables” got me digging around for more info on what ultimately was the result of these gatherings. Here it is in all its glory: the 2000 Decatur Strategic Plan.

What I found most interesting, while thumbing through this document, is that under the recommendation for graduated set-back for C2 against R60, is a picture of residential surrounding 315 W. Ponce.

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To me, this implies that the zoning change to insure a gradual building height limitation for C2 next to R60 was created specifically in the round tables with 315 W. Ponce in mind.

Interesting, no?

My wife yesterday, and Rus today, forwarded me this Daily Candy blurb about Decatur’s new Mexican restaurant, El Tesoro. In it we learn that the restaurant on Church Street opens tomorrow and that the owners come from Cantina La Casita in East Atlanta.

Recent searches for “buried treasure” have yielded 82¢, a missing left earring, and one mortifying Facebook tag. Still, onward you quest.

If you’re lucky, you’ll end up at El Tesoro (“treasure” in Spanish), the latest venture from the guys behind La Casita, opening Wednesday for lunch just off Decatur Square.

The menu includes Casita’s famous hand-rolled tamales and homemade everything else — ceviche del día, ducks carnitas, mint and garlic simmered pork meatballs, and even sour cream and salsas.

Hit them in the wee hours for a late-night menu of small plates of pickled chiles, goat cheese tamales, and a 95-deep tequila bar.

You’re in for an eyeful, too. Denise Disharoon decked the mantels, niches, and walls with altar pieces and Latin American folk art. Soon they’ll have piñatas — and, yes, they’ll be for sale. No, you can’t take them to the garden bar for a test run.

Unless you’re looking for trouble.

According to a little yellow postcard signed by Mayor Floyd, our household has been randomly selected to participate in the 2008 Decatur Citizen Survey! WooHoo!

Looking back to the 2006 Survey, the highest rated “community characteristics” were sense of community, overall image/reputation of Decatur, and openness and acceptance. Potential problem areas included taxes, traffic congestion and too much growth.

For anyone out there that didn’t get the nod for ’08 (or just want to voice their opinions in a public forum), feel free to opine about Decatur’s progress (or lack thereof) since 2006 in the comments section below.

Do you still feel that same sense of community?

Is traffic just as bad?

Do you feel like growth is still a problem? (If so, what’s your solution to Decatur’s growing population and popularity?)

Taxes? (This will always come up as a problem area on a survey, especially in a high tax area like Decatur. But you can’t blame the city commission for not trying to address it. See annexation and HOST dispute.)