Comments on: Big H Center Owner Responds To Trader Joe's Rumors

By: Bill

Bill — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 21:41:14 +0000

There is nothing intrinsically bad with $500,000 condos, just as there is nothing intrinsically good about “affordable” housing. You know, sometimes a development with $500,000 condos (with presumably higher income people living in them) might be what it takes to encourage other businesses to go out on a limb and invest in a neighborhood like Oakhurst or a city like Decatur. If I owned a business, I would sure be interested to know whether there is enough income in the area to support the services I am offering.

And while I fully support affordable housing options to make sure that our city workers, teachers, public safety officers, and service workers can live and work in Decatur, I will show you a nearly empty affordable apartment to condo conversion at Ansley and Jefferson Place which hasn’t sold many units in the 5+ years I’ve lived in Oakhurst. Or I will show you the affordable housing on Oakview on the north side of the Old Scottish Rite that does not look like it was build with very much quality.

The truth is we need both affordable housing and more expensive housing in Decatur in order to attract the services that we want and need and to maintain the diversity that we value. It doesn’t do anyone any good to look your nose down upon any particular group or create class envy among Decaturites!

By: keith

keith — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:59:20 +0000

Eric,
$500,000 condos aren’t affordable. We need more, not less, affordable housing in this neighborhood. Unless we want an homogenized, super-affluent, exclusive club instead of a healthy, diverse, thriving community.

By: Eric

Eric — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 22:09:42 +0000

keith, what’s the matter with $500,000 condos? Wouldn’t ANYTHING there be better than what is there now?

I had mentioned on the Oakhurst blog of my love of the Candler Park Market and how it would do a great business in Oakhurst. I always feel like I need to take a shower when I go to the hop n shop to buy something. I don’t know, maybe its the high school drop outs hanging at the front with their pit bulls that leaves something to be desired….

Anywhoo…Is the Big H only available for retail? Or could it be rezoned for mixed use or simply residential.

Either way, talk about Mr. Cohen missing the boat on that property, IMHO. Reminds me of the people who thought that home prices were going to go up forever, held on too long, then flooded the market with homes.

By: Scott

Scott — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 21:31:34 +0000

Hey, Xokyditive. Nothing unsophisticated about it. The fastest growing markets for product distribution in America in the coming decades resemble exactly what you describe. After being virtually ignored and defunded for years, America’s city’s are showing a little life again. There’s a lot of opportunity available, but only for retailers who recognize that city people want shopping opportunities that respect and plug into an urban lifestyle. For folks who don’t shy away from density, places like the Midtown Publix are ideal.

By: xokyditive

xokyditive — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 20:02:53 +0000

“From my observations, Publix seems the most forward-thinking in the area…”

Another interesting, though not entirely comparable example of Publix thinking outside the box is the largely underground store in Midtown beneath the condo tower between W Ptree and Spring in the block north of 8th.

Much like the Publix at Cheshire Bridge and Lavista, it feels half as wide but twice as deep as a typical store.

OK, so maybe so maybe I’m an unsophisticated kid from the burbs, but it’s cool to park in the lowest level of an underground garage and walk straight in to a Publix. And it’s a short walk for people living in a half-dozen nearby tall buildings.