Comments on: Arriving at 450

By: taxus

taxus — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 14:45:24 +0000

I agree with the killing of two birds theory but the “Less services” bird will get bigger and hungrier if anything is annexed.

By: Decatur Heights Guy

Decatur Heights Guy — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 04:42:29 +0000

The amount of short/ long term Decatur Development to match the immediate school growth/costs of a large scale annexation simply does not exist. Period. There is only 1 one again/ off again project (the Trinity Development of various names and owners) in Decatur’s immediate future and that’s not in the annexation zone.

*Decatur can’t force the hand of current property owners who are sitting on underdeveloped sites currently w/in the City’s limits (Selig site @ Commerce & Church & the empty Oakhurt strip mall), so how can anyone expect them to impose their will on underdeveloped, newly annexed sites.

*The Avondale LCI project has still not left the drawing board.

* In the areas to be potentially annexed there are no significant short term development plans. So that means no immediate increase in revenue. In fact, the sites on E. Ponce that have been recently developed (Progressive Site, Enterprise Site, Loft Offices that housed the Obama office) are all positioned for moderate (5 year) to long term (6+ year) holds. So again I ask, where is the development going to come from in the newly annexed sites.

* Won’t the City have to give up some tax incentives in order to “lure” development in the City, so how can you generate revenue when you have to give tax-related perks to potential developers.

* As for the Southern Annexation scenario being used to force a Northern Annexation – he/she is referring to the city adding all of the residential properties (Southern Annexation) to the discussion in order to do 2 things: 1) Appease the folks in Forrest Hills who have always clamored for annexation despite the fact that the City never wanted to do it; and 2) Create an either/or analysis and influence the folks in the City to embrace the Northern annexation (primarily commercial) over the Southern annexation (primarily residential). The City kills 3 birds with one stone: more potential revenue, less services, bye-bye Forrest Hills forever.

* Cartel Properties owns several sites at that Ponce/DeKalb Industrial intersection. And Chuck Bosserman has at least 1holding over there as well.

By: Ragnar Danneskjold

Ragnar Danneskjold — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:12:45 +0000

My Bad Mr. FixIT. I should have left off “sleazy” in my question – sorry. What do you mean by “using the southern annexation areas to force the northern areas”? Are they not independent of each other in opting in or out (assuming the City decides to go that way)? How does the Southern area “force” the Northern area to consider themselves for annexation that they might not have otherwise considered? Why do you think the City wants the Southern areas, especially given what appears to be a very uneven Residential vs. Commercial ratio?

Sorry for all the questions.

By: Decatur Metro

Decatur Metro — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:50:25 +0000

MrFixIt…you’re slipping into conspiracy theory again. If you have evidence of uncouth motives by the city or the commission, put it out there and we’ll judge for ourselves.

And if your really that concerned about police, perhaps you’d like to help the city find qualified candidates to fill the numerous open positions currently on the force.

By: MrFixIt

MrFixIt — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:21:41 +0000

Well, sleazy is actually too strong of a word. It’s totally legal and I currently know of no unsavory or illegal business dealings.

I guess unfair or unjust is the better word. Non-Decaturish is also a good word.