View from Ponce Pl - Pic Courtesy of Livable Growth

Back at the end of November, DM reported the sizable reduction of units that the 315 developer made in response to citizen concerns about density and parking brought up at the October Otis White meeting.

Well, the developer made that reduction by eliminating the building that originally was to be squeezed in along Ponce between the existing office building and the street, while retaining the rear building that would be built within the existing parking lot, with a parking deck situated behind Fairview and courtyards along Montgomery (view above is along Ponce Place).  Livable Growth has the full plans here (pdf)

I tried to gauge reaction from the neighborhood about the reduction, but never heard word back.  Plus, with the variety of opinions, I guess just one voice wouldn’t have sufficed anyway.

Next step is for this new plan to go before the Planning Commission this Thursday at 7:30p.   If all goes according to schedule, they will make a recommendation to the city commission, which will vote yea or nay on the project next Monday (Dec 15th) at 7:30p, along with some other issue regarding annexation.

Just a reminder:  The Decatur School Board will vote tonight on whether to support Superintendent Edwards’ opposition to annexation. Westchester 6:30pm.

I’m going to go out on a limb and say the board will give their full support to the Superintendent.

Budget cuts, along with all the new charter school implementations, are probably enough current stresses on the school system.  Board members aren’t going to gladly take on an annexation plan that dramatically increases enrollment, especially when the number of added students is still so widely disputed.

But hey, I’ve been wrong before.

In the recent election for Cobb County Tax Commissioner, lovable Decatur blogger (and DeKalb County resident) Rusty Tanton received more votes than the evil, “I’ll cut your heart out with a spoon!” Sheriff of Nottingham, beating him by a 3 to 1 margin.  Actually, that WAS the vote: 3 to 1.

Tanton credits his small but symbolic victory to the level of restraint he demonstrated by putting off threats of death with blunt utensils until after Election Day.

A more extensive list of those write-ins defeated by Tanton can be found over on his self-titled blog.

Oh, and Wheatley gets the tip o’ the hat.

Close Up advisor and DHS teacher Chris Billingsley writes in…

1. On Friday from 5:00 until 7:00, we will have a fund raiser at Fifth Earl, across from the old depot and next to Trackside Tavern.  Please come by and enjoy great food and drinks at reasonable prices.

2. Saturday is “Rake&Run”.  A team of Close Up students with adult chaperons will come to your Decatur home and do yard work- rake and bag leaves, clean first story gutters, apply mulch, and much much more.  This is a free service for City residents but any donations to help pay for our Washington, Inaugural trip will be greatly appreciated.  Please contact Mr. Chris Billingsley at to reserve a spot.

And since we’re speaking of trees, just a quick personal plea… “Oak trees!!  I implore you to PLEASE just drop your leaves!  The maples and ginkgoes complied weeks ago!  I know you’re upset about the drought, but who isn’t!?  Just let it go.   If you do, I promise two days of delicious, cold rain.”

My tendency to speak out to uncomprehensive plants on the internet is unsettling…even to me.

FM Fats points out that Mingei World Arts just won AccessAtlanta’s “Best of the Big A” award for “the best place to buy a gift for someone who has everything”.  Greater Decatur’s Eagle Eye Book Shop came in second.

Congrats to both shops!