As we’ve reiterated many times when speculating the future value of our city’s real estate, Decatur’s economic future is indelibly linked to that of its bigger, younger sister (see Marthasville) to the west.  Though many, many thanks must be given to Decatur officials, staff and residents, who had the foresight to implement smart growth concepts well before they were en vogue, even they would probably admit that it also had a lot to do with good timing.  While Decatur implemented a new strategy that valued its downtown instead of destroying it, the city of Atlanta came into its hey-day.

But what now?  How will our big sis fare in this economic downtown?

These questions were top-of-mind as I devoured  The Atlantic’s March cover story “How the Crash Will Reshape America“, written by American Urban Studies theorist Richard Florida.  Florida is big on the “creative class”, focusing on how concentrations of well-educated, creative folks (aka “talant-clusters”) drive city economies.  Unlike Friedman’s world is flat-theory, Florida, like many other urban theorists, believe that the easy accessibility of info of the 21st century is not be a death-knell to cities.  Instead, these mega-regions continue to remain vitality important in helping the U.S. compete with the rest of the world.

In examining our cities’ ability to weather this deep recession, Florida predicts big trouble for economies with a local economies that are heavy in the financials or industrials.  While giving a pass to NYC on financials because it is the center of the world economy, Florida writes the obit for dirty industry Detriot and real-estate dependent Las Vegas and Pheonix.

But when it comes to Atlanta, Florida only makes a passing mention when rattling off mega-regions:  I believe he calls it “Char-lanta.”  And while Charlotte gets a later mention for being a thriving research banking capital, Atlanta receives no other mention; pro or con.

So is that a good thing or a bad thing? Read the rest of this entry »

HamwithCam Photo from Flickr

Dropping the “g” makes this post extra hot!

Valentine’s Day is Saturday.  Here are your sultry options Decatur…

• Sawicki’s has a $70 stay-at-home dinner for two [pdf]
• Tastings is offering a 6 course “VALENTINE’S DAY PRIX FIXE” for $55 a person (extra $20 for wine pairings)  RSVPs were due by yesterday, but hey you could still try to get in!
• Ponce/Fairview shops are having a sidewalk sale from 11a-4p
• Mingei is selling Sweetie’s Sugar Scrub, which was recently featured in Daily Candy.
• The Decatur Minute has a bunch of local Valentine’s Day bargins and ideas.
• If you’re looking for ideas beyond the city limits, Creative Loafing has a list of V-Day events and restaurant events around ATL.

Let me know what I missed!

If you read the AJC or watch local news on your tele, you’ve probably seen the crapload of recent articles about DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis taking telecommuting DeKalb Police Chief Terrell Bolton to task.

After days of diabetes, forced leave and closed door meetings that confused the AJC to the point that they began writing articles with strange titles – like “Crucial meeting for DeKalb CEO, top cop coming to head?” (can a meeting really “come to a head’?  Don’t tensions “come to a head”, which RESULT in something like a crucial meeting?  I digress…) – this morning its reported that while Bolton is on “temporary” leave, he’s been replaced by Maj. William O’Brien.

The DeKalb Officers blog, which was created in opposition of Bolton’s appointment by fmr. supreme leader Vernon Jones, loves the choice of O’Brien, a 24-year veteran of the dept.

For all of us who have been unnerved by the recent increase of crime in Oakhurst and surrounding areas, any news that gives hope of a revived, happier and better functioning DeKalb Police Dept is good news.

Scott's photo

Scott reports that the Rec was a “madhouse” for Diary of a Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney last night.

Sounds like Little Shop did it again!