DeVry To Request Annexation/Rezoning
Decatur Metro | June 5, 2009Just when you thought you couldn’t read another word about annexation without losing your local, organic, free-range lunch, Dave at InDecatur posts a letter sent to him that seems to indicate that the DeVry folks have had a change of heart and now want to be rezoned and annexed into Decatur.
I’ve pieced together this story as it’s developed but honestly can’t remember where I read/heard any of it anymore. But here’s what I remember…
Essentially, when DeVry first moved it’s campus into the “Birdcalls From Hell” building downtown, the owners didn’t have any interest in having the old campus, which abuts the Decatur city limits, annexed because of high taxes and blah blah blah.
However, the city of Decatur has been very interested in bringing this property into the city limits so it has some control over it’s redevelopment, not to mention tax revenue for a new mixed-use district, so they courted DeVry with seductive calls of “Yes, you may have to pay more in taxes BUT you’ll receive a lot more technical assistance from your local government if you become part of Decatur.”
And it looks like DeVry finally came around. In this economy, developing and/or selling that piece of property must be a daunting task.
I’m hoping that all of my assumptions about Dave’s letter are correct, because honestly it is kind of vague on details.
Lyn, I’d really appreciate it if you can confirm/deny this.
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Your summary is basically correct. DeVry considered the option of working through DeKalb County or being annexed into the City of Decatur and decided being part of the City of Decatur was a better option for them. You are correct that the City’s interest is to play a roll in how the property is ultimately developed and to have the benefit of the additional tax revenue when the property is developed. I don’t know that I’d describe our efforts “courting them with seductive calls.” Rather, we simply presented the facts, outlined the process and timeframe and let them reach their own conclusion.
“I don’t know that I’d describe our efforts “courting them with seductive calls.” Rather, we simply presented the facts, outlined the process and timeframe and let them reach their own conclusion.”
I just want to know who is placing the seductive calls.
and that was my lame effort at humor back at ya!
I’m certain there are advantages to being annexed, particularly if they want to build a multi-family, mixed-income community. However, the sellers are not the developers, and the developers will pay a heavy price in time and aggrivation to get through the Decatur approval processes.
The only courting with seductive calls that I have heard lately are the ones emanating from the “Birds from Hell” building.
Lyn, we’re just like Laurel and Hardy!
E, could you detail some ways in which Decatur’s process is more aggravating than that of DeKalb? Because it doesn’t seem like the DeVry owners agree with you.
Mr. FixIt, those calls are supposed to be preventing birds from running into windows. But if you’re being seduced by them, and, I assume, slamming yourself face-first into the building, then they might need to tweak the system.
…Though it does explain the piles of broken pairs of glasses and hats I’ve seen on the ground around the perimeter of the building lately.
DM, As I said, the current owners of DeVry who are asking for annexation will not be the ones applying for permits and approval from Decatur. This headache will be for the buyers who eventually redevelop. I suspect it is advantagous for the current owners to seek annexation because of the City’s school system provides another marketing advantage for the site. I also suspect Decatur sweetened the pot somehow and at a minimum indicated they wanted DeVry. DeKalb doesn’t feel compelled to offer any assistance, incentives or seductive phone calls.
Several other posts confirm my statement about Decatur having a near never ending approval process. Some of the problem is manpower. Some of the problem is the fire protection regulations and storm water retention are more than stringent. As residents it is good to have tough regulations. However some of Decatur’s regulations force over designed standards and are marginally better. They don’t really add much protection, but add to the costs for the buyers.
The inspection and approval process is arduous and protracted as there are only a couple of folks who can do that on the payroll, and time is money when you are trying to get the doors open to get some cash into the tills.
Ask the folks at the Depeaux. Took them FOREVER to be “approved” so they could actually serve a meal. When Metro Market opened several years ago where TACO MAC is now, getting final inspections/occupancy certificate process delayed and delayed their opening and they were already paying rent. I have spoken with employees of developers/etc. who simply won’t do business in city limits because of the hassle, and have heard this directly from several home builders and one commercial re-developer.
Code enforcement is the same. The few folks in that department are overwhelmed and can’t get to the calls that they have re: violations and inspections, slowing down construction, delaying occupancy, while the money clock ticks.
If this is true, it’s a serious flaw in the system. If a community is going to go through the hard work of developing a strategic vision (which Decatur admirably has), and if that vision requires private money and initiative to be implemented, it’s key that processes be streamlined to incentivize the people you need.
We should be setting up roadblocks for the things we *don’t* want. Not the things we do.
Opening a business (particularly one selling food and/or alcohol) in Decatur is NOTHING compared to doing the same in ATL. Look at last year’s opening of The Mercantile, for example. How many months were they paying rent before they were permitted to open? She had to function as a catering-only concept for a long time. It’s quite commonplace for restaurants opening in ATL to wait weeks or months for a pouring license. That just doesn’t happen in Decatur (I know it did briefly with Cakes & Ale, but that was apparently a special issue).
Well, I do know for a fact about my above statements. How endemic that it may be can be only answered by our city folks and other business owners.
I know the employees who are in these capacities do what they humanly can, and it is not due to lack of effort on their part that delays and bottlenecks occur. The demand is greater than their capacity.
Hmmmm. DeKalb is going to cut their inspection down to only 20 or so people. I imagine that will speed things up over there.
Are they gonna pay taxes? or is their money going to city commissioner’s campaigns?
Sorry W, I don’t understand your comment.
Yeah, Steve, I don’t either–please disregard.
I know nothing of the bureaucratic red-tape of Decatur vs. DeKalb, but in this case the process will surely be made more complicated by a) wading into the Decatur politics of annexation and b) the need to work with the School system, which will have a strong interest in this project. Also, I assume this would fall under the category of annexations that the Commission pledged not to consider until 2011, although for a development of this size and in this economy, that may not seem far off.
I know this project has been cooking for a while … any word on what the the potential buyers want to do? It’s a pretty big tract of land. THe letter says there will be a public meeting at the DeVry campus (I assume this means the old campus) on Wednesday, June 24 from 7-8 pm, so we should learn more then.
I think the annexation is great news! I live in the part of Decatur near the old campus, and I’ve been worried about what could move in there. I’m glad Decatur will have a role in the process as I trust the city to make sure an appropriate project moves in.
As for the comment that having the city involved will raise costs due to a slower inspection process, that would surprise me but I don’t know enough to say that’s wrong. I would think, however, that a development in the city of Decatur is worth more in general than something in the county, so even if there’s more cost, there could still be a possibility for more profit as well.