Comments on: Decatur Book Festival Attendance Up Versus Last Year

By: Decatur Metro

Decatur Metro — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:08:07 +0000

Yeah, I think I only measured what Pete referenced above. Regardless, it’s still shorter than I would have guessed.

By: Pete

Pete — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:07:04 +0000

Thanks Steve. That was sort of what I was thinking. Now from the corner of College/S. McDonough to the corner of Commerce/Clairemont might be the same distance, but you’ve got to figure the walk through the ASC campus as well.

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 21:49:48 +0000

OK, DM, I decided to check you out using Google Earth:

From the Square to front door of First Baptist – .22 miles
From the Square to front door of Presser Hall at ASC – .43 miles

Almost twice as far.

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:47:13 +0000

One of the apparent side-effects of the auditorium/gym is the elimination of one lane in front of them, which is a good start. I think the ultimate streetscape plan is to narrow down the street anyway, perhaps with a planted median.

By: Decatur Metro

Decatur Metro — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:30:15 +0000

This is an interesting discussion that seems to be tying in multiple topics from the past week or so.

The first was the plea yesterday by “woodenspoon” about streetscape improvements to McDonough. Though I grant you that it is a bit of a haul down and up that hill, part of what makes people cranky about McDonough is that it really isn’t all that enjoyable to stroll down. (Oooh! More bus parking PLEASE!) However, even without the streetscape improvements (for now) this road has seen some decent transformation in recent years…from the DHS gym and auditorium to private development like the Village Vets and Relics & Rarities. And don’t forget about the Marble House. Botched restoration or not, it’s still a very interesting building…and probably one of the least known 100+ year homes in the city. Nothing can make up for some essential streetscape improvements on McDonough, but the recent construction activity primes it for rebirth.

The other was Daren’s mention last week about “dreams of DBF tents up and down McDonough”…all the more palatable if the street isn’t an industrial wasteland.

The third is the mention here of the DHS auditorium and gym. Funny, because I had the exact same conversation with a resident this weekend about how these could be great new locations for DBF events and serve as a midway point between the Square and ASC.

Though it is indeed a longish walk, believe it or not, it’s about the same distance (1/3 of a mile) from the Courthouse to First Baptist as it is from the Courthouse to ASC. It’s just that walking down Clairemont is more enjoyable (until you hit Commerce at least) then walking down McDonough. SAACJack is right, it’s not that far, it just feels far and the more improvements that happen along this corridor, the shorter the distance will feel.