Super 8 Plans Expansion; Asks City for Construction Easement
Decatur Metro | June 7, 2010UPDATE: Hugh Saxon recaps the city commission’s decision from last night…
“The City Commission approved a 5-foot easement with a protection fencing along the easement line, subject to the recommended conditions. An on-site review on Monday indicated that several trees adjacent to the property line would be severely damaged if the proposed Super 8 plan is implemented, regardless of the easement. The reduced easement minimizes intrusion into Cemetery property, allows an opportunity for saving 1-2 of the larger trees and provides for restoration of the easement area as a buffer with screening fencing and new vegetation.”
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The Super 8 motel along Church Street is looking to expand.
As an item on this evening’s Decatur City Commission agenda, the property owner of the Super 8 is requesting a 10 foot construction easement – which stretches into the Decatur Cemetery property – from the city in order to build a second building on the adjacent 909 Church Street property, which currently sports a commercially zoned single-family house.
Along with demolishing the existing building at 909 Church Street, the owner of the Super 8 states in a letter to the commission that all trees along the southern property line will need to be removed along with a “damaged wall.” The owner states that all trees will be removed in accordance with the DeKalb County tree ordinance.
Another letter from the property owner notes that the expansion will include a “number of guest suites, a fitness center, a business center, a coin laundry for hotel guests and a manager’s residence.”
How does the city’s staff feel about all of this?
In a letter to the commission, Deputy City Manager Hugh Saxon states that they are concerned of the “adverse impact the construction will have on the Cemetery property and the proposed Cemetery improvements.”
Saxon notes that he and his staff are opposed to “any activity that will damage trees or other significant vegetation located on Cemetery property” and staff will “need additional time to determine exactly where the existing trees are located in relationship to the boundary between the 2 properties”. However, Saxon states that initial surveys suggest “that there are some trees in the easement area that could be removed or damaged by construction at 909 Church Street.”
If the commission were to approve the easement, Saxon suggests five conditions, including recompense to Decatur’s tree bank for any trees lost.
Hugh — you rock! Love the cemetary and the trees. Haven’t tried the Super 8 — yet.
Stu, u rock with Hugh, but I’ve got to bust you; everyone knows its sematary, my pet.
Decatur should be skeptical of these so-called “expansion plans”. Everyone knows the fate of the 7 hotel chains that failed prior to the so-call “Super 8″.
If Super 8 was so super, they would have gotten it right before 8 tries. I mean, can you imagine how bad Sex in the City 8 would be? Is this the type repeat failure that Decatur wants to accommodate?
haha
I have always wondered why in the city limits we don’t have a hilton garden inn or something like that compared to the super 8
The Super 8 on Church Street is a nice, clean, affordable place to stay. My sister and her granddaughter stayed there last August and thought it was “super.” Me too!
I suppose they are going to build new rooms on ground that use to be graves, right? And to save money, they’ll only remove the head stones. Then, years later, a little blonde girl will be watching the tv when it goes completely to static, followed by a cryptic comment to her parents: “they’re here.” We all know what comes next . . .
Clearly, to prevent major supernatural disruptions, we need to deny this easement. Either that or lease an old fire stattion to a group of washed-up professors who have developed a means to trap ghosts, using a box and shoulder-mounted lasers of some sort. Short of that, who you gonna call?
Ha ha ha ha…(good one).
That Super 8 is my go to for out of town guests: about 1/2 the price of the Holiday Inn and is easy walking distance to the square. Hugh is a great guy, and hopefully will be able to steer this in the right way.
The new rooms are for the zombies.
Steve! Don’t you know that zombies and poltergeists don’t get along????
But maybe in Decatur, we can get them to at least be tolerant of each other’s differences… It is Decatur after all.
What’s up with Steve’s obsession with zombies?
Maybe Steve is a zombie?
I love that cemetary. Nice place for reflection. Makes you forget you’re in the city for a minute.
Dang. Cemetery. My bad
Super 8 should be fine so long as they aren’t building a tree house.
I’m glad to hear that actual tourists stay @ the Super8. I live close by, and have always thought it was more of a home for transients. I know the chatter in the parking lot gets pretty heated and loud at times. It’s the reason I don’t let my kids play in the yard by themselves.
That’s a shame. Have you shared your concerns with Mr. Patel? He seems like a nice enough person. Certainly he could speak to his guests if he’s made aware that the parking lot chatter is negatively impacting your family’s quality of life.
The City Commission approved a 5 foot easement…
From Deputy City Manager Hugh Saxon….
“The City Commission approved a 5-foot easement with a protection fencing along the easement line, subject to the recommended conditions. An on-site review on Monday indicated that several trees adjacent to the property line would be severely damaged if the proposed Super 8 plan is implemented, regardless of the easement. The reduced easement minimizes intrusion into Cemetery property, allows an opportunity for saving 1-2 of the larger trees and provides for restoration of the easement area as a buffer with screening fencing and new vegetation.”
As I live close to this hotel, I’d like to see a major renovation of the premises as opposed to an addition. Although I haven’t used the facilities, it does not look like a place I”d be comfortable staying in. However, based on some of the positive comments here, maybe I should check it out for any overflow of guests.
My brother in law stays there when visiting and have no problems with the accomodations, and it’s much cheaper than the Holiday Inn. It’s the next door neighbor (Decatur Inn?) that is home to transients …