College Place To Be Paved
Decatur Metro | June 24, 2010
Monday night’s Decatur City Commission meeting was full of interesting agenda items, but nothing put butts in the seats like the proposed paving of College Place in Oakhurst.
A small stretch of road that connects a paved East Hancock Street to a paved East Davis Street, the issue of paving the gravel incline has long been a topic of discussion in the neighborhood and at the city commission desk. (Jim Baskett mentioned during the meeting that he had long supported and encouraged the paving of College Place, as run-off of gravel onto East Davis was a nuisance, expensive to maintain, and a potential hazard to travelers in all manner of vehicles.)
And, not surprisingly, potential hazards of a gravel street was the issue most often brought up by residents speaking in favor of the paving. Cyclists worried about hitting large rocks on East Davis Street, cars with damaged undersides, and elderly walkers with unsure footing were all examples brought up by the eight or so area neighbors who spoke in favor of smoothing the street. Only one couple who lived in the area spoke in opposition to the paving, noting concerns about increased car speeds down road.
After hearing all resident comments and concerns, the City Commission voted unanimously in favor of the paving. The project will be paid for from the roughly $35,000 remaining from the $90,000 allocated in a contract with Steward Brothers to repave three other Decatur streets (including a stretch of North Decatur Road). The paving is projected to cost $23,202.
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THere are big machines digging and scraping there this morning. That was fast.
Hope they don’t pave Pate street in downtown. It’s incredibly charming and I walk down it whenever possible. In addition I think Kodak would move if they paved it.
Dirt roads downtown forever!
Although I’d walked up this road many times in past years, I just drove up this hill for the first time last week. I definitely see the advantage to paving it. I agree with David about Pate and other gravel roads in the City, however.
This is a good move. My wife and I used to walk this strip from Oakhurst through Agnes Scott on our way to Decatur all the time, and I think I twisted my ankle twice. Plus it was a bit bumpy on the strollers occupant.
Paved roads!!! Sacks alive! What’s next, indoor plumbing?
Not to be a stickler, but , ‘sakes alive, (maybe with another apostrophe, beyond the one that denote for) as in goodness ‘sakes……..:) Happy Summer!
Well, one pro paving neighbor DID bring a SACK of the large gravel to the meeting. And the audience DID come ALIVE trying to catch a glimpse of said rocks. Proving that folks never lose their love for show & tell!
( He rattled the bag, but we never did get to see those rocks! :0)
WHile i agree paving the street for safty issues is important…there is something really really nice knowing that there are still a couple streets unpaved in Decatur…makes the town still feel small and quaint, even though its surroundings are not.
I will miss the old dirt road, I grew up in the house you see in the photo.
I could throw a piece of gravel over into the woods and my dog would chase it down and bring it back to me. Yes I will miss that dirt road.