DeKalb To Use Stimulus Bonds After All
Decatur Metro | September 28, 2010The AJC reported just moments ago (the immediacy of the internet is so dramatic isn’t it?) that the DeKalb County Commission has voted to use $36 million in Federal Stimulus bonds (with subsidized interest), instead of pass them up, as was originally reported a couple weeks back.
According to an earlier AJC article the cash breakdown will be…
- $29.5 million for water and sewer upgrades (A drop in the water-system bucket for sure. You’ll still see a huge hike in your water rates in the coming years.)
- $4 million to renovate the Recorders Court
- $1.5 million for a new building to relocate the DeKalb Police Department from Dunwoody to “the Druid Hills area”.
- $1 million to build a family protection center
The money suddenly became open to new possibilities when the GM plant redevelopment deal fell through.
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As much as I appreciate the new steet lighting on portions of Memorial Drive (sarcasm), other than East Lake, the majority of the stretch of Memorial Drive from as far back from Stone Mountain to Grant Park is, to put it kindly, dilapidated. Up until now, any discussion of revitalization of Memorial Drive has been about the “corridor” located in City of Atlanta/Fulton. Water/sewer upgrades are great I guess, but I for one would’ve liked to have seen some of the federal stimulus bonds applied to redevelopment of the DeKalb portion of the Memorial Drive corridor.
If the private sector did not invest in Memorial Drive during this recent red hot real estate market, I have to believe that government investment would not accomplish much. I’d rather see investment in the DeKalb cities and around some old, but still viable commercial districts – Toco Hills, North Decatur & Clairmont, Suburban Plaza. These kinds of places can become mixed-use walking communities. Unless Memorial Drive can get decent transit service, it’s pretty hopeless for the forseable future.
What’s a “family protection center”?
Something to serve abused or homeless women and children?
Did a quick search, and here’s how Athens-Clarke County described their proposed family protection center:
REFERENDUM STATEMENT: – Mission of project is to provide a single location/facility for collaborative services between multiple agencies that work with child abuse, sexual assault and domestic violence cases. This project consists of a new facility that is proposed to include a forensic medical examinations space, protective services space, interview rooms, counseling rooms, victim witness services space, project safe and sexual assault administrative space, and other public spaces such as restrooms, waiting, volunteer, and maintenance. It will also include all necessary site infrastructure, parking and landscaping.
Can’t argue that’s not money well spent. Wish I had more confidence in the county overall, insofar as managing the funds and projects.