The Emory Libraries Electronic Data Center has put a new interactive map entitled “Snapshot of Atlanta” on its website that lets you look at Atlanta at a neighborhood level based on a variety of demographic factors.  Anything from median age to median income to population change (2000-2009) to average household size.

Above is a snapshot of the median income map for Decatur, Avondale and Druid Hills.  Looks like Winnona Park and Northwest Decatur are still the wealthiest areas in the COD.

Personally, I found the median age, population change and household size maps particularly interesting.  Check it out!

Huge thanks to Clairmont Heights Civic Association for pointing this out.

Neil Norton sends in a few pics and writes…

The five trees are dawn redwoods. FYI, during a recent tree survey the compensatory value for the five trees was $37,992. The structural or compensatory value of the trees was based on methods from the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers (1992). Compensatory value, which is based on the replacement cost of a similar tree, is used for monetary settlement for damage or death of plants through litigation, insurance claims of direct payment, and loss of property value for income tax deduction.

The five redwoods would be taken down if the developer of the 315 West Ponce “Decatur Court” property were to construct the proposed two-story retail building along West Ponce.  The plan still hasn’t been before any of Decatur’s boards or commissions.  Last we heard, the developer was “talking with the neighborhood” about the plan.

A couple other close-up shots of the trees after the jump.

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From Ms. Lisa Gordon – Co President of Shamrock Middle Schools PTA (via Clairmont Heights Civic Association)…

There is a proposal to evaluate a name change for Shamrock Middle School (SMS) to change it to Druid Hills MS (DHMS) to acknowledge that in 2004 SMS became a single feeder to Druid Hills High School (DHHS) which significantly strengthened the relationship between the two schools in academics and athletics; that in 2008 SMS followed the lead of DHHS and became an International Baccalaureate school; that several SMS sports teams are already named after DHHS and wear red-and-black and part of the MS is already painted in DHHS colors such as the dugout behind the school; and that this follows the naming convention of 11 of the other 18 middle schools in the County which are named after their high schools. The proposed name change is expected to increase school spirit and enhance and clarify the relationship between the two schools .

More info about the proposed change can be found on the Clairmont Heights website.

From October’s Decatur Focus…

Decatur will hold its first official Halloween Decorating Contest this year. Residents and businesses are invited to decorate homes and/or businesses and submit a photo to specialevents@decaturga.com by noon on Thursday, Oct. 28. Please include your name and address.

Judges will make their decision Thursday evening and the winners will be posted on the City of Decatur website, the Downtown Decatur Facebook page, and on www.thedecaturminute.com blog. Winners will receive a special yard sign on Friday, Oct. 29, to display throughout the weekend.

Many thanks to Jake Tockerman, who submitted a request for this special holiday decorating contest. Thanks also to Rik Abt and Sally Hamilton, 252 Kings Highway, who submitted this photo of their decorated home last year. Let the Halloween decorating begin!

If you have questions or need more information email katie.abel@decaturga.com or call 678-553-6547.

At Monday’s Decatur City Commission meeting, Ms. Abel elaborated a bit further on this event.  Apparently, young Mr. Tockerman was spurred to the suggestion of a Halloween version of “Decorate Decatur” because his family didn’t celebrate Christmas and he wanted a chance to compete in a Decatur house decorating competition.  In reward for his creative genius, Tockerman was offered an honorable seat on the Supreme Court of House Decor, but he turned it down because he wanted to compete.

Ms. Abel also mentioned that the winner of the contest this year will receive something called the “Commissioner’s Cauldron”.

Note: the house in the picture above is not located anywhere near Decatur.