Comments on: Strategic Plan To-Do List: Neighborhood Communication & a Smartphone App

By: Deanne

Deanne — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 18:38:56 +0000

For me, this is the Strategic Plan goal with the MOST potential to create some Decatur magic! Neighborhood building may not be an essential service, but it’s so very key to having a strong community. It’s hard work to revitalize a neighborhood & connect neighbors when you’re starting pretty much from scratch. Having the City offer some basic resources would be tremendously helpful.

By: Another Rick

Another Rick — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 13:53:36 +0000

I did not know that, and if that is the case, I agree with you. For the city government to do something the private sector already does, seems wasteful.

By: TeeRuss

TeeRuss — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 03:50:57 +0000

It would be a wasted effort when it goes up against Urbanspoon, Yelp!, Opentable, or any of the other smartphone apps that provide the info you describe. Just for example, Urbunspoon has over 10 million iPhone users.

I love everyone’s “can do” attitude, but this stuff has already been done.

By: TeeRuss

TeeRuss — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 03:31:27 +0000

There’s already an app for that:

http://www.yelp.com/c/decatur-ga/restaurants

By: Another Rick

Another Rick — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 17:13:02 +0000

An app that is marketed to our visitors and tourists and that promotes special events and what downtown has to offer, is an excellent idea. It could pay for itself! I bet most tourists carry a smart phone, and when they get here, they want to find out what goes on here! I disagree with “Tee Russ” that it is would be a wasted effort. No out of towners sees the list of local blogs, if they are walking around downtown!

By: Aaron Marks

Aaron Marks — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 16:47:01 +0000

I think a Decatur app is a great idea! What better way for visitors and citizens to know what restaurants/stores are open, what their contact info is, and what they serve. Its great!

By: TeeRuss

TeeRuss — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 13:10:03 +0000

In my experience with the roundtables, this kind of stuff was the most frustrating. Clearly there is a lot of communication and involvement going on already, due to the efforts of individuals and entrepreneurs such as Decatur Metro and Decatur News Online. Look at the list of Decatur blogs and other sites to your right. The fact that you are reading this right now – the market is working.

We don’t need a government solution for this. We don’t need to deploy any of our limited city government resources towards this end.

By: Bobby

Bobby — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 04:48:04 +0000

[re: Task 6C] Apps happen! A better aim might be to provide cues, establish guidelines, and see what materializes.