Even our strategic plan endorses the use of more historic district designations, which would, in effect, restrict demolition and new construction. This would have the effect of limiting new construction in these districts, and make it more expensive to build and/or renovate or expand homes in these districts. This would mean less new revenue for the City.

I am one who thinks that historic districts are appropriate for certain areas and certain properties in our city do deserve to be protected via the use of historic designation. I don’t think it should be used, as it has in the past, as a replacement for good land use planning and zoning, however.

And I do think that people do need to understand the tradeoffs involved with such designations. Less new construction = less revenue for City to do the things we want it to do.

Maybe it was just my group but they approached the process with lots of the “Dream Big” and very little of the “Be Real” . In some cases , I didn’t feel they even understood the financial realities. The answer to every hard financial question was – “we can get a grant” . City administration has done a remarkable job of finding grant funding but this is not the way to leverage a long term growth plan.

Seriously, I agree with you totally but don’t find it surprising. It’s just human nature to want all the upsides without having to sully ourselves with the downsides.

Still, one of the reasons I love Decatur is because I think at our core we still maintain a fairly pragmatic “Dream Big, but Be Real” ethos. I expect our city staff and leadership to pursue the issues brought to the table by residents, but I also expect them to abandon or postpone anything that doesn’t pencil out in a responsible way. I’m confident that, by and large, that’s how it will play out.

I found myself very frustrated with the members of my strategic planning group. Most members had a laundry list of dreams for Decatur . They wanted more city owned greenspace, more bike paths and walking trails , construction of a city owned performing arts venue to house arts organizations , a city supported incubator for start up businesses, city assistance for small businesses, renovation of the Rec to provide a modern fitness center / conference center for use by residents and non profits for little or no cost, additional tax breaks for seniors, more subsidized housing to enable more economic diversity , smaller classes and top notch programs for CSD, the list seemed to go on and on …..

At the same time these people wanted stricter zoning rules to limit construction of larger (mcmansion) houses, no more high density residential projects and absolutely no annexation.
Just a total disconnect about how Decatur would be able to pay for all the dreams.