Comments on: Downtown Decatur Conceptual Growth Plan

By: Lyn

Lyn — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 18:41:32 +0000

The gas station has only been closed for a few months so the existing exemption is still place.

By: Peripatetician

Peripatetician — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 00:36:23 +0000

The more I think about this map (realizing that it’s only conceptual), the more “conceptual” information I’d like to see offered. For example, how many new residents does each development represent? How many new vehicles on Decatur streets? How many children added to the school system? I realize those numbers would only be best guesses, but it’s easy – at least for me – to look initially at all those appealing new trees, green spaces and green roofs, and forget about the other implications of such dense development (recognizing, of course, that it would not occur all at once).

By: Periptetician

Periptetician — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 18:58:30 +0000

The map would be more useful (and a more accurate portrayal of the “development vision”) if it also showed those parcels that have already been approved for development (or redevelopment) but which remain undeveloped (as well as how long ago the approval occurred). Some existing approvals may no longer fit the City’s vision for its future. Personally, I’d like to see such approvals be for a set period of time rather than open-ended.

By: Decatur Metro

Decatur Metro — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 17:19:02 +0000

Hmmm…this is interesting in relation to the city’s desire to install electric car charging stations. In that it sorta points out that really no one’s “anti-car” as they are “anti gas station”.

By: Decatur Metro

Decatur Metro — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 17:09:14 +0000

Have you walked the creek down by where they put that park? What’s currently located where the linear park would be? (My default assumption is always “trees and kudzu”).

By: Scott

Scott — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 15:42:23 +0000

None of the map represents any specific development goals on the part of the city, or any kind of effort to get rid of anything. It only reflects downtown parcels that are underdeveloped in relation to what’s allowable under their zoning which, under the right economic conditions, are most likely to see some form of redevelopment. Not on the part of the city, but on the part of whomever owns the respective parcels.

As for the gas station, gas stations are no longer an allowable use in Decatur. They can only exist as a grandfathered condition. The Zombieland station on Ponce has/had one year to be re-leased as a gas station before it loses its exemption. After that, it will have to become something else. Anyone remember when it closed? We must be getting pretty close to a year, right?

By: Tombeau

Tombeau — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 12:33:53 +0000

I think it would be great if any of this happened, especially if they could get enough parking to eliminate street parking and expand sidewalks (for cafe seating) and put in more bike lanes so we could get something like Montreal’s Bixi system for Decatur:

http://www.bixi.com/home

By: treesrock

treesrock — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 03:03:23 +0000

I just noticed the green roofs, nice touch! Realy a nice job.