Sycamore “Street”, Decatur GA (pic submitted by Katy)

After a recent parking discussion, Deanne wrote in with this new twist on an old discussion…

Another parking angle to consider: how walkability impacts our physically challenged residents.

I met a neighbor while out petitions-canvassing the other day who said that while she wishes the best for all of us, it’s becoming harder and harder for her to participate in Decatur life because she’s not able to walk the distance from a parking garage to get to her favorite downtown spots. Doesn’t it seem like we might want to ensure that more of the downtown parking spots are handicapped ones? We often discuss aging in place, but physical limitations outside the home need to be considered too.

I can’t recall if the 2009 Parking Study addresses handicap spots – and the study’s been AWOL since the city’s site redesign – but my never-reliable casual observation is that handicap parking on the Square is used about half the time (I walk by).  But unlike the more mobile among us who can easily utilize a nearby parking deck-alternative, a taken handicap spot could mean the difference between an afternoon on the Square and an afternoon at home.

The Emory Wheel gets reaction from area liquor store owners about a potential lifting of the Sunday sales ban in DeKalb County…

Ricky Ram, owner of Rocky’s Package Store located on Briarcliff Road, and Decatur Package Store owner Herb Cherrick said that the increase in alcohol sales will not outweigh the expenses necessary to keep stores open on Sundays because the legislation spreads out profits over six days and increases overhead costs. Ram, who said that many Emory students visit his store, during the academic year, explained that although there will likely be a large spike in revenues during the first weekend of each semester of the 2011-2012 school year, the increase does not justify an entire year of keeping the store open.

…“As a citizen, it makes sense, but as a business owner, it’s tough because I think it’s a fallacy to think that your business is going to grow by now being open on Sundays,” Cherrick said. He compared the situation to the introduction of the lottery when the first six months yield a short-term spike in revenue followed by a return to pre-Sunday sales level.

With much of his clientele inside Decatur-proper, Mr. Cherrick’s situation seems particularly difficult.  New Sunday sales are one thing, but if DeKalb opted not to allow Sunday sales, while Decatur did, that really seems like it would have the potential of cutting into his bottom-line.