Task Force for Global Health to Expand Building to Edge of Trinity Place
Decatur Metro | May 2, 2011
I took these pics a while back, not knowing whether this was old news or not, but this month’s Decatur Focus (not yet online) notes that the Task Force for Global Health will be expanding their location on Swanton Way starting this summer. So I guess that means it’s pretty topical! If I had just hunted on the Task Force’s website a bit, I would have found this…
On Monday, April 18, the Board of Directors for The Task Force for Global Health hosted a groundbreaking for the expansion of the organization’s headquarters building in Decatur. Dr. William Foege, Founder of the Task Force and Emeritus Member of the Board addressed the history and evolution of the Task Force. Decatur Mayor Bill Floyd, Georgia State Senator Jason Carter, and DeKalb County Commissioner Jeff Rader also addressed the assembly.
Here’s a close-up of the banner which shows a drawing of the new addition, which will replace the current parking deck along Trinity Place.
As the city works to build up the less-developed Trinity, this is certainly a step in that direction. After the jump, a pic of the existing parking deck, hidden by trees along Swanton Way. And in case you’re curious, the current parking deck along Trinity looks like this.
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It would be an improvement if the existing parking deck was set back from the corner. (Fat chance.) It is nearly impossible to see oncoming traffic on W. Trinity Place from the Swanton Way intersection. That big cedar growing out of the building should probably go.
In agreement about the view from Swanton stop sign of oncoming W. Trinity traffic is restricted by current parking garage. I would have thought that the planning folks are in place to avoid such errors. Doesn’t something like this have to be get approved or rejected before the concrete is poured?
Happy about growth in the CoD.
Having studied the banner I see that this non-profit intends to replace a big, honkin’ parking lot with a big, honkin’ building. This is so wrong.
I don’t think I’m following. What else would they replace it with? Pulling buildings to the sidewalk is one of the goals and requirements of the downtown plan. Or are you just referring to the fact that the rendering doesn’t seem to show much in the way of doors and windows at the corner? Or something else?
the problem is that the building goes right up next to a sidewalk which is only 4 feet wide.
basically, this is not a pedestrian friendly corner. who allowed them to build right up to the corner like that? if you an 8 or 10 feet wide sidewalk, no problem. but this is threading a needle for people.
Ah, gotcha. Perhaps DM can check to see if this falls in the downtown pedestrian zone. If it does, the Global Health folks will be required to install the required wide sidewalk and trees. That would likely be the 8-10 feet you mention.
Not currently in the Decatur pedestrian zone according to Lyn Menne.
That sidewalk is part of the safe routes to school from Allen Wilson/ Swaton Heights to Clairemont Elementary. It is manageable but not pleasant.
That’s really interesting… Thanks for posting!
This thread has a certain other-side-of-town vibe.
How so? What are you alluding to?
I would have expected the proposed redevelopment of this property that seems to have failed to address the set-back problem of the existing structure to have elicited more comment. The vibe I get is that it’s not in the central business district and is away from single-family homes so it does not merit consideration. This site and the proposed solution are reminiscent of the “old” Decatur of pavement and parking lots. Pretty grim, and poorly planned. Yeah, replace a cedar tree and parking deck that create a hazard with a sheer brick wall that does the same.
Anyway, not my fight. Good luck to the developer and the neighborhood.