Comments on: Should Decatur Encourage Converting Older Office Buildings Into High-Rise Residential?

By: Decatur Metro

Decatur Metro — Fri, 13 May 2011 21:13:01 +0000

Interesting. I was sorta wondering about that, as I’ve often heard that line in discussions of preservation. So even with a 10 story building, tearing it down and rebuilding it from the ground-up is cheaper?

By: Brad Steel

Brad Steel — Fri, 13 May 2011 20:54:20 +0000

sounds like a good idea, but it’s specious.

the cost of an adaptive re-use/retrofit is more expensive and MUCH more complicated than ground-up construction.

romantic notion, but unfortunately not feasible.

By: Brianc

Brianc — Fri, 13 May 2011 12:58:44 +0000

“It is the expensive housing that brings the high income families that spend the money that keeps our businesses alive.”

But I think it is possible to attract people with more affordable housing also, and perhaps living downtown they can spend less on transportation and more at Java Monkey, Taquiera del Sol, etc.
Just a thought.

By: karass

karass — Fri, 13 May 2011 12:41:36 +0000

Well, exclusivity is ok up to a point until the exclusive become so exclusive that they are not really interacting with the community but living in gated homes, sending their children to private school, sending the help to buy whatever wherever rather than shopping locally, and certainly not walking and rolling and growing their food in Oakhurst Garden! I would rather live in City of Decatur than some of Druid Hills, most of Buckhead, most of Dunwoody, and whatever that area is around Mt. Paran road with 6-car garages and automatic gates on the driveways. In fact, if Decatur became like those areas, I would move to Clarkston, Avondale Estates, Kirkwood, Lake Claire, Candler Park or most likely, out of state. Even more than the great restaurants and stores in Decatur is its community. That’s what I’m paying for.

By: G8

G8 — Fri, 13 May 2011 11:05:38 +0000

I like the idea but always surprised when we always strive to “broaden the residential market” downward. It is the expensive housing that brings the high income families that spend the money that keeps our businesses alive. Look at Decatur 10 years ago. Having some affordability is good and so is having some exclusivity.