Day: July 16, 2011

Woman Shot and Killed in Midtown Parking Deck Friday was a Decatur Resident

Many of you may have already heard about this tragic story yesterday, how a security guard shot and killed one woman and injured two others in a Midtown parking deck.

Well, I’m grieved to tell you that I was informed earlier today that the victim, Brittney Watts, and her husband were Decatur residents, having moved to the north-side of the city just a month ago.

Many elements of the story are still unclear – though the local news media is doing its usual darnedest to intrude on the privacy of a grieving family – but regardless, I thought everyone out in the Decatur community should know that this woman was a local Decatur resident.

I don’t know what we can or should do for her husband, family and friends at this point, but I figured if nothing else, they might appreciate a few kind words from the community at this time.

My most sincere condolences to them all.

Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign

There’s a bunch of new signs popping up around town. Or maybe not new, but new to me and to DM. And that counts. Here are some notables.

Retail Conversion?
When One Decatur Town Center was built in 1984, replacing the former Candler Hotel, downtown was pretty darn dead. Unless you count the hookers, that is. Or so I’ve been told. Either way, while the city’s vision called for development that would contribute to a new “Main Street” lined with shops and restaurants, the market economics of the day said, “no.” So, the building was built in such a way that the ground floor could be leased for office space until such time that the retail market improved, upon which the space could be retrofitted to assume its intended use. 25+ years later, we might finally be there.

At least that’s what’s suggested by this first picture. Any of our regular insiders know more? My personal assessment is that such a conversion would add even more interest to this stretch of Ponce, which has already assumed the role of one of our most charming downtown blocks. And there’s certainly historic precedent, such as the retail space that originally occupied the ground floor of the Pythagoras Mason Temple Building.

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