Tonight, the Decatur City Commission approved a $51,000 change-order for Fire Station #1, increasing the budget 3% from $1,792,000 to $1,843,000.

At the meeting, Deputy City Manager Hugh Saxon noted the reasons for the change, which are also noted in the city commission meeting materials…

• concealed or actual site and building conditions, including relocation and adjustment of underground utilities, an additional structural steel beam at the new dormitory addition, changes to the relocated fire pole assembly, the addition of a dry fire sprinkler system in the training tower and miscellaneous masonry, steel and concrete repairs ($31,000)
• owner’s and architect’s requirements, including improved lighting and electrical equipment, a new sidewalk and protective railing at the southwest corner of the building, a resilient rubber floor in the fitness room, and a heavy duty rainwater tank system ($19,700)

The project is on schedule to be completed in April and May 2012 with an LEED Gold Certification, according to Mr. Saxon.

MARTA’s Laredo Garage, DeKalb County, GA (pic courtesy of MARTA’s Facebook page)

Though it dropped three points from last year, Decatur remains Georgia’s “most walkable” city according to Walkscore.com for a second-straight year.

The city received a score of 63, 4 points ahead of the second-place North Druid Hills neighborhood.

The city of Atlanta, which obviously has some very walkable neighborhoods, received an overall score of 53, due to the large areas outside of the city’s core, which are quite unwalkable.  Atlanta ranked 20th among the nation’s largest cities in walkability.

Based on Asst. City Manager David Junger’s description in his letter to City Manager Peggy Merriss (page 25 of city commission mtg materials), it should look something like the above.  (Though I’m not sure that’s an Isuzu cab, it would LOOK similar)

According to the note, the city’s current GMC rear-loader “has operated beyond its useful life, becoming increasingly unreliable and expensive to operate and maintain.”

If approved, look for this baby moseying down your street next February.

• Historic photos of Kavarna building circa 1961 [Dateline: Decatur]
• Andisheh discovers that a Southwest Atlanta creek turns a mysterious shade of grey [Fresh Loaf]
• New York Times’ slideshow showcases revitalization of Old Fourth Ward [NYT]

• New Philips Arena restaurant gets patrons close to the action [What Now Atlanta?]
• Hawk spotted along bank of South Peachtree Creek [MANA]
• MARTA CEO wants audit to expose the “good, bad and ugly” [Saporta Report]

photo courtesy of Rw photobug via Flickr