College Avenue Annexation Bills Need Just One More Signature in GA Senate
Decatur Metro | March 22, 2012 | 10:20 amFrom a letter to the community from Avondale Mayor Ed Rieker…
We only need one more signature on the Senate side to move the bills forward so that the bills can be passed on the Senate side.
This legislation allows the annexation of 23 commercial properties bordering East College Avenue and Maple Street, west of the City of Avondale Estates’ City line to Sams Crossing. The City of Decatur will also be annexing 10 commercial properties bordering Sams Crossing, east of its City line to Sams Crossing. If successful, both cities will extend their borders to meet at Sams Crossing, eliminating the unincorporated island that currently separates the two cities.
Related Posts:
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February 2, 2010 Rep. Benfield Gets the Signatures To Introduce Annexation Bill (29)
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March 13, 2012 Decatur & Avondale’s College Avenue Annexaton Legislation Passes House (34)
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February 2, 2010 Lobbying For Decatur/Avondale Annexation at the State House (71)
I get the visual complaints about the area, but I have mixed feelings here. The cost to “make over” some of these places, is probably more income than they generate in a year, and pushing out mom and pops because they’re not visually appealing is wrong. How pretty does a tire shop need to be for it’s purposes? Is it reasonable to ask a business owner to spend 60k making their property pretty, when they only generate 50k in income a year? If Avondale is planning on using the news taxes they’ll generate to foot some revitalization for the strip that’s good, but I’m unclear what the property owners will get here aside from more bills.
What exactly would they be required to do if annexed?
Likely nothing until the business or property owners apply for a building permit, rezoning, etc. At that time, the city planning department could condition approval on certain aesthetic changes and compliance with the respective city ordinances.
Other than pay more taxes, I really don’t know to be honest. My assumptions about making them prettier are based on what seems to be the main complaint about the area, the way it looks. Google dug this up a second ago, and the mayor says he wants to clean this area up. It doesn’t sound like he wants a trash patrol to go through picking up litter, but it doesn’t further explain what he means by that.
http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/avondale-estates-annexation-foes-348813.html
RE: “pushing out mom and pops”
Who wants to push out the mom and pops? No one. Most businesses in Decatur and Avondale Estates are mom and pop ventures, not big box establishments. Got no problem with the businesses that are there. Even frequent some.
They might get sidewalks and some street beautification if annexed. Might actually help drive people to the businesses, rather than make them want to drive on by. What would they have to do? Not much.
The place is a wasteland. Has been the entire 12 years I’ve lived in Avondale Estates. And the county has not, and apparently does not, care.
Been a dump longer than 12 years…some of the shops are ok. The Pawn Shop that used to be at the corner of Arcadia and College was where the guy that shot up Perimeter Mall got his firearm(1990-ish). [a little history nugget for you]
I suppose the hope among some is that the increase in taxes will drive some of these businesses away and they will be replaced by more upscale ones.
The businesses along College Avenue that may be affected include Finders Keepers Furnishings, Stitch & Sew tailor, Meade’s Discount Doors, two gas stations, Mo Beta Wings, Coyote’s Mexican Food, and Paste magazine. I’m not sure what those businesses would think but plenty of customers that frequent them would probably agree the area could be spruced up. Sidewalks are definitely needed to connect Avondale MARTA station (which isn’t officially in Avondale) to the community of Avondale Estates.
I find it ironic that Avondale thinks that area needs to be cleaned up to be more visually appealing. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. I think Avondale needs to be cleaned up. When was the last time the Tudor village got some paint? And the air conditioner window units are an eye sore.
+1
“And the air conditioner window units are an eye sore.”
But those units are Tudor reproductions of the real thing. That area has looked like cr*p since the 1980’s.
Guys the bottom line is it will clean up the area. The business owners don’t want it because it will hold them accountable to clean up their properties.
State Senator Mary Margaret Oliver says “We need Sen Henson’s vote on Senate side—bill has passed House”, so:
If you are interested in seeing the orphaned business area between Avondale and Decatur on E. College Ave that does not look minty fresh annexed by Avondale and Decatur (no residents in this area so it would not affect schools) then contact Senator Steve Henson (D) and ask that he vote for it. A call would be more effective, but an email is OK.
PHONE:(770) 939-5969 CELL:(678) 907-2723 EMAIL: [email protected]
http://stevehenson.net/
Patch Article:
http://decatur.patch.com/articles/bills-would-let-decatur-avondale-annex-land-between-the-two-cities
Thanks for the info, I just called and emailed asking him not to vote for it.
I cancelled your email.
Just called – first time ever calling a senator! Thanks for the tip and I hope it passes!
I’m looking for independent confirmation, but I hear 6 of the 7 Dekalb senators have signed on. Personally, I’m very glad if it is true. Sidewalks would be forthcoming, from what I’ve heard, which would be a dramatic improvement in itself (and I say this with images of the pedestrians that I dodge on my commute who are often forced into the street to walk around puddles, poor asphalt conditions and other obstacles as they make their way to/from Marta). Plus there are opportunities for grants for beautification and such, in addition to simply enforcing the codes the county has been lax about enforcing. I believe all the businesses currently there would be grandfathered in for any more drastic changes so they would not face those until they needed a permit or something that would require bringing up to current (new) standards. Since Avondale Estates actually lowered taxes last year, I don’t see this as a big money grab.
Finders Keepers has a sign up saying they support annexation.
I think the only votes that should count are from those that own the properties.
Absolutely not. Many business owners ( Coyote included) lease their space from [edited: no name-calling] who needs to clean up his properties. Annex them and then put pressure on him to bring his properties up to code!
So maybe they just could annex the problematic properties. Why penalize everyone with higher taxes for the actions of others? If we were talking about residential properties, I could see where people would benefit from getting annexed by Decatur, but being annexed by Avondale sounds pretty useless, more taxes for business owners and nothing in return.
When Patch shows the houses for sale every week that includes Decatur and Avondale homes, Avondale Elementary consistently gets a 1 star rating. Maybe they have other things to focus on than how pretty the strip is?
So, Democratic DeKalb legislators are okay with legislative annexation of an area in which the business owners are opposed to being annexed, but the legislators are not in favor of allowing residents of Brookhaven who want to be incorporated to even vote on the idea of cityhood.