Comments on: Decatur Reacts to “Great Places” Designation

By: At Home in Decatur

At Home in Decatur — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 13:15:22 +0000

Does it have to be either/or? Couldn’t it be the churches, history, cemetery, school system AND the Downtown and Oakhurst village revivals, gentrification, gas prices, walkability, bikeability, proximity to three MARTA stations, commutability to Downtown, CDC, and Emory, presence of Agnes Scott, etc.? Life is usually multi-dimensional and Decatur is no exception. Plus there’s the influence of positive momentum and tipping points. IMHO, Decatur tipped somewhere around the year 2000 and we’re darn lucky it did because the positive momentum carried us through the recession without much backsliding. It carries us through what some of us think are mistakes by our city or school officials. The trick is to keep the positive energy going without making any major mistakes with lasting consequences. I think about how Buckhead, Virginia Highlands, Little Five Points, once had a lot of positive cachet but now not so much.

By: Deanne

Deanne — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 12:49:44 +0000

Chris! Our City Folks haven’t contributed anything to us having a strong sense of community?! Why, that’s just silly to say! I swear sometimes I feel like we’re getting the you that your wife has just shooed outta the room! :0)

By: Rick Julian

Rick Julian — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 10:48:01 +0000

Completely agree with all of that, Chris.

I also believe all of the craft beer consumed here has us leaning on one another for support–
-it takes a whole village so we don’t fall down.

By: Chris Billingsley

Chris Billingsley — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 01:04:31 +0000

I would suggest that our strong sense of community comes not from anything our government does but from the fact that we have existed since 1823, our churches have been, and still are, a beacon of hope for present and past residents, our schools continue to be the alma mater for hundred of thousands of graduates (O.K., maybe a slight exaggeration but hey, this is Decatur Metro ), and maybe most of all, our cemetery. It provides a place of permanent rest for those lucky enough to be interned but it continues to draw their families for years to come.