Decatur and Avondale Mayors to Celebrate Merging of City Boundaries Along College Avenue This Saturday
Decatur Metro | November 5, 2012The city of Decatur’s Katie Abel sends in this note…
Please join the City of Decatur and the City of Avondale Estates in celebrating the merging of our City boundaries on Saturday, November 10th at 12:00 p.m. at Lanier Park located at Sam’s Crossing. The recent annexation of property along E. College Avenue allowed, for the first time, the boundaries of the City of Avondale Estates and the City of Decatur to meet. The annexation gives both the City of Avondale Estates and the City of Decatur control over the redevelopment of these areas, which are gateways to both cities. The City of Avondale Estates and the City of Decatur are partners in creating successful, sustainable communities.
Refreshments from local Avondale Estates and Decatur merchants will be provided.
All are welcome to attend
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In a related note, it looks like several buildings along Franklin St. in Avondale are being prepped for demo work. The rumor on the street is that a shopping development with a Kroger is going in. Hopefully our beloved Lifeline will get some new digs out of this development! A cursory search found nothing online to confirm this rumor, but based on the change in appearance of the buildings, there is definitely pending work on that street.
I heard it was a Publix. The framework that was never finished on E College was supposed to be for a Publix, or so the rumour went. A grocery would be very nice! Although taxes are always an issue, I think merging the city boundaries is an overall good idea. That unincorporated patch of E College really is an eyesore. I think cleaning up E College and adding more retail/restaurants will be awesome for Avondale Estates!
I heard it was a Publix. The framework that was never finished on E College was supposed to be for a Publix, or so the rumour went. A grocery would be very nice! Although taxes are always an issue, I think merging the city boundaries is an overall good idea. That unincorporated patch of E College really is an eyesore. I think cleaning up E College and adding more retail/restaurants will be awesome for Avondale Estates!
Angela-
Yes, it was to be a Publix but on different property. As I understand, that developer went into bankruptcy and the Publix project was caught in the crossfire. I do not think this project will include that property along E. College (merely a guess based on what I see) which was going to be a Publix.
Really?! I hadn’t noticed. I hope there’s truth to the rumors and not just a rehashing of the now defunct development that was to include a Publix. BTW, Angela, the building you refer to was to make the overall development possible, but it was not actually for the Publix. My understanding is that it was to house the various Finder’s Keepers stores in one building, clearing the way for Finder’s Keepers to deed their property and complete the tract that was to be developed. However, the economy tanked and funding dried up while they were creating what we now refer to as the ‘erector set’ building. Because it was never completed, the property swap never happened and Finder’s Keepers is still doing a brisk business in their existing location. Meanwhile, the rest of the tract got sucked into Bankruptcy and we’re still waiting for something to happen with it. (BTW, you may be able to tell from this post, I’m an incorrigible two-spacer.)
I just saw this in the AE newsletter:
“The City is currently undertaking a process to clean-up properties in the City that are not being properly maintained and present a dangerous condition for the community. The four worst nuisance properties in the City are owned by Flagstar Bank. The City is working cooperatively with Flagstar Bank to remedy these dangerous conditions. Flagstar Bank has agreed to demolish the structures at 129 Oak Street, 3612 Franklin Street and 6 Lake Street and clean up the property at 2786 East College Avenue. The process has started and will be completed by November 9, 2012 dependent upon weather and permitting.”
Alas, if these are the properties you’re talking about, it sounds like it’s just demolition for safety and not to make way for something fabulous like our very own grocery store. Trying hard to keep hope alive…
A grocery store appears to be in the works in the general area of the former proposed Publix in the next year or so.
On September 19, a Weingarten Realty rep participated in a public Avondale Commissioners work session to discuss their plans for about 4 acres of downtown Avondale that they have under contract from Flagstar Bank. They intend/hope to collaborate with other developers who are interested in redeveloping the former Mill property (near Savage Pizza).
You can listen to the discussion here by scrolling down to the 9-19-2012 audio. :http://avondaleestates.org/agendas.html
From the Avondale City Manager’s Report:
The City is currently undertaking a process to clean-up properties in the City that are not being properly maintained and present a dangerous condition for the community. The four worst nuisance properties in the City are owned by Flagstar Bank. The City is working cooperatively with Flagstar Bank to remedy these dangerous conditions. Flagstar Bank has agreed to demolish the structures at 129 Oak Street, 3612 Franklin Street and 6 Lake Street and clean up the property at 2786 East College Avenue. The process has started and will be completed by November 9, 2012 dependent upon weather and permitting.
2786 East College is the “erector set” lot. The rest are in downtown Avondale – 129 Oak is the old house across from the Post Office; 3612 Franklin is the old Moody’s Garage; 6 Lake is the old Lowe’s Auto Tow and Service.
I would love to see LifeLine get more room to spread out. Hoping that intersection at Sams Crossing and College will become more pedestrian friendly too, encouraging more walking to and from Avondale.
I’d also love to see a restaurant in Avondale paired up with the wonderful Little Wine Shop! Something to walk to….
+1!
+2!!!
Speaking of forced annexation of unwilling property owners, a petition is going around my neighborhood to try to avoid annexation. Maybe Decatur sees us as a big old project to rezone commercial and tax the heck out of, but we don’t appreciate their rough wooing.
If a residential area is proposed for annexation, the residents will have the opportunity to vote on whether or not they agree. That’s not true of commercial areas.
My attitude is I already decided not to live in Decatur when I bought my house. Why should I have to vote to decide that again?
You don’t have to, just like you don’t have to in any election. But, if a proposal is made, that is the way you make your voice heard.
Steve, O Steve. Don’t talk down to me. I know how the system works. My point is why should I have to vote on which entity I live in? I already decided that question once for me. Now Decatur is forcing me to defend that decision again.
Most likely you are having to decide it again because a neighbor with a house full of toddlers has “decided” that they want their kids to attend Decatur schools but don’t want to have to actually move.
Did you sign the petition against annexation? If not you still have time to do so. Go to no2Decatur.com and download a petition and email it to Peggy Merris or hand deliver before 5pm today. We’re hoping it doesn’t come to a vote and they see that there is more opposition against (especially the senior population).
Like you I “voted” against Decatur when I moved here 8 years ago.
This question may have been asked before but can Decatur annex property that contains a liquor store? I believe our city charter forbids the sale of that type of alcohol. Beer and wine are o.k. because of a referendum in the 1970s ( not really sure about that) but not alcohol.
I think they did. If so, the business would be grandfathered in, because you can’t put somebody out of business if their business was legal prior.
The area near Savage pizza where they demo’d the old manufacturing bldg is a great redevelopment opportunity. Any word on who holds that property and any plans for it?
The Fenner Dunlop corporation retained property ownership after the demo activity and the property is being marketed for redevelopment.
Please see my column in Decatur Patch about what we’re dealing with in Area B-1. Story: http://bit.ly/RH51J3. Hint: It isn’t good.