As pointed out by the Atlanta Business Chronicle this morning, Cakes & Ale is among the 23 recipients of a the state-wide Georgia Trust Historic Preservation Award for the rehabilitation of their new spaces along Sycamore Street.

Skimming through the press release, it seems that C&A was the only recipient in the metro Atlanta area.  (Correct me if I’m wrong about that.)

Thanks to the readers who pointed this out to me this morning!

Photo courtesy of Cakes & Ale blog

Ever since the “best bourbon for the money” post, there have been requests for dedicated post for its sibling, scotch.

I won’t be much help on this one, but I’m sure there are some avid scotch drinkers out there.  Even in the South!  Have at it.

Photo courtesy of morberg via Flickr

This morning, the AJC published lists of the Top 20 Large (500+ employees), Top 30 Midsize (150-499 employees) and Top 50 Small (149 employees or smaller) workplaces in the Atlanta metro area.  Lo and behold, at #5 is the City Schools of Decatur.  (That’s in the physical newspaper.  The website for some reason has a different #5.)  Here’s the blurb…

The independent public schools district services 3,500 students among eight campuses.  The system added 40 employees last year, growing to 583, and projects 40 more hires this year.  It’s Early Childhood Learning Center received widespread publicity with a visit from President Barack Obama in February. The district ranks high in standardized testing and Advanced Placement categories. Teachers average 13 years of experience, and more than 70 percent hold advanced degrees.  The school board pays for contracted personnel membership fees in the teachers retirement system. The days of personal leave are granted annually.

You can check out a map of all the top workplaces here.  Also, the AJC explains their methodology here.

Decatur, GA (pic submitted by Chris)

Leigh sends along this pic of a sign announcing a new Indian restaurant along Lawrenceville Highway at Woodbridge Road, next to Cafe Istanbul.

Feel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local issues not discussed here over the past week.

Comments close on Monday.

According to Patch, residents of 335 West Ponce de Leon Ave and in the surrounding neighborhood have filed separate but identical appeals against the 315 West Ponce de Leon Ave mixed use development project approval process, which was officially announced by Carter yesterday and was approved by the DDA in December.  The appeal also questions the changes made to the zoning ordinance by the City Commission in December 2012.

The Notice of Appeal posted on Patch details the following concerns:

1. The Zoning Administrator failed to follow the procedures established in the acceptable ordinance for providing public notice.

2. The Zoning Administrator failed to consistently apply the relevant requirements and standards for the Downtown Multiple Dwelling developments and developments in the Special Pedestrian Area to the development proposal.

3. The Zoning Administrator has not addressed applicable ordinances, which require variance approval by the Zoning Board of Appeal

4. Revised ordinances relating to Downtown Multiple Dwellings and C-2 zoned districts passed by the City Commission, December 3, 2012, conflict with wording and intent with multiple ordinances currently in effect.

5. Noncompliance with zoning code procedures for due process re: the change to Ordinance O-08-Z-11

You can read the detailed arguments behind these concerns over in the full notice of appeal.  But here also is the conclusion:

There are numerous errors on the part of the Zoning Administrator in making decisions, determinations and recommendations to the DDA that the project as proposed for 315 W. Ponce de Leon Avenue is “Zoning compliant.”  The DDA Resolution, being based on incorrect information should be set aside.  A legal determination needs to be made as to the applicability of the revised code, ostensibly adopted on December 3, 2012, and the status of the existing DMD use with conditions for this property.  The project could conceivably proceed under Ordinance #O-08-Z-11.

Patch also posted part of a letter that DeKalb County Commissioner (and 335 resident) Kathie Gannon wrote to 335 residents this week, which said in part…

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