Comments on: Changes Coming to Oakhurst Business District Streetscape (Relatively) Soon

By: Rick Julian

Rick Julian — Sat, 23 Nov 2013 02:59:57 +0000

from Decaturish:

“A regular Decaturish reader asked us this question: “Will the Oakhurst Streetscape improvements involve improvements to Harmony Park?”

Decaturish asked the city and Deputy City Manager Hugh Saxon answered via email:

“The project will actually increase the overall size of Harmony Park. The off-street parking area on the south side of the park will be removed and replaced with a pedestrian plaza as part of a larger park. Parking will now be provided by angle parking on East Lake Drive in front of the Oakhurst Market and the One Step at a Time shoe store.””

By: smalltowngal

smalltowngal — Fri, 22 Nov 2013 22:31:07 +0000

You guys do realize the blue asterisk actually marks the location of the big evergreen tree, right? I believe it was planted when the park was dedicated. It is cherished by many longtime denizens of Oakhurst.

By: smalltowngal

smalltowngal — Fri, 22 Nov 2013 22:28:04 +0000

I can’t remember about the utilities, but clearly remember a major objective of the project is calming traffic in and near the East Lake/Oakview intersection. So narrower traffic lanes and better accommodation for pedestrians and cyclists are all part of the plan. And in case anybody panics about eliminating the off-street parking spaces currently situated in Harmony Park, most (and maybe all, I can’t remember) are being replaced with on-street parking in the immediate vicinity.

By: Pierce

Pierce — Fri, 22 Nov 2013 21:34:12 +0000

Definitions

Oakhurst: A placename that combines “oak” and “hurst”
Oak: a tree that bears acorns as fruit, and typically has lobed deciduous leaves.
Hurst: a wood or wooded rise.

Perhaps the Tree Advocates were very intentional of inserting the asterisk into the center of Oak*hurst, as they believe Oakhurst may no longer qualify as a “hurst”.

Sorry… Now I sound like of them…
Has anybody seen my chainsaw or chipper?

By: Skeptic Villager

Skeptic Villager — Fri, 22 Nov 2013 18:22:36 +0000

I wonder if anyone knows if widened sidewalks, narrower traffic lanes, and underground utilities are part of the improvements. I second smalltowngal in being interested in how it will all look. If the construction is to happen this spring, it is unlikely that construction documents have made their way through the city using a stylized aerial as a survey. Drawings and/or renderings must exist somewhere.