Comments on: Community Center of South Decatur Shares Position on Possible Scottish Rite Sale

By: gtswanny

gtswanny — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 08:56:51 +0000

To add to Anna’s information. The option for CCSD has always been a part of public records filed with Dekalb County many many years ago when the original deal with PD was established to redevelop the property. The option to purchase has never been a secret. Just wanted to make that clear to the community. It is a win for the community!

Thanks,
Bryan Swann
Former President, CCSD

By: Anna Varela

Anna Varela — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 20:12:34 +0000

Greetings, fellow Decatur residents –

I’m a member of the CCSD board and I’m posting to answer the question about the CCSD purchase price for the Solarium.

The developer, Progressive Decatur, was granted the Scottish Rite property and complex in 2001 for $10. There was a “Development Agreement” with the City and as part of that agreement the community (CCSD) was granted the East Wing of the main complex, known as The Solarium.

CCSD’s option to purchase The Solarium was set for 2021 for $10, unless the building was sold sooner. CCSD’s right to purchase for $10 remains in effect even if the building sells before 2021. While $10 sounds minimal, the ongoing expense and upkeep of The Solarium is the bulk of the cost for CCSD.

For those interested in supporting The Solarium and the Community Center of South Decatur’s work, please consider becoming a board member or making a donation. On the donation side, hosting a single event, from an Oakhurst Neighborhood Association meeting, jazz night or a senior gathering cost CCSD around $250 in utilities, cleaning and overhead. Further, CCSD is currently raising money to renovate the patio and landscape in front of The Solarium.

All support helps keep The Solarium an ongoing community resource center.

You can reach CCSD by sending an email to: contact@thesolarium.com or mail a donation to: The Solarium, 321 W Hill St # 1A, Decatur, GA 30030

By: smalltowngal

smalltowngal — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 17:41:38 +0000

This was the first hospital devoted to orthopedic treatment and care for children — the original Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital. A brief but very informative history is at www [dot] thesolarium [dot] com [slash] solarim_history [dot] html (I don’t have time to keep an eye on this all afternoon and make sure a message with a link gets through moderation and eventually posted.)

By: Keith F

Keith F — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 16:34:57 +0000

Yes, I’m curious about that as well. What would the cost of just the Solarium be and does piecing it out bring down or increase the overall $2.1M value? Wouldn’t you now be talking about 3 distinct properties?

By: Scott

Scott — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 15:55:18 +0000

The center building and the two wings constitute “the building.” It was all designed and built together. If you have opportunity to review the work of its architect, Neel Reid, you’ll discover that, more than anything, it’s characterized by an extreme preference for symmetry (the Alexander Hotel in St. Petersburg, FL, or the Hawkes Library out in Cedartown, for example).

By: At Home in Decatur

At Home in Decatur — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 15:47:48 +0000

Can someone clarify what the buildings are and their history? I see them as three buildings similar in style–the building housing Palate/MacGowans, the taller building that could be an elementary school, and the Solarium, where Renfroe’s auction used to be. Were they all once part of the Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital once? Now who owns them?

By: Scott

Scott — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 15:38:43 +0000

The $2.1 million is the asking price for Scottish Rite but, if I’m reading this correctly, CCSD is only looking to purchase the Solarium. Curious how that kind of co-ownership would play out.