Building on the news and discussion yesterday surrounding the city of Decatur’s short-term plans to pursue annexation in the coming year – mostly to areas northeast of the city – residents looking to create a City of Briarcliff sent in this announcement this morning.

The City of Briarcliff Initiative announces Briarcliff has been confirmed to be the most feasible cityhood plan currently proposed for central DeKalb County by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia.

Atlanta, GA, December 16, 2013 — The City of Briarcliff Initiative has scheduled a Tuesday, December 17, 2013 press conference to officially announce the results of an independent cityhood feasibility study. The study, conducted by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia has confirmed that Briarcliff is the most financially feasible cityhood plan currently proposed for Central DeKalb County.

The press conference is scheduled for Tuesday, December 17, 2013, 2:00pm at the Toco Hills Shopping Center near 2105 Lavista Rd. A follow up public meeting to review the results of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government study will be held on Thursday, December 19, 2013, 7:00pm at Briarcliff United Methodist Church (4105 Briarcliff Rd. NE, Atlanta GA).

“An independent study has confirmed what so many in central DeKalb already knew that Briarcliff is positioned to be the most sensible city for central DeKalb,” explains Allen Venet, President of City of Briarcliff Initiative. He adds, “Our proposed city has a strong blend of residential, commercial and industrial areas. Our map is smart and does not abandon neighborhoods. We believe the members of this community deserve the chance to publically vote on Briarcliff cityhood.”

A great event with a great name.   From the Decatur Arts Alliance blog…

On Tuesday, December 17th, Glennwood Elementary 2nd grade students will celebrate their learning with the Stardust Stroll Lantern Parade and book release of SKYLIGHTS II.  The students have been participating in lantern building workshops led by Chantell Rytter during art instruction.  Ms. Rytter has worked on several Atlanta lantern parades including the Grant Park Conservancy Halloween Lantern Parade, FLUX Lantern Parade and the Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade. The project is generously funded by the Decatur Education Foundation Teacher Innovation Grant. 

Two giant lantern puppets and the BlackSheep Ensemble Band will lead students and their lanterns from Glennwood Elementary through the Decatur Square and end at Little Shop of Stories.  Students will then show their collective work SKYLIGHTS II at Little Shop of Stories.  You may checkout last years’ book SKYLIGHTS on iTunes.

The parade will leave Glennwood Elementary at 6:30 PM.  Please join us for the fun or view the parade traveling through the Decatur Square!

The Decatur School Board will meet in a special session tomorrow night at Westchester at 6:30p to discuss and vote on the recommended K-3 zoning map, the aptly named “Map 7a Revised”.

If you don’t have a dog in this fight, but like to discuss zoning maps generally at Decatur dinner parties, the high-level blurry version above may be for you.  But if you HAVE kids who hang out at a Decatur K-3 Monday through Friday, this is the map you’ll want.  Oh yeah, parcel by beautiful parcel.