Oakhurst Streetscape Improvements – See What They Will Look Like
Decatur Metro | August 29, 2014 | 11:32 am
As has been discussed recently at Decatur City Commission meetings, the Oakhurst business district will soon be getting its long-awaited “streetscape improvements”. Patti Garrett’s website notes that construction will begin this fall.
So it seems like good time to take one last look at the plan so you know what to expect!
Decaturish reported an October start date earlier this week. The improvements have been 7 years in the making.
What’s with the big blue asterisk?
Hmmm…Somehow I missed all previous discussion of this, but looks great.
In the spring of 2007, the City recruited a committee of Oakhurst residents and business owners to provide input into a master plan for improving the streetscape in the Oakhurst business district. As I recall, two primary objectives were to calm traffic around the East Lake Dr/Oakview Rd intersection and to avoid sacrificing any parking spaces in the vicinity. (The fantasy outcome would include creation of a few new parking spaces. I can’t remember if that was achieved–I do think they managed not to lose any.)
The group met several times with folks from the City and I believe the City’s contracted traffic consultants were involved. Discussions generated an array of alternative plans which were presented for public input. (They held at least one “open house” type session wherein people could examine renderings of each alternative and offer written comment and, I think, rank the choices in terms of desirability.) Ultimately, the process resulted in a Plan which then had to go through some kind of labyrinthine process involving GDOT, which has apparently taken until now.
I remember expressing concern about when they would actually break ground, since the construction would obviously be highly disruptive to the 2008 BBQ, Blues & Bluegrass Festival. And I remember the City folks telling us it was far too soon to be concerned about that. And so it was.
Are more detailed drawings / plan descriptions available online anywhere? I could not find any.
Ooooh, I hope the giant blue asterisk is a fountain! That would be cool. And I’m really glad that it looks like the existing large trees along East Lake at Oakview are going to be saved.
The giant blue asterisk is the specimen evergreen tree which was planted years ago when Harmony Park was dedicated.
They should put a flashing red light at East Lake & Oakview. It is astounding how many people blow straight through that intersection (and yes, I’m a drunk who’s at U Joint a lot so I see it quite a bit).
I think the stop signs are just fine. No need for lights.
I agree on the lack of any need for lights there. I drive through that intersection at least twice a day (and often many, many times more than that), and I’ve never even once seen anyone just “blow straight through” it. I’m sure it’s happened, but also pretty sure that installation of a light would not have helped. In fact, it’s been my experience that people there are generally courteous and careful to a fault.