Free-For-All Friday 10/17/14
Decatur Metro | October 17, 2014 | 7:40 amFeel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local topics not discussed here over the past week.
Comments close on Monday.
Feel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local topics not discussed here over the past week.
Comments close on Monday.
The Walrus
J_T
Ms. A
Angelo
lumpintheroad
TOK
DawgFan
DawgFan
BethW
FM Fats
Oakhurst Porchfest
magpie63
Are there any City of Decatur-specific measures on the ballot this November?
Nope. There are two constitutional amendments and one statewide referendum.
Take a close look at Amendment B. It has to do with making DUI drivers providing restitution to those they hurt. It deserves support, IMO.
Need recommendations for either a contractor or very high level handyman. We have one of those Modern Prairie houses and even though it is only about 5 years old we have significant issues with the roof, gutters, walls, ceilings and floors. Other than that, it is all good 🙂
Thanks in advance.
“OK, OK, but aside from that, how did you enjoy the play, Mrs. Lincoln?”
Have you contacted the builder?
We did not buy as new construction. And there is no warranty.
For roofing, we love I.G. Christmas and sons. His business is called Year Round Repair. I don’t have the number handy, but they are great and Mr. Christmas is a hoot.
I had a negative experience dealing with I. G. Christmas. I had a roof leak and a leak around my chimney. He charged $1800 to “fix” both of these. The leaks continued after several attempts by Mr. Christmas’s crew. I hired someone else who reoaired it for $500 the first time around. It hasn’t leaked for ten years. Mr. Christmas refused to return the money I paid. So, he may do well on reroofing but do NOT hire him for repair. I wouldn’t hire him to put on a new roof either.
Could you please recommend the company who did the $500 repair?
Bennie Irwin Roofing. 678-667-8067
And does anyone have a referral for someone to patch a plaster ceiling after such a leak?
Philip Trapkin–great contractor 404-992-4030
+1 for Phil Trapkin
http://www.sterlingworks.net/
Thanks y’all! :0)
There’s some kind of “stay alert stay safe” signage in from of the Pure downtown. Is it beer festival related? “Don’t stagger into traffic, drunkies”?
I think it may be for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day walk.
Likely so. They’re coming through Decatur today.
There is similar orange “motivational” signage all along a general route from Decatur through L5P and midtown. While biking home yesterday I saw people all along my bike route putting up those motivational orange signs.
Parking meter update — two weeks ago I got an undeserved expired meter ticket, and theorized that the meter was misread, as it would always drop the first digit of the entered license plate. As of this week, the offending meter now properly retains the entire plate number. Bravo, sentient parking meter!
I noticed the same issue of the first number dropping off when I parked in the circle in front of the courthouse on Tuesday. I put the receipt on my front dash just in case.
All this time, I thought it was just me not punching in the first number well enough. Every single time I have used the meters–and that’s probably 5-8 times in different locations around Downtown–the first digit has not registered the first time I typed it in. I thought it was operator error. Now I realize that it’s been a systemic data entry problem.
The one in front of the Clairemont greenspace seems to be working properly now. Unfortunately, the one across Clairemont dropped my first digit today. I’m with Melissa — print that ticket and put it on the dash, whether they say it’s necessary or not.
When that happens to me, I always notice it before hitting ok and then I just backspace and re-enter the license number. It always seems to get it right on the 2nd or 3rd try. That’s why I thought it was operator, vs system, error.
Interesting meeting last night regarding the options for expanding / redoing Renfroe Middle School. It’s nice that they’re soliciting (and apparently listening to) community feedback.They said they’ll be posting the various plans, ppt slides for the meeting, etc. on the CSD website shortly.
I knew CSD enrollment is skyrocketing, but I was still surprised at the numbers they were rolling out: currently, there are 938 students at RMS. From a 2012 study, the “worst case scenario” they’re planning for (w/ annexation) is 2,225 in 2018, and even with no annexation, projection are for 1,666 students in 2018.
I may be the only one here to praise Dekalb County… but I am super happy with many of the new asphalt repavings. College at Sams Crossing and Commerce near the medical center in particular were well past due for repaving and now they are as smooth as silk!
I’ll get off my Friday coffee buzz soapbox now.
Agree particularly about the Sam’s Crossing at College intersection. For bikers that area was hell. Now it is as you said “smooth as silk”. I give credit where credit is due…for once, nice job DeKalb County.
Sadly, I believe that kudos should be redirected from the County to the GA DOT for the paving work on U.S. 278 (Covington, North Avondale, Sams Crossing, East College). Totally agree, however, that the work is superior!
And remember, it’s not GDOT, it’s whoever their contractor is.
Some food that has made me very happy lately:
– Mushroom soup at Fresh2O
– Empanada at Arepa Mia
After a near-fatal run-in this week with a speeding car that chose to ignore the pedestrian crosswalk I was using outside the Starbucks, I have a proposal to make. You know that way-too-high speedbump installed on Adair Street just past the two bikes that we keep debating whether or not they should be allowed to remain opposite Adair Park? Can we dig it up and move it in front of Parker’s On Ponce so that cars running too fast will lose a bumper or the underbelly of their cars??
If not, can we get Peggy Perriss at the City of Decatur to requisition from Acme Supply Co. two of those rapier-sharp barriers that the Coyote installed out in the desert to stop the Road-Runner? I want to install a button at the pedestrian crosswalk that will slice a car in half or thirds if a car enters the crosswalk as I am crossing.
Thank you. Rant ended.
All reasonable measures, IMO. While perusing the Acme catalog, did you happen to find any devices that would automatically pelt pedestrians with dye packs if they cross the street against the light (esp at corners with protected left turns for vehicles) and/or move into a crosswalk while pushing a baby stroller without pausing or even looking around? (The latter happens more and more frequently, I find. As a motorist I am more than happy to yield the ROW to any pedestrian in any crosswalk, but is it really reasonable to charge out into the street practically under my bumper, without warning?)
BTW, City Manager is Ms. Merriss.
Mea culpa on Peggy Merriss. As for cars yielding the ROW, why do so many of these cars have a glass-bottom so that the drivers can see the startled look of the pedestrians their cars ran over?
On a more real-world note, though, your point is more well-taken at the pedestrian cross-walk near Wells Fargo. The drivers barrel through those two blocks as if they were waiting for the checkered flag to come out on the Decatur 500 at Commerce. But the pedestrians cross between parked cars with no clear vision of oncoming cars. You take your life into your own hands with cross there …
+1 That crosswalk is a disaster waiting to happen. When I slow down (as I always do there in anticipation) I nearly get rear ended by the car barreling down behind me trying to get to the finish line. It inevitably ends with cross facial expressions and hand gestures between me and the other driver.
Care to explain the “pausing to look around” comment further? Speaking as a pedestrian I am extremely cautious because I see people running stop signs all the time. But drivers on the other hand have no “right” to expect pedestrians to look at anything. The law, safety, and common sense all dictate cars yield to pedestrians. Feel free to shake your head if you like, but obey the law.
“But drivers on the other hand have no “right” to expect pedestrians to look at anything.”
That statement is just nuts. Even if I am only driving 25 mph, if you step off the curb 5 feet in front of me, I am going to hit you. Common sense dictates that a pedestrian stop and look both ways before crossing, and I fully expect pedestrians to do so.
OK well you can drive however you like but when I’m behind the wheel I don’t expect pedestrians to look. If I see someone approaching a crosswalk I prepare for the worst. I take the cautious approach and I’m ready to stop. I might curse them under my breath but I would rather everyone is safe. But sadly based on my experience as a pedestrian more drivers take your attitude: it’s their problem.
I agree with you BenJT. I got yelled at in front of the old DQ a few weeks ago by a driver in an SUV with two kids in car seats in the back. (Nice way to model good behavior in front of the kids, dude) He yelled at me that I was supposed to wait for cars to pass in anticipation. Funny thing, the car next to him, which was slightly ahead and should have had to slam on breaks if “yeller” was accurate, stopped with no problem and didn’t even give me a bad look. If that guys kids were the one in the cross walk, I bet his tune would be 180. Cars should have to anticipate, pedestrians have the right of way in a cross walk.
Common sense also dictates that a person should look up from their smartphone before stepping out into traffic, but often they don’t. Of course cars should yield to pedestrians, but I do not agree that pedestrians are freed from any responsibility for their own safety.
That reminds me that I almost ran over a pedestrian at Costco a few months ago. She was looking at her phone and stepped off the curb right in front of me, and I am not exaggerating when I say I stopped about 6 inches from her. She then had the nerve to yell at me. Lucky for both of us I wasn’t driving very fast.
“I do not agree that pedestrians are freed from any responsibility for their own safety.” +1000
I never said pedestrians are not responsible for their own safety.
Also, we cannot know the mental abilities of all pedestrians. As I was entering the YMCA on Friday, a mentally challenged young adult was walking out JUST as a pickup truck was backing up. The young man didn’t stop, and I fear for what would have happened if I had not screamed STOP STOP. The truck driver did stop, thanked me for preventing the accident.
Avoiding the accident, not assigning blame, is our goal. I don’t step into a crosswalk until I’m sure the cars are going to stop. I often point at the “STOP FOR PEDESTRIANS” sign in the crosswalk, which is effective. But even if that sign is not there, pedestrians always have the right of way in a crosswalk. Even in New Orleans, despite what my sister thought.
It’s true that we don’t always know the whole story. The majority of rude drivers and pedestrians are probably just rude, self-centered, and/or entitled. But some may have mental health or cognitive issues, some kind of incredible personal stress or shock, like a family illness, death, or criminal activity, or something else that is temporarily impairing their judgment and behavior. Important to keep in mind since there, but for the grace of God,….
I saw 2 blind people walking N. Decatur road, literally in the road, by Publix (could see the waving canes) after dark which gave me quite a scare. There are some seriously awful sidewalks from Emory to Clairemont and down to Suburban. The majority of sidewalks along N. Decatur in front of homes at least are in incredibly dangerous shape. Something really needs to be done about all of N. Decatur before more people are killed. It’s a heavy pedestrian area in general and a real life death trap. It’s not a matter of if more people will be killed, but when
It is my understanding of the law for the crosswalks is that cars don’t have to stop for a person that is standing on the curb. They stop if a pedestrian is within the crosswalk. I think that is where a lot of the trouble stems from. I think pedestrians are assuming that they can just step off the curb and cars are going to stop. If the pedestrian can wait for a lull in traffic to step off, everyone is safe. I’ve been almost rear-ended so many times because of pedestrians crossing without even looking to see if cars are stopping. I try my darndest to break at these crosswalks when I see a person standing on the curb but sometimes it isn’t safe for me, which in turn, won’t be safe for the pedestrian. And PLEASE PLEASE if there is a flashing light button, PLEASE push it. It helps all cars behind the lead cars to know there is a pedestrian. Thank you!
If you are an extremely caution pedestrian, then I am not talking about you and there’s no need to get riled up. I am talking about irresponsible pedestrians who snarl traffic, endanger themselves, and endanger others by generally contributing to an adversarial environment that breeds impatience and aggression on all sides.
I’m not getting riled up. I just asked you to clarify what you meant when you said you expect baby strollers to pause at crosswalks.
The specific behavior to which I’m referring: pedestrian walks down sidewalk, turns ninety degrees and proceeds into a crosswalk (no electric signal) without breaking stride and without even glancing toward possible oncoming traffic. Sometimes pushing a stroller with a kid in it, sometimes conversing with a companion, sometimes focusing on smartphone. As a motorist, I’m happy to brake for pedestrian in a marked crosswalk, but it’s darned difficult to do if I’m already within a few yards when they walk into the street. I’m not damning all pedestrians with this complaint–only THESE pedestrians. (And it’s by no means Decatur-specific behavior. Most recent encounter was in Glenwood Park.)
I have a pedestrian question.
Quite a bit ago (before any construction), I was driving west on Ponce from downtown. Somewhere before the post office – maybe Ponce Place, a pedestrian crossed on a marked crosswalk right at a traffic light – where I had the green. (I assume they had a DO NOT WALK signal.)
I honked at them, because I thought that pedestrians were supposed to respect controlled intersections, and got a rude gesture in return.
Was I right or wrong? (probably wrong for actually honking, I know, but right or wrong for thinking they did not have the right of way at a traffic light controlled intersection when I had the green?)
I’m pretty sure you had the legal ROW. My sister came out on the wrong end of a miscommunication with a car years ago (she was a pedestrian). Even though she was being careful and the driver was being careless, and she suffered a permanently disabling injury, she had virtually no legal recourse because it was an uncontrolled intersection with no marked crosswalk.
IMO you were right to honk. Just because some pedestrians are bullies doesn’t mean the rest of us have to pretend they’re either right or reasonable.
Ground Zero for this sort of thing is the intersection of Trinity and McDonough – Chick Fil A, City Hall, and the County Courthouse. I’ve seen more instances of mind-bogglingly irresponsible pedestrian behavior there than I can count.
I’m going to add my rant about people traveling north on Church St. and completely ignoring (or maybe not seeing) the “no left turn” sign at Ponce. The other morning I was running, stopped at the north side of that intersection to cross (going toward Leon’s), and had the pedestrian light. Some idiot made an illegal left turn and fortunately I was not so far out in the crosswalk that I couldn’t stop. I’m not sure he ever saw me until after I jumped out of his way, and might have been wondering why I was shouting at him.
Is the sign not big enough? Are people blindly following their GPS that tells me them to turn left onto Church St.? Or do they just figure the sign doesn’t apply to them? I go through that intersection almost every day and about half the time there is someone trying to make that left. Someone needs to make that sign about ten times bigger, with lots of flashing lights, and maybe some really loud, obnoxious sirens triggered when someone turns left.
On the flip side, many pedestrians ignore the crossing signals. And it clearly isn’t only the illiterate who do this as the “Walk” and “Don’t Walk” signs have been replaced with symbols.
Is the “No Left Turn” sign a symbol or words? I think people would be shocked by how many drivers here can’t read. But it’s more likely a case of people not caring what the sign says because THEY HAVE TO TURN LEFT, BY GOD, so they’re turning left. Just like the people who bring traffic to a halt when they discover they need to be in the other lane. Sarte had it half right: Hell is other drivers.
It’s the international No Left Turn symbol.
Is the jury still deliberating Burrell Ellis’ trial?
Yes, and I wish they would buckle down and do their jobs. My close friend sat on the special purpose grand jury for over a year (yes, you read that right) and the jury now keeps complaining that they can’t reach a decision after a few days of discussing.
nullification is a helluva thing
Hey J_T – it is beer festival – that means it is our 3 year anniversary of knowing each other!! Have fun tomorrow and snag me a tasting glass if you can! Hope to see you and the Mrs. on Halloween!
Don’t you worry, we will have all the fun we can stand tomorrow! And when we can’t stand any longer, we will crawl! I’ll snag you a glass and message you privately about Halloween but we are totally crashing your street’s trick-or-treating again.
We’ll be pouring first shift, not sure where yet. Looking forward to my first time. 🙂
Does anyone have suggestions of specific property developers to talk to about buying houses? We will be moving to Chicago and would prefer to avoid using a realtor, if possible. Our house is already livable and in a good location, but could be a gold mine, if built out properly. Thanks!
Lockman buys houses directly, I believe. So does Mike Shivers at 4M construction.
Hmm…IMHO, builders aren’t going to give more than $350K unless it’s a double lot. If the house is in good condition as you say and at least a 3/2 with decent square footage, why don’t you sell it FSBO? The other alternative is to invite realtors over, get them interested, see if they have any interest and/or clients, and then tell them you don’t want to use them for your self but would be happy to pay the 3% buyer fees…worked for my neighbor.
Are you interested in getting the maximum possible for your property? If so, you want to let the market work. Whether by owner or through a realtor, you should put your property on the market. If your property interests them, the developers will bid against each other and drive up the price. If you approach a developer, they will try to get your property below market. I’m not criticizing them – that’s just good, smart business from their perspective.
Most developers won’t be interested unless they can build, because that’s what they do. They won’t care if your house is livable because if the location’s good and the price is right, they will tear it down and build something more in line with current demand.
And today in Decatur, that seems to be 3000+ square-foot quickly-built McMansions, detached garages with an in-law suite, and price tags above a half million. so the cheaper they can get your lot, the more profit they have after demolition of your old place and construction of the new, bigger home.
Like Smith says, the market will determine the value. The more folks who know about the opportunity, the more potential buyers. that’s what realtors are supposed to do — maximize awareness. if they do their job and attract a buyer willing to pay what you want, then it’s worth the commission.
We keep getting phone calls and yellow letters from people who want to buy our house. Some guy named Anthony called yesterday, and John and Randa have mailed us yellow letters with red ink at least twice. Their return address is a box at the UPS Store by the Publix.
Hmmm. We never get anyone asking to buy our house/property. I keep waiting for someone to offer some fantastic amount that allows me to hire someone to clean out the years worth of accumulation of stuff and whatever repairs and painting are necessary. Still waiting.
Revenue, thanks for the suggestions, I’ll reach out to them both. PB, that’s an intriguing idea, we might try it if our first approach doesn’t work.
We’re familiar with economics and market theories and don’t really care what someone does to the property once we sell it. We’re just ready to move on and the house is the only thing remaining here. The house is livable as a starter home, but is really an ideal candidate as a build-out and the lot has been prepped as such. While market value is subjective, our zillow estimate is $320. I’d love to be wrong, but I doubt we’d get more, if that, especially with the increasing number of houses on the market here. Once you add in commission and the time spent on it, we’d be ok with a half-decent offer from a developer.
No tickets to the beer festival? Come to the Fourth Annual Decatur Root Beer Festival! Today from 5 to 7 at Little Shop. Slice & Pint’s own Square Root will be served, along with about a dozen other (non-alcoholic) beverages.
Does it have a logo we can criticize?
I have a ticket to the beer festival. Does that mean I’m not allowed? Even if I promise not to mock your sober logo like Keith F?
Come mock our logo. You can even take it home; it’s featured on our commemorative cup. Then bring it to the beer festival. It holds six ounces!
Also, Slice & Pint delivered their Square Root selection earlier today. Great aroma with a nice, fall spice flavor. Delicious!
What a cool idea! Thank you, Little Shop, for all you do to make our city a special place.
Little Shop rocks in so many ways. I went the first year and it’s fun — although it’s harder than you think to taste that many root beers. I was burping for hours afterwards…
I spotted a Bollywood Dance sign in Patel Plaza. Does anyone know about it? I couldn’t find a website. Sounds like a fun way to get exercise.
Received my official letter from Decatur informing me of potential annexation. I can feel my politics leaning left, my house value shooting up, and my taxes doubling just sitting here.
First 2, yes, but the third, not so much. Remember that DeKalb raised their rate almost 30% a few years back. Apples to apples, COD is only 25% to 30% more than DeKalb.
38.8%, according to my calculations.
Sure ain’t double.
Not taking into account the impact of annexation on the property valuation, of course…that’s just the difference in millage rate.
Residential annexation?
Yes, residential but only because I am near commercial that COD really really wants. I am collateral damage so to speak.
They were mounting a sign in the ally that goes behind 246, next to the ice cream shop. It’s now “Katie’s Ally.” I don’t know if that means a new shop in the old house or not.
New parking pay stations downtown …
Rather than cleaning up the streetscape by removing the no longer needed meter poles, someone thought it better to hang signs on stump posts throughout downtown. Is a commissioner connected to the sign company? Just an ugly decision and one that isn’t necessary. The posts could be cut at sidewalk level and only a couple of informational signs installed at eye level in areas where paid parking is required.
Ugly is also casting aspersions. (And hanging it on the commissioners? Just Wow.)
How ’bout considering that maybe the removals require a bit more than just sawing off the meter poles to do it properly, so this is a “make do for now” way to address it? Seriously, when have you ever seen Tony Kemp and the street crew not go all out to do a job 100%??
Our commissioners callously ignore our fundamental need for instant gratification. Impeach!
Cat claws out, oh my.
The poles WERE sawed off to remove the meters. They were left at a height of about 3 feet and then metal signs were hung on every short pole. Would you think this is more costly and time consuming than sawing off the post at sidewalk level and filling with a little Quikrete? Why does anyone need a sign every 15 feet telling you to go pay at a pay station?
…because there’s just no way it could be that the crew ran into problems sawing off the poles at sidewalk level and needs a special tool to do the job properly.
You should definitely take your gripe and accusation to the next city commission meeting.
Fair go about the accusation and I retract it.
I will voice my opinion to my local representative on the Commission. Funny though how my opinion that the stump posts with hanging signs clutter the streetscape appearance has been so irritating. Most Decatur folks I know like a clean, earthy look. Makes me think about the heralded efforts of Lady Bird Johnson in cleaning out billboards along the highways.
It’s not simply a matter of aesthetics either. I read this blog so i know otherwise, but I’m wondering if people are getting ticketed because they think the meters are broken and the spots are fair game. I was riding someone Friday afternoon who asked just that. Once it starts getting dark early people are not going to be looking around for pay boxes since the boxes have never been there before.
Yes, I think a lot of drivers, even those who live in COD, are confused about parking rules, procedures, dates/times of enforcement, etc. I thought there was going to be a major educational campaign before the new system was stood up (to use business jargon). Haven’t seen it. In the absence of a major educational campaign, clear and visible explanatory signage seems in order.
I’ll throw in my support of the stump poles being ugly. And they are now quite challenging to navigate a run or walk with the dog on some sidewalks too.
So I guess it is being said this is a part time solution? Is this a known fact or should I check with the City?
Just asked: the post removals need to be tackled when the parking spaces are empty– so, overnight. It’s up to city mgt to schedule when to have it done.
TO: MrBadExample, RE: 10 October FFAF question about recycling a toaster over.
If you haven’t recycled or trashed your toaster oven, it looks like Keep DeKalb Beautiful is having an electronics recycling day Saturday, November 15th, at Northlake Mall. Their flyer says they will be taking microwaves and blenders, so perhaps toaster ovens as well. If you want to verify, their contact # is listed as 4040.371.2654, although the company handling the event does list ovens- presumably toaster-sized!- on their website (IMSElectronics.com).
Aargh. Our awesome trash collectors took it away last week. Thanks for the heads up though. I will keep this group in mind the next time an appliance keels over.
Ok. I think this is a new one for FFAF. Does anybody know of a nearby source for 55 and 30 gallon steel drums? Bad Example Estates could use them in some theoretical farming experiments but is not looking to spend much.
The farm and garden section of craigslist would be a good place to check.
There are businesses that recycle drums. I would start with them.
I’ve purchased steel drums from the welding shop on DeKalb, near the CSX transfer yard. I think they get them in batches to make into grills.smokers. I just lucked out and walked in when someone was interested in picking up an extra $5 or $15 bucks by selling a slightly dented barrel. Jiffy Lube also will sell them, but I didn’t want to clean out the motor oil residue. The ones I bought from the welders had been used for molasses.
McConnell Drum in Doraville is the place to go
Piggy-backing here (as opposed to thread-jacking which is totally different) … I’m in need of a piece of scrap metal, iron or steel, of a size that will stand up in a 5-gal bucket or plastic storage bin of similar depth and reach the top. Ideally, wide and thin. I’ll go to scrap yard or HVAC contractor to purchase something if I need to, but prefer to scrounge (get for free or buy for peanuts).
Hi all. You don’t have to wait for an electronics recycling day. Keep DeKalb Beautiful has a full time electronics recycling drop off center right near us. They are staffed 8-4, Mon. – Fri. and unload for you. Right outside Avondale behind the jail. Here is the website with more info.
http://web.co.dekalb.ga.us/beautiful/recycling_electronics.html
Ballet costume sale today at Decatur Ballet’s Sams St. location, across from Avondale Marta station! http://eepurl.com/4-F79
Saw a bunch of jogger/walkers with strollers at 8 PM tonight, both moms and dads, complete with reflective gear and lights, down on West Ponce. Some had already arrived at Fleet Feet and were hanging out. Others were coming down the sidewalk by the Post Office. Looked like a lot of good parent camaraderie and fun. (Couldn’t tell how the stroller occupants liked it. I suspect they had been lulled to sleep which may be one of the major objectives of this event!)