Free-For-All Friday 5/22/15
Decatur Metro | May 22, 2015 | 7:00 amFeel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local topics not yet discussed here over the past week.
Feel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local topics not yet discussed here over the past week.
saniel
Peripatetian
Meghan
Teri Hammond
Eric
lumpintheroad
Tyler Durden
Toml
At Home in Decatur
At Home in Decatur
Don the Don
Sharron
Looking Back: The 2011 Atlanta Snowpocalypse
Just wanted to give a big THANK YOU to whoever turned my lost keys into the Police Station last Friday night (night of the Lantern Parade)! Actually, I lost my husband’s keys, so you really saved me from years of ridicule. Also a thank you to all the businesses that took my name to call me if they found my keys. Especially, Mac McGee’s who wanted to call me and Squash Blossom who did call with set of keys that weren’t mine.
Also, thank you Decatur PD for getting the efficiency in returning my keys!
About the dog park, the mayor said this:
“This is a public service really that the Boys and Girls Club offers and that’s why it was sold at the time it was sold and the way it was sold. Because it would continue to be a public service use.”
That seemed to me to imply some sort of use restriction built into the conveyance of the property — the proper way to do so would have been to include language to that effect in the deed from the city to B&G (or the Metropolitan Atlanta Boys Club, as it was known in 1971 when they bought the property). So I found the deed, and there is no such language. The county did have a repurchase option — they could buy back the property after five years if a structure was not built and functioning by that time. Following that was a 20-year right of first refusal should another potential buyer emerge. But that expired in 1996, and there was no language in the option agreement that allowed for a renewal, nor has any new agreement been recorded since.
Perhaps he meant that the property was sold below-market, as it was to be used by a charitable organization, and so there was some presumed (or even written but unrecorded) agreement about its use. I dunno. They do get a break on their property taxes — city taxes have been $1125 annually since at least 2009. They are exempt completely from county taxes.
Thanks for taking the time to look that up and share it.
IMO if there is any organization deserving of a tax break, it’s the B&G Club.
13678-1`O`
I was cleaning my device, sorry. + 1 is what was intended.
I was like WTF? Is there some Internet meme I haven’t heard of? Some new code I have to Google? Then I read your explanation and it all made sense. Thanks for the laugh.
Just googled it and it’s the catalog number for Glypican 5 Antibody. Yup, that’s what I meant.
+++13678-1`O`
I’m looking for that post on the best day hikes in driving distance from the metro, it was something like that. Anyone save this by chance? DM, could you assist? Thanks and happy Friday!
Atlanta Magazine from last October. http://www.atlantamagazine.com/travel/12-great-georgia-hikes/
I would also add Panther Creek to that list (I don’t think I saw it in the article). One of my favorites- along water almost the entire way and a beautiful waterfall reward at the end.
http://www.atlantatrails.com/hiking-trails/hiking-panther-creek-one-of-georgias-most-beautiful-waterfalls/
+1
FYI there is a great book “the hiking trails of North Georgia” that I pickled up on Amazon a few years back. Great guide.
I saw this after I posted a similar comment on the MM thread, but for nearby hikes there’s a great book called Hiking Atlanta’s Hidden Forests. It includes hikes within a 30-mile radius of downtown.
does anyone know if there are updates on the proposed road changes for DeKalb Ave? there was a lot of talk about the removal of the center (switching lane)
this would really mess up many of our drives to work so was wondering
Thanks
I miss the livestock at 2nd and Hosea. I guess it means redevelopment on that corner is imminent.
http://eastlakefoundation.org/blog/newdevelopment/
THIS made my day, hell, year!!!!!
Oh, one more question to the masses, did anyone get their hands on the drone flight for the lantern event?
Congrats to Decatur High custodian Clarence Strickland, Jr. for being celebrated by many in Decatur’s education community Wed. night. DHS teachers gathered around Clarence as he received a Decatur Education Foundation “Make a Difference” award — which is now named for him.
Clarence does more than take care of the school — he looks out for our community’s kids. More about him, plus Joseph Aczel’s excellent photo over on DEF’s Facebook page: http://on.fb.me/1dpe01K
+1 on Clarence!
Also, if the yard is getting the upper hand, email [email protected] . Home from college and ready to tame nature.
They don’t get any better than Clarence. He’s almost always at the high school, but when he’s not, he’s seen around Oakhurst because he lives there. This is a great example of why having a wide range of housing options, affordable to a wide economic swath of folks, is critical to having a true community. When our public servants, including school custodians, live in the same community in which they work, they become anchors for our kids, as well as the rest of us. We fully embrace Clarence because he fully embraces us – all day, all night, and even on weekends. Sorry to use this opportunity to make a point – it certainly doesn’t fit Clarence’s character. He’s quiet and unassuming and an absolute treasure.
Thanks Geoff. Mr. Strictland is a great CSD employee and a fine individual and he should be praised for these and other outstanding personal qualities but to use him as a bullet point for a political agenda is, in my opinion, inappropriate.
Congratulations Mr. Strictland. You done good.
I must demur, Mr. Billingsley. I think a good way to support a point is statistically. But the way to make one’s point compelling is with anecdote or example.
Geez. How can he afford to live in Oakhurst?
Hear Hear Geoff….. I love this.
Clarence is the best!
Any one know what is happening to the building that is somewhat opposite YDFM (next to the flea market type business)? It used to be some manufacturing building, now it looks like they are making into a mini-Krog Street Mkt? Who has the scoop?
Trader Joe’s.
(Sorry, everyone…)
(No, I’m not)
The Meadow Burke Products building? I looked it up on Google Maps, got the address and googled it and found that it is being redeveloped into an “art-deco retail space”. See http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/18381001/2995-East-Ponce-de-Leon-Ave-Decatur-GA/?LinkCode=10850&SourceCode=1lww2t006a00001&
I asked this question last week and no one answered, glad to get some answers.what about other yellow building next door?
(Maybe I am the last person in Georgia to learn about the gold star, but in case I’m not, consider this a public service announcement.)
Look at your drivers license. Does it have a gold star in the upper right hand corner? No? Poor you.
When your license expires, there’s a surprisingly elaborate process to get a new one. Including a visit to the DMV. Oops, I mean the Department of Driver Services. But there’s a handy checklist of requirements on their website. A five page checklist.
Just letting you all know.
i had the joy of renewing my license last year …i’d rather chew off my own arm than go to the dmv/dds but i was pleasantly surprised at how relatively painless the process was….i am, however, eternally grateful now for my gold star
Thanks, anniefannie. That’s good news. Which of the DMV locations did you visit? I was advised that Lithonia was not as busy as South DeKalb Mall.
I have always gone to Lithonia and it’s been fine, but I can’t offer a comparison.
i went to the rockbridge rd (lithonia) location…went on a thursday morning about 10am…the whole process took just over an hour. i also heard the chamblee location is a good one as well as the one by turner field. try to avoid tuesdays (since they are closed on mondays and therefore are uber busy) and saturdays. i was also told you can make an online appointment at the south dekalb dds but i can’t speak to that since i didn’t use that location. good luck! and bring more than enough documentation so you’re covered.
Tried S DeKalb with my older teen to get his permit and it was unbelievably crowded. A few friends suggested the branch by Turner Field on Capitol Ave and it was much better. Went there on a recent Friday after school with younger child for his permit and there was no wait.
Is there anything to go to at Ponce City Market yet? I pulled in the parking lot one day, and other than Binders, I wasn’t sure if there was anything open, to go see, or shop at, or eat at. Lots of construction and fences. I was a little nervous about parking and trying to go in. Does anyone know?
Food court opening has been delayed until September.
People live there, people work there, and they hold special events, but no retail or food in the main building yet. Check out the classes at General Assemby though, and follow PCM on Facebook for really regular updates. (I think the preview for Atlanta Food and Wine Festival is there this week.)
Pretty proud to be half Irish today…
Amazing, isn’t it? Roddy Doyle had some great columns in the Irish Times leading up to the referendum.
My wife’s family (all Irish immigrants) call me “Half Irish, half ashamed.”
Can anyone recommend a used car dealer? My friend’s daughter is in college here and is looking for a cheap, decent shape ride. I just don’t know anywhere other than the big dealers. Thank you!
Probably best to stick with the big dealers or Carmax. The smaller independent dealers generally don’t get the best cars. Most of those lots cater to people with bad or no credit. I’m sure there are exceptions; maybe someone else knows of one.
I’ve got friends who’ve bought through Carmax three times now and have always been very happy with the experience.
I liked these guys – they specialize in Hybrids but sell all – tell them what you want and they will find it at auction.
I trust David (as much as I can for a dealer)
David
770-444-0058 [email protected]
1st Choice Autos located at 2966 South Cobb Drive in Smyrna,GA.
Thanks very much. I’ll tell them
Hans Utz is back on Decaturish today with an in-depth explainer on our property taxes. Channeling what Judd has said here many times, here’s the money quote:
“Also note that although the City Schools of Decatur levy the highest taxes of the schools above, they are not the highest by an obscene amount. On a $400,000 home, the City Schools of Decatur are 16 percent more expensive than DeKalb County schools. The difference is a little over $560. Given the difference between a school system that ranks second in the state versus a system where the Governor had to replace most of the school board to avoid losing accreditation, one might view that as a bargain.”
As with the prices we pay for all things, it’s not just the cash outlay but our individual perceptions of what constitutes value as well. Good stuff.
Sad news from Ink & Elm:
“After 21 amazing months, Ink & Elm is saying farewell. We have enjoyed serving the neighborhood, the Emory community, and the city of Atlanta. We were warmly embraced by many, many who have become great friends. From our house to yours, we thank you for your support and friendship.
We plan to continue to serve the Druid Hills/Emory neighborhood through Saturday depending on our inventory. Please come in, relive great memories, and say good-bye in person. We will even have our bourbon/whisk(e)y wall discounted by up to 50% for your enjoyment.”
In case anybody’s still reading (it’s Wednesday already!)…. I need a skilled carpenter who can fix the lintel over the front door of an historic masonry building. The lintel is a big piece of wood and it fell down. We need to either repair and reinstall or (more likely) replicate it. New one must look exactly like the old one. I think this is more than a simple handyman job, so want to find someone who really does know what they’re doing as opposed to someone who figures “how hard can it be?” Thanks!