MM: Demolition of 102 Fifth Ave, New Train “Quiet Zone” Near Decatur, and a PCM Update
Decatur Metro | May 29, 2015 | 8:54 am
- Decatur posts FAQ on demolition of 102 Fifth Avenue [Decatur Minute]
- East Lake Road train crossing now officially a quiet zone [East Lake]
- Fuqua’s Phase II for Decatur Crossing deferred by Board of Commissioners [MANA]
- Avondale ‘pocket parks’ to get cleaning, but no development [AJC]
- Creating New Cities: DeKalb County Is Ga.’s Latest Hotspot [WABE]
- Atlanta BeltLine plans bike lanes, sidewalks, park near Ponce City Market [Saporta Report]
102 Fifth Avenue photo courtesy of Chris
“We have a need for green space,” said Commissioner Terry Giager at a recent work session. “But you can’t see [the pocket parks] from the street and there’s no path into and out of them. Safety and security is the main issue — if we open them up, how do we keep people from lurking about?”
If we open these parks people might . . . use them?
If people play outside they might get hurt!
If people leave their homes, there might be crime!
Better to keep the parks closed.
People should just stay home.
Yes, and where are these AE pocket parks? Based on my deep googling skills, they’re nothing more than medians:
Pocket Park between Clarendon Avenue and Dartmouth Avenue
Pocket Park between Berkeley Road and Kensington Road
Pocket Park between Kensington Road and Covington Hwy*
But don’t pack your picnic basket just yet! If these parks open up, rest assured they will “keep people from lurking about” by erecting one of those friendly signs: “For exclusive use of the residents of the city of Avondale Estates, their children and guests.”
Source: 2011 AE Dog Park Proposal
Hmmm, your googling skills need sharpening.. Please see the acreage, represented by the large triangles (Covington/Kingstone and Kingstone/Berkeley) and the large square (Dartmouth/Kingstone/Clarendon Place), including the right of ways that provide access, on the Avondale zoning map http://www.avondaleestates.org/resources/pdfs/avondale-estates-zoning-map-01012015.pdf).
If you take the time to study the map carefully, you will also see several of the original bridle paths that were part of the original planning in the 1920s (along with the pocket parks) by the developer, Mr. Willis.
And, let’s explore your concern that Avondale amenities, paid for by Avondale resident taxes, have signs that remind folks that the amenities are for Avondale Residents. You post quotes from one of the signs on Avondale Lake.
Case in point: Decatur dog parks:
Decatur dog parks are “resident only/permit required” facilities as of May 2006. Permits are available to City of Decatur residents at the Decatur Recreation Center and Glenlake Tennis Center.
Permit Information
To secure a permit, residents must provide proof of residency in the form of a tax bill, rent receipt or utility bill and proof of rabies vaccination for each dog. Property owners who are not residents must present a tax bill and proof of rabies vaccination. Citizens will receive a numbered tag for each dog. Tags should be attached to the dog’s collar. It will identify the dog as having a permit for enforcement purposes.
Anyone know how we can a quiet zone? I wonder how much they had to spend, and who put up the money. Also, our intersections are much more substantial than a road crossing on East Lake.
The Quest for Quiet Zones has already made its run through Decatur and come up short. It was on the comprehensive wish list for one of our community bonds (as were many other ideas/wishes that added up to more theoretical dollars than the bond itself) and, once it was scrutinized for cost/benefit, there wasn’t the political support to push it forward.
Part of that likely flowed from folks like me, whose houses directly front the rail line. Surly engineers of all stripes blow their horns all through the night directly next to my bedroom and even I think quiet zones aren’t worth the cost.
Interestingly, the East Lake post made it sound like the committee that got this quiet zone is still working on one for the Coventry crossing. I guess that falls right outside Decatur’s jurisdiction.
Right. Those rails are just on the other side of the Decatur line. There might be Decatur residents working as part of the quiet zone effort on Coventry but Decatur wouldn’t be the municipal authority to work with in that case.
I don’t think you’ll have good success arguing for a quiet zone in an area where kids are frequently crossing the tracks, vehicles routinely get stuck, and there has been a pedestrian fatality recently.
That Fuqua development is an abomination. What a hack that guy is.
Bo, did you attend the community meeting held to provide your input? This project’s been pretty well received by the surrounding neighborhoods. And the Fuqua folks have been very reasonable to work with.
I can’t help but think this neighborhood is exhausted from the negotiations with Selig/WalMart. All Fuqua’s stuff looks the same. Can’t wait to see how the Scott/N.Decatur/Medlock intersection flows after all the improvements.
Which neighborhood are you referring to? There are several on the Cross-Neighborhoods Committee– just as there have been with Selig’s re-do of Suburban Plaza. Regarding the development’s looks, I’d say it’s equal to or above what’s being built in downtown CoD. Actually, quite a bit above since Fuqua ‘s including a public park (nearly an acre’s worth of prime land). As for traffic related concerns, they’ve been proactive in addressing what’s possible with DDOT and GDOT. Truth is, traffic’s going to have to get a whole lot worse for a major overhaul to occur at that intersection.