The Proposed Location of Decatur’s Google Fiber Hut
Decatur Metro | December 7, 2015 | 12:45 pm
The Decatur City Commission is scheduled to vote tonight on a lease agreement for land for Google to build a “Fiber Hut” in the City of Decatur.
According to a note from Project Manager Lena Stevens to City Manager Peggy Merriss, Google has selected a 1,600 square foot parcel “on Atlanta Avenue, adjacent to the Ebster Pool pump-house and Police Department parking lot.”
The “10×30 foot structures…house the telecommunications and fiber interface equipment necessary for Google to provide high-speed internet. Each hut supports about 20,000 homes”., according to the Cary Citizen.
Here’s a satellite view of the area (courtesy of Google, no less)…
Additionally, here are the proposed changes to the site and the cost to Google, according to Ms. Stevens’ note…
The proposed license area is approximately 1,600 square feet, and includes 10 x 30 foot structure as well as a black vinyl coated chain link fence around the entire perimeter of the site. An existing retaining wall will be removed along Atlanta Avenue and the land will be graded in a gentle slope away from the street. New retaining walls will be built along the east and south side of the license area. Two trees will be replaced on the site and vegetative screening will be planted along the fence line. A photo of a typical Google Fiber Hut Site is included on Figure 1 on the following page. Google Fiber has agreed to pay an annual fee of $3 per square foot for each Network Hut Site, resulting in a payment of $4800 for Hut Site #121.
Photo courtesy of Decatur City Commission agenda.
I am looking forward to trying their bran muffins.
Spoiler Alert for the new Star Wars moving coming in two weeks, we are introduced to Jabba’s older brother, Fiber The Hutt
I got my shirt. When do I get my fiber?
You’re wearing it.
I can’t handle all of these fiber jokes!
OK so sorry, this is total BS. 1600 Sq ft plus for 20,000 homes? if you extrapolate that for the entire city it becomes untenable. Because of my work, I have had numerous experiences with these IT people that want the world but need a closet in reality. OK, so many of us want Google in here at any cost but please, let’s get real about the square footage requirements. Do a similar comparison with the other high speed providers and this is a joke… and will cost us beyond what Google charges. I know, many of us want Google fiber but let’s be thoughtful about it. Not all residents are really psyched to give up our precious land and infrastructure based on Google, “Googlie” eyes. They are the first in what will become a competitive industry.
Sorry – were you being ironic?
Decatur has ~20,000 people living in less than 10,000 homes. Google Fiber is likely to serve only a fraction of those homes… so this hut will serve an area that extends beyond city of Decatur.
and 1600 sq ft is just 32 feet x 50 feet…
The actual structure is 10×30. I bet they could get away with a parcel smaller than 1,600 square feet, if such a thing existed. It’s getting tucked into a currently unused corner. Nothing else is ever going to go there. There are probably dozens of such “leftover” spots to put huts in Decatur alone, and likely in pretty much any other developed area.
I think you’re reading it wrong. It’s not 1600 sq/ft per home. It’s one 1600 sq/ft nerd yurt for a full 20,000 homes.
So they’re putting the hut in the bottom of the pool?!?! I know servers need to stay cool and everything but c’mon! 😉