Free-For-All Friday 3/11/16

Feel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local topics not yet discussed here over the past week.

52 thoughts on “Free-For-All Friday 3/11/16”


    1. Well, look who learned to tell time. You’re a big boy now!.

      Sorry, Steve, couldn’t help myself. I’ve also noticed that people are slower to jump on FFAF. It seems to have started when DM took that week-long break (which was very self-serving of him and forgetful of those of us who need an outlet to complain). 🙂

  4. So, we have a small home improvement project that is going to require a building permit. I have a flexible schedule and would like to save some effort and money and pursue the permit myself. Has anyone done this rather than having your contractor do it? Can you share what I should expect in terms of requirements and time frame for permitting? Other advice?

    FWIW, this is an exterior replacement of a first-story deck, not an addition or remodel requiring services of a general contractor.

    1. Hope you are within the COD; I tried to do something like this living in unincorporated DeKalb and gave up due to red tape and cost.

      1. We are inside CoD. And, everything that I have heard indicates that the requirements inside CoD are much stricter and the permit harder to obtain that in unincorporated DeKalb. I know it’s not going to be easy, just trying to get some perspective on what I am in for.

        1. I went through the process back in 2008 for a screened in porch.

          I found it to be a fun and informative process. It takes time – I had to go back multiple times – but the folks at the office helped me get everything together, update plans, etc.

          As long as you are patient and go in knowing you might have to come back a few times then you will be fine. If you are easily frustrated by this kind of back and forth, or if you are in a hurry, then you might not be so happy.

        2. Yes, the rules are stricter, but at least the people administering the process understand their own rules and will attempt to be helpful.

        3. I would go in and ask questions. At the very least, it’s entertaining to be among all the development-happy contractors in there. And it’s interesting, in a wry way, to look at the addresses on the sign-in sheet to see who’s flipping what properry.

    2. We found that they were nicer/more helpful to us (COD homeowners) versus our contractors, so we did the permitting ourselves. (It did take a few tries and lots of questions.) Maybe they were taking pity on our lack of knowledge versus the contractors who should know what they are doing.

    3. have done it myself 2 times now. Very easy. Also helps that I am an architect but that only means I did my own drawings. If you have drawings done, apply for the permit, pay your fee, submit drawings, and expect one or two rounds of review comments. if you need help.. email me [email protected]

    4. They have subcontracted the permit process. I hear its awful now. A year ago, they were painful for a replacement driveway we did our own permit. 5 or 6 trips and lots of extra money to replace what was already there.

      1. I knew the city contracts with a private company for inspections during construction, but it’s also contracted for an outside group to review plans for issuing permits? Do you have any details on that?

        1. This was my understanding as well. City staff doing submissions, outsourced staff doing site-review. Anyone know for certain?

  6. Hey, who wants to buy a Decatur radio station? WPBC, AM 1310, is for sale: http://www.bizbuysell.com/Business-Asset/REDUCE-PRICE-Broadcasting-Radio-WPBC-1310-AM/1235350/

    Was spinning the dial this morning and happened to hear their for-sale announcement.

    1. Was walking the dog last night listening to Rachel Maddow/MSNBC via my phone via SiriusXM app. AM radio seems very quaint.

      Maybe we can convince Decatur Metro to buy it so that I can hear the talk radio version of FFAF.

      2. I am very fond of WMLB AM 1690, although I don’t love the changes they’re making right now and hate the paid shows they started running on the weekends. Streaming/subscription services have a canned quality to me. I like real disc jockeys, weird formats and serendipity.

      3. People calling in to yell “Trader Joe’s!!!!” would be the Decatur equivalent of “Baba Booey!!!”

    2. I’ve looked into what it would take to get a 100W low-power FM station in Decatur. Unfortunately, due to a combination of available frequencies and tower locations, it is not possible. Hard to get in dense urban areas.

      Too bad — that’s enough power to cover all of Decatur, and be run entirely by volunteers.

      The Fannin County board of education owns one, and (from listening when I’m up there) it seems to be operated by high school students.

    1. I’ve purchased twice from Intown Ace Hardware. Tony Powers has a good inventory but many do not know he can order from several catalogs for quality furniture. And they deliver.

    2. Summer Classics, 855 Holcomb Bridge (just west of 400) specializes in this kind of furniture. A bit pricey, but high quality, and they have periodic sales. Our porch furniture from there has been outside for six years and is showing almost no wear.

  10. $ 20 to 40 million dollar’s worth of prescription drugs stolen from Emory University Hospital Midtown’s pharmacy and sold on the street over a five year period. Fail.

  12. I am in the market for a sectional sofa and it’s been a long time since I’ve bought furniture. Any suggestions for a place to buy a sofa that is well-made but not outrageously expensive?

    1. I love Americana Furnitiure on L’ville Highway. Thank Beth Thompson for that recomendation! You can order high-quality furniture like Rowe and I don’t feel that their markup is high.
      I would avoid JcPenney,which is where we picked up a sectional because it’s the only place we could find to fit our room size. It was so cheap we had to have it replaced.

    2. I went to bass furniture for my sectional. It was a little expensive so I am missing your “affordable” point. However, with a sectional (I am 6’4 so I like my couches large!) you get what you pay for. I had one from american signature furniture for $800 and it really only lasted two years. My sectional was set up to fit our space at the house so it was customized. I’d say look to be in the $2500 range and you can get a quality one.

  14. I’m thinking about joining a CSA (community supported agriculture) this summer. Anyone care to share their experience? Thanks!

    1. http://risenshineorganicfarm.com/
      3 years and love them. You can also order extras (strawberries, tomatoes, corn) and buy meat/sausage/cheese (seasonally) from partner farms through their website. That gets delivered with the CSA box too. They send a weekly email with what’s in the box, do a swap box, and can hold delivery if you are out of town. They have a main season (starts in april) and a winter season (currently). They do eggs year-round.

    2. I have subscribed to Riverview Farms’ veggie CSA for over 10 years and recommend them. They have a 6 month CSA –it begins in mid May and their pick up site is the Wylde Center’s Oakhurst Community Garden. Riverview Farms is a closed loop farm and their website is grassfedcow.com. They also have a meat CSA with a couple drop-off sites near Decatur (Pine Street Market is one–I think also Community Q BBQ).

      If you are new to CSAs it does take a while to get used to planning your meals around what’s in the box. I have now become so used to it that I actually find it difficult to plan meals during the non-CSA months.

    3. I’ve been with Moore Farm and Friends for a few years: http://moorefarmsandfriends.com/
      You pay a small fee to be a member, then place an order for a box every week you want one, year-round. For my household, it’s handy to be able to decide whether or not I want a box and just how much stuff I think I’ll be able to use on a week-by-week basis.

    4. I did a Summer and Fall share with Global Growers last year and was really impressed with the variety of produce and the partner products that I received each week. It supports a great cause too: http://www.globalgrowers.org/

  18. Looking for a mason to build a short wall – less than 2 feet tall, about 100 feet long.

  20. Have I been under a rock and therefore the only one perplexed by the train parked on the tracks for days? What’s up?

  22. DeKalb ave thoughts/questions:

    When lights are out and flash yellow…means proceed with caution, but do not stop correct? Flashing red is to be treated as a stop sign. I seem to run into people stopping at the flashing yellow on DeKalb ave at the east lake marta a lot. Why stop at flashing yellow?

    Recently ive noticed the “x” in the middle lane at all times. do you use it regardless to get in and out of town?

    Regardless on the last observation, there is word DeKalb ave will be 1 lane with turn lanes…kinda feeling this will be a nightmare even with dedicated turn lanes, does anyone know if this has been finalized?

    1. You are correct, but you should be careful because people with a flashing red do not know what signal other drivers are receiving.

      I was almost hit on Scott a few months back when I proceeded cautiously though a flashing yellow. The other direction had a flashing red, but had assumed that everyone had a flashing red. They thought I was going to stop and pulled right out into the intersection. Fortunately, I had slowed down enough to stop/swerve and avoid this person who was now in the middle of the intersection not understanding why I hadn’t yielded them the right of way.

    2. The a.m. westbound middle lane light has been malfunctioning for the past week or two- can’t wait for it to be fixed to remove the uncertainty.

    3. The changes to Deklab are “finalized” in that funding was secured by the Atlanta infrastructure bond, but I don’t think a date has been established to break ground on the project.

  24. Where can I go to recycle a bunch of cardboard boxes? I live in a condo community and they will not fit in our bins. Thanks! 🙂

    1. YDFM has the huge recycling area, but most county fire stations and libraries have mixed paper recycling bins. I’ve used one at the Avondale Estates fire station a couple of times. Definitely call ahead if you want to be sure a bin is in place. I don’t think the Decatur library has one.

  26. Recommendations for someone who can repair a tear in fabric upholstery? Found a 2 inch rip in arm of our couch and would like to have it repaired by a professional – because if I attempt it I will likely make it worse.

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