Free-For-All Friday 8/12/16
Decatur Metro | August 12, 2016 | 7:16 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.
Las Brasas received a 65/U on its recent inspection. Yikes.
65? Are you sure that was the health score and not how much a chicken costs now?
I could see where Las Brasas could easily get dinged for some things in their current setup, but that’s not going to stop me from going there.
That’s what makes it so tasty.
Greater Good BBQ on 2nd and Hosea had its soft opening Wednesday. Great Q, but I suggest waiting a bit until they get service bugs worked out. The staff was completely overwhelmed last night and people were leaving without food.
We were there Wednesday evening and they were busy, but not underwater. Food was good, patio will be nice once it stops raining every evening. Lots of pent of demand to get in there and see the place, since it’s been just under 18 months since the project was announced. Glad they took down the fences on the lot across second to free up a little more parking during the initial surge. Should be progressively more permanent parking as additional corners are complete, they’ve got a huge number of people within walking distance, and bike racks should be appearing shortly.
Only real suggestion I could offer would be some signage inside for where to place take out orders, who to see for a table, etc. With people entering through two “front doors” on different sides of the building, a heavy takeout business, and a counter layout that makes it almost feel like a “quick serve” arrangement (where you order first then grab a table) . . . it’s a little hectic.
Any recommendations for a place where I can get a power washer repaired? Have used TLC for engine repair, but this is not an engine issue.
If it’s a problem with the pump and not the engine, it’s likely cheaper and easier to just replace the entire pump assembly. The axial pumps on most consumer grade pressure washers are not easily serviceable, but replacement is pretty straightforward. You can find replacement pumps for popular models on Amazon Prime for ~$100.
Would appreciate a recommendation for a complete driveway replacement concrete company. Also curious as to what’s involved with a C of D permit for doing my driveway over (cost & inspection process/timeline?). Thanks.
I used Salvador Concrete (770) 983-8394. Did me right, fast, high quality.
COD is a pain (bad GUI) about this permitting thing. Important note. They have to inspect before the pour and after the pour. Curb , sidewalk, depth at street and sidewalk, angle and transitions are what they are looking at. This is a good thing but the permitting takes much longer than it should. Cost was 100’s if I recall correctly. It’s called a right of way permit I think.
What happened to the Rodham in Hillary Rodham Clinton’s name?
It was declassified. Not part of her new brand.
Can anyone recommend a place in Decatur to watch EPL soccer matches on Saturday and Sunday mornings? I’ve cut the cord! Used to go to the brewhouse or fado but would rather stay local.
Brewhouse is the nearest place that’s open for every game. I think the Marlay shows some games but I don’t think they open early for them. If you decide to venture back to L5P, that’s where my fellow Hammers and I watch our West Ham matches. We are pretty easy to spot in the dart corner with all our Irons gear and bubble machine. Come say hey.
Mac McGee’s has a schedule of the games they show.
If you want to stay home, Sling TV has a $25 package with NBCSN and Fox Sports channels.
It didn’t seem that NBCSN was part of the sling package. I will try the free trial….38 times this season….
Hey all, Anybody know what’s going on with Your Dekalb Farmer’s Market expansion? It appears to have been on hold for months. The weeds in the huge level lot are as tall as Iowa corn in August!
I read an interview (in AJC?) with the owner, Robert Blazer, recently where he was asked the same question. He’s “self funding” it, he says, and the project is apparently on schedule.
He’s not financing the build – he’s paying cash from YDFM cash flow. Given that, I don’t think there is a development timeline – it is just getting built as he’s able to afford the development.
I recall someone else commenting that, with the degree of backfilling they’ve done on that giant retaining wall, that there’s some sort of required earth-settling period, maybe a year or more. Anyone know anything about that?
No specific knowledge Scott but from what I know about commercial construction, that would make complete sense. I expect a lot of settling will occur behind the great castle wall.
We need to come up with a name for that epic embankment.
I’ve been calling it the “Great wall of Dekalb” but there have to be some better names that people have coined.
I like “Fort Okra”
Some other ideas:
“Arrugula Acropolis”
“Fortress of Sapodilla”
“Your Dekalb Farmers Masada”
Hahaha, I love them all! I’d vote for Farmer’s Market Masada. Or the The Great Wall of Organic Retention.
I am OK with the delay. From what I recall of the plans for the new buildings, they seem so large that shopping there might require a mini death march just to get from one end to the other.
We already feel that way about the North Decatur Kroger.
Usually, you have to have some type of construction activity (or inspection) within a certain time frame for your permits to remain valid. You can’t go pull a building permit and then wait a year to start the project, for example. Curious how they are getting around that.
There are different permits. They probably pulled a land disturbance permit for the horizontal improvements but haven’t yet applied for a building permit for the vertical structures.
Has anyone with a 4th grader at FAVE in the last few years received a National Park pass as a part of the Every Kid in a Park program? I asked my 4th grader’s teacher and she was aware of the program but hadn’t ever received passes to distribute to her students. I’ve reached out to the central office to inquire, but wanted to see if anyone else has looked into it in the past. Thanks!
A quick google search gave me this:
https://everykidinapark.gov/how-it-works/
We have a pass — you have to take the internet printout to a national park and they will issue a laminated pass for your 4th grader. It’s a great program – we saved 20 bucks just a few weeks ago when we were in Maine and went hiking in Acadia. The kid has to be with you to use the pass but you can get the entire family in the park that way.
I’m looking for a new dry cleaner. I stayed loyal to my old place in L5P for years but they keep losing clothes. Which Decatur cleaner do you all recommend? Thanks in advance.
If you like inexpensive, basic but reliable service, and happen to drive on Clairmont by the VA frequently, there’s Kim’s Cleaners.
Courtesy Cleaners on Dekalb Ave in Candler Park. Free pick up and delivery.
C World Cleaners in the Kroger plaza at N Decatur and DeKalb Industrial has always done a good job with our dry cleaning.
Sorry, I have to give a “thumbs down” to this establishment. My experience from about three months ago…after being somewhat satisfied with their work for about six months; they ruined three of my dress shirts; then said they did not ruin them, that I brought them in that way (then why did you “clean” the shirts?). The manager would not admit fault and told me he would not do anything for me. Therefore, this cleaner no longer gets my business.
Marguerite Smith Cleaners in the CVS shopping center has been doing my clothes for years. Super friendly and excellent customer service if anything does go wrong (has only happened to me once in 6+ years!). Also, easy parking and email notifications are pluses.
Does anyone know who is in charge of trimming the trees and shrubs along the CSX tracks across from Agnes Scott? I noticed this week while heading west on College toward Renfroe that the greenery completely blocks the flashing school zone sign located at the intersection of College and McDonough. You can’t see the sign until you are almost completely underneath it. I was unsure if that is the city’s responsibility or a CSX issue. If anyone knows, please post here as I’d like to let the responsible party know so the trees and shrubs can be trimmed back. Thanks.
Interesting question. It seems like CSX would maintain that ROW since they are so protective of it, but the City does. Go figure. Anyway, you should contact Public Works to register your concern.
I also profess to know nothing about this but would be more than willing to get out there with my loppers, clippers and mega-chainsaw to address the issue. This sounds like a public safety menace!…ok maybe I am being overly dramatic but really…and…not kidding about clearing that brush.
Try reporting it on See-Click-Fix app and let the City and CSX sort it out. I imagine it’s the City’s deal.
I believe CSX is responsible for the maintenance of their own right of way but in practice that seems to equal a mowing and trimming crew dropping by twice a year. So Decatur ends up doing the job instead, ensuring the upkeep at least meets the standards of the community.
So…I echo Steve that you should start with the city. Even if they’re not *required* to do it, they seem to have taken it on anyway. Or can at least point you to who’s been doing that specific job.
Last week city employees were mowing and weedwacking the heck out of the grassy stretch from East Lake to Commerce. All the way to the tracks.
Yep. They do that stretch routinely, about every 2 weeks or so.
Dr. Dude found new digs:
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local/decatur-schools-chief-finds-a-home-outside-the-cit/nsFMH/
I’m sad that Dr. Dude won’t be living in the City of Decatur. His family seemed wonderful and they were attending local churches. I do think there’s an advantage to having a superintendent who truly understands the community of the schools and families that he/she leads. And I do think that the last superintendent could have had a stronger relationship with the community. But it is completely understandable that the Dudes found a better housing situation outside of the City.. I couldn’t afford to buy my own home if I had to do so today. At least Dr. Dude spent a year living in Decatur which probably gave him a lot of insight. I hope his children will still attend CSD schools. That will keep him in touch with ground level issues in a way that relying on your direct reports does not.
He’s two miles north of the city limits and has a Decatur address. As an employee I believe he can send his kids to Decatur schools and now won’t have to pay Decatur taxes. I think he wins.
Yup. And a side benefit to other CSD employees with children attending CSD schools even if they don’t live in the city. I don’t see that changing with the supt in the same boat.
Right, but his family will also have the option of sending his children to their neighborhood school. Not all CSD employees choose to send their children to CSD. It’s more of a win for us if the Superintendent’s family chooses CSD. If they do, he will be be more in touch with the ground level issues for students and parents in Decatur. It’s easy to think you know what to do sitting in a chair in Central Office. Better if you also interact as a parent with teachers, students, and other parents.
I’d be very surprised if his children did not atttend CSD schools. School has started; where are they enrolled now?
Don’t know. Only know what’s in AJC article. Home sales/dates/owners used to be listed in the paper but no more. Is there another source of that info? You can go to the DeKalb County Tax Commissioner website but it takes months for that info to be updated.
Property transfer data was listed a very long time ago when the AJC actually had a DeKalb bureau instead of one freelancer.
NBC reported briefly this morning that Google Fiber is rethinking its fiber strategy, apparently looking at connecting customers to the main cable wirelessly rather than by running fiber to each home. Wonder how that’ll impact things coming our way.
Page One Wall Street Journal headline today calls it a “stall”.