Some interesting little snippets from an article from the city’s Summer 1971 “Around Decatur” publication entitled “City Manager [Robert] Mauney Gives Views On Direction of Decatur’s Future”…

If [Decatur's] going to be pedestrian-oriented then that basis has all kinds of ramifications: First, naturally, automobiles have to stay out of downtown.  Given the fact that people still prefer autos (and usually one person to one car) you’re forced to accommodate them, by such means as a circumferential route around downtown.  As pressure grows, you move eventually to central parking areas under a city parking authority.

…”You’ve got to have a balance in order for the city to be viable.  Why?  Well, if you look at the city’s tax digest you see that of the approximate $75 million making up the digest, about $35 million is office/commercial and about $45 million is residential…and over 30% of the property in Decatur is tax exempt.

…The third challege is the continuing need felt by the city to orient itself more to behavior problems; people want us to control other people’s behavior.” (“For instance?” “Well I have groups coming in here asking me to bar people from using recreation facilities – Little League kids are misbehaving, or something like that.  Or hippies have moved in next door, and they want us to evict them.”)

I guess some things never change, while others alter dramatically.