TSPLOST may no longer be a household acronym, but apparently the Clifton Corridor light rail line is by no means dead.  From the Atlanta Business Chronicle…

The Federal Transit Administration and MARTA are moving forward with a study of a possible new light rail transit line that would run through the Clifton Corridor, two years after metro voters defeated a tax that would have funded the line.

The proposed 8.8 mile line would extend from the Lindbergh MARTA station through the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) headquarters and Emory University and Emory Hospital campuses to the Avondale MARTA station.

…Atlanta Business Chroniclereported last January that the CDC is considering an expansion over 10 years at its campus near Emory University that could lead to a 30 percent increase in workers and the construction of a big new laboratory and parking deck. At a public hearing on March 20, area residents expressed concerns that such an influx of new commuters would be too much for the already congested corridor.

Map courtesy of 2013 Clifton Corridor Steering Committee Presentation

According to an email forwarded by Ann, Emory Point – a mixed-use development across from the CDC campus on Clifton Road with 82,000 square-feet of retail and 440 “luxury apartments” – will break ground this summer and is scheduled to open in Fall 2012.  (A potential phase two will add another 440 residential units to the property)

While this is news to me, it probably isn’t to anyone in the area, as the area was rezoned by the DeKalb Commission way back in 2007 and area residents were surveyed about the project.

According to the Clifton Community Partnership website, the rezoned 50 acres currently includes…

– 25 acres of forest, now protected under Emory’s land classification plan and the new rezoning site plan

– 10 acres of existing development (the Emory Conference Center Hotel, which had an expansion that was completed in May 2009, and the 1599 Clifton Road facility, formerly known as the American Cancer Society building);

– 15-acre construction site along Clifton Road that previously included a parking lot and several dozen graduate housing units. The Emory Inn also operates on the site, but in time will be demolished.

Back in November, the Atlanta Business Chronicle predicted “Emory Point could be one of the largest mixed-use projects to be launched once the market recovers.”

The  visual above – along with other in this brochure – really gives an idea of the sheer size of this new mixed-use site.   This should be a very interesting project to watch rise from the ground and fill up with residents and retail.

Check it.  Emory is posting videos on YouTube of filming of the Matt Damon/Jude Law/Kate Winslet movie “Contagion” out in front of the CDC today.  Of the six videos posted thus far, this one of the fake protest in action is probably the best.

“No More Lies!”  Preach on, fake protesters.  Preach on.

After the jump, some footage of Laurence Fishburne on the scene, also courtesy of Emory…

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From Decatur PD’s Juanchella Francis…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are leading an investigation on the spread of influenza-like illness in the City of Decatur. The state of Georgia experienced early cases of H1N1 and they want to evaluate the extent of disease in the community. The investigation will allow them to rapidly direct public health messages to the rest of the U.S. regarding influenza.

On Thursday, September 24th, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention started surveying a random sample of households in the City of Decatur and hope to finish the investigation within 1 to 2 weeks. Eight teams of 2 people each will conduct the surveys.

This type of investigation is generally considered an emergency public health response. Therefore, no door-to-door solicitation permit is required.

I wonder if viruses spread differently in more interactive communities like Decatur and say a Gwinnett subdivision. Less interaction could be beneficial for once.  But that’s only true if your kids are home-schooled!