Wow.  Maybe West College Ave really IS the new Ponce.  Though Ponce doesn’t even have a market.

Keith F reports from the Oakhurst Neighborhood Assosication meeting last night that the owners of Candler Park Market – in Candler Park of course – are looking for a zoning change to a residential lot residing next to the under-renovation strip that will soon house a bar, a dog bakery/store and reportly a new yoga studio.  Here are the pieces of info we have right now.  First Keith F…

Interesting news coming out of the Oakhurst Neighborhood Association meeting tonight…at least interesting to me. The developer is working on a zoning change so they can build a new Candler Park Market next to the renovated building. The CPM guys were there as well. Personally, I hope they get the zoning change.

After I whined, he provided this more detailed follow up report…

…They said they shared their plan with the neighbors next to the lot who probably have the biggest interest in whether it changes from residential zoning, and could have the biggest objections. From my POV a new branch of Candler Park Market along with the rehab of the building they’re working on now is a big upgrade and buffer to the residences from College. Also, the guys from CPM said they would be very open to hearing from the community on ideas they might have for what they would like to see in the market. The example they gave was their good selection of German fare in the current location.

Then boogaloo jumped in with some more good info…

The lot they are talking about building a Candler Market is the empty lot fronting College, they are working with the homeowner to make nice and will keep a tree he is very fond of. The building will be set back off of College towards the middle or back of the lot. Rezoning is the next step. In addition to the bar that will take the 2 right spaces of the existing building, the aforementioned dog/pet bakery is signed on and within 2 days a lease will be signed by a yoga studio for the remaining commercial space.

I can’t find any info online about this initiative yet, but I’m following up with other all-knowing parties to see what sorta details we can uncover.

Scott points to this Facebook page that announces the arrival of a new bar “to be named later” at the under-construction strip on West College Ave at Mead Rd.  The description on Facebook describes the spot as …

A neighborhood bar, nestled in beautiful Oakhurst in Decatur, Georgia. All we need is a name. And a license. But we need a name to get the license.

This unnamed bar joins “Corrina’s Corner”, a pet supplies store, as the second business to announce opening in this building.

Is West College is the new Ponce?!

Photo courtesy of “A bar to be named later’s” Facebook page

After years of decay, attempted renewal, thwarted renewal, partial demolition, abandonment, bankruptcy, and forced sale, the curious commercial corner at the intersection of West College Avenue and Mead Road is finally showing some signs of life.

As of yesterday afternoon, work crews had taken down the tired blue awnings and stripped away the stucco veneer, revealing the simpler, more timeless and, to me, more interesting building that, unknown to its Oakhurst neighbors, has apparently been hiding underneath all these years.

Mrs. Scott heard rumor of a dog food store and a bike shop as pending tenants but I have absolutely no actual facts at my disposal to back that up. The adjacent lot on Mead, last occupied by an abandoned house until the city ordered it demolished, is apparently still for sale.

Anyone got the inside scoop?