I think Blank is just mouthing off to get a better deal from the Georgia Dome. He’s “looking all over town” and “maybe they will build a better Georgia Dome” is pretty flimsy if you ask me.
And Sembler needs to finish the “train wreck” called Town Brookhaven before they take on a new “redevelopement”.
With respect to my job, I’ve traveled all over the US and Canada. And EVERY major stadium I’ve seen is in the middle of a “no mans land”. Meaning there is no significant developement near the stadium. Actually, most stadiums are built in industrial parts of cities.
To build a stadium the size of the one downtown would mean the land behind the GM site would be involved, which is in Chamblee. So Chamblee would have to be involved. How could Dekalb possibly annex land in the middle of two cities and thus take the tax money? At best, it doesn’t make sense.
I think what is happening is GM and developers are fed up with Doraville and Chamblee city governments. The GM site is a major asset for Doraville and Chamblee and they better hire someone who can help them keep it.
Obviouly, some down and dirty politics are happening that are way over the Chamblee and Doravilles governments head. I’m no expert, but I don’t see how Dekalb county can do it.
I find it hard to believe Dekalb County can “confiscate” the GM site and take the tax money??
Maybe, the truth is, they want to “confiscate” Doraville and dissolve it!! How can they “take” a parcel of land in the city limits? Really, what’s the point in even being a “city” anymore?? We have our own police department, then what?? Nothing!! Lets face it, Altanta swallowed this place up a long time ago.
A Falcons Stadium will be BAD NEWS for our neighborhoods!! But, then again, maybe we all will be offered A PRICE WE CAN’T REFUSE and they will tear everthing down with regard to Doraville inside the perimeter.
Again, I think Doraville would be prefect for a transportation center for Marta, high speed trains and more trains for the upper 285 loop. Why would everyone need to go downtown to take a train? It’s a horrible bottle neck and nobody wants to live there, so……..
And even if they do build a Falcons Stadium, saddly, most of us will be dead or have moved away. It won’t happen over night, I’d say 10 plus years if that soon.
I can see how the following statement, “Doraville needs to GET ON THE BALL and get our zoning and ordinance issues straightened out. Really, what does it take?? Well, firstly a group of people who know what zoning and ordinances are and how to work with them.”, may have been misunderstood.
This statement was not directed at the City Planner or any other person who has taken the time or made the effort to help the city in its planning efforts, given that we have needed a City Planner for decades. What we need is City Council memebers who are knowledgable about what it takes to run and make a city, and if they don’t know, they need to go out and learn how.
I think qualifications need to be established to run for Mayor, City Council and other elected seats. And if no one has the qualifications to run, the seat shall be vacant until someone with qualifications does run for the seat. It’s really not fair to the citizens of Doraville to maintain people or vote in people into these seats because of personal agendas and greivances, when the elected person is obviously clueless.
Does this sound harsh? Maybe. But, these are harsh times we are living in folks. It’s time to get real.
From what I understand, if the land is zoned, say for commerical use, and the buyer plans to build a building for commerce, the builder does not have to go before city council to change zoning, it’s already the law. So no matter how upset everyone is about the commercial building, there is nothing citizens can do about it. Hence, BrandSmart, which has been the most horrific disaster in Doraville history as far as I’m concerned. The only time the citizens have had a say was when the developer asked for a zoning change. Doraville needs to GET ON THE BALL and get our zoning and ordinance issues straightened out. Really, what does it take?? Well, firstly a group of people who know what zoning and ordinances are and how to work with them.
That said, I could not agree more with Susan. I’m surprised Sembler is still interested in GM, it sounds like they have a nightmare on their hands with Town Brookhaven. All the original “big box” tenants had backed out. But, now they claim they have “signed” CostCo, a movie theatre and a few others. And, of course, the notorious tax credits.
I’m against the Falcons Stadium and, frankly, in this economy someone would have to be nuts to take it on. And I’ve had second thoughts about Atlantic Station. I think retail is just doing “OK”, but the residential part has been a major BUST!! I had read units were being auctioned off for a fraction of their costs and there was no interest!! The Streets of Buckhead has come to a screeching half and it’s not even one third, if that, built!! It’s horrible!!
I know everyone wants something fabulous for the GM site, but I think it’s best we wait it out until the economy turns around and when everything else which is half built is finished and filled with residents and businesses. Even Glenwood near the Atlanta Zoo, is one of the most beautiful multi-use developements I’ve seen and something similar would be perfect for Doraville. Unfortunately, most of the commercial sites are empty. Which is really unfortunate. So if Glenwood, Town Brookhaven, Streets of Buckhead and Atlantic Station aren’t really panning out, how would you expect a redeveloped GM site would do? Unfortunately, not very well at this given time.
Sembler is low balling GM with $45M and may other developers are doing the same. The GM site could probably be bought at a bargin price for the shape GM is currently in.
A Neighborhood Watch Program is being initiated in the Northwoods / Gordon Heights neighborhoods. Everyone should have leaflets posted on your mailboxes with details and about a meeting at the Civic Center on Monday, August 10th at 6:30 for the kickoff.
This organization is backed by the Doraville Police Department and officiers will be present. Lets all work together to keep our neighborhoods safe and crime free!!
At two different times I’ve had a piece of expensive lawn furniture stolen from my carport. Both times the police officers thought it was hysterical that I called them to make a report. Both officers felt it was not warrented to file a report. The second time I insisted and the officer was very upset about it. I told the officer we need more police presence in our neighborhoods, she said start up a neighborhood watch because they can’t do anything about retrieving stolen articles. I’ve also heard we have been having breakins in Northwoods. So it seems to me there is a problem. Every morning when I go to work I see one to three police cars on the entrance ramp to 285 west looking for people going through the traffic control light. Maybe I have a different sense of humor, but I think thats truly funny!! The police department costs hundreds, even millions of dollars to run. The bottom line is, they are about making money not protection. Drug busts and traffic violations make money, cruising and protecting our neighborhoods don’t make money. Sorry, but protecting my neighborhood is more important to me than busting someone passing through Doraville on 85 for drugs.
Thank you very much for looking into this matter. I’ve noticed for quite awhile now some blocks of the new lights don’t even work!! I’m very dismayed there is yet another “conflict” with regard to who is to maintain the lighting or pay the electric bill for that matter.
I haven’t noticed the removal of any of the “old” lighting.
There was also thought about who was going to maintain the landscaping as well. I think many of the business owners have taken it over and if they didn’t nothing was happening. I’ve noticed with all the rain we have had the weeds all along our highways looks horrible.
It is true in Atlanta and across the nation gay men and women have gentrified neighborhoods that were less than desirable. Doraville does have a sizable gay population, but many have found it is nearly impossible to make changes to our neighborhoods with regard to City Hall. Northwoods was very divided about tearing down a vacant church and building new town homes on the lot and people are still very upset about it. There is a huge faction in Doraville who like it just the way it is, meaning improvements mean higher property taxes and they don’t want it. We have code inforcement yet I have a neighbor whos grass got to the 2 foot level and they have a double mattress leaned against the front of their house. One neighbor has a satelite dish in front of their front door and a vegetable garden in the front yard, another neighbor planted silk flowers in their yard. At the corner of Wheeler and Chestnut kudzu has over taken the trees and finally some neighbors went at it last week, which I greatly appreciate. These instances do not increase your property value or make your neighborhood a desirable place to move. Everyone loves the Doraville police, but wait till you have something stolen from your property, they are rude and balk at even writing up a report. Yet every morning driving to work there are one to two police cars sitting at the 285 west entrance ramp?? Even when the traffic light was off to regulate the entrance ramp?? Now there is a big out cry about wholesale businesses. We have had an ordinance against them for years, yet it hasn’t been inforced?? Why?? I will have to hand it to Mayor Jenkins and some of the other councilmen and women. They mean to do well, but they walked into a snake pit. The previous administrations were so corrupt it will take years to straighten it out and recover from it. And from what I’ve been reading the personal dramas happening at City Hall are a travesty and are a disgrace to our city and citizens.
I have a neighbor who has had about 7 cars in his driveway. And I don’t think he is actually a boarding house because I think they are all family members and he added a huge wing onto his home as well.
What I think is somewhat entertaining is they are constantly out in the driveway moving cars in and out to accommodate all the drivers. So all I see is sort of a car dance going on night and day. For me to have to go through that everyday would make me nuts!!
And I agree too. Doraville will never be a Buckhead or a Roswell. What was once a little white, working class suburban town is now very much part of metro Atlanta with a bustling and thriving international presence. And, ironically, the international presence is really what will end up saving Doraville.
And I’m really surprised there are no hispanics or asians on our City Council. And if you think about it, it’s probably because most of the land and property owners live elsewhere and don’t qualify to run. But, I’m sure it will happen one day because of all their interest in the area.
Actually, the Halpern family is one of the richest families in Atlanta. And, believe me, they live in Buckhead not Doraville. As a matter of fact, one of them lives on Habersham which is one of the most exclusive addresses in the city. I was fortunate enough to go to a fundraiser at the home and it’s a far cry from anything you will see in Doraville!!
Halpern also owns the land where the Tara Theatre / Publix is located on LaVista and Cheshire Bridge. I don’t see any wholesale businesses located in that strip. Why?? Because the neighborhood wouldn’t allow it.
For years developers and landowners had it made on Buford Highway. You can just drive around some of the strips and see for yourself. Their are buildings behind the strip malls, there is a motel behind a building at McClave and Buford. It’s all a hodgepodge mixed up mess. And you have to wonder, how and why did all of this happen in the past?? If there was zoning addressing wholesalers and someone let the wholesalers in anyway, what made them let the developers bypass the zoning?? Hmmmm…..
And the reason new contruction and renovation is happening on Buford Highway is because Korea lifted a ban on the amount of money one can take out of Korea. So these immigrants are bringing millions of dollars into this country and investing in real estate along Buford Highway, unfortunately, they are buying houses in our neighborhoods and renting them too. If you have money and a good lawyer, it would probably be very easy to just bypass City Hall and get what you need done because of the existing ordinances and zoning. This aspect is very frightening with regard to the GM site.
There used to be a huge PUBLIX in the shopping center on Buford Highway and North Druid Hills. It closed down!! How many Publix grocery stores does anyone know of which closed?? Not many. Besides we have at least two Publix, a Walmart, a KMart, a Target, Kroger and on and from 5-10 miles away. Doraville would never support any of these enterprises. KMart is still there because of the store immigrant support.
And for the people who turn up their noses at Buford Highway Farmers Market. I have some unsettling news for you!! I’ve seen brands of produce at Buford Highway that Publix and Whole Foods carries at two to three times the price. Do you really think Buford Highway buys everything from a different supplier than the mainstream markets?? I doubt it!!
Buford Highway has done a remarkable job in their renovations and much of their produce is shockingly cheap. Plus the Asian take out/deli is great!! I think they are getting ready for HMart and with both in Doraville I think they will be a destination point. If Buford Highway Farmers Market would add a ccafeteria in caliber with the one at Dekalb Farmers Market I think they would be a major destination point. Actually, they already are, you would be surprised who shops there and where they come from to do it. Especially on the weekends.
Anyway, I think Doraville is an entity in itself. We aren’t like any other community in Atlanta. I think the smart investers are figuring that out and taking advantage of it. I’ve lived in the neighborhood for over 10 years and Buford Highway has really changed for the better since then and I think it will continue to do so no matter what the US economy is.
Most of the houses in our neighborhoods were designed to have a larger bedroom for a married couple and a bedroom for each child. So given the size of a typical 3 bedroom, 1.5 bathroom house, I would imagine the maximum would be 6 people. And that is really over capacity. But, having the same situation with a couple and 4 adults living in the house means there could be as many as 6 cars in the drive way. These houses and the streets of our neighborhood were not designed for that many cars and who wants to live in a neighborhood where the front yards are a parking lot?? And let’s face it, it is very difficult to keep a house well maintained with a bunch of people living in it and from what I have seen most of the boarding houses are not very well keep up because they are literally a motel and not a home and, again, these houses were not designed for an industrial situation such as a motel.
Rentals and boarding houses are destroying our neighborhoods, they need to be gotten rid of. And who on earth would monitor GREEN situations at a boarding house to justify having one??
I would really be worried about predators as well. I think cats would bother the chickens and I wouldn’t want them in a pen, so it wouldn’t work for me.
Obviously, others are discovering the merits of Brook Park as well. Someone built a very nice, new contemporary home facing the park. Hopefully, we will see others.
We are really lucky to have the parks and I’ve noted people walking all about our neighborhood too. With our mature trees and shrubs Northwoods looks it’s best in spring.
I will have to give Halpern credit, he has renovated the exterior of PineTree Plaza and it looks a lot better. So has Buford Highway Farmers Market. If you really think about it, the Buford Highway corridor in Doraville is a thriving international business community, so there is a lot of money to be made by land owners. And I agree it is in Halperns best interest to be unhappy with the no wholesale ordinance and if you didn’t know, the Halperns are a very, very wealthy family. But whether it be wholesale or no wholesale, what’s the difference? These places are still strip malls?? Even the new buildings are strip malls they just have two floors. Plus where are the plantings?? All I’m seeing is more asphalt.
What City Hall needs to learn is leverage and how to use it to get these landowners to make upgrades to the property where there is a “win / win” situation.
And like I said before. The Buford Highway corridor in Doraville used to be designed for the automobile, not pedestrian foot traffic. Now Doraville has foot traffic and changes need to be made to deal with it, it’s a reality.
Dave,
I guess what needs to be determined is:
1) Do citizens want Doraville to stay “as is”. Which means having a 7 lane highway running through it with unsafe pedestrian foot traffic and lined with car centric shopping strips.
2) Or do citizens want decreased Buford Highway traffic, with safe pedestrian foot traffic and more pedestrian friendly buildings alone Buford.
Well, in reality, I think Doraville will always be #1. #2 is a pipe dream. Doraville hardly has a smalltown, homespun, country feel. It’s more like gasoline fumes, asphalt and concrete. Like I said before it’s called Buford HIGHWAY. So keeping it a HIGHWAY means less stoplights, which means less safe pedestrian crossings. Which means Doraville has a HIGHWAY running through it and it has pedestrian traffic as well. So it’s, “yes we have a highway, we have pedestrian foot traffic getting killed, we want to solve the problem, but we don’t want to be inconvienced by it”. The bottom line is people aren’t going to walk a mile to find sanctioned safe crossing areas, they are going to jaywalk. And jaywalking is very dangerous when crossing a 7 lane highway with cell phone talkers going over 45 miles an hour. So it’s pretty much a dead subject, no pun intended.
By narrowing the Buford Highway lanes in Doraville from 6 to 4 would significantly reduce traffic and make it easier and safer to cross and I could care less about how much traffic congestion there would be. Most of the area is a “short cut” from 85 / 285 anyway. Then, when the short cut is as congested as 85 / 285, the drivers will stop using it and it won’t make it congested anymore. Buford Highway is just that a highway with six lanes and a large median. I doubt people walking on the sidewalks really feel safe while cars are whizzing by 45+ miles an hour.
Having 4 lanes would enable larger sidewalks / green space and a larger buffer space between businesses and the highway. Doraville will never get a city feel with parking in front of the buildings, the buildings need to have parking behind them with the building facing the highway. Otherwise you will never get foot traffic. Look at Decatur along Ponce de Leon. Decatur would not allow CVS a building permit unless they put parking in back and the building fronted the sidewalk. Good for them. Unless measures are undertaken to slow traffic Doraville / Buford Highway will continue to be a highway with strip malls along it. It’s not user friendly and what ever happens to GM will really dictate what happens on Buford Highway, it could become more congested as ever!!
No offense to anyone, but people want to stop speeding and be aware of public safety yet not be inconvienced by it. Sometimes what’s best for everyone, is not the most convenient. Convenience is pretty much why the environment is in the state it is today.
Thanks about the Star Towers update, I figured that is what happened.
Quite a few business’s alone Buford have remodeled and new buildings are going up too. But…it’s still a shopping strip and the new buildings are just two story, new shopping strips. Still, it does look a lot better.
Again, with the given business climate, I’m apprehensive about the GM site.
And City Hall is clueless about the world outside. I think I can safely say every tax paying citizen has somehow been affected by the economy, be it layoffs, hiring / pay freezes, reduced 401 contributions and benefits. Many Fulton County and State employees have to take furlow days. Yet Doraville has a deficiet and the Police Department wants $200,000.00 more in next years budget. Now one has made a big stink about it yet, raise taxes?? That will be a different story.
I’m still apprehensive about the GM site though?? With the given economy, GM needing to ditch the property fast and City Hall, it could turn out to be a disaster.
Don’t even get me started on the police department and building….
Most of Buford Highway is 45 mph, but driving north towards the Park Avenue / Buford Highway Intersection the speed limit is 35 mph. It needs to be enforced, I’ve seen cars fly over the hill to the bottom were Park is located.
I’ve always felt Buford Highway needs to funnel down from six lanes to four lanes in this area to slow down traffic. Would it be inconvienent to drivers?? Who cares, if they are in a hurry take 85 or 285!! And Park Avenue and Chestnut Avenue need to connect with a light and make it pedestrian friendly. As it is, it’s a very dangerous area with regard to pedestrians and drivers alike. But, complaining aside, continuing the sidewalk on Park Avenue was a major improvement, but a lot more needs to be done. And what’s with some of the street likes not working?? They have been off for months?? Not only is it unsafe, it’s tacky.
And regarding jaywalkers, it gives me the creeps crossing at Park Avenue. Are the cars going to stop, do they see the red light, etc?? At least jaywalking you can see what is coming at you and run like hell… I’m not saying jaywalking is right, I’m saying the intersection is wrong.
I checked it out as well. Very nice place!! Their baked goods were very fresh and delicious. The cookies were very good and were a great value. I highly recommend the place.
I read that the Beltline was halted because the high speed train would use some of the tracks?? Through Ansley Park, Piedmont Park and Virginia Highlands?? It would never happen. The beltline is a perfect proposal for the given track situation.
GM would make a fabulous site for a new multiuse high speed train station. It could have a hotels, car rentals, etc to support the people coming into town. Ant there is a MARTA station there!!
People constantly try to revive downtown. But, the bottom line is Buckhead is a major shopping dining destination and Midtown is becoming such. Why try to make downtown something it never will be. It’s a ghost town at night. It’s pretty much the large scale, entertainment, sports, conference hub, expand on that.
With the Stimulus package being passed, I read the high speed train could really become a reality. Supposedly, it’s pretty much a sure thing from Washington to Boston with stops in between, especially NYC.
And if City Hall raises taxes, taxpayers are going to come out of the woodwork (sorry I couldn’t resist it!!) and raise holy you know what!!
And the land is poorly used and could be very profitable for the city and could have great potential for the citizens. And the lawns look great!!, so what happened with respect to our neighborhood parks??
And, thankfully, I was wrong. The HMart international grocer is slated to open in early summer 2009. Which is a good thing. I think it has also had a ripple affect with other business’s sprucing up their property. Namely Pinetree Plaza and Buford Highway Farmers Market. I’m very curious as well, to see how the new building beside Taco Veloz turns out and they are FINALLY tearing down the motel next door!! It look horrible. Hopefully, the old 7-11 across the street will get the wrecking ball and the motel behind it.
And Doraville would be a perfect location for a new railway station. Why does it need to go downtown?? If they use existing tracks which were designated for the new loop train system, that would kill that project and do you really think Virginia Highlands, Piedmont Park and other localities want a high speed train rolling through it?? No way, it would be rediculous.
Town Hall Meeting on Doraville GM Property
October 9th, 2009 at 7:44 amFrom the AJC:
http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-falcons/falcons-owner-blank-talks-157815.html
I think Blank is just mouthing off to get a better deal from the Georgia Dome. He’s “looking all over town” and “maybe they will build a better Georgia Dome” is pretty flimsy if you ask me.
And Sembler needs to finish the “train wreck” called Town Brookhaven before they take on a new “redevelopement”.
Town Hall Meeting on Doraville GM Property
October 8th, 2009 at 8:10 amThank you Jill Chambers
DeKalb Pondering a Purchase of GM Site
September 30th, 2009 at 11:20 amWith respect to my job, I’ve traveled all over the US and Canada. And EVERY major stadium I’ve seen is in the middle of a “no mans land”. Meaning there is no significant developement near the stadium. Actually, most stadiums are built in industrial parts of cities.
To build a stadium the size of the one downtown would mean the land behind the GM site would be involved, which is in Chamblee. So Chamblee would have to be involved. How could Dekalb possibly annex land in the middle of two cities and thus take the tax money? At best, it doesn’t make sense.
I think what is happening is GM and developers are fed up with Doraville and Chamblee city governments. The GM site is a major asset for Doraville and Chamblee and they better hire someone who can help them keep it.
Obviouly, some down and dirty politics are happening that are way over the Chamblee and Doravilles governments head. I’m no expert, but I don’t see how Dekalb county can do it.
DeKalb Pondering a Purchase of GM Site
September 25th, 2009 at 5:43 pmI find it hard to believe Dekalb County can “confiscate” the GM site and take the tax money??
Maybe, the truth is, they want to “confiscate” Doraville and dissolve it!! How can they “take” a parcel of land in the city limits? Really, what’s the point in even being a “city” anymore?? We have our own police department, then what?? Nothing!! Lets face it, Altanta swallowed this place up a long time ago.
A Falcons Stadium will be BAD NEWS for our neighborhoods!! But, then again, maybe we all will be offered A PRICE WE CAN’T REFUSE and they will tear everthing down with regard to Doraville inside the perimeter.
Again, I think Doraville would be prefect for a transportation center for Marta, high speed trains and more trains for the upper 285 loop. Why would everyone need to go downtown to take a train? It’s a horrible bottle neck and nobody wants to live there, so……..
And even if they do build a Falcons Stadium, saddly, most of us will be dead or have moved away. It won’t happen over night, I’d say 10 plus years if that soon.
Follow-Up: Falcons Stadium at GM Plant Site
September 15th, 2009 at 10:13 amOffense may have been taken by my post.
I can see how the following statement, “Doraville needs to GET ON THE BALL and get our zoning and ordinance issues straightened out. Really, what does it take?? Well, firstly a group of people who know what zoning and ordinances are and how to work with them.”, may have been misunderstood.
This statement was not directed at the City Planner or any other person who has taken the time or made the effort to help the city in its planning efforts, given that we have needed a City Planner for decades. What we need is City Council memebers who are knowledgable about what it takes to run and make a city, and if they don’t know, they need to go out and learn how.
I think qualifications need to be established to run for Mayor, City Council and other elected seats. And if no one has the qualifications to run, the seat shall be vacant until someone with qualifications does run for the seat. It’s really not fair to the citizens of Doraville to maintain people or vote in people into these seats because of personal agendas and greivances, when the elected person is obviously clueless.
Does this sound harsh? Maybe. But, these are harsh times we are living in folks. It’s time to get real.
Follow-Up: Falcons Stadium at GM Plant Site
September 14th, 2009 at 11:43 amFrom what I understand, if the land is zoned, say for commerical use, and the buyer plans to build a building for commerce, the builder does not have to go before city council to change zoning, it’s already the law. So no matter how upset everyone is about the commercial building, there is nothing citizens can do about it. Hence, BrandSmart, which has been the most horrific disaster in Doraville history as far as I’m concerned. The only time the citizens have had a say was when the developer asked for a zoning change. Doraville needs to GET ON THE BALL and get our zoning and ordinance issues straightened out. Really, what does it take?? Well, firstly a group of people who know what zoning and ordinances are and how to work with them.
That said, I could not agree more with Susan. I’m surprised Sembler is still interested in GM, it sounds like they have a nightmare on their hands with Town Brookhaven. All the original “big box” tenants had backed out. But, now they claim they have “signed” CostCo, a movie theatre and a few others. And, of course, the notorious tax credits.
I’m against the Falcons Stadium and, frankly, in this economy someone would have to be nuts to take it on. And I’ve had second thoughts about Atlantic Station. I think retail is just doing “OK”, but the residential part has been a major BUST!! I had read units were being auctioned off for a fraction of their costs and there was no interest!! The Streets of Buckhead has come to a screeching half and it’s not even one third, if that, built!! It’s horrible!!
I know everyone wants something fabulous for the GM site, but I think it’s best we wait it out until the economy turns around and when everything else which is half built is finished and filled with residents and businesses. Even Glenwood near the Atlanta Zoo, is one of the most beautiful multi-use developements I’ve seen and something similar would be perfect for Doraville. Unfortunately, most of the commercial sites are empty. Which is really unfortunate. So if Glenwood, Town Brookhaven, Streets of Buckhead and Atlantic Station aren’t really panning out, how would you expect a redeveloped GM site would do? Unfortunately, not very well at this given time.
Sembler is low balling GM with $45M and may other developers are doing the same. The GM site could probably be bought at a bargin price for the shape GM is currently in.
Government Interaction - 3rd in a Series
August 5th, 2009 at 12:07 pmA Neighborhood Watch Program is being initiated in the Northwoods / Gordon Heights neighborhoods. Everyone should have leaflets posted on your mailboxes with details and about a meeting at the Civic Center on Monday, August 10th at 6:30 for the kickoff.
This organization is backed by the Doraville Police Department and officiers will be present. Lets all work together to keep our neighborhoods safe and crime free!!
Government Interaction - 3rd in a Series
July 28th, 2009 at 7:37 amAt two different times I’ve had a piece of expensive lawn furniture stolen from my carport. Both times the police officers thought it was hysterical that I called them to make a report. Both officers felt it was not warrented to file a report. The second time I insisted and the officer was very upset about it. I told the officer we need more police presence in our neighborhoods, she said start up a neighborhood watch because they can’t do anything about retrieving stolen articles. I’ve also heard we have been having breakins in Northwoods. So it seems to me there is a problem. Every morning when I go to work I see one to three police cars on the entrance ramp to 285 west looking for people going through the traffic control light. Maybe I have a different sense of humor, but I think thats truly funny!! The police department costs hundreds, even millions of dollars to run. The bottom line is, they are about making money not protection. Drug busts and traffic violations make money, cruising and protecting our neighborhoods don’t make money. Sorry, but protecting my neighborhood is more important to me than busting someone passing through Doraville on 85 for drugs.
Buford Hwy Lighting
June 15th, 2009 at 8:13 amThank you very much for looking into this matter. I’ve noticed for quite awhile now some blocks of the new lights don’t even work!! I’m very dismayed there is yet another “conflict” with regard to who is to maintain the lighting or pay the electric bill for that matter.
I haven’t noticed the removal of any of the “old” lighting.
There was also thought about who was going to maintain the landscaping as well. I think many of the business owners have taken it over and if they didn’t nothing was happening. I’ve noticed with all the rain we have had the weeds all along our highways looks horrible.
Doraville Has $1.2 Million Budget Shortfall
May 1st, 2009 at 8:14 amIt is true in Atlanta and across the nation gay men and women have gentrified neighborhoods that were less than desirable. Doraville does have a sizable gay population, but many have found it is nearly impossible to make changes to our neighborhoods with regard to City Hall. Northwoods was very divided about tearing down a vacant church and building new town homes on the lot and people are still very upset about it. There is a huge faction in Doraville who like it just the way it is, meaning improvements mean higher property taxes and they don’t want it. We have code inforcement yet I have a neighbor whos grass got to the 2 foot level and they have a double mattress leaned against the front of their house. One neighbor has a satelite dish in front of their front door and a vegetable garden in the front yard, another neighbor planted silk flowers in their yard. At the corner of Wheeler and Chestnut kudzu has over taken the trees and finally some neighbors went at it last week, which I greatly appreciate. These instances do not increase your property value or make your neighborhood a desirable place to move. Everyone loves the Doraville police, but wait till you have something stolen from your property, they are rude and balk at even writing up a report. Yet every morning driving to work there are one to two police cars sitting at the 285 west entrance ramp?? Even when the traffic light was off to regulate the entrance ramp?? Now there is a big out cry about wholesale businesses. We have had an ordinance against them for years, yet it hasn’t been inforced?? Why?? I will have to hand it to Mayor Jenkins and some of the other councilmen and women. They mean to do well, but they walked into a snake pit. The previous administrations were so corrupt it will take years to straighten it out and recover from it. And from what I’ve been reading the personal dramas happening at City Hall are a travesty and are a disgrace to our city and citizens.
Agenda item: Occupancy rate ordinances
April 21st, 2009 at 11:34 amI have a neighbor who has had about 7 cars in his driveway. And I don’t think he is actually a boarding house because I think they are all family members and he added a huge wing onto his home as well.
What I think is somewhat entertaining is they are constantly out in the driveway moving cars in and out to accommodate all the drivers. So all I see is sort of a car dance going on night and day. For me to have to go through that everyday would make me nuts!!
And I agree too. Doraville will never be a Buckhead or a Roswell. What was once a little white, working class suburban town is now very much part of metro Atlanta with a bustling and thriving international presence. And, ironically, the international presence is really what will end up saving Doraville.
And I’m really surprised there are no hispanics or asians on our City Council. And if you think about it, it’s probably because most of the land and property owners live elsewhere and don’t qualify to run. But, I’m sure it will happen one day because of all their interest in the area.
New Doraville Business Associaton
April 20th, 2009 at 8:31 amActually, the Halpern family is one of the richest families in Atlanta. And, believe me, they live in Buckhead not Doraville. As a matter of fact, one of them lives on Habersham which is one of the most exclusive addresses in the city. I was fortunate enough to go to a fundraiser at the home and it’s a far cry from anything you will see in Doraville!!
Halpern also owns the land where the Tara Theatre / Publix is located on LaVista and Cheshire Bridge. I don’t see any wholesale businesses located in that strip. Why?? Because the neighborhood wouldn’t allow it.
For years developers and landowners had it made on Buford Highway. You can just drive around some of the strips and see for yourself. Their are buildings behind the strip malls, there is a motel behind a building at McClave and Buford. It’s all a hodgepodge mixed up mess. And you have to wonder, how and why did all of this happen in the past?? If there was zoning addressing wholesalers and someone let the wholesalers in anyway, what made them let the developers bypass the zoning?? Hmmmm…..
And the reason new contruction and renovation is happening on Buford Highway is because Korea lifted a ban on the amount of money one can take out of Korea. So these immigrants are bringing millions of dollars into this country and investing in real estate along Buford Highway, unfortunately, they are buying houses in our neighborhoods and renting them too. If you have money and a good lawyer, it would probably be very easy to just bypass City Hall and get what you need done because of the existing ordinances and zoning. This aspect is very frightening with regard to the GM site.
There used to be a huge PUBLIX in the shopping center on Buford Highway and North Druid Hills. It closed down!! How many Publix grocery stores does anyone know of which closed?? Not many. Besides we have at least two Publix, a Walmart, a KMart, a Target, Kroger and on and from 5-10 miles away. Doraville would never support any of these enterprises. KMart is still there because of the store immigrant support.
And for the people who turn up their noses at Buford Highway Farmers Market. I have some unsettling news for you!! I’ve seen brands of produce at Buford Highway that Publix and Whole Foods carries at two to three times the price. Do you really think Buford Highway buys everything from a different supplier than the mainstream markets?? I doubt it!!
Buford Highway has done a remarkable job in their renovations and much of their produce is shockingly cheap. Plus the Asian take out/deli is great!! I think they are getting ready for HMart and with both in Doraville I think they will be a destination point. If Buford Highway Farmers Market would add a ccafeteria in caliber with the one at Dekalb Farmers Market I think they would be a major destination point. Actually, they already are, you would be surprised who shops there and where they come from to do it. Especially on the weekends.
Anyway, I think Doraville is an entity in itself. We aren’t like any other community in Atlanta. I think the smart investers are figuring that out and taking advantage of it. I’ve lived in the neighborhood for over 10 years and Buford Highway has really changed for the better since then and I think it will continue to do so no matter what the US economy is.
New Doraville Business Associaton
April 16th, 2009 at 12:51 pmProbably catering to the wholesalers was an easy rental.
Hopefully, property owners will now have to fix their properties up to attract new tenants.
From what I understand the property on Buford is expensive and I’m sure the rents aren’t cheap either.
It’s time some of these owners gave back to the community, it’s way overdue.
Agenda item: Occupancy rate ordinances
April 15th, 2009 at 12:21 pmMost of the houses in our neighborhoods were designed to have a larger bedroom for a married couple and a bedroom for each child. So given the size of a typical 3 bedroom, 1.5 bathroom house, I would imagine the maximum would be 6 people. And that is really over capacity. But, having the same situation with a couple and 4 adults living in the house means there could be as many as 6 cars in the drive way. These houses and the streets of our neighborhood were not designed for that many cars and who wants to live in a neighborhood where the front yards are a parking lot?? And let’s face it, it is very difficult to keep a house well maintained with a bunch of people living in it and from what I have seen most of the boarding houses are not very well keep up because they are literally a motel and not a home and, again, these houses were not designed for an industrial situation such as a motel.
Rentals and boarding houses are destroying our neighborhoods, they need to be gotten rid of. And who on earth would monitor GREEN situations at a boarding house to justify having one??
Chicken Workshop
April 15th, 2009 at 12:06 pmI would really be worried about predators as well. I think cats would bother the chickens and I wouldn’t want them in a pen, so it wouldn’t work for me.
Spotlight on Doraville: Brook Park
April 15th, 2009 at 11:57 amObviously, others are discovering the merits of Brook Park as well. Someone built a very nice, new contemporary home facing the park. Hopefully, we will see others.
We are really lucky to have the parks and I’ve noted people walking all about our neighborhood too. With our mature trees and shrubs Northwoods looks it’s best in spring.
Doraville Has $1.2 Million Budget Shortfall
March 31st, 2009 at 12:18 pmI will have to give Halpern credit, he has renovated the exterior of PineTree Plaza and it looks a lot better. So has Buford Highway Farmers Market. If you really think about it, the Buford Highway corridor in Doraville is a thriving international business community, so there is a lot of money to be made by land owners. And I agree it is in Halperns best interest to be unhappy with the no wholesale ordinance and if you didn’t know, the Halperns are a very, very wealthy family. But whether it be wholesale or no wholesale, what’s the difference? These places are still strip malls?? Even the new buildings are strip malls they just have two floors. Plus where are the plantings?? All I’m seeing is more asphalt.
What City Hall needs to learn is leverage and how to use it to get these landowners to make upgrades to the property where there is a “win / win” situation.
And like I said before. The Buford Highway corridor in Doraville used to be designed for the automobile, not pedestrian foot traffic. Now Doraville has foot traffic and changes need to be made to deal with it, it’s a reality.
Two bits...
March 30th, 2009 at 10:20 amDave,
I guess what needs to be determined is:
1) Do citizens want Doraville to stay “as is”. Which means having a 7 lane highway running through it with unsafe pedestrian foot traffic and lined with car centric shopping strips.
2) Or do citizens want decreased Buford Highway traffic, with safe pedestrian foot traffic and more pedestrian friendly buildings alone Buford.
Well, in reality, I think Doraville will always be #1. #2 is a pipe dream. Doraville hardly has a smalltown, homespun, country feel. It’s more like gasoline fumes, asphalt and concrete. Like I said before it’s called Buford HIGHWAY. So keeping it a HIGHWAY means less stoplights, which means less safe pedestrian crossings. Which means Doraville has a HIGHWAY running through it and it has pedestrian traffic as well. So it’s, “yes we have a highway, we have pedestrian foot traffic getting killed, we want to solve the problem, but we don’t want to be inconvienced by it”. The bottom line is people aren’t going to walk a mile to find sanctioned safe crossing areas, they are going to jaywalk. And jaywalking is very dangerous when crossing a 7 lane highway with cell phone talkers going over 45 miles an hour. So it’s pretty much a dead subject, no pun intended.
Two bits...
March 18th, 2009 at 2:14 pmBy narrowing the Buford Highway lanes in Doraville from 6 to 4 would significantly reduce traffic and make it easier and safer to cross and I could care less about how much traffic congestion there would be. Most of the area is a “short cut” from 85 / 285 anyway. Then, when the short cut is as congested as 85 / 285, the drivers will stop using it and it won’t make it congested anymore. Buford Highway is just that a highway with six lanes and a large median. I doubt people walking on the sidewalks really feel safe while cars are whizzing by 45+ miles an hour.
Having 4 lanes would enable larger sidewalks / green space and a larger buffer space between businesses and the highway. Doraville will never get a city feel with parking in front of the buildings, the buildings need to have parking behind them with the building facing the highway. Otherwise you will never get foot traffic. Look at Decatur along Ponce de Leon. Decatur would not allow CVS a building permit unless they put parking in back and the building fronted the sidewalk. Good for them. Unless measures are undertaken to slow traffic Doraville / Buford Highway will continue to be a highway with strip malls along it. It’s not user friendly and what ever happens to GM will really dictate what happens on Buford Highway, it could become more congested as ever!!
No offense to anyone, but people want to stop speeding and be aware of public safety yet not be inconvienced by it. Sometimes what’s best for everyone, is not the most convenient. Convenience is pretty much why the environment is in the state it is today.
Doraville Has $1.2 Million Budget Shortfall
March 18th, 2009 at 10:02 amThanks about the Star Towers update, I figured that is what happened.
Quite a few business’s alone Buford have remodeled and new buildings are going up too. But…it’s still a shopping strip and the new buildings are just two story, new shopping strips. Still, it does look a lot better.
Again, with the given business climate, I’m apprehensive about the GM site.
And City Hall is clueless about the world outside. I think I can safely say every tax paying citizen has somehow been affected by the economy, be it layoffs, hiring / pay freezes, reduced 401 contributions and benefits. Many Fulton County and State employees have to take furlow days. Yet Doraville has a deficiet and the Police Department wants $200,000.00 more in next years budget. Now one has made a big stink about it yet, raise taxes?? That will be a different story.
Long term relocation of Doraville government buildings
March 18th, 2009 at 9:46 amSounds good to me Dave!!
I’m still apprehensive about the GM site though?? With the given economy, GM needing to ditch the property fast and City Hall, it could turn out to be a disaster.
Don’t even get me started on the police department and building….
Two bits...
March 11th, 2009 at 8:10 amMost of Buford Highway is 45 mph, but driving north towards the Park Avenue / Buford Highway Intersection the speed limit is 35 mph. It needs to be enforced, I’ve seen cars fly over the hill to the bottom were Park is located.
I’ve always felt Buford Highway needs to funnel down from six lanes to four lanes in this area to slow down traffic. Would it be inconvienent to drivers?? Who cares, if they are in a hurry take 85 or 285!! And Park Avenue and Chestnut Avenue need to connect with a light and make it pedestrian friendly. As it is, it’s a very dangerous area with regard to pedestrians and drivers alike. But, complaining aside, continuing the sidewalk on Park Avenue was a major improvement, but a lot more needs to be done. And what’s with some of the street likes not working?? They have been off for months?? Not only is it unsafe, it’s tacky.
And regarding jaywalkers, it gives me the creeps crossing at Park Avenue. Are the cars going to stop, do they see the red light, etc?? At least jaywalking you can see what is coming at you and run like hell… I’m not saying jaywalking is right, I’m saying the intersection is wrong.
Spotlight on Doraville: White Windmill
March 10th, 2009 at 7:50 amI checked it out as well. Very nice place!! Their baked goods were very fresh and delicious. The cookies were very good and were a great value. I highly recommend the place.
Doraville Has $1.2 Million Budget Shortfall
February 24th, 2009 at 12:56 pmI read that the Beltline was halted because the high speed train would use some of the tracks?? Through Ansley Park, Piedmont Park and Virginia Highlands?? It would never happen. The beltline is a perfect proposal for the given track situation.
GM would make a fabulous site for a new multiuse high speed train station. It could have a hotels, car rentals, etc to support the people coming into town. Ant there is a MARTA station there!!
People constantly try to revive downtown. But, the bottom line is Buckhead is a major shopping dining destination and Midtown is becoming such. Why try to make downtown something it never will be. It’s a ghost town at night. It’s pretty much the large scale, entertainment, sports, conference hub, expand on that.
With the Stimulus package being passed, I read the high speed train could really become a reality. Supposedly, it’s pretty much a sure thing from Washington to Boston with stops in between, especially NYC.
Doraville Has $1.2 Million Budget Shortfall
February 23rd, 2009 at 9:11 amI could not agree more Hamilton.
And if City Hall raises taxes, taxpayers are going to come out of the woodwork (sorry I couldn’t resist it!!) and raise holy you know what!!
And the land is poorly used and could be very profitable for the city and could have great potential for the citizens. And the lawns look great!!, so what happened with respect to our neighborhood parks??
And, thankfully, I was wrong. The HMart international grocer is slated to open in early summer 2009. Which is a good thing. I think it has also had a ripple affect with other business’s sprucing up their property. Namely Pinetree Plaza and Buford Highway Farmers Market. I’m very curious as well, to see how the new building beside Taco Veloz turns out and they are FINALLY tearing down the motel next door!! It look horrible. Hopefully, the old 7-11 across the street will get the wrecking ball and the motel behind it.
And Doraville would be a perfect location for a new railway station. Why does it need to go downtown?? If they use existing tracks which were designated for the new loop train system, that would kill that project and do you really think Virginia Highlands, Piedmont Park and other localities want a high speed train rolling through it?? No way, it would be rediculous.
But, I digress…