As it turns out, the Marietta naval officer who led the rescue by helicopter of a recreational sailor in the Pacific Ocean was on a mission that’s surprisingly common in waters west of Guam. Stranded folks are plucked out of harms way fairly often by U.S. teams from a base in Guam.
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Posted inLatest News
Politics of federal hurricane relief on display in N.C. as storm approaches Georgia
Hurricane damage repair costs have prompted North Carolina highway officials to announce layoffs of more than 500 road maintenance workers, and to predict delays in repairing storm-damaged roads in the future. Politics may have a role in this transportation scuffle, along with other skirmishes in a two-party state on a level that Georgia hasn’t yet experienced.
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Atlanta sells airport bonds, but Council has some questions on how it was done
Atlanta City Council OK’d the sale of about $700 million in bonds this week on behalf of the airport, and the market considers the airport just about as safe as U.S. Treasury bonds. But members of Atlanta City Council had some questions about when the bond information was put together and who did it.
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Tenacity pays off as partners build warehouse to compete in tough retail sector
They never gave up. And after 30 years or so of efforts, the two partners and their families celebrated on Thursday the construction start of a warehouse in Tucker that is to be the foundation of the next generation of their furniture store – reflagged from Underpriced Furniture to Georgia Furniture Mart.
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Plant Vogtle: Fairly strong credit rating awarded $275 million in construction bonds
A partner in the Plant Vogtle nuclear power plant project has received a fairly positive rating from Moody’s Investors Service on debt it plans to sell in September to continue its share of construction funding. That said, analysts advised potential investors of pending challenges and reminded of the upcoming construction status report due by Aug. 30.
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Divided Fulton board approves hotel tax breaks for Buckhead, O4W
Hotels in Buckhead and Old Fourth Ward are on track for property tax discounts worth millions, but they divided the members of Fulton County’s economic development board.
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Blank Foundation gives BeltLine largest gift ever for Bellwood Quarry park
The Atlanta BeltLine and the proposed Westside Park at the Bellwood Quarry received major boosts Tuesday morning with the announcement that the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation has awarded a $17.5 million grant for the project.
The Blank grant will accelerate the development of parks and trails along the 22-mile circular corridor – especially on the Westside.
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Tyler Perry: ‘Absolutely no interest’ in buying more Fort Mac land
Atlanta film mogul Tyler Perry is not interested in owning any more land at the former Fort McPherson than the 330 acres he currently has.
Perry offered those comments in a telephone interview Monday evening after the board of Fort Mac Local Redevelopment Authority voted to approve the sale of the former U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) building to Easterly Government Properties (NYSE: DEA) for $17 million.
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Black homebuyers down 50 percent in Atlanta; summit aims to reverse trend
Almost lost in the discussion of affordable housing is the precipitous decline of black homebuyers and black homeownership. At a summit Wednesday at the Carter Center, housing specialists are to examine the roots of the problem and potential policy solutions.
Posted inColumns
Leadership Atlanta 2020 – the 50th anniversary class
I have joined a cult – in the best sense of the word.
This past weekend, I attended the opening retreat of Leadership Atlanta’s 2020 class, and I will add the mandatory – best class ever.
Our weekend experience has shifted my whole attitude about my decision to apply and participate in this nine-month-long adventure – from trepidation to excitement.
Posted inMaggie Lee
Two months after announcing it, Fort Mac board votes to approve building sale for FDA
An announcement from Fort Mac in June was clear: the agency was making a $17 million building sale. Federal scientists and staff would move into a disused command building.
That sale has just now gotten the 10-1 approval, with one abstention, of the board of the McPherson Implementing Local Redevelopment Authority.
But the board still has yet to take any action on the question of a developer who has in sight the bulk of the roughly 144 acres of the former fort.
Posted inColumns
Master planned Pinewood Forest likely to outlast any changes at Pinewood Studio
Pinewood Forest has always been a concept town – a place where high tech helps create a nostalgic sense of simpler times, where the noise of air conditioners is largely replaced by silent geothermal cooling systems. Its future growth seems as secure as any residential development, a regional planner observed – even amid the changes surrounding Pinewood Atlanta Studios.
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‘Ready or Not’ – entertaining little movie, but no cult classic
The traditional vow, “Till death do us part” gains a new urgency for Grace (Samara Weaving), a bride who discovers how perilous a wedding night can be in “Ready or Not.”
A disposable, yet entertaining little movie that never quite manages the blend of slasher and satire it aspires to, “Ready or Not” does feature an admirable performance by Weaving (niece of Hugo) and enough twists to keep you interested (if not always amused or terrified).
Posted inColumns
Government-imposed design requirements cost Georgia home buyers
By Guest Columnist AUSTIN HACKNEY, government affairs director, Home Builders Association of Georgia
For generations, home ownership has provided individuals and families with a path towards economic prosperity, and a strong residential construction industry is known as an indicator of a healthy economy. However, recent restrictions and mandates enacted by some local jurisdictions are infringing on private property rights and adversely affecting home buyers, escalating the cost of new home purchases beyond the reach of some buyers, especially those interested in entry-level and workforce housing.
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Federal judge places resolution of Georgia’s water lawsuit in Trump administration
The federal judge in Brunswick who ruled in favor of Georgia’s lawsuit seeking to overturn an Obama-era water rule has thrown it to the Trump administration to decide which waterways in 11 states are overseen by the federal government and which are controlled by the states.
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Gov. Kemp’s spending cutbacks follow historic pattern: Moody’s Investors Service
Gov. Brian Kemp has ordered a 4 percent reduction in state spending starting Oct. 1 and a 6 percent cut starting next July 1. The move is in keeping with the long line of Georgia governors who have cut spending as revenues decline and maintained a high credit rating, according to Moody’s Investors Service.
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Could ‘100 Great Ideas’ help Atlanta shed its affordable housing crisis?
Unfortunately, there is no silver bullet to vanquish Atlanta’s daunting affordable housing crisis. Housing affordability — in Atlanta and many other major cities — is a complicated issue, and there are countless methods that municipal governments have tried to curb the problem.
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Fulton Industrial-area facility that uses ethylene oxide has a meeting coming up with Georgia officials.
The state says a Fulton Industrial-area company has shown interest in expanding its business of sterilizing medical supplies. But the company uses ethylene oxide, the same toxic gas that’s got people in Smyrna and other places demanding the shutdown of similar facilities.
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Great Georgia Pollinator Census begins Friday as feds stop counting honey bee colonies
The federal government has suspended its count of honey bee colonies, but the University of Georgia continues to collect information on honey bees – the state insect – and other pollinators. Citizen scientists can join Friday and Saturday in counting these pollinators.
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Gov. Kemp asks Cassius Butts to come back as Fort Mac’s board chair
At the urging of Gov. Brian Kemp, Cassius Butts has agreed to temporarily rescind his resignation as chair of the Fort Mac Local Redevelopment Authority and remain in that volunteer position at least through the next board meeting on Aug. 26.
