Posted inColumns

Planned Chamblee Doraville CID to create sense of place, urgency for improvements

By Guest Columnist DAN REUTER, a longtime advisor on urban planning and community development in metro Atlanta and the founder/CEO of Reuter Strategy

Momentum is building for the creation of a new Community Improvement District in the cities of Chamblee and Doraville. Led by local commercial property owners and encouraged by the leadership of the cities of Chamblee and Doraville, a CID will help the community to leverage the existing assets to provide greater access and amenities.

Posted inLatest News

DeKalb County’s fiscal posture improving, but not out of the woods, Moody’s reports

Analysts with Moody’s Investors Service thought enough of DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond’s promise to balance the county’s budget to include the promise in their credit analysis of the county.

It’s only only a passing comment. But given the gravity of these credit analyses, its inclusion in the July 18 report is noteworthy:

Posted inThought Leader, Transit

MARTA RECEIVES FEDERAL GRANT FOR NEW BUSES

 $3.6 Million Will Upgrade and Expand Service in DeKalb County The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is receiving a $3.6 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Bus and Bus Facilities Infrastructure Investment Program.     MARTA will use the funding to upgrade and replace 40-foot diesel-fueled buses with 60-foot Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses used […]

Posted inLyle Harris

CEO-Elect Michael Thurmond offers “new vision” for DeKalb County

For local voters suffering from PESD – Post-Election Stress Disorder – DeKalb County CEO-elect Michael Thurmond provided just what the doctor ordered.

Flush from an election night victory, Thurmond delivered a thoughtful and inspiring speech last Thursday that hinted at his “new vision” for repairing the county long beset by racial divisiveness, bureaucratic mismanagement and political scandal.

Posted inUncategorized

Incorporation pushes unwanted marriages on DeKalb neighborhoods

In north-central DeKalb County, my home is among thousands in the crosshairs of cityhood movements and proposed annexations. Count me among the otherwise sensible DeKalb County residents who rightly worry that a new city we’ve never heard of is going to take us over, or even worse, ignore us.

No one wants to be an unincorporated island surrounded by cities. But lots of us are in a pickle. Our zip code (30033) is Decatur, but we’re not in the city proper, and it doesn’t want us anyway.

Posted inUncategorized

If you parent a teen, listen to this expert on Georgia law

To celebrate turning 18, J. Tom Morgan walked into a tavern, purchased and downed a pitcher of beer and a pile of oysters. It was all legal back in 1972.

Today, an 18-year-old who did that in Georgia would face arrest, and if convicted, likely sentenced to six months probation—or 18 months if a fake ID was involved. There would be a fine, community service and drug and alcohol evaluation. The clerk who sold him the beer would likely get arrested too.

Posted inDavid Pendered

Tucker-Northlake business leaders to add walk, bike paths as part of planned renewal of an early suburb

Business leaders near Tucker and Northlake Mall in north DeKalb County have expanded their effort to strengthen their historic commercial center and make it more friendly for walking and bicycling.

As of last week, more than 67 commercial properties in the Northlake business district formally joined the existing Tucker Community Improvement District. The goal is to uplift the region in ways that are beyond the scope of local government.

“All you have to do is look at Perimeter and Cumberland to see the success of CIDs,” said Ann Rosenthal, president of the newly minted Tucker-Northlake CID.

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