Fresh Loaf

The police chief spoke out today to reassure a frightened public after a high-profile crime.

Not Atlanta Police Chief Richard Pennington.

Don’t be ridiculous.

He would never do something as leadership-ish as that.

I’m talking about Decatur police Chief J.M. Booker.

A carjacking in Decatur’s Oakhurst neighborhood shortly before noon today has city residents on edge.

Chief Booker signed-in at Decatur Metro this afternoon to tell readers he recognizes how unsettling today’s incident was.

Atlantans take note: Decatur’s police chief managed to get through his entire letter without once mocking his fellow Decaturites. He didn’t tell Decaturites their fears are based on the mere perception of crime, nor did he brag about how awesome Decatur is.

He didn’t even mention baseball!

He said today’s carjacking troubled him a great deal and that he and his department are busting their collective backside to catch the people responsible.

An actual, sincere expression of concern about crime, without a hint of smug defiance or phony indignation. How about that?

You should try it sometime, Shirley and Richard.

And not just when celebrities get killed either.

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Paste magazine, the Decatur-based music mag that’s reaching out for help during a crushing advertising downturn, says it’s reached the halfway point in its campaign.

From the magazine:

When we launched the campaign, we had no idea what to expect. We knew some readers had offered to help, but we braced for the worst. The response has been phenomenal. Readers, press and even advertisers showed remarkable support. We’ve been amazed, humbled and inspired.

So far we have raised $148,000! That was the minimum that we needed to keep us going into the summer; we never expected to hit this goal so quickly. Thank you! We have the most amazing readers in the world, and we now know—in a very real way—that we hold this thing called Paste in trust for you and will work diligently to honor that.

We still have a ways to go. Most of our debt will be paid out of revenues when the economy starts to rebound and advertisers return, but we need $300,000 to take care of bills that spiraled up during the ad slump. We’re halfway to that goal and more confident than ever that Paste will make it.

If you’re one of the thousands that have donated, you have our deepest gratitude. This crazy campaign is working. If you haven’t donated solely because you thought the effort was futile, it is not. And just check out those amazing songs that are yours for whatever you want to donate.

More musicians — including Robert Pollard of Guided By Voices, Neko Case, Cee Lo Green — have been added to the Paste Station Download Vault, a 120-song repository available to contributors. There are also contest prizes, such as tickets to the Austin City Limits Festival and “an entire Of Montreal Skeletal Lamping Collection.” For more information about the magazine or to contribute to the effort, visit Paste magazine.

The full release from Paste follows after the jump.

(more…)

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Decatur Metro has the news!

On Thursday April 16th, New Urbanist extraordinare, Andres Duany, will open his three day SmartCode workshop in Decatur with a free talk about Smart Growth principles from 5:30p-8p at Holy Trinity Parish (515 E. Ponce de Leon Ave).

A book signing will follow the event.

Duany never disappoints, so come see what’s sure to be an entertaining romp through the principles and benefits of smart growth.

Entertaining, indeed. Duany recently envisioned five “senior living” sites in metro Atlanta as part of the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Lifelong Communities Initiative. In typical Duany fashion, the acclaimed New Urbanist ended up re-imagining not just the sites, but the surrounding areas, as well. (He even threw a gentle jab at the walkable wonderland east of Atlanta.)

If you can attend this event, it’s worth it. All the details are at Decatur Metro’s site.

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Last August, Wordsmiths customers helped it avoid shutting down. As of today, however, the popular downtown Decatur bookstore is closed.

From its blog:

I’ve pondered how to start this, but this is the best I can come up with. There is no great way to begin the end of a dream, and there is no gentle way to state that finality is upon you. That said, I regret to announce that, as of Monday, March 2nd, 2009, Wordsmiths Books will close its doors for good. I don’t do this willingly, and I would love to say that there were avenues of exploration yet to wander, possibilities that could avert this outcome, but that would be untruthful. I have explored every possibility open to me, but the sheer magnitude of the decline in sales alone (on the heels of our efforts to right the boat) from our current economic downturn has long since evaporated the fumes. Frankly put, there’s nothing left to make the engine go, and sitting on the side of the road with a thumb out doesn’t seem to earn you much grace as a business.

Be sure to read it in full as it’s a poignant goodbye post.

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Duany

Last week, acclaimed New Urbanist Andres Duany visited metro Atlanta to design several mixed-use sites for the Atlanta Regional Commission. He was deliciously brutal in his criticism.

“If Decatur’s great, it’s only in the absence of anything better.”

— Duany rips into the Atlanta neighborhood that the audience claims to be the most walkable.

“The only reason Atlanta isn’t mortified by its urban sprawl is because of its landscape. This the best-looking urban sprawl in the country.”

— Duany claims the region’s low-rolling hills help mask the dumb-growth.

“You have [massive parking decks] all over Atlanta. Who the hell wants to drive to the 15th floor? You feel like a loser even if you find a parking space.”

— Duany says the city’s parking decks should never be taller than five stories.

“Your streets are fantastically dangerous. And it isn’t the muggers. It’s the motorists used to driving fast.”

— Duany points out that the city isn’t safe for pedestrians.

Note: Now that I’ve been provided with maps and designs, I’ll be writing more later in the week about Duany’s presentation and plans. He’s got a lot of interesting ideas for metro Atlanta — Toco Hills and Grant Park, in particular.

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D.I.Y. AND DO IT RIGHT: A volunteer demos a machine for color photo printing.

The Photographer’s Print Studio is a darkroom cooperative “for photographers by photographers” organized by a group of locals including Michael David Murphy, Kathryn Kolb, Laura Noel, and those two adorable Click Clique founders, Stephanie Dowda and John Paul Floyd. It’s the only darkroom co-op of its kind in Georgia and the Southeast. The studio will open its doors to the public this Sat., Feb. 21 with a reception from 2-5 p.m.

Earlier this month Photographer’s Print Studio kindly invited me to check out its Decatur facility located on New Street, just around the corner from Figo and PushPush Theater. Although I’m no expert, I can attest that, yes, the lab has all the gadgets and gizmos necessary for printing your high-quality color photographs (including access to two separate dark rooms). Plus — for greenhorns and veterans alike — the studio has a knowledgeable staff of volunteers on-hand for answering questions on printing techniques, equipment, and the basic aesthetics of the camera-wielder’s art.

Services will eventually include workshops and tutorials, art markets featuring contemporary and vintage photography, and of course, gatherings of the “social” nature.

More from the event flyer:

Tour our studio, watch print demo, enjoy refreshments, converse with TPPS photographers, membership discounts, and enter for free photographic supplies!

130 New Street, Decatur GA

The Photographer’s Print Studio is dedicated to the art of the traditional color photograph. Owned and operated by photographers for photographers, we offer the only darkroom facility of its kind in the Southeast! Our clean and expertly maintained studio accommodates printing negatives from 35mm to 4×5 and our RA-4 processor handles paper up to 31 inches wide.

Amateurs and professionals welcome!

For further details, go to the Photographer’s Print Studio website or send an email to Kathryn Kolb (kathrynkolb@bellsouth.net).

(Photo by Brittany Collins)

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State Rep. Stacey Abrams, D-Atlanta, will hold a special legislative review for her Oakhurst constituents on Saturday, Feb. 7. The lawmaker — who’s also a romance novel writer — plans to update residents on the homeowner’s tax relief grants and the state’s budget woes.

Here are the details:

LEGISLATIVE REVIEW – SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2009

Please Join State Representative Stacey Abrams For a District 84 Town Hall Meeting

2009 Monthly Legislative Update

Date: February 7, 2009
Time: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Location: Oakhurst Presbyterian Church
118 2nd Ave
Decatur, GA 30030

TOPICS INCLUDE:

2009 and 2010 State Budgets
Impacts on Education
Homeowner’s Tax Relief Grant
HR1 – Property Assessment Freeze/Caps
Key Proposed Legislation

All persons are welcome to attend. This event is FREE. Light refreshments will be served. For questions, please contact Jazmine Smalley, Legislative Aide at 404-656-0224 or email staceyabrams(at)gmail(dot)com.

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1. Trackside Tavern destroyed by fire (In a sad day for horny drinkers on the prowl, Decatur’s beloved dive bar and hook-up spot was gutted.)

2. Dr. Lowery’s inaugural benediction riffs on the blues (Weird how few media outlets picked up on Lowery’s inaugural nod to Big Bill Broonzy’s “Black, Brown and White.”)

3. Killing what’s left of the press (A legislative proposal that would decimate small-town newspapers. As if the print industry needs any more bad news.)

4. 2009 Georgia General Assembly struggles with budget, gridlock (You think YOU’RE broke? The state is $2 billion in the hole!)

5. Readers can’t keep up with Spidey and Barack (Comic book featuring America’s favorite superhero flies off the shelves. Spider-man is pissed.)

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From the Oakhurst Neighborhood Association message board:

OK, I know this is a weird one but we have a ferret who could seriously use a
playdate with another ferret….does anyone have a ferret that needs exercise?

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Decatur Metro and its commenters report Decatur’s Trackside Tavern was destroyed by fire this morning. Fifth Earl Market, the restaurant adjacent to Trackside, was damaged as well.

UPDATE: Friend and fellow Decaturite Susan Watkins sent me a link to a Facebook photo album with two dozen grim photos of Trackside. If you’re a fan of Trackside, they will make you sad.

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Decatur, the walkable suburb that is to Atlanta what Park Slope is to Manhattan (think about it), wants to develop a ‘virtual world’ a la Second Life.

According to the city:

Similar to other social networking tools, Virtual Decatur will provide an environment in which residents, businesses, institutions and visitors can interact and connect around a common interest. However, it is it is imperative that the project go beyond the features of traditional virtual environments. The overarching purpose of this project is to allow users to interact with the City in new and innovative ways that are not possible in the real world. It is envisioned that the real world experience may be enhanced through participation in Virtual Decatur.

Possible options include virtual City Hall tours, opportunities to win coupons or discounts at real-life stores, streaming video of city meetings that would allow viewers to comment, and access to city and business information.

The project, which was developed with the assistance of DeVry University game development student Justin Hubbard, is currently accepting submissions. There’s no word yet on what it might cost. Or the more important matter of what the city will do if Dancing Goat’s virtual location becomes a staging ground for online protests filled with pixellated phalluses. There are lots of jokes to be made here, folks, so chime in if you can’t resist.

(A tip of the viking helmet to both Decatur Metro and Brandon Sheats’ Twitter updates for this interesting bit of news. Game Politics and Gizmodo also have given their takes on this. The online reaction has been mixed, with many commenters wondering why taxpayer dollars are being spent on the project and others predicting a swarm of hackers. Others applaud the move and say the city should be given time to test the concept. From what it appears, it’s a first.)

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Does it even exist? Andisheh once again opens our eyes to the ridiculousness that exists right under our very noses. Yesterday, he pointed me to some monkey business.

On another one of Forbes’ entertaining-yet-useless list-icles (this one’s titled “America’s Fastest Dying Places”), a Georgia “city” in DeKalb County by the name of “Candler-McAfee” is listed. It’s ranked no. 2, actually. Go team!

Yet from looking at the map, as Andisheh points out, this isn’t a city — it’s a census designation. Or is it? Some website that appears to show you where you can rent white water rafts nearby calls it a city. And another list-icle, this one by CNNMoney, includes it on a list of the best small cities in the nation.

And as Andisheh points out in his e-mail:

Except, it’s not actually a town. It’s not even a neighborhood.

It’s a 7 sq. mile section of unincorporated Dekalb County south of the City of Decatur, north of I-20.

Here it is on a map. Gotta say it’s kind of unfair for Forbes to knock the place when all it’s doing is looking at census information. What is this place? Do people list their address as “Candler-McAfee?” Or does Forbes need to stop trolling census information for easy-to-write articles and start picking up the phone?

(Screenshot courtesy of Forbes)

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Decatur Metro reports that the developer of 315 W. Ponce de Leon Avenue, a mixed-use project that’s caused some nearby residents to question its size and potential impact, has altered its plans for the project. A building that was proposed along Ponce de Leon Avenue has been scuttled, Decaturite says.

Well, the developer made [a reduction in units] by eliminating the building that originally was to be squeezed in along Ponce between the existing office building and the street, while retaining the rear building that would be built within the existing parking lot, with a parking deck situated behind Fairview and courtyards along Montgomery (view above is along Ponce Place). Livable Growth has the full plans here [pdf available at Decatur Metro].

…

Next step is for this new plan to go before the Planning Commission this Thursday at 7:30p.   If all goes according to schedule, they will make a recommendation to the city commission, which will vote yea or nay on the project next Monday (Dec 15th) at 7:30p, along with some other issue regarding annexation.

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Decatur Metro reports Fellini’s pizza in Decatur was robbed by an armed group of people during the dinner rush last night. Details are scant thus far — hence the question mark in the headline.

One of D.M.’s commenters says no one was hurt. I hope that’s the case.

I thought busy restaurants only got robbed in the movies.

We’ll post more info as we learn it.

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Remember Decatur Court? The mixed-use development proposed for the Wachovia building near downtown Decatur? The one that concerned nearby residents because they feared it would tower over their properties and not have enough parking to handle the new residents and workers?

Our dear friend Decaturite brings word that a consultant brought in to mediate talks between the developer and residents is giving it another look on Wednesday, Dec. 3 from 6:30-8:30 at City Hall. The development’s also shrunk a wee bit.

In an e-mail from Otis White of Civic Strategies that Decaturite posted:

We are convening a meeting about the 315 W. Ponce project on Wednesday, Dec. 3 from 6:30 to 8:30 at Decatur City Hall. The meeting will be in the City Commission Room.

Background: A group of neighbors has been in direct talks with the 315 W. Ponce developer since our Oct. 15 meeting, and these talks are continuing. The developer presented a revised plan to this group in response to issues identified at the Oct. 15 meeting. While neighbors recognized the concessions being made by the developer, they identified problems with the new proposal. In response, the developer revised the original site plan that reduced the number of units from 218 to 160 units and eliminated the need for a parking variance.

Emphasis added. To check out the rest of White’s e-mail, head over to Decatur Metro.

(Screenshot from JLB Partners)

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He might be too modest to post it, but by God I’m not.

Tonight, CL senior writer Andisheh Nouraee will join the talented members of the Doug Dank Project at PushPush Theater in Decatur to perform a free-wheelin’, mindblowing, chuckle-inducing improv performance. The fun starts at 10 p.m.

Here’s the gist of how the evening goes: Andisheh will stand before the crowd and begin talking. The members of the troupe will use these delicious thoughts and topics as fodder for improv. Andisheh decides when to cut them off and the process repeats until time runs out or the fire marshall has all parties arrested for safety concerns and/or noise complaints. Hilarity does indeed ensue.

Tickets are $5 at the door. Push Push is located here.

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Decatur Metro’s all over the latest smart-growth shenanigans in his burg.

First, there’s the news that the celebrated Otis White of Civic Strategies will sit down with nearby residents and developers of the controversial 315 W. Ponce project to help the two groups work out the kinks. (The developer recently postponed a requested commission hearing because of an uproar over parking at the proposed mixed-use development. Read the harrowing account of the most recent late-night public hearing here.) The sitdown led by White is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 6:30 p.m. in Decatur City Hall.

Next, one of the groups that help concerned residents rally against the 315 W. Ponce project’s scope has now focused its attention on Trinity Triangle near bustling downtown. There’s an interesting conversation going on there about the debate.

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Or at least pretend to be one? Here’s your chance:

From the Oakhurst Yahoo message board:

Volunteers needed tomorrow for a diaster drill
Posted by: [redacted]
Fri Oct 3, 2008 5:49 am (PDT)

Looking for something unique and interesting to do this weekend? Want to maybe learn some make-up tricks to help you create a realistic looking costume this Halloween? The DeKalb County Fire Rescue corp is looking for volunteers to be simulated patients for a disaster drill THIS SATURDAY (tomorrow, Oct. 4th) from 4pm-9:30pm. You will need to wear old clothes because you will be made-up with fake injuries (fake blood, etc.). Then you’ll be assigned to an area of “the scene” and the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and DeKalb firefighters will arrive and try to make everything better.

If you, or your family, neighbors, friends, community group members, Boy Scout Troops, Explorer Programs, church members, or ANYONE else would like to volunteer please email [redacted to save the guy from spammers] for details ASAP. Volunteers must be 12 years of age or older.

Send him an email here.

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The intersection of Adair Street and West Howard Avenue in Decatur is so dangerous, there were three city employees directing traffic there this morning: two school crossing guards and a police officer yelling at drivers through a megaphone.

How much do traffic lights cost? Are they less than the cost of putting two crossing guards and a cop and an intersection twice-a-day for an entire school year?

All I’m doing is saying.

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Decaturite over at Decatur Metro breaks the news that JLB Partners, the developers of the controversial 315 W. Ponce, have requested an “indefinite deferral” from the city and asked the development authority and planning commission to convene public meetings so various kinks and concerns about the project can be ironed out.

Decaturite posted a well-written message from Duane Truex, a neighborhood resident with a really cool name, that sums up much of the concern about the proposed mixed-use development at the doorstep of downtown Decatur. These two paragraphs really stood out to me:

We are NOT anti growth, we live in mixed use development and always have in this neighborhood around the 315 project (Ponce place, Montgomery, Fairview etc, etc…). It *is* our backyard so we want growth to be sensible, properly scaled, proper quality and to the benefit of all…as well as something that honors Decatur’s past and future. Yes we are idealists. But we are willing to work with the city and developers on a proper project.

For the record we reached out on several occasions to Hudson Hooks [ed. JLB Partners' Atlanta associate]and company. We drank together and talked and attempted to sit down in a small setting to discuss the project. My guess is that the developers were of the opinion (somehow) that it was so ‘in the bag’ they did not need to listen. Moreover they may have underestimated both the skill set extant in these neighborhoods. We are parents, tradesmen and women, artisans and professionals–engineers, architects or various flavors, scientists, producers of content, lawyers and others who can research, reason, design, problem solve, and if needed, resist.

(Screenshot courtesy of JLB Partners)

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(8:48 a.m.) Storm has weakened and the service is allowing the warning to expire. Have a great one, folks!

(8:30 a.m.) The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for Cobb, DeKalb and Fulton Counties until 8:45 a.m.

(8:17 a.m) Weather.com is reporting a tornado warning in the Decatur area and a nearby emergency siren has been activated. Here are instructions on how to safely take cover.

(Above screenshot from Weather.com. For current weather conditions, click here.)

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Remember how we told you that Wordsmiths Books could be shutting its doors soon? Well a fundraising blitzkrieg the past couple of weeks helped the indie bookstore collect enough dough to remain in operation, at least through the fall.

Owner Zachary Steele elaborated in a press release sent earlier this afternoon:

We asked for your help. We asked for the chance to take this business and turn it forward. …And you responded…thanks to you all, we are still here. …There is still much for us yet to do. We have operating expenses caught up and have made some traction into tomorrow, but we will still be working on paying down our debts for the foreseeable future. I would be remiss to state that all is well and that we are completely in the clear, though we are at least now in a position to address our concerns. I am still working to secure the long-term future of the bookstore.

Down, but definitely not out.

(Photo by Dustin Chambers)

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The Living Beacon of Hope won’t be there himself, but his staffers will be walking around with video cameras to record questions you’d like answered at the annual Democratic convention in Denver at the end of the month.

Barack Obama will be accepting the Democratic presidential nomination at the convention in Denver on August 28th, and we’re throwing the doors open to the public by hosting America’s Town Hall.

Americans from around the country will be submitting questions that will be answered by elected leaders and national experts, live at the convention.

To be a part of this historic opportunity, come this Wednesday to Decatur City Square and submit a question of your own. Staff will be on hand to videotape your question which could be selected to be asked at the convention.

Here are the details:
America’s Town Hall Question Submission
Decatur City Square
599 N. McDonough Street Decatur, GA
Wednesday, August 13th
3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Hope to see you there! Obama for America

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Five hours of comments and more than 100 concerned residents were ample enough reason for the Decatur Zoning Board of Appeals to indefinitely table a parking variance early Tuesday morning for a large mixed-use development proposed in the city.

JLB Partners has envisioned one- and two-bedroom apartments at 315 W. Ponce de Leon Road with streetfront retail. The proposed 218-unit development would rise from a parking lot and wrap around an existing 11-story office building.

At first glance and on paper, the proposal appears to be your typical smart growth development — the sensible combination of retail, office and resident that’s made Decatur such a walkable, desirable place to live. Tonight’s parking variance was necessary because the developers requested less spaces than zoning codes require for a development of its size. JLB Partners are banking on a nationally proven smart-growth concept called “shared parking” to remedy the situation — as well as allow them to both max out the land and save money on building a parking deck.

(more…)

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Wordsmiths Books could be shutting its doors soon.

The Decatur bookstore responsible for scores of literary workshops, quirky local music showcases and inventive author events can’t pay the bills. Debt left over from its former location on W. Trinity Place (it’s now located around the corner in the old Sun Trust building on N. McDonough Street) and an unprofitable recent event have left owner Zachary Steele in the red.

From a blog by Steele:

The reality of Wordsmiths is that, though it began with a great push, it did so in the wrong location. That location drained its resources and left a lagging parachute of debt … to compound our difficulties, we handled the sales for a large scale event recently that did not return the investment that we were required to pay up front. Such is the way, I could say, but the timing was incredibly poor.

For the next couple of weeks, Wordsmiths will be collecting donations to help pay off the debt and keep the store open. The fundraising push culminates Aug. 15-17 with the Saving Bookstores is AWESOME!!! Night of AWESOME!!!! in conjunction with PASTE magazine and BabyGotBooks.com. The event features local fave Jack Pendarvis and his new robot-love novel Awesome, a performance from Atlanta indie outfit the Sealions, and a silent robot art auction. E-mail Wordsmith’s director of marketing Russ Marshalek (russ@wordsmithsbooks.com) about creating and donating a robot for the auction.

The shop’s also accepting donations of all sizes at its website or mailed to 545 N. McDonough St., Decatur, GA 30030. It wouldn’t hurt to visit the store and buy some books either.

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