Fresh Loaf

Lawmaker and developers should know this about Piedmont Park by now. If you even come close to threatening the city’s most iconic greenspace, you better be prepared for a vocal reaction from its residents and supporters.

That’s why residents near Piedmont Park are keeping their eyes on one of the General Assembly’s proposed solutions to the state’s notorious congestion problem.

House Resolution 206, sponsored by state Rep. Vance Smith, R-Pine Mountain, proposes a statewide one-cent sales tax to fund $25 billion of projects ranging from transit to roads. Included in the legislation is a controversial project: Tunnels underneath the city.

Cue the outrage.

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In 2005, Doug Abramson — along with an army of Midtown residents and Atlanta activists who banded together as Friends of Piedmont Park — fought tooth and nail to not only battle plans for a controversial parking deck in Piedmont Park, but also push the city and Atlanta Botanical Garden to act in a transparent manner about their plans for a project proposed on public land.

The fight split the neighborhood and the city. Signs in residents’ front yards became billboards for support or opposition. In July 2008, after much heated debate and several legal skirmishes, a Fulton County Superior Court judge said Friends of Piedmont Park must pay damages to the garden.

Nonetheless, Abramson remains involved in efforts to make government more transparent and accountable. And on Feb. 28, the Georgia First Amendment Foundation will honor Abramson for his open-government work at its awards banquet at the Commerce Club in downtown Atlanta. That night, at a reception honoring Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears, Abramson will be presented with the 2009 Open Government Hero Award.

For more information about the banquet, one which is sure to attract many of the state’s legal bigwigs and activists who are open government advocates, visit the Georgia First Amendment Foundation.

(Photo by Joeff Davis)

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Now that the Georgia Department of Transportation, Amtrak and Beltline officials have all taken a vow of silence and decided to keep quiet about the ongoing negotiations surrounding a rail segment in Northeast Atlanta, we have ample time to pore over the plans ourselves.

To bring everyone back up to speed: GDOT and Amtrak say they have plans for a future commuter rail line that would run on unused tracks along the eastern edge of Piedmont Park. Officials for the Beltline, the 22-mile of parks, trails and transit proposed to circle the urban core, recently purchased the tracks and surrounding property for $66 million, not including interest payments and payouts to private partners in the deal. Beltline officials oppose GDOT and Amtrak’s plans and say they would not only alter the vision of the Beltline in the area, but potentially jeopardize the entire $2.8 billion project. Beltline planners are scheduled to unveil their plans for the area in dispute — plans that could change if GDOT and Amtrak don’t budge on their position — on Thursday. Here are details of that night’s event.

After the jump, I’ve posted some handy maps that were included in a memo written by GDOT Commissioner Gena Evans and sent to boardmembers after the shit hit the fan. Also included is a handy map that shows who owns rail segments in Atlanta. If there are errors with any of these, send me a line or leave notes in the comments.

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RAIL RALLY Beltline supporters say Amtrak, GDOT's plans jeopardize Beltline

When it comes to the future of public transit in Atlanta, there’s good news and there’s bad news.

The good news: After decades of bowing at the throne of roadbuilders, the Georgia Department of Transportation says it’s finally taking off the kneepads and getting serious about train service that would connect Atlanta to other cities in the Southeast.

The bad news: Thanks to an unexpected tiff between GDOT and city of Atlanta officials, the Beltline — the transformative 22-mile loop of parks, trails and transit that would one day circle the city — might be in jeopardy. That’s because the train service that GDOT is suddenly embracing would have to run on or near the proposed Beltline tracks. What’s more, Piedmont Park, the city’s most iconic greenspace, might have to be severed by a heavy-rail route in order to accommodate GDOT’s vision.

Last week, CL first reported that GDOT — working in tandem with Amtrak — threw a wrench in Beltline officials’ plans for light-rail, trails and additional green space near Piedmont Park. Just as Norfolk Southern, the current owner of the tracks in question, was about to surrender them to the city, GDOT and Amtrak stepped in and halted the proceedings. Those two agencies now say the tracks in dispute are vital to their own vision for commuter rail.

“Simply put, because of GDOT’s boorish behavior and AMTRAK’s willingness to play along, the future of the city of Atlanta is at stake,” Mayor Shirley Franklin wrote in an urgent letter to U.S. Congressman John Lewis to seek his assistance.

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HIT THE BRAKES Beltline faces another obstacle — from GDOT and AMTRAK

If there’s one thing we’ve learned about the Beltline, the 22-mile loop of parks, trails and transit proposed to circle Atlanta, it’s that surprises are to be expected. And some interesting developments are afoot with the $2.8-billion project.

If you recall, Atlanta Beltline Inc. — the nonprofit agency in charge of planning and implementing the project — finalized its purchase of a 66-acre piece of property in October owned by Gwinnett County developer Wayne Mason and his son Keith, an Atlanta attorney. The Mason property included  land and transit right-of-way. The $66 million purchase riled city watchdogs not only for the ultimate payout to the Masons — more than double what father and son originally paid for the land in 2004 — but also the deal ABI cut with a private partner group it needed to buy out if it wanted to use tax-exempt bonds to finalize the purchase before a Halloween deadline. That’s background, and for all intents and purposes, irrelevant for the moment.

Beltline leaders hoped to complete planning the area, implement transit, and sell off excess land to developers. They would then re-invest the windfall from those sales back into the overall project. But before it could do anything with the property, it first had to abandon the transit right-of-way. That humdrum process is conducted by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board and largely involves just some time for public comment and a shuffling of papers. It was supposed to be a walk in the park.

Looks like that’s not turning out to be the case. An eleventh-hour move by the state Department of Transportation and AMTRAK has potentially thrown a wrench in the Beltline. And why those two odd entities decided to hold hands and insert themselves into the conversation — this late in the party — is making folks scratch their heads.

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After an unfortunate run in the Lenox parking lot earlier this year, Atlanta’s beloved Dogwood Festival returns to Piedmont Park, where they actually have, like, trees, and stuff. From today’s press release:

HOMECOMING
The 73rd Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival returns home to Piedmont Park to
host the city’s best-loved springtime tradition. Taking place April 17, 18
and 19, 2009, the weekend of fine art, music, and food, offers the ideal
way for families and friends to spend time in the beautiful Atlanta spring
weather.

Keep your fingers crossed that the Peachtree Road Race gets lucky too.

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1) This month’s Silver Scream Spook Show features It Came from Beneath the Sea at Plaza Theatre.

2) Snoop Dogg and 311 perform at Lakewood Amphitheatre.

3) Karla Baker signs her new book at Clay’s Gallery.

4) Rock out with international superstar Vinx at Centennial Olympic Park.

5) The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra plays at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre.

(Photo by Bryant Upchurch)

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A Fulton County Superior Court judge yesterday ruled in favor of the Atlanta Botanical Garden in its case against Friends of Piedmont Park, the nonprofit citizens’ group that fought a parking deck in the city’s iconic Midtown greenspace.

Judge T. Jackson Bedford determined two of the four claims filed by the garden against the group were “without merit” and ordered lawyers from the two sides to assess damages in the next two weeks.

The garden initially sought $290,000 in damages they say were incurred because of the contentious legal fight that erupted in 2005 when it announced plans for a 800-space parking deck inside the park. Friends of Piedmont Park and other neighborhood activists fought the project on the argument that a taxpayer-funded public space should not gift property to a private nonprofit organization without public engagement and input. The bitter dispute raged both in court documents and yard signs and divided nearby residents and the city at large.

The Atlanta City Council voted for the deck and Mayor Shirley Franklin signed its legislation later that year. The deck is scheduled to open in May and according to Mary Pat Matheson, the garden’s executive director, it will be virtually unseen, grant more access to the park, and potentially boast LEED-certification.

Matheson says she is “obviously very pleased” with Bedford’s ruling. Doug Abramson of Friends of Piedmont Park declined comment.

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CRITICS AT BAY: Florida Sen. Bill Nelson tours the Apalachicola Bay to survey the effects of retaining more water in Lake Lanier, and says he’ll push for a National Academy of Sciences study of how low flows affect the river ecosystem.

LIGHT AT THE END OF THE FUNNEL: 2008 could be a record year for U.S. tornadoes, and while meteorologists aren’t sure why this year has been so tornadically prolific — including the twister that caused $40 million in damage in north metro Atlanta last week — the good news is that tornado season usually starts sputtering out in June.

BORDERS SKIRMISH: City Council President Lisa Borders writes a letter to her councilmates asking them to be nicer to the mayor.

HAWKS GM SEARCH: As is becoming typical of front-office searches in Atlanta pro sports, Cleveland’s Chris Grant withdraws himself from consideration after being offered the general manager job.

UGA EXPANDING IN GWINNETT: With the Brain Train struggling to gain traction, UGA just starts filling the gaps between Athens and Atlanta with itself.

ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL: Piedmont Park may soon install wells for water independence, pending a decision by the state Environmental Protection Division.

CAUGHT LEAD-HANDED: Two studies link children’s lead exposure 25 years ago and increased impulsive and criminal behavior in adulthood.

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We don’t know how they’ll get blooming dogwood trees onto the pavement at Lenox Square Mall, but that’s where this year’s version of the Dogwood Festival will be held. Organizers made the announcement today that the 72nd annual festival will move to Buckhead from its traditional spot in Piedmont Park, which is off-limits this year because of the drought.

It will be a different kind of atmosphere, for sure. Part of the fun of the festival is going out to Piedmont Park as spring bursts into the air. Will it inspire a one-for-all, all-for-one vibe? Or will it kill the entire vibe of the festival?

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Organizers of the 72nd annual Dogwood Festival say they may have to move the popular event to Stone Mountain or Lenox Mall this year after they received word from the city on Jan. 11 that Piedmont Park will be off-limits to festivals and events this year because of the drought.

They have looked at a number of possible sites — including Turner Field, Atlantic Station and the Civic Center — and all had scheduling conflicts. Another promising possibility was turning this year’s event into a street festival along Fifth and Spring streets. Georgia Tech put the kibosh on that idea.

“Most major cities have a large street festival that includes fine art, music, food and family activities, not unlike the Dogwood Festival,” Atlanta Dogwood Festival Executive Director Brian Hill said. “We developed a plan around Fifth and Spring streets, commonly known as Technology Square, with an effort to minimize traffic and incorporate local businesses. City officials evaluated the plan, and all parties thought we had an exciting solution to our dilemma.” Unfortunately, Georgia Tech officials were concerned that the event could impact Saturday classes and research in nearby buildings.

Party poopers.

Hill says the festival is looking at one other Midtown option. “If we can’t get a site agreement this week, we will turn to either Lenox Mall or Stone Mountain as festival venue options.” Both facilities can host the event and have proven successes hosting events the size of the Dogwood Festival. “We appreciate the willingness of both facilities to support us; however, we hope to keep true to the mission of the Dogwood Festival and celebrate the coming of spring in Midtown,” Hill said. “Perhaps if we can’t be among the blossoming trees in the park we can at least stay within walking distance.”

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First it’s news that Piedmont Park will be off-limits to festivals this summer. Then it’s word that Atlanta-area swimming pools may not be allowed to use water this summer. Then it’s news that Six Flags may have to shut down its water-based rides.

Now, reports say that if the drought doesn’t ease soon, nuclear power plants across the Southeast could be forced to shut down for the lack of cooling water they need to operate.

Officials don’t expect blackouts, but it would prompt “shockingly high” power bills for consumers because the electricity would have to be purchased from other energy sources.

The ramifications of this drought have only just begun.

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The folks who put on the annual Dogwood Festival at Piedmont Park were informed yesterday that the park will host no major events in 2008 because of the drought.

That’s understandable, but the late notice has left organizers scrambling to find a location for the festival, now in its 72nd year.

The festival sent out this press release today:

After the City of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation’s announcement that no large festivals can be held in Piedmont Park during 2008, the 72nd Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival must search for a temporary site so that it can present a viable event for its fans. This last-minute notification delivered to festival organizers yesterday will mean major changes are required for one of the South’s oldest and most beloved spring traditions, which is scheduled to open April 4.

“We were disappointed to learn that the City of Atlanta decided to not allow any large park festivals this year,” said Atlanta Dogwood Festival executive director Brian Hill. “In spite of the city’s announcement, we will remain positive and attempt to present the festival at an alternative and suitable location, retaining the very high level of entertainment quality we were planning for Piedmont Park. We understand the severity of the drought conditions and had previously presented an alternative layout to restrict the festival’s activities to the streets within the park. We had hoped the city would allow the festival to proceed as scheduled.”

For the past 71 years, Atlanta’s “Favorite Festival” (as voted by readers of Atlanta Magazine) has brought hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city, creating a valuable economic impact with a cumulative value of hundreds of millions of dollars. The festival has always taken care to reduce the physical impact of its audience on Piedmont Park and has paid for any minimal damages to the park due to the festival use.

“We share a passion for Piedmont Park,” said Hill “Our goal is to sustain Atlanta’s favorite springtime event for many years to come.”

An announcement of the festival’s revised plans will be released in the next two weeks.

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Well, that went relatively unnoticed.

On Dec. 7, 2007, the Atlanta Botanical Garden filed a $273,000 lawsuit against the Friends of Piedmont Park and Doug Abramson, the park advocacy group’s president. The garden claims that because of an earlier suit filed by Abramson seeking the garden’s financial records, it had to spend unbudgeted funds — almost $300,000, according to a garden spokesperson — on a legal defense contesting the suit.

In 2004, the garden pushed for a parking deck in Atlanta’s most iconic greenspace to accommodate more visitors. The Piedmont Park Conservancy backed the idea.

FOPP, however, along with many other voices in the community, didn’t like the sound of that, and fought the project with gusto. After a series of lawsuits and a lot of yard signs, a judge in September said it came down to this: The deck’s getting built and the garden doesn’t have to disclose its financial records — it was and is, the judge said, a private, nonprofit entity.

(For an excellent rundown and take on the parking deck debate, click here for former CL staff writer Michael Wall’s “Welcome to Piedmont Parking Deck.”)

The garden says that FOPP’s lawsuit was “frivolous” — a legal imbroglio that was a whole lotta legwork, paperwork and headache. And now FOPP is being handed a $273,000 bill for legal fees, which the garden claims it had to divert from other projects in order to pay.

Click here to read the garden’s lawsuit against FOPP.

And from Doug Abramson at FOPP’s website:

Central to the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s claim for fees is the unwarranted contention that Friends of Piedmont Park was “frivolous” in its attempt to secure a judge’s ruling that the Botanical Garden must comply with open records laws. Frivolous? Hardly. Determining whether the Atlanta Botanical Garden, as a steward of public land, should be treated as a public agency is an important policy question. An impressive group of First Amendment advocates supports our position. Before going to court, Friends of Piedmont Park sought an opinion from the Georgia Attorney General’s office on this issue. Initially the AG supported the position that the Atlanta Botanical Garden is subject to Georgia’s Sunshine Laws and should turn over documents. Later, after our suit was filed and the AG’s office consulted with Botanical Garden attorneys, the Department of Law wrote that “substantial questions remain as to whether the Garden is in fact covered by [the Georgia Open Records and Open Meetings Act].” By no stretch was it frivolous to ask a judge to resolve these “substantial questions.

A call to Doug Abramson’s residence was met by an answering machine. We’ll keep an eye on this one.

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Below are some of my favorite blog comments from recent days:

What we are suggesting is that they have to make the case to YOU for the spending. Putting the power of the spending in the hands of the true local control, the taxpayer.

— State Rep. Earl Erhart, R-Powder Springs, attempts a “These aren’t the droids you’re looking for” when he suggests that a state tax system overhaul proposed by Speaker Glenn Richardson puts power in the hands of local taxpayers. In fact, the plan would increase the power of state representatives at the expense of local government.

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Since Myron can’t put more than 8 words together on the fly or get someone to answer the questions for him without reinforcing our assessment of his ineptitude, he commissioned the flyer to talk for him without any chance for rebuttal.

— South Fulton Guy is clearly not a fan of Fulton County Sheriff Myron Freeman. This comment appeared under a post by Andre Walker at Georgia Politics Unfiltered about a newsletter Freeman mailed out to Fulton County residents.

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I’ve lived in a city with laissez fair zoning codes. It’s name is Houston, and it is a disgusting but excellent example of the failure of developers and businesses to properly grow a city and create an inviting, satisfying living environment.

— Steven P. Faust, commenting on Fresh Loaf, about a proposed high-rise development in Piedmont Park

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Tivoli Properties CEO Scott Leventhal is hoping that what clearly wouldn’t fly for Gwinnett megadeveloper Wayne Mason might fly for him.

Nearly a year ago, Mason’s plans for a pair of 38- and 39-story condo towers were foiled after neighborhood activists argued that the towers would compromise the character — and infrastructure — of the mostly single-family-home surroundings. (Mason’s plan also put a temporary hitch in plans for the proposed Beltline, the 22-mile loop of transit and trails that would circle the city.)

Now, on the other side of the park, Leventhal wants to build a 25-story apartment tower.

According to a story in today’s AJC, Leventhal is trying to sweeten the deal. Mason had tried to sweeten his offering, too, but in a different way: Mason, who had owned a portion of the Beltline’s proposed path, wanted to give the city the Beltline property in exchange for permission to build the towers.

Leventhal, who wants to develop 250 apartments on 13th Street between Piedmont Avenue and Juniper Street, is extending to the city an olive branch of another variety:

Among the incentives he has offered in exchange for a rezoning of the property, Leventhal is proposing a “step down” architecture that would reduce the building’s height closer to the park and a half-price rental rate on 10 percent of the building’s units for Atlanta police officers and firefighters.

It seems doubtful that residents, whose input is required in the rezoning process, will embrace a project as dense as Leventhal’s in exchange for 25 apartments set aside for firefighters and cops. Then again, the neighborhood on that side of the park has more multifamily development, and Levanthal’s tower, though tall, has far fewer units than Mason’s twin towers.

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Hey, I have an idea: why doesn’t Dave G-damn Matthews think of ways to give concerts more truck- and bus- and generator-free! For three days leading up to the concert, my street and the Piedmont Park Meadow were covered with trucks, buses, generator-powered streetlights, and all manner of workmen moving fences, stage construction materials, port-a-potties, trailers, and other accoutrement around in preparation for an environmental extravaganza that would surely leave our newly re-landscaped park in muddy ruins.

-Shelbinator, responding to an obnoxious, tone-deaf announcement by the Midtown Neighbors’ Association telling residents that use of cars would be “frowned upon” all weekend.

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. . . and the press has the nerve to insult her figure? Fuck you. Fuck you big time. THIS is WHY so many women (and men) have issues with their bodies, and why so many have eating disorders in this country. Statements like this are completely despicable and do so much harm to the self esteem of so many, and for what? All in the name of insult? SHAME, shame, shame.

-Duane Moody, who LOVES Britney Spears, lashes out at the author of an article mocking Spears’ physique at last night’s MTV video crapfest. Because, as we all know, Spears’ career until last night was focused on sending healthy messages to young women about body image and sexuality.

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There will be buzz aplenty in the room when Black Lips, The Selmanaires, and The Coathangers take over the 40 Watt stage. It’s the first night of the extensive Black Lips/Selmanaires tour, and the night before The Coathangers play their own CD release show over in Atlanta. We’re so damn spoiled around here.

-Rich at Cable & Tweed on this Wednesday’s Atlanta rock mega-gig at the 40 Watt. I’m a sentimental old fogey, so I’ll be at Crowded House that night.

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Lear: Dave is here to bring some positive energy. It’s not some Nine Inch Nails, death-metal hate band. It’s about love. But we’re not paying 50 bucks for it. Like Steely Dan. I didn’t have a ticket and it was sold out, but I said I was going to see Steely Dan and they’re not going to stop me. I walked right through the door and got into the show for free [at Chastain]. It’s all about the mental attitude. I’ll see Dave.

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Starla: I enjoy this park. I like that the grass is green. When you put lots of people in a small space, it doesn’t stay that way. You end up with brown patches all over the place. I like Dave Matthews, but a lot of people in a small space can ruin a park. I would rather preserve the park than have it trampled on by hundreds and hundreds of people. If you’re not from here, you don’t understand the culture of this park.

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Kirstin: It is so cool that he’s doing it here. It’s a special event to benefit the park, and it’s sort of a green event. I got my tickets right when they went on sale. The Dave Matthews Band, more than any other band, is aware of global and environmental issues. And $45 is not much for a concert. You can probably stand in the street and hear it. And that’s cool, too. Dave Matthews would appreciate that. They’re pro-downloading their music for free.

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A couple of days ago, a small, low-key postcard arrived at the office announcing dates next month for the Atlanta Arts Festival in Piedmont Park.

Say what?

Anyone who’s been in Atlanta more than a decade remembers the old Arts Festival of Atlanta. Ten days long, featuring dozens of music, dance and theater performances, and with an artists market that wound a half-mile around Lake Clara Meer in Piedmont Park, it was for years the city’s premier fall event. Hell, for many intowners, the opening of the annual festival was how we knew fall had finally arrived.

The old Arts Festival had a Frisbee-catching event for dogs, carnival food, a sandcastle-building contest and a wildly popular kid’s zone. But it was also a serious artistic event, with juried competitions, top-tier guest artists, challenging site sculptures and the highest-quality selection of artist vendors of any festival in the area.

The festival suddenly folded in 1997, after it made a disastrous move to the then-barren Centennial Park, and shifting from cool September to sweltering mid-July.

So what is this new festival with the remarkably similar name? For starters, it’s a business. Julie Tapp, a longtime director of the nonprofit Dogwood Festival, says she decided earlier this year to “sink her life savings” into launching the Atlanta Arts Festival to fill a niche for a fall arts event in Piedmont Park.

Although the city limits the number of large events that can take place in the park – Atlanta Jazz Fest, Pride, Screen on the Green, etc. – the new, two-day arts festival was given the OK because it doesn’t expect to draw more than 50,000 people, Tapp says. The old arts festival often attracted more than 2 million visitors.

While her event is not connected in any way to the defunct arts fest, Tapp concedes that the deja vu effect of the name choice was intentional.

“We can’t say we’re a resurrection,” she says, “but we’ve tried to borrow the best element from the previous festival,” such as the location, the fall dates and an artists market.

The Atlanta Arts Festival will take place Sept. 14-16 along the eastern edge of the park, between 10th Street and the Park Drive bridge. In addition to a market with 200 artists and craft vendors, there will be glass-blowing and raku pottery demonstrations.

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Last weekend, my 6-month-old black Lab and I came across a row of zealous dog lovers on our usual Saturday morning trip to Piedmont Park’s off-leash dog park. Right outside of the dog park, about 15 demonstrators were chained to individual dog houses making a statement against owners who chain their dogs.

Tammy S. Grimes (above), founder and executive director for Dogs Deserve Better, put on the event and stood proudly outside of her dog house.

Kelly Hamilton (above), who came all the way from Kentucky to participate in the event, sat happily with my puppy while I took some photographs.

Photos by Tammy Vinson

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A deal for Dave Matthews: You retire, I won’t drive a car.

– ATLMalcontent on Dave Matthews’ request that fans use public transportation to get to his Sept. 9 concert in Piedmont Park.

A question: When people say Dave Matthews is one of the highest-grossing touring musicians in the country, are they talking about this?

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I am truly amazed by the number of people who know me and know RedState. That was truly an awesome experience.

– Erick Erickson at Confessions of a Political Junkie on his dinner last night with George Will, Mary Matalin and Robert Novak, among others. Erickson is the senior editor of RedState.com and the HBIC at Peach Pundit.

Erickson is also one of the five bloggers profiled in this week’s CL cover story (online later today, on newsstands tomorrow).

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I had my first real look at the immigration legislation today. There are several sections that deal specifically with the REAL ID, oh man…this thing is bad news.

– Jason Pye, on President Bush’s immigration-themed visit to Georgia yesterday.

Pye doesn’t like Bush. He titled the post “The Devil Went Down To Georgia.”

Bush shouldn’t feel too sad, however. Yesterday Pye compared Sen. Hillary Clinton to Hitler and Khrushchev.

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