Below are minutes for the February 10, 2004, meeting of the Atlanta Downtown Neighborhood Association, held in the auditorium of the Atlanta-Fulton Central Library, One Margaret Mitchell Square. Minutes by ADNA Secretary Jay Tribby.

Meeting Highlights: An address by Special Guest Mayor Shirley Franklin; an update on plans for Underground by Atlanta City Council Member H. Lamar Willis.

Media Coverage:

• "Comprehensive development plan on mayor's agenda," The Story, 2/12/04
• "Downtowners' main Underground concern: traffic," The Story, 2/12/04

Welcomes

ADNA Vice President Patrick Busko opened the meeting at 6:40 p.m. and welcomed the 130 people in attendance.

Reports

Downtown Neighborhood Festival & Tour of Lofts
May 16-16, 2004

Maria Balais and ADNA Board member Jennifer Henderson, Co-chairs of the 2004 Downtown Festival & Tour of Lofts, updated the group on a new fundraising activity for this year’s event.

The Steering Committee has planned a raffle with tickets priced at 1 for $5/ 5 for $20. The prize: a one-night stay at the Downtown Westin on 3/27; 2 tickets to that night’s performance of the musical revue 'Beehive' at the Rialto, produced by Theatrical Outfit; and… a walk-on part in the show! For information on purchasing raffle tickets, e-mail ADNA at downtownatl@hotmail.com.

Twenty percent of the cost of last year’s Festival was financed by Downtown residents. To contribute to the 2004 Festival & Tour, send a check to:

Atlanta Downtown Neighborhood Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 57021
Atlanta GA 30343

Please mention that your contribution is for the "2004 Festival & Tour."

Atlanta Police Department

Major L.A. Hagin addressed residents’ concerns about APD ticketing practices in Downtown areas where street signage is poor or nonexistent. He also mentioned that the number of recruits entering the Police Academy is slated to increase this year, and that this will have benefits for Downtown.

Address by Mayor Shirley Franklin

Mayor Franklin began her remarks by congratulating the ADNA on the growth in Atlanta’s Downtown residential population. "This is a major shift for Atlanta," she said.

After reviewing the city’s accomplishments during her first two years of office, the mayor spoke about her priorities for the next two years. Economic development and redevelopment issues are high on her agenda, as is Atlanta’s ability to benchmark its services against those in other comparable, mid-sized cities. In that context, she said, "Now is the time for us to have a conversation about Downtown Atlanta. Make no mistake: It will develop. We just need to make sure that its development is people-friendly."

The mayor took questions on a number of subjects: the impact of the city’s new water/sewer rates on many Downtown residents; the monitoring of ground-floor zoning compliance in Downtown; panhandling; the new gateway center for the homeless; and ongoing plans for Woodruff Park.

Water/sewer rates: The mayor said there is "no easy fix" when it comes to improving water and sewer services for the city. The future costs of improvement will "force us to change the way we do business" when it comes to water and sewer services. She promised to look into ADNA concerns that the new rate structure disproportionately impacts Downtown residents, many of whom live in single-meter dwellings (condos and apartment buildings).

Ground-floor zoning: The mayor asked Greg Giornelli, President of the Atlanta Development Authority, to look into concerns expressed by an attendee that the parking decks of Museum Tower and the new Georgia Aquarium may not be in compliance with existing requirements for ground-floor zoning in Downtown. She mentioned that she has recently established a Walkability Task Force and urged ADNA members to work with the Task Force to ensure a walkable Downtown. "Any Downtown that develops without sidewalks is a city looking to the past, not the future," she said.

Panhandling: The Atlanta Police Department has stepped up efforts to deal with panhandlers in Downtown. The mayor hopes that the new gateway center for the homeless can stop the "revolving door" between incarceration and chronic homelessness for some who panhandle in Downtown.

The new gateway center: The mayor reported that the 24/7 service center for the homeless is slated to open in June.

Woodruff Park: Mayor Franklin pledged to "claim Woodruff Park for the entire community." She shared her personal belief that public feedings of the hungry and homeless in the park are not respectful" of those in need.

Contact info for Mayor Franklin:

Shirley Franklin
Mayor
City of Atlanta
55 Trinity Avenue
Atlanta, Georgia 30303

Tel: 404.330.6100
Fax: 404.658.7673
mayorfranklin@atlantaga.gov
http://www.ci.atlanta.ga.us/Mayor/

Update on Plans for Underground Atlanta

Atlanta City Council Member H. Lamar Willis spoke about recently announced plans to attract more visitors to Underground Atlanta by taking advantage of its special legal status as an entertainment district that can serve alcoholic beverages later than other city venues. Willis noted that a task force has been established to address residential and business concerns about traffic congestion, security, and other issues related to later closing times at Underground.

During the Question and Answer period that followed, Willis was joined by
Atlanta Deputy Chief of Police Harold Donovan. A number of residents expressed concern that increased traffic at later hours on weekend nights would make it hard to get home easily. They noted that getting home efficiently can be difficult now when there are major events at Downtown venues such as Philips Arena or the Georgia Dome. Willis and Donovan said that they would be willing to work with ADNA on a solution so that, when streets are congested on big event nights, traffic officers can identify Downtown residents and direct them to routes that will get them home quickly and safely.

Other concerns raised about Underground: the specific hour of last call at an extended-hours Underground; how to further the development of the area just south of Underground; and the need for other forms of entertainment at Underground beyond eating and drinking, such as movie theatres, coffee shops, and bookstores.

Contact information for H. Lamar Willis:

H. Lamar Willis
Atlanta City Councilmember
55 Trinity Avenue SW
Atlanta, Georgia 30303

(404) 330-6041
hlwillis@atlantaga.gov
http://www.hlamarwillis.com

Businesses Seeking ADNA Support

George Eccles, who wants to open a jazz club at 201 Courtland, asked that ADNA support his request for a liquor license. The club will serve lunch and dinner. Eccles has 20 years of restaurant management experience. His local experience includes Midtown’s Bridgetown Grill and Justin’s. By a show of hands, the ADNA voted to support his upcoming request before NPU-M.

Adjournment

Next Meeting

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