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Below
are minutes for the June 13, 2006, meeting of the Atlanta
Downtown Neighborhood Association, which was held at Imagine It! The Children's Museum of Atlanta. Notes were written by Whitney Russert, ADNA Secretary.
ADNA Board President Jay Tribby welcomed 46 ADNA members and guests to Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta in Museum Tower. Visitor/member introductions followed. Jane Turner, Imagine It! director, gave a brief history of The Children’s Museum and explained their vision to communicate and reach schools and families on important issues in a playful and entertaining format. The current exhibit on environmental issues addresses Atlanta’s informal title as the Asthsma Capital of the South.
Live performances, storytimes, and play-acting serve to enforce important concepts to an 8 year old and younger clientele. The geographic area they serve is only restricted to how far a field trip can travel and return in a day; suburban moms are taking advantage of the indoor playground aspect and opportunity to socialize. Community outreach includes an "Imaginator Program" of performers who visit hospitals and schools.
The museum is a non-profit with memberships, contributions and earned revenue keeping it running. Rentals for special events (cocktail parties, fundraisers) contribute as well. Visitors to the museum have exceeded expectations by 15% since the opening of the Georgia Aquarium, an encouraging number given the reduction in scheduled school field trips due to fuel prices. Imagine It! has indicated that it likes its location and has no intention of moving.
The next exhibit for the museum will be a joint venture with Hands On Atlanta called "Little Hands, Big Difference" and will highlight the benefits of community service. A raffle was held and the winner received 4 museum passes.
Pablo Henderson introduced the ADNA’s Start It Up program and encouraged everyone to visit the ADNA website to join or initiate a new club or activity that would promote their downtown interest. He needs people who can make and distribute posters promoting this new venture and can be reached at Pablo@the markATL.com.
Chris Ciovacco introduced representatives from the Hilton Hotel who requested the ADNA’s support of a zoning variance to allow for an overhead walking bridge connecting the Hilton and Marriott Marquis hotels. This would enable their hotels to act in concert to compete with GWCC (and other cities) on convention space without compromising pedestrian safety. Issues that were raised by residents were addressed:
- Variance is needed to cross public (street air) space (the city receives "air rights" rental income)
- Construction time was not expected to impact traffic because much would be prefabricated.
- The bridge would be available to non-guests only on a limited basis (due to security issues.)
- Previous efforts to educate and secure pedestrian safety were unsuccessful (estimated 191 pedestrian incidents last year including one fatality.)
- Crosswalks were not allowed by the city due to the proximity of the Connector exit ramp at Courtland.
A motion was made, seconded and passed to endorse the ordinance variance to allow the pedestrian bridge.
The next community meeting will be held on July 11 and will focus on the South Central Business District and residences. Due to the length of the meeting the scheduled tour was cancelled but guests who wished to stay and play at the museum were encouraged.
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