Below
are minutes for the September 17, 2002, meeting of the Atlanta
Downtown Neighborhood Association. Notes were written by Wendy
Darling.
Introduction
Meeting had a good turn out and we were happy to meet in the library, which has offered to host us for every meeting, giving us some stability and making it easier for us to tell people where we're meeting.
Presentation & Discussion Notes
Rick Skelton on Parking
Rick Skelton, of Rick Skelton Development, presented the group with the results of work his staff, along with Cooper Holland (Downtown resident and CAP staff) and Debi Starnes have been doing related to Downtown parking issues. The main focus was trying to work out a solution to the problems surrounding residential loading zones used by moving vans, delivery services, and residents unloading their vehicles from shopping trips. The area under consideration was Fairlie-Poplar, location of a host of residential projects, including the Metropolitan, William-Oliver, Healey, 90 Fairlie, etc.
Skelton presented what he called a .creative solution,. based on things have been done in other neighborhoods like Inman Park and Virginia Highland. The plan they are proposing is for 25 percent of all parking in the loading zones, located on the same side as the building, be allocated to residents holding special permits. In many cases that would amount to 5-6 parking spaces.
There would not be any change in the size of the actual loading zones . the plan is simply to have residents able to have stickers on their cars saying they.re residents with permits to use the zones, as opposed to other people. Moving vans would be able to pick up moving signs from the building to mark themselves. Residents would register for permits, although the central management for the program is yet to be determined (this association, building management, condo boards, etc.?)
One of the biggest concerns the group expressed was the question of enforcement, since the police would need to be updated on the parking rules and also enforce them.
Skelton says the plan is being looked at by the City Council transportation committee. The committee is presently examining the impact the plan might have on traffic. The plan is supported by Norman Copeland and there is buy-in from the City, Central Atlanta Progress, etc.
The William-Oliver
Jenny Sung, also from Rick Skelton Development, gave a quick update on the William-Oliver, which is going to be converted to condos! The William-Oliver (http://www.thewilliamoliver.com) was one of the buildings that made a big splash in 1996 right at the time of the Olympics, going to apartments. Now, after six years, Skelton Development is converting it to condos. There will be 115 units with prices coming in from $60s to $180s. The building will be re-renovated inside and out. There will be a 24-hour concierge.
Kurt Flaherty, Marietta Street Artery
Kurt Flaherty came to talk about the potential impact the Atlanta Aquarium / World of Coke project could have on the area surrounding, including the Marietta Street Artery area (which includes Marietta Street west of CNN going up to Howell Mill and spreading out a few blocks on either side) as well as Downtown, Centennial Hill, etc. Flaherty was concerned because although the developers promised to do a traffic and environmental impact studies back when the aquarium was going in to Atlantic Station, there.s been no agreement to do ones for the new location.Working with a coalition of surrounding neighborhoods, the Marietta Street Artery Association (more info, see http://www.artery.org/Directory/Directory.htm). Flaherty is concerned that developers aren.t taking into consideration the impact the project might have on Centennial Park West, Hasting Seed Lofts, Museum Tower, Centennial Place, etc. People at the meeting said that they supported his concerns and president Erich Starrett said he.d be writing a letter in support of getting the impact studies done. To reach Kurt Flaherty, vice-president of MSAS, it.s curt.flaherty@zennergroup.com or 404-881-8370.
Patti Reiter, Downtown Transportation Management Association
Patti Reiter is the person newly in charge of Central Atlanta Progress's Downtown Transportation Management Association. As such, she passed on details of the association.s programs, designed to cut down on the number of single-occupancy vehicles coming in Downtown and increase carpooling and transit ridership. The TMA provides a variety of transportation services. Programs include: ridematching assistance, discounted transit program, bike and pedestrian seminars, alternative work arrangement consultation. It's possible for condo associations, just like buildings, to make discount transit (MARTA) passes available to residents. For more info contact Patti Reiter, 404-658-1877, preiter@centralatlantaprogress.org.
Kwanza Hall, Candidate for Atlanta Board of Education, District 1
Kwanza Hall came to talk about himself and his candidancy for Atlanta Board of
Education, District 1, which includes a large area, not just
Downtown but Inman Park, Grant Park, all the way down to Thomasville.
Kwanza Hall attended Atlanta's public schools fro K-12, grated
from MIT, has a child in the school system, and owns an IT business.
One of his main goals is to advocate for the fair distribution
of resources across all school districts and schools and to
make schools more .neighborhood. oriented instead of separate.
For more info: www.kwanzahall.com
or email info@kwanzahall.com.
Miscellaneous
Everything else brought up has been sent out by email already . welcome packets,
event at the library, etc. The NEXT meeting will be a big one
in the library auditorium to discuss the crime and public safety
issues that have been cropping up more and more. DNA is having
a joint meeting with Fairlie-Poplar Task Force and will be bringing
in law enforcement and security forces and gov't to have a chat
about how to address issues like break-ins, assaults, etc. |
