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ADNA Home > About ADNA > Meeting Minutes
Nov. 12, 2002
Elections for ADNA Board, 2003
Below are minutes for the November 12, 2002, meeting of the
Atlanta Downtown Neighborhood Association. Notes were written
by Wendy Darling.
ADNA Elections
For complete election results and bios of the new officers,
see 2003 ADNA Elections.
Other Announcements
Holiday in Lights
Centennial Olympic Park will be kicking off its annual Holiday
in Lights festival on Nov. 22, with a special treat for Downtown
residents. On the festival's opening night, from 6-11 p.m.,
the Park will host a Holiday in Lights Neighborhood Night so
that folks can get to know their neighbors and, at the same
time, get into the holiday spirit. Area residents will enjoy
a discounted rate of $5 for 90 minutes of skating, including
skate rentals!
Fiesta Fresh
Erich Starrett recently met with the owners of Fiesta Fresh,
a Mexican restaurant operating in the Muse's next door to the
Flatiron Building. They are interested in obtaining a liquor
license and doing margarita nights. Erich spoke with them about
some of the hurdles they might face in obtaining the license
and let them know ways they might proceed onward with getting
to know the neighborhood and the city better. After discussion,
it was decided that the best way for the neighborhood to decide
what we might do to work with them would be to have the business
actually attend a meeting and speak to us about their plans,
ideas and concerns.
ADNA Web Site
Over the past couple of months, I've been working on a brand
new ADNA web site (same location, www.atlantadna.org), with
a whole new look and a lot of features the current web site
lacks. The web site should be completed and online sometime
in December. This site comes just in time to catch up with a
new fully powered officers' group and I hope 2003 sees the web
site doing more for us than ever.
ADNA Holiday Party
Erich Starrett has received an offer from Karma to host ADNA'S
Holiday Party in December. Although a few specifics still have
to be ironed out (open bar or limited, regular Tuesday time
or weekend), it looks like people agreed this was an offer we'd
like to take Karma up on. More news will come out on this list
at a later date.
Central Atlanta Progress Updates
Cooper Holland has a bunch of different items to present:
- CAP has an individual sponsor and Post Properties working
together to fund and implement the installation and maintenance
of 125 flower baskets around Downtown. The baskets will
be attached to street lights. Installation is set for May
2003.
- Cooper, Rick Skelton and others continue to work on a
plan to improve on street parking in Downtown. At the moment
they are looking at installing parking meters even within
loading and unloading zones, as that would be a way to tell
how long somebody has been using a space (normally limited
to specific time periods). Parking meters would also generate
cash for the City.
- Cooper has worked with Homeward Inc. to craft a letter
for distribution among groups who come to our neighborhood's
parks to distribute food. Often such food distribution has
a detrimental effect on our parks -- esp. in terms of garbage
-- and the food is not getting to the people who really
need it, nor is it being distributed in a sanitary, dignified
environment. Local services agencies agree that outside
feedings in the parks is not the way to go. The letter (which
will be available on the ADNA web site soon) is to make
the do-gooders aware that their donations and time would
be better spent at other agencies -- and there's a spreadsheet
on the backside saying exactly where. Resident, Ambassadors
and even police will be encouraged to distribute the letters
to those they spot.
- CAP is working with the city on the issue of newspaper/advertising
boxes, which have proliferated to an alarming degree all
around Downtown. There has been an inventory done and owners
of boxes in violation have been contacted and told that
their boxes will be taken away if they do not take them
away themselves. There is discussion of implementing a permitting
system that will charge publishers/advertisers a certain
fee per box.
- There is a real estate deal underway involving the Winecoff
and according to Cooper, the developer this time seems have
his ducks all in a row and has most of the financing they
need to proceed. This building is historic and beautiful
but in serious need of TLC and it would be great if this
deal actually happens, as so many have fallen through in
the past.
- Cooper, Patrick Busko (our new VP) and other have been
working to craft a panhandling letter to distribute to hotels,
visitors and others, advocating that rather than handing
out cash to panhandlers -- cash which could go anyway, including
towards alcohol and drugs -- people should contribute to
the many existing shelter, feeding and support service agencies
throughout the area. The letter will include a list of such
agencies along with contact information.
Improv at Blank Stage
Brent Brooks was on hand to invite people to check out the improv
sows every Friday at Blank Stage (107 Luckie Street). Times
are (I think I've got this right) 8 and 10 p.m. Be ready to
throw in your suggestions as the Improvisers feed off the audiences
participation! All shows are currently $10.00. More info: Brent
Brooks, 404-247-1375, blankstage24@yahoo.com.
Gold's Gym
Maurice came over from the new Gold's Gym at the Healey and
reminded everybody that yes, they're open and have lots of groups
going, including yoga, spinning and kung fu san soo (led by
our own resident blackbelt, Tony Stewart). More info on that,
just hop over to the gym, basement of the Healey, 57 Forsyth
Street.
Downtown on 60 Minutes
Lynn Williamson of CAP announced that Dan Rather is airing a
"60 Minutes II" piece on Segway tomorrow (Wednesday) evening
at 8 p.m Their crew spent much time with the Ambassador Force,
several weeks ago, so Downtown Atlanta should be featured. Stay
tuned!
Christmas Caroling
Here we coming a'carolling????? Lynn Williamson also presented
an opportunity for some serious fun, trying to shake up interest
in getting a group of at least 12 people to go around caroling
at the next First Thursday event (Dec. 5). We'll since, we'll
wear reindeer horns and santa hats, we'll be the life of the
art walk! More information to come from Lynn as the date nears,
but for now, be gathering carols and start your voice drills.
Membership Drive
Scott Fortney volunteered to help our new VP head up a membership
drive to bring on new people as members as well as beef up membership
benefits. More to come on that later. |
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