Commuter Rail Spurs Smart Growth

Northlake "Station"? One day.
http://clatl.com/freshloaf/archives/2010/05/26/report-atlanta-macon-commuter-rail-could-spark-smart-development

The rail line could jump start and change land-use patterns surrounding the stations, bringing walkable streetscapes and mixed-use development — two features that young, mostly single people and couples are increasingly seeking when they look for a place to live. Aging residents could also benefit from this type of environment because they wouldn't have to drive to go shopping or could connect to transit. Throw in the fact that the train stops could revitalize the downtowns of cities along the routes,

Georgians for Passenger Rail, which began with the mission of connecting universities between Athens and Atlanta with train service, has changed priority to the Atlanta-Macon route due to the $88 million federal "earmark" from 2004.

Shallowford “Village” Effort Moves Forward Without ARC

by Tom Doolittle

A 1960's Suburban Strip Center and gas station at the Frontier Road neighborhood gateway can be revitalized for more "town-like" activity at Shallowford and I-85

What's Next

2nd Vision Exercise
St. Pius High School
June 19, 2010
8:30 to Noon


The group that is trying to add the first level of planning (a “vision”) to revitalize about a half-mile radial area around the Shallowford Road/I-85 intersection was not able to persuade county officials to apply for an ARC Livable Centers Initiative grant in 2009. So the TABASCO Coalition (Transform and Beautify Along the Shallowford Corridor) is moving forward with participative workshops on its own.

It’s not as if the group hasn’t tried for planning funds. County planners did submit an application to the ARC for Shallowford within its “Community Choices” program in March. However, as North Briarcliff Civic Association member Beth Nathan put it, “We were told that our project was larger than what they wanted to take on”, after a month’s review. They also met with the Georgia Conservancy’s Blueprints program in 2008 and 2009.

The first “Re-Imagining Shallowford” vision session was held at St. Pius High School on Saturday, May 22. The private school is located within the proposed boundaries of the neighborhood planning area. The vision session was attended by about 40 people who had an opportunity to provide ideas and discuss areas of agreement and disagreement. A smaller group of six now moves forward to coalesce what was said in a concise mission statement, which may include naming the area.

Chances for future ARC funding may be bettered due to activism by a county commissioner, Jeff Rader. He is a former ARC executive and a transportation professional. Further supporting, one of DeKalb’s ARC board representative Davis Fox is leading the “re-imagining” effort. The process will conform to the ARC’s workshop guidelines so that the area can qualify for future transportation design and construction funds.

The “D-word” for many long-time suburban single-family dweller is density. The notion of a mixed-use, live/work/play and essentially any re-development immediately invoked a question about “higher” density among session participants. Subsequently, in a subsequent meeting designated to hammer out a “mission statement”, it was agreed that a village might not change the number of residences per acre and in fact, has as much of a chance to decrease it. The opportunity, says Davis Fox, is to use the same acre for more compressed (higher buildings) units so that more greenspace can remain.


What’s a Neighborhood Center? Smaller than a Town Center
So-called “character areas” arose from the DeKalb Planning Department’s most recent view of the next natural progression of land use development—into pod-like pedestrian-friendly “nodes” where mass transit could more effectively serve the most people moving from node to node—and probably living there, rather than traditional suburban single-family subdivisions far from work, shopping and services. DeKalb’s newest update of its comprehensive land use plan, says “(neighborhood centers) should complement the character of neighborhoods and the location of commercial areas should reduce automobile travel, promote walkability and increase transit usage.”

Three scales of “character” are identified in the two year old latest comprehensive land use plan—the largest of which is a high-density city-like regional center, such as the Northlake Mall area and Perimeter Center; a medium density “town” center, including Tucker and Druid Hills Road/Executive Park and the most “village-like” type, the neighborhood center, which includes Shallowford. According to DeKalb’s comprehensive plan “The intent of the Neighborhood Center Character Area is to identify areas that can serve the local neighborhood’s needs for goods and services.”

Shallowford can in some ways be viewed a Northlake area gateway, as are several others: Lavista/Tucker, Embry Hills, Chamblee-Tucker (corridor), Oak Grove/Lakeside and US 29/I-285.

With its progressive Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) started in year 2000, the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) has put its stamp of approval on plans that can be generated from the “bottom up”, by nearby citizens, business groups and institutional entities. The Northlake LCI was the first in DeKalb, a grant of $450,000 to plan and design streetscape improvements along Lavista Road near Northlake Mall. Northlake Community Alliance, Inc. was formed by a combination of residential and business interests, foremost being managers of the three of the largest commercial property owners in the area, Northlake Mall, Northlake Business Park and the colloquially named “Best Buy Shopping Center”.

At the time, the county comprehensive plan did not support the development of a higher-density area there, thereby jeopardizing any notion of live-work-play. County planners played catch-up and in 2008 and formally adopted more than a dozen live-work-play character areas throughout DeKalb. Apparently, the number of character areas can also evolve, depending on where commercial property developers feel higher-density is marketable-or land is “underutilized”. The new neighborhood center at Druid Hills and Briarcliff Roads was added to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan after the Sembler Company of St. Petersburg, Florida unsuccessfully proposed a high-density development that would promote similar projects on all four corners of the intersection. Executive Park is also now its own “town center” in conjunction with parts of Buford Highway.

Rader said it is best for local interests to initiate plans for creative re-development and re-vitalization. “The idea is to get ahead of any development proposals so that they can be merged with what the neighborhood has prescribed.”

Mary Scott Nature Preserve: Who and How (2003)

Originally published in the Community Review Newspaper (later The Story Newspapers)
--November 13, 2003


Hawthorne Area Greenspace Invokes Northlake Park Network
By Tom Doolittle

Nearly eleven (11) acres of undeveloped land that divides the Brookdale Park and Flair Forest Subdivisions, near the intersection of Briarcliff and Shallowford Roads, has been owned by DeKalb County for about six months and cleanup activities began last week by the Parks Department. The property belonged to the Arthur M. Armstrong family has been uninhabited since 1988, says Art Armstrong, who inherited it from his mother, Mary. The Armstrongs refused to sell to developers in the 1960s, leaving the site enviably tucked into a very large neighborhood. Northlake subdivisions grew up around the Armstrongs, many with “natural” areas like nearby Lake Flair parceled out to private owners and miles of lowlands that have been youth havens for decades. “This land (Armstrong’s) fills a void in the park system—a big factor in pursuing it”, said Tina Arbes, DeKalb’s Assistant Administrator in charge of the Parks/Greenspace Bond Program. (See http://dekalbgreenspace.com for a map of property acquisitions, including an expansion to Henderson Park and a “Creek/Trail” acquisition on Barkside Court near Embry Hills.)

Arthur M. Armstrong, the son of Arthur Hammond Armstrong (memorialized Georgia Tech Athletics Director), was an English teacher and track coach at Druid Hills High School until around 1970, after returning from the Pacific Theater in WWII. Mr. Armstrong modified a former hunting shelter into a house and carved a quarter-mile dirt entrance drive off of Briarcliff Road. Young Art Armstrong was raised there, born in 1945, attending the original Tucker Elementary school before shifting to a “new” Oak Grove School in 7th grade and was a member of (former) Briarcliff High School’s first graduating class. The area means a lot to Art Armstrong and his boyhood home means even more.

“The last thing that spot needs are a bunch of new zero lot-line homes”, Armstrong says. “What it does need, is a place where a large neighborhood can congregate and relax. People have always had to get in their cars and go a ways to find a park.” Nearly 600 homes make up Flair Forest, Brookdale Park and Briarmoor Manor, the primary feeders to Hawthorne Neighborhood School, another recreation site. All have access to the Armstrong property on connected subdivision streets. Safe crossings on Briarcliff and Shallowford could afford half-mile access to 2000 households. Unrelated and not widely discussed, the DeKalb’s Trail Master Plan includes a North Fork Peachtree Creek Trail nearby, which would connect Shallowford Road with Mercer University and other individual local greenway initiatives.


Local Advocacy: Alliances and Coalitions Get Attention

“I had already been talking to members of Shallowford Presbyterian Church. They wanted to preserve the area behind them, but didn’t have the money”, Armstrong added. Some homeowners, including members of Flair Forest Garden Club and Hawthorne Civic Association, submitted an official “property nomination”, to be considered for county recognition by the County Greenspace program. The locals then combined forces with the church to advocate for a public purchase, ultimately gaining County Commissioner Gail Walldorff’s support. Armstrong’s for sale sign came down in the spring—the preservation idea had teeth. “We were fortunate to work with a land owner that was sympathetic (to the goals of the greenspace program) and to have several groups come forward”, says Administrator Arbes. The land was purchase for $2.12 million with, about 40% paid for with county funds—with contributions from the Georgia Greenspace Program and Blank Foundation.


Greenspace or Park?

Dave Butler is DeKalb’s Greenspace Environment Manager. Distinguishing greenspace from parks, he says “the goal of preserving greenspace is ultimately to improve water quality”. Until eight months ago, Butler was head of the South Peachtree Creek Nature Preserve, an all-volunteer nonprofit organization that sub-leases low lying land from the county. Butler says the future of each new greenspace will be driven by locals. He says the decision has already been made to name the former Armstrong property “Mary-Scott” after Art Armstrong’s mother and her lifetime friend Scott Brown, but will it be called a “Park” or “Natural Area”?

Beth Nathan is a member of the Flair Forest Garden Club and also on the Board of Hawthorne Civic Association. Nathan understands the value of neighborhood advocacy in communicating with a land owner, county officials and other nearby partners, like churches (in the Armstrong case). She says, “the County is open to suggestions (as to property use) and I understand that people will be able to walk into (the property), but not drive in.” Nathan included some information about the County purchase in a Labor Day Garden Club newsletter. “I also tried to include something in the Hawthorne Civic Association annual meeting newsletter, but there wasn’t enough space”, she said.

While speaking with Butler, I overheard a site manager on a walky-talky confirming his instructions to clean up the remains of the Armstrong home, crushed by falling trees long ago. The chimney will be left standing for posterity.

Lakeside, DeKalb and Georgia Rank High in AP Tests

From the Lakeside High School PTA Newsletter, March 1, 2010

Georgia, DeKalb and Lakeside Receives AP Honors!


Georgia has the 12th Highest Percent of Seniors Scoring a 3 or Higher on AP Exams according to The College Board's AP Report to the Nation released last week. This report measures progress of the class of 2009.

State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox recently named more than 125 Advanced Placement (AP) Honor Schools. Among those 125 were eight DeKalb County high schools: Lakeside, Avondale, Chamblee Charter High, Cross Keys, DeKalb School of the Arts, Druid Hills, Dunwoody and Southwest DeKalb.

Lakeside JV Academic Bowl State Champs!

From the Lakeside High School PTA Newsletter (March 1, 2009)

JV Academic Bowl State Champs!


Please congratulate the 2010 Junior Varsity Academic Bowl Team as 4A state champions for 2010 - state champions again!

The team of Anne Grosse, Kevin Bai, Michelle Vu, and Coby Benveniste remained undefeated in this Saturday's tournament at Ola High School in Henry County.

Thank you to Bharat Koti for assistance in scoring and time-keeping.

Mr. Saltmarsh, team members, parents, and faculty are very proud of the team!!

Evidence Mounts For Towns and New Centers

Northern Virginia Snow and another vote to live in towns and centers (and create new ones):
Just spoke with sis-in-law in Ashburn, near Leesburg and Dulles Airport--burried, but able to get to stores only with 4-wheel drives.

Her comment struck me--"Of course anyone in DC or Arlington can get what they want because they can walk to their stores." Hmmmmm...

Larger Storms, Fuel Price Increases/Shortages and Less Dough for Infrastructure--says we better look to different "living arrangements". Who's ready to make a business out of this? Local banks, locally-owned businesses, smaller industry/manufacturing, nonprofits, local transit....

Oak Grove Free-Throw Competition Raises over $2,000 for Haiti Relief

By Tom Doolittle
Feb. 8, 2010

Oak Grove Elementary, a Lakeside High School feeder, hosted “Hoops for Haiti”,

Pictured: Oak Grove Phys Ed Teacher Anne Hasse with some shooters (indoors due to weather)

....a basketball shooting contest to raise money for the Red Cross efforts in Haiti this past Saturday, February 6. This was on the heels of the school’s “Caps for Haiti” benefit just after the January 12, 2010 earthquake leveled the island nation, inspiring an unparalleled international funding drive.

Oak Grove parent Sarah Guzman, and physical education teacher Anne Haase were running things when I shot my free-throws (28 for 50 on a 9.5 foot rim) and several Lakeside National Honor Society students were helping out. Guzman said the Oak Grove student council organized the event. Haase, a Sandy Springs resident, has taught at Oak Grove for 17 years.

Ms. Guzman, with two children at Oak Grove and one at In Town Community Church middle school (Lavista Road near Toco Hills), said the event attracted 120 “shooters” and raised $2,098. “Caps for Haiti” was also a $2,000 fundraiser.

The competition had all of the earmarks of a well-coordinated community event, with PR help and participants from Clairmont Presbyterian Church. The church hosts the “Top of the Key” basketball player development program, very popular along DeKalb’s portion of the I-85 Northeast Atlanta and Lavista/Briarcliff Corridors. Check out http://www.topofthekey.com/  or go to the church’s “Parish Life” website for information about youth basketball.

The Oak Grove event also included a surprise show by the young rock band, “Frets on Fire”, three Oak Grove and one Henderson Middle School students who have studied with “Chicago Joe Jones”, who runs a popular rock and blues camp near I-85 and Monroe Avenue. His young bands and others get their live show experience at Maddy’s, a ribs and Blues joint in Decatur.

“Frets” has played at the Memphis International Blues Festival, so if anyone wants to encourage young talent at a local event, call band manager/parent Eric Reinhart at

(404) 663-0225 and see what the band and followers are up to at www.myspace.com/fretsonfireband


The author and family are 17-year Northlake residents, children having attended Lakeside High School. Doolittle was the founding treasurer of Northlake Community Alliance, Inc., authored its 501-c-3 application to the IRS for charitable status and incorporation documents with the Secretary of State. He also ran the Northlake Business forum and wrote “The Northlake Romance” column for Community Review/Journal newspapers, contributes research to Henderson Middle School’s Henderson (History) Project and Northlake news to GoDeKalb.com.