The Decatur Minute

An important message from Agnes Scott College:

Agnes Scott College will hold its 128th Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 13, 2017. Due to the Commencement activities, the campus will be closed that Saturday to pedestrian and bicycle traffic from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. In addition, E. Dougherty Street will be closed to vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian traffic during that same time frame. Please anticipate traffic congestion around the college’s surrounding streets before and after Commencement between 6 a.m. and 1 p.m.

For questions, contact Agnes Scott College’s Public Safety department at 404.471.6355.

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On April 25, 2017 City of Decatur Mayor Patti Garrett, the UMCH President and CEO, Rev. Hal Jones, and Debby Stikes, Chair of the UMCH Board of Trustees, met to sign the sale agreement for the $40 Million purchase of the approximately 77 acre UMCH property adjacent to the southeastern city limits of the City of Decatur.

Mayor Patti Garrett said, “We are so excited to keep this project moving forward and I am proud to be able to represent the Decatur City Commission in executing the contract that will start the process of making the purchase happen.”

Proceeds of the sale will support the UMCH mission in new communities according to Rev. Jones, who said “we are committed to reaching out to, and serving, the alarming and growing number of children and families who are in crisis. The sale of the Decatur property helps us expand this ministry across North Georgia.” Board Chair Debby Stikes added that “preserving the Moore Chapel and the gravesite of UMCH’s founder Rev. Dr. Jesse Boring was very important to the Board, to members of our alumni group, and to countless others across North Georgia who partner with us in this ministry. We are delighted with the City’s support in honoring the memories created on this property.”

It is anticipated that the UMCH will vacate the property by late summer or early fall, 2017. Once the City owns and takes possession of the property, the City will annex the acreage and begin a community-based master planning effort engaging nearby neighborhoods, UMCH alumni and other stakeholders to help determine a vision and plan for future use.

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TONIGHT, Decatur will host its second Open Office Hour, a virtual meeting with Mayor Pro Tem Fred Boykin from 7 – 8 p.m. The Mayor Pro Tem will speak for approximately 15-20 minutes on the topic of transportation, Decatur’s efforts around walkability, proposed bicycle lanes, and more. .

The community is invited to tune in to watch and listen via livestream, http://www.decaturga.com/city-government/city-commission/streaming-video, and will be able and encouraged to submit questions related to the topic live (beginning at 7 p.m.) via Twitter (@downtowndecatur),  Facebook, email (openofficehour@decaturga.com), or phone 678-553-6569.

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In an effort to help local business owners and their employees stop sitting and get moving, Harken Health is offering a day of FREE health and wellness classes at its Harken Health Center in Decatur on Wednesday, May 3, 2017 in honor of National Get Fit Don’t Sit Day.
On Get Fit Don’t Sit Day, members, non-members and local business owners and employees can visit a nearby Harken Health Center to enjoy classes such as yoga, Zumba or a nutrition class. Classes will run throughout the day. More details on the classes being offered at the Harken Health Center in Decatur are included below. To learn more, visit: https://www.harkenhealth.com/get-fit-dont-sit/

9-10am Standing Meditation
Join our Health Coach Morgan McMahon for this class that embraces the simple, powerful mediation stance of standing. Learn how to achieve the standing meditation alignment and practice the position using breath work.

11am-12pm Neighborhood Walk

Partake in a mild pace walk through our local neighborhood with Harken Health Coaches.

12-1pm Yoga

Yoga incorporates breathing techniques, deep stretching, light vinyasa work, foundational standing and balancing postures into a low-impact exercise for better health. There is an emphasis on meditation and mindfulness through breath work, toning and strengthening through subtle flowing, and gentle stretching for all the therapeutic benefits of yoga. All levels welcome!

1-2pm Zumba

Zumba is an aerobic dance fitness program that features movements inspired by various styles of Latin American dance, performed primarily to Latin American dance music. The choreography incorporates hip hop, soca, salsa, belly dance and various aerobic techniques such as squats and lunges, just to name a few! Though it may sound intimidating, no rhythm or previous dance background is required. The Zumba motto is “ditch the workout, join the party!” You only need to bring a willing spirit, teachable attitude, and of course water and comfortable shoes.

3-4pm Chair Exercises
Join Health Coach Joyce Miller, as she leads this class focused on various chair exercises. This class is geared towards helping people in the beginning stages of their fitness journey and will show how to work out while sitting down.

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This is a weekly blog post that lists all of the events and sales going on around town. It will be updated daily. If you would like to add an event, email renae.madison@decaturga.com.

Tuesday, April 25

• Agnes Scott Collegiate Chorale & Sotto Voce Concert “Anamalia”, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, April 26

• Agnes Scott Joyful Noise Gospel Choir Concert, 8 p.m.

Thursday, April 27

• Bridge Club, 10 a.m.
• Jazz Nights at Scottish Rite, 7 p.m.

Friday, April 28

• Decatur High School Baseball State Playoffs, 5 p.m.
• Agnes Scott Theatreworks 2017, 8 p.m.

Saturday, April 29

• Beat the Street for Little Feet 5k, 8 a.m.
• Downtown Decatur Food Tour, 11 a.m.
• Agnes Scott Theatreworks 2017, 8 p.m.

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When: Tuesday, May 2, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Where: Oakhurst Baptist Church, 222 East Lake Drive, Decatur GA 30030

The Decatur Housing Authority is working to redevelop 34 apartments on Oakview Road to be affordable to people with low or fixed incomes. We need your ideas to develop a community plan that improves transportation, education, access to jobs and health and community services. A Community Planning Meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 2, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at Oakhurst Baptist Church, 222 East Lake Drive, Decatur GA 30030. Call 404-759-5953 for more information. Participants will include representatives from the Decatur Housing Authority, City Schools of Decatur, MARTA, and City of Decatur. Presentation and public comment will take place at the Oakhurst Neighborhood Association Quarterly Meeting on Monday, May 8. Visit www.oakhurstga.org for more information.

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The impact

The last round of temporary closures encountered some unmarked underground utilities, delaying completion of the work. Accordingly, North McDonough Street will again be closed overnight between Trinity Place and East Maple Street beginning Monday, April 24, and then repeating on Tuesday, April 25. As before, each temporary closure will begin at 11 p.m. and end the following morning at 6 a.m. Assuming no further hidden discoveries, everything is expected to be completed by Wednesday morning.

This work will ultimately result in a new storm drainage system as part of the North McDonough streetscape improvements.
How to manage

A detour will be in place each evening. Consult the map for greater detail.

To obtain updates on this and other construction projects in downtown Decatur, sign up for Extreme Makeover: Downtown Decatur Edition at decaturmakeover.com.

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Reminder: the City of Decatur is hosting Neighborhood Clean-up Days on Saturdays in March and April, to allow residents to dispose of bulky materials that would not normally be placed in pay-as-you-throw bags. Every street in the City has been assigned to one Saturday. Visit the Neighborhood Cleanup Days page on the city website for detailed instructions and specified dates for each street.

Collection for April 29 will take place in the following neighborhood:

MAK Neighborhood/College Heights
Neighborhood –
South McDonough Street (West College Avenue to
Oakview Road)
Ansley Street (South McDonough Street to Kings
Highway)
East Hancock Street
East Davis Street
College Place
West Dougherty Street
West Davis Street
West Hancock Street
Adams Street (West College Avenue to Oakview
Road)
Kings Highway
West College Avenue (South McDonough Street to
Kings Highway)
W. Pharr (S. McDonough to East Lake)
E. Pharr Road (northside from S. McDonough to S.
Candler and both sides east of S. Candler)
Adams (McKoy Park to W. Pharr)
Spring (Adams to East Lake)
McKoy (W. Hill to W. Pharr)
McClean Street
Garland Avenue
Griffin Circle
S. McDonough Street (Hill to Pharr)
Lenore Street
Driftwood Terrace
Driftwood Place
Brower Street
S. Candler Street (Buchanan to E. Pharr)
Buchanan Terrace
Chevelle Lane
Candler Dr.
Candler Pointe
Park Drive
Overlook Bluff

All items to be collected should be placed at the curb by 7:30 a.m. This ensures that we do not have to rerun routes for late set-outs. Collections run until 3:30 p.m., or until finished, whichever is sooner.

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Work is expected to begin during the week of April 24, at the intersection of Lockwood Terrace and Fairview Street, and last for approximately 12 weeks. During that time, the general contractor, Autaco Development LLC, will provide traffic control as necessary for temporary lane closures, while maintaining two-way traffic and access to residential driveways. Work will be conducted during regular construction hours listed below:

Mon-Fri 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday No Work

The storm drainage improvements are being done in response to citizen requests to address recurring localized flooding at the intersection. After completion of the design and public input process that started in June of 2015, the City Commission awarded a contract to perform this work at its regular meeting on March 20, 2017.

Our experience has been that infrastructure improvements like these are noisy, messy and inconvenient. Your patience is appreciated during this time and efforts will be made to minimize impacts, but please expect some disruption and plan accordingly. Call or email Jennings Bell with questions at (678) 553-6529 or jennings.bell@decaturga.com.

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