Lawmakers renew Avondale Estates annexation efforts
- 1/28/10
- Categorized in: DeKalb News
A state senator from Avondale Estates still hopes to annex a portion of unincorporated land west of the city’s gateway to clean up blighted areas and some businesses.
State Rep. Stephanie Benfield said she plans to speak this month with DeKalb County’s delegation of House members to put the issue to a vote in this session. Her proposal would essentially extend Decatur’s borders east along College Avenue, absorbing about 10 properties, and Avondale Estates’ boundaries westward, taking about 20 properties, she said.
Sam’s Crossing would become the boundary between the two.
Benfield, who said she’s been trying to pass the annexation since 1999, said she has the support of several delegation members and requires only 10 supporters to bring the issue to a vote on the House floor. Among those supporters are Michele Henson, Mary Margaret Oliver and Stacey Abrams, she said.
“Those businesses along there – not all of them but enough of them for it to be a concern – need cleaning up,” she said. “The citizens of Avondale have really gotten energized and want to see something happen.”
The issue was pressed last year and ended after a large number of business owners protested the plan. Benfield said she’s open to hearing the business community’s concerns but remains unimpressed with their efforts to clean up the College Avenue corridor between Decatur and Avondale Estates over the last decade.
“I’m frustrated. I’m certainly listening to their concerns. I’m certainly not turning a deaf ear,” she said.
Benfield said she plans to present her case to the delegation in the Legislative Office Building in Atlanta on Feb. 1. She added that she expects a contingent of business owners to attend her presentation and protest the plan.
“We’re going to give them their time to let the delegation know their views,” she said.
Indeed this is part of a "10 year plan" to gain tax revenue for Decatur and Avondale
Next year it will be more residential properties, as this group goes back after everything they tried to grab last year when they spoke of "better
Decatur schools as the carrot. The Museum should take some of the wind out of their sails.
John
My guess is, that if these people wanted to be part of either city municipality, they would have presented their request long before now, but to FORCE these property owners into annexation is unjust!! How about moving Avondale High School into the city digest and tax accordingly, just like Decatur High School does, or pull the DeKalb Farmers Market into the mix (there is some big buck for taxation), and absorb the MARTA repair facility as well and get some Federal dollars.
Also, why if 18 out of 23 property owners are against this annexation, is this such an issue for the City of Avondale?
There is some evidence of wear on the proposed properties up for annexation, there is also evidence of wear in the City of Avondale properties as well.
One interesting point, about the closing the gap between two cities is the fact that the Twin Oak Apartments is being left out of this annexation.
Why is that? Is it because this is residential and the City of Avondale might not want to dilute there votes? I'm not sure. There is only access through Avondale Estates to some of this property.
So, proposed City of Decatur property owners hope you are voicing your opinion.
The City of Avondale Estates is seeking to annex the commercial properties to Sam’s Crossing to regulate future growth and development, increase the presence of law enforcement and to beautify the gateway to our city.
The area under consideration for annexation has become blighted and is considered by many residents an area prone to criminal activity. Annexation would allow the City of Avondale Estates to provide immediate police protection and law enforcement services.
The proposed City of Avondale Estates annexation includes 23 commercial parcels collectively owned by nine individuals.
The Avondale Estates Business Association supports the annexation and is backed by a unanimous resolution by the Avondale Estates Board of Mayor and Commissioners.
Sam’s Crossing is a natural gateway to the City of Avondale Estates and to the City of Decatur. Completing this annexation will allow the cities of Decatur and Avondale Estates to meet at this natural border.
This area needs planned deliberate growth. The City of Avondale Estates has a full-time code enforcement officer and in 2010 is budgeted to hire a full-time Planning and Economic Development Director. Both cities will have the combined resources to improve and cure this blighted area to make a positive economic impact.
Source: http://avondaleestates.org/resources/annexation/Pr...