About Flagpole. (Athens, Ga.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 9, 2011)
A ROUAJ D TOUjfJ DOGS Kwp^w//m dStofl 7 UAS ORlV»^6 OOUSJ PRIWCE /WE. ve s re R d a v lJ^e^ all of A sud&em. .. - - - —, D/S POSE OF MV FEC ES Vrr& p£(0> GIAKJT DOGS {* l [ fOR A secoijo T. TW0J6HT THE Ro^oT APOCflLyPSE WAD F/AJALCV HAPPENED BuT THEW > REALIZED THEV u]9fcE jusr Awesome swLPTjRes... heh U* J>*.d M<xcU w uvj, o »J u f y f= \ tJ g £ f? S • ►-* E." t Architect Hired for Classic Center Project, Rezoning Finalized Supported by a large turnout of (mostly) young professionals who work in downtown hotels, bars, and the Classic Center, ACC com missioners approved the selection of an archi tect to design the Classic Center's expanded exhibit hall at their Feb. 1 regular meeting. They also funded a study for a proposed "river district" expansion of downtown. Concerns that the Classic Center expansion will require closing Hancock Avenue were addressed by requiring the architect—Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart & Associates—to provide a "conceptual plan" that doesn't close the street, as well as one that cloes. Many at last week's meeting made the" case that downtown jobs depend on the Classic Center. "We always know when conventions are in town, because we get this burst of people on a Tuesday," otherwise a slow day for bars, said Tray Alley, a former bar worker now employed by the Classic Center. Others spoke of the opportunities offered by Athens' hospitality indus try, including a Classic Center "workforce development" program for young people and adults who lack job skills. "In the hospitality industry, you can start off as a housekeeper and end up in management," said Angi Harben, the Classic Center's director of marketing. Athens Area Hotel Association President Mike Waldrip told commissioners that "there are a lot of hotels in trouble" in Athens (another speaker cited occupancy rates oelow 50 percent). Classic Center Director Paul Cramer had asked Waldrip to put the word out to hospitality workers that "the commission needs to hear from the hospitality commu nity," Cramer told Flagpole. A few speakers raised concerns about the plan. "We've heard a lot from the Classic Center. We have not heard from the citizens," warned Judy Johnston. "Lots of parking, lots of blank walls" won't make the neighborhood attractive to small businesses, said Emmanuel Obie. Commissioner Ed Robinson criticized "a rushed process" and voted against designating the architect, but the other nine commission ers supported a motion by Kelly Girtz that will require the architects "to evaluate the visual impact of the building mass from key points of observation from the downtown area, and the impact of the exterior design on the envi ronment of the adjoining streets." Multiple public-input meetings with citizens will also be held. Commissioner Harry Sims was dubious about the idea of extending the downtown street grid toward the river, noting that exist ing apartments block an extension of Strong or Hancock, and that crossing the CSX railroad tracks could be difficult to negotiate. More likely, he said, is a second, less-connected grid on the other side of the tracks—and just using a little imagina tion could save jumping through so many hoops, he added. Also approved: a cancer-care center to be built on Jefferson Road, on a wooded site that commissioners earlier rejected for a supermarket. Many of the trees presently along the back of the large lot will be saved, to provide a buffer zone negotiated by the developer with nearby homeowners, county planner Gavin Hassemer told Flai le. Bu f 'all those trees you see along Jefferson Road probably will be gone," he said. Other recent developments—the CVS Pharmacy on Hawthorne and the Social Security office on Prince—have also conspicuously removed large trees along the street, despite ACC's tree ordinance. Saving more large trees, Hassemer said, would require "a change to our ordinance and a change, I believe, to our [comprehensive] plan"—which is based on "New Urbanist" principles that include front ing buildings close to the street to encourage walkability. "The building's up front, or the trees are up front. It's hard to do both," he said. A long-planned loop trail around Lake Chapman at Sandy Creek park could be com pleted within 18 months. Additional board walks and a pedestrian bridge will connect the two existing four-mile trails, closing the loop across Sandy Creek and the adjacent wetlands at the lake's inlet. The county will seek vol unteers to help with trail improvements, but the project will still cost $420,000 (including $160,000 from an anonymous donor). And while property owners affected by the mass rezoning of more than 1,300 lots lying between Commerce and DanielsviUe roads—also approved by the commission at last week's meeting—have been notified by mail of the change, few have objected or attended public meetings. The change was made necessary by the commission's earlier decision to ditch plans for sewer lines to serve that area; in order to accommodate septic tanks, lots must be larger than those served by sewer pipes. Many of the rezoned lots already have homes on them, making their rezoning merely a technical matter; but other, unbuilt lots were "upzoned" last week from duplex or apartments to single-family. That could affect the value of those lots. Commissioners Harry Sims, George Maxwell and Doug Lowry opposed the rezoning. "Once we vote on this, we'll probably then have the outcry,." Sims said. John Huie “We always know when conventions are in town, because we get this burst of people on a Tuesday.” One of a' Kind Aurum Hearts Free! N Valentine Bouquet witji any purchase 125 F. Cl AVION ST. • DOWNTOWN • 70(»-54f>-882(» a Limited Time Only The Food is Our Reputation Domestic Beer S 1 • Imported Beer $ 2 7 Cay Lunch Buffet Specials at Peking Eastside Location Only - DINE IN • TAKE OUT • DELIVERY 706-549-0274 Major Credit Cards & Checks Accepted Green Acres Shopping Center • 1935 Barnett Shoals Rd. Online^j I Courses UGA COURSES THAT FIT YOUR w ^SCHEDULE TIL 706-542-3243 1-800-877-3243 See your academic advisor about applying specific IDL courses to your program of study For more information or to register: www.georgiacenter.uga.edu/flagpole The University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education Independent and Distance Learning (IDL) Suite 193 • 1197 South Lumpkin Street • Athens, GA Via Web-Based E-Correspondence 6 FLAGP0LE.C0M • FEBRUARY 9,2011
