About Flagpole. (Athens, Ga.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 5, 2011)
ATHENS NEWS AND VIEWS The political terrain surrounding the apparent demise of the Blue Heron river district project and speculation about the possible redevelopment of the Armstrong & Dobbs property just keeps getting rockier. In the wake of the Athens-Clarke County Commission's moratorium on development on the outskirts of downtown—a move designed to buy time to deal with the infra structure demands of impending development, specifically of a reported mixed-use project at A&D that was rumored to include a small, "urban" Walmart—the Athens Banner-Herald reported that a representative of the retail giant denied the company was planning such a move at this time. (In the meantime, the ABH editorial page had bemoaned the "unin tended consequences" the moratorium might bring, and pointed out that there had been little vocal concern about "infrastructure" among supporters of the Blue Heron project- ignoring, amazingly, the fact that the entire proposal had hinged on the tailoring of infrastructure improvements to planned development.) Despite a company spokesman's statement to the ABH that he's "not aware of any spe cific discussions" regarding Walmart's interest in the A&D development, there remain mul tiple local sources who say they are. And the one person in the local government who pur ports to have had substantive discussions with representatives of the developer that's working on the project, Mayor Nancy Denson, has cited a promise of confidentiality to the developer in declining to reveal what she knows of the specifics of the plan. While Denson says she hasn't signed a binding confidentiality agreement, as has been widely speculated, she clearly sees some conversations she's had on the matter as beyond the scope of the public's right to know. That view may be put to the test by an open records request by local attorney Bill Overend (who is also the chair of the Clarke County Democratic Committee and a former Flagpole staffer) that was delivered last week to Denson, ACC Manager Alan Reddish and Matt Forshee, president of the ACC Economic Development Foundation, which had shep herded Blue Heron until its abrupt decision last month to effectively ditch the project. Overend is asking for access to records of all communications pertaining to proposed development at or near the A&D property on the part of any ACC government officials or EOF representatives, including "personal" emails. According to indications by Forshee and Denson, the EOF and the county will comply. Specifically included in Overend's request is an audio recording of the EDF board's closed, 90-minute "executive session" of Sept. 12, during which Denson reportedly shared information that convinced the board not to hire a project manager for Blue Heron—a position for which the EDF's human resources committee, at the full board's request, had already con ducted interviews and chosen a candidate to recommend for formal approval that day. Denson requested the closed session on the grounds that it was to discuss "personnel"; Overend contends that information shared pertaining to whether or not to hire a consul tant—particularly when that information has no bearing on the candidate himself—does not meet the standards of sensitivity required to conduct talks in secret. Keep in mind that it was Denson who publicly aired "legal and ethical issues" with commissioners' having conversations outside public meetings during the EDF board member ship dustup earlier this summer, despite the fact that those discussions never involved public policy decisions being made based on secret information. Even if the records request doesn't yield any useful new information about A&D, Blue Heron or Walmart, it's bound to help clear the picture as far as what our local officials' priorities are for the immediate future of downtown development—and what the mayor sees as the boundaries for our public discourse on the matter. [Dave Marr] Authoritative Development: After vetting proposals from 41 different consultants to create a long-range "master plan" for how downtown should grow, the Athens Downtown Development Authority has done nothing more on the project since January. Mostly, that's because of its cost, ADDA Director Kathryn Lookofsky says: a "visioning process" to assess public input could cost $100,000, and a nuts-and-bolts plan for implementing that vision—specifying possible ordinances, sidewalk widths and the like—could cost $250,000. Lookofsky maintains that a master plan may be "even more of a priority" among newer ADDA board members, but "trying to figure out how it would be funded—that's the big holdup." Master plans have been drawn up for many U.S. cities, including parts of Atlanta and Savannah. The proposals for Athens typically would conduct traffic and marketing studies of downtown, and make suggestions on land uses, likely retailers, "wayfinding" for visitors, traffic calming, landscaping and public art. And while the downtown authority cel ebrates the opening of its new parking deck, some accuse it of caring about nothing but parking. The ADDA's mission statement tasks it with "revitalization and redevelopment" of downtown, but Lookofsky could point to no activities besides parking (from which the authority derives its revenue). And despite four public downtown parking decks, there is some concern that visitors still don't know where to park. A 2007 consultant's study said the four decks aren't well marked, so visitors may "circle the block" hunting for parking. We don't mean to rain on the ADDA's cel ebration of its*new parking deck. Downtown merchants who must compete with outlying retailers offering lots of free parking consider the 540-space deck long overdue. Car park ing rates for no-hassle deck parking are only $1.50 an hour; bicycle parking is free. But the ADDA is missing a bet if it fails to involve itself in downtown's future. At a recent committee meeting, where ACC com missioners discussed limiting the numbers of bars downtown, ADDA wasn't represented. Neither were any bar owners—"I don't think anybody knew about it," says downtown attorney Regina Quick, who did attend. That discussion continues; but Quick says, "If they want to attract retail to downtown, they need to focus on beautifica tion of downtown." She points to deteriorating downtown sidewalks as an example of the problem. Does it really have to cost $100,000 to engage the public in a discussion about downtown? Certainly, consultants are stand ing in line with offers, but we've already had parking studies, build ing design guidelines, the recent Blue Heron study... there's comfort in hiring consultants, but it can also be a substitute for really doing anything. Athens citizens have always shown themselves willing to do their own studies— the OneAthens antipoverty team made many recommendations; so did the Charter Overview commission—and one of the most imaginative local planning studies has been the home grown, zero-cost "Community Approach to Planning Prince Avenue." Consultants can bring expertise, but they can't make our derisions for us. The Blue Heron study warned that the Armstrong & Dobbs property near downtown will become just more student apartments [or, apparently, a Walmart] unless a plan is put forward. Once again, we've paid a consultant to tell us what to do, and then done nothing. Is there a bet ter way? [John Huie] Dave Marr & John Huie news@flagpole.com It’s good for something, right? The newest aerial view of downtown Athens, from the Washington Street parking deck. BUY A MEDIUM SMOOTHIE, GET ONE FREE! Up to $449 Expires 10/11/11 Restrictions Apply —..ip ppm.— Westside & Omni Club 5 Points 706.369.3111 (Membership not 706*613*2600 required to enter) HAPPY HOUR M-F 2-8 S 1 PBR & HIGH LIFE s 2 DOMESTIC BOTTLES s 3 CALL SHOTS A «tw)i> I'UciTjr mil## i I’i H ViVA! 2270 Barnett Shoals Rd • 706-850-8284 eran3 Him EEDUm HAND ROLLED EMPANADAS ARGENTINE CHEESESTEAK HAND-CUT GRILLED STEAKS WITH CH1MICHURR1 GABY'S ATOMIC CUPCAKES & MORE! 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