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Home > Clayton.Talk > Archives > 2007 > September > 03 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USDear city of Lovejoy: I’m jealous!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I recently attended a Lovejoy work session/zoning meeting. I wanted to see what they were planning since we live nearby and patronize businesses there.
Lovejoy residents are being given a unique opportunity to have some input on what future development will look like in the Panhandle.
In order to get to the meeting, I had to turn off of Panhandle Road (which showcases some lovely homes) onto North Bridge Road. Although there is some building going on there, this is a section of Clayton County that has managed to retain a residential and country feel. I can only imagine how picturesque this area was before developers got hold of it.
I was even more in awe once I arrived at the J.W. Smith Community Building at the reservoir. This lake area is so beautiful and serene, even the air smells different there. It was hard to believe that I was less than five miles from home because my neighborhood is practically built out.
Lovejoy residents would like to see horse trails, homes on one-acre lots that are not within a subdivision, four-sided brick homes with side-entry garages, but no wooden steps or porches. They would also like to preserve farmland and green space and see no type of businesses in the area whatsoever, especially anything vaguely resembling a strip mall.
I must admit, I was envious. I along with many Clayton residents I’m sure would love a chance to help shape what their neighborhood could look like. I wish Lovejoy success with their future plans for the Panhandle.
Lovejoy residents - is there anything else you’d like to see (or not see) in your community?
To everyone else - if you could help improve the look of your neighborhood, what types of changes would you suggest?
Permalink | Comments (25) | Post your comment | Categories: Kimberly Allen
Comments
By Ora
September 3, 2007 11:41 AM | Link to this
If you attended a meeting held at the Smith Resrvoir, you were not in the city of Lovejoy. You were in unincorporated Clayton. Those of us who live in the Panhandle do not want future development led by a mayor of Lovejoy who your paper reports is currently being investigated by the D.A. and the Secretary of State. One thing this county does not need is to have people in position to influnce public opinion making statements that show that not only do not know anything about this county..but they don’t take the time to find out!
By Ora
September 3, 2007 11:41 AM | Link to this
If you attended a meeting held at the Smith Resrvoir, you were not in the city of Lovejoy. You were in unincorporated Clayton. Those of us who live in the Panhandle do not want future development led by a mayor of Lovejoy who your paper reports is currently being investigated by the D.A. and the Secretary of State. One thing this county does not need is to have people in position to influnce public opinion making statements that show that not only do not know anything about this county..but they don’t take the time to find out!
By taylor
September 4, 2007 7:19 AM | Link to this
just hearing the name makes me happy…. LoveJoy!
By Winfred
September 4, 2007 7:24 AM | Link to this
Since we are living in a fantasy world….A bike path on panhandle going from Tara Rd to JW smith would be great!
By bubba
September 4, 2007 7:45 AM | Link to this
Of course you dont want Murphy in office… he’s White!Be honest, I bet you voted for eldrin bell too didnt you?
By bubba
September 4, 2007 7:45 AM | Link to this
Of course you dont want Murphy in office… he’s White! Be honest, I bet you voted for eldrin bell too didnt you?
By Mr. J
September 4, 2007 8:48 AM | Link to this
Jealous? You have been hoodwinked! Joe Murphy and team have crafted a plantation that benifits them in the tune of millions. The amazing thing is he has violated and continues to violate the law. Those citizens are happy with taking his crumbs. What fool would spend $10,000 a month to rent a community center? So they got their first black councilwoman. Just another hoodwinked indvidual who has been brought on to protect the wrongs of the council and mayor of Lovejoy.
By Kimberly Allen
September 4, 2007 10:30 AM | Link to this
Ora,
No where in this article did I say that the reservoir was actually in the city of Lovejoy! Only stated that I admired the site and surrounding areas where the meeting was held.
Kimberly Allen
By Leandre
September 4, 2007 11:57 AM | Link to this
Kim,
Rest asure - the rednecks will continue to make sure they get thier unfair cut in all profits - from the life long good ol’ boy network.
By Andy
September 4, 2007 12:04 PM | Link to this
As Kimberly is yet another northern transplant from the concrete hells they love to build there, I guess the current Lovejoy would seem attractive. As someone who has lived in the southern arc since the middle 1970’s I would have to say that it has only improved the bank accounts of a few while creating yet another cookie cutter ho-humdrum land. Change isn’t always for the better.
By MikeW
September 4, 2007 12:05 PM | Link to this
Unbelievable! Here a nice black lady writes a good article on a lovely town and you all turn it into a racial issue. Can’t you see that it doesn’t matter what color you are if you’re trying to make a better life for you and yours?! Get off the ‘race-wagon’ and talk about how you can improve your own neighborhoods.
By Andy
September 4, 2007 12:12 PM | Link to this
I am rather intrigued by even hearing mention of the words “zoning” and “Clayton County” in the same breath. Traveling up and down highways 19/41 or 54 its pretty obvious when you enter and leave Clayton as thats where the stip malls end.
By greg
September 4, 2007 2:19 PM | Link to this
NO MORE APARTMENTS!! NO MORE APARTMENTS!!!!! NO MORE APARTMENTS!!!!!! NO MORE APARTMENTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Drakes Landing
September 4, 2007 2:26 PM | Link to this
I think that Lovejoy meeting was a continuation of other meetings that have been addressing higher zoning and building standards for various parts of Clayton (along Tara Blvd, Hwy 138 from Jonesboro to Henry County and Cherry Hill near the airport). The county hired a firm to examine those areas and make recommendations. I think that your title implies that the city of Lovejoy is responsible for the meeting where I think Clayton County really is. All of the panhandle area is in unincorporated Clayton County with zip codes for either the city of Hampton or Fayetteville. Keep up the good work Kim. Some posters (haters) love to criticize but they didn’t step up to write their own blogs when given the chance.
By Andy
September 4, 2007 4:59 PM | Link to this
I’m not a hater, but I do deplore the development and lack of centralized planning that has infested Clayton County for decades. The faces change of the county leadership but the politics remain the same… get into power by any means and suck the taxpayers dry. Its really sad when the only saving graces for parts of a county are its proximity to other countrys that aren’t as bad. Mind you Stockbridge is getting pretty bad and I’m not happy about a 4 lane highway being built to dump another counties’ lack of planning and restraint into ours.
As well as when I lived in Fayettville Ga, 85 was only a source of contention as the Apartments grew futher and further south.
By Zipporah
September 4, 2007 5:29 PM | Link to this
My husband and I frequently drive through the Panhadle. We actually live in a subdivision in Love Joy. It is the most beautiful place in the world. I hope thepowers that be do not spoil it with too much commercial developement and public transportation.
By Jim A.
September 4, 2007 6:19 PM | Link to this
One big problem with the panhandle area: It’s in Clayton County, Remember, The worst school system in the nation, Drive through there and look at all the for sale signs, Except in the new subdivisions where the people that are ruining our county have moved in.
By Koz
September 5, 2007 7:32 AM | Link to this
I grew up in Lovejoy. I lived there for years before Kim even knew it existed. I’m in disbelief that she thinks it has a country feel. I would never move back there because it used to have a country feel and now has a ghetto feel.
By rvl
September 5, 2007 8:43 AM | Link to this
Come on now, let’s focus on the positive aspects of Clayton County.
By Mr. J
September 5, 2007 9:40 AM | Link to this
Koz you do not know ghettos. glad you are gone. question is why are you reading this blog? More important why are you sharing your view?
Kim keep up the good work!
By Koz
September 5, 2007 12:12 PM | Link to this
Mr J is there a restriction on who can share their view in this blog? I think not.
I obviously used the term ‘ghetto’ colloquially, and you obviously got my meaning. I don’t want to know real ghettos, but if you’d move back there, Lovejoy would surely be a better place.
By tired
September 5, 2007 4:09 PM | Link to this
Why is Ms. Allen allowed to write this uninformed, jaded blog? Don’t you know that everyone, including several commissioners, has fought overdevelopment on the southside - Clayton County, Lovejoy, and Henry County. The “problem” lies within the U.S. and Georgia Constitutions. If the BOC’s turn down the property owners’ rezoning petitions, those same property owners sue based on their inability to realize the full earning potential of their property (which is their constitutional right). The courts, then, impose almost no restrictions whatsoever on the properties. For this reason, the BOC’s try to reach some compromise with the owners before having this happen. The same thing is happening slowly in the Panhandle as those who own property leave for greener pastures. Take some time, visit the BOC’s office, and ask to see the proposed zoning usage plan for the next ten years or so.
By Clayton Resident
September 6, 2007 9:38 AM | Link to this
To answer the question, and fantasize a little bit, what Id like to change is all the strip malls and would really like to see the ones that are already built filled before a developer throws up another one. There are at least 3 strip malls near my home and none of them are filled, they all have 2-3 tenants, mostly nail salons.
By Joe
September 6, 2007 10:06 AM | Link to this
The sheriff has said Bell is a liar, but he’s not 100% accurate, Bells lips must be moving for it to be true. Bell just promoted an employee who was caught having his kitichen cabinets made on county oroperty by county employees useing county material. Who else has been rewarded for stealing?
By kimadeen
September 7, 2007 11:02 AM | Link to this
I moved to the Panhandle area almost 7 years ago. My mailing address is Fayetteville, but I am just over the line into Clayton County. I loved it then… I like it now. Too many trees have been cut down…too many homes built. They solved the issue of not zoning for apartments by building houses that are only ten feet apart. It’s ridiculous.
As far as the school system goes, not every school in CCPS is bad. Lovejoy High School was recently named to Newsweek’s list of Top 1200 high schools in the nation.