Q: What are the plans for the Fort McPherson property? Are there any plans to relocate any wildlife there? — Deborah Griffin, 
Hiram

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Q: What are the plans for the Fort McPherson property? Are there any plans to relocate any wildlife there? — Deborah Griffin, 
Hiram

A: The plans for the base, which is scheduled to close in 2011, include creating a bioscience park that will anchor economic development of the 487-acre facility, according to the McPherson Implementing Local Redevelopment Authority. Executive director Jack Sprott said the entity is in the process of finishing its business plan for the property, which will be included in a document that it plans to submit to the U.S. Army next year. That will lead to the agreement to transfer the property to the LRA, which likely will happen in 2012. The rest of the property will be marketed to private developers, Sprott said. He said he’s not aware of what types of wildlife are on the property, but the Army will specify how aspects such as wildlife should be handled when the transfer occurs.

Q: I recently read Part 4 of the AJC’s The Atlanta Project, which focused on panhandling and the negative impact it has had on downtown Atlanta. How did this term originate? 
— Jerry Schwartz,
Alpharetta

A: The noun panhandler, which has been around for more than 100 years, presumably came from individual’s arm being extended like a panhandle, said Sara C. Weigle, chairwoman of Georgia State University’s applied linguistics and ESL department.

Lori Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or e-mail q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).