Even though it appears no other DeKalb County city, including Decatur, will update its annexation plans this year, Avondale Estates officials said they plan to present a own revised map this legislative session.
“Whether or not Greenhaven (a proposed south DeKalb city) happens is not a huge influence on us,” said Avondale Mayor Jonathan Elmore. “It’s not a land grab, we just feel annexing is the right thing to do. A lot of people think most of those areas [proposed for annexation] are in Avondale anyway.”
Avondale’s annexation map includes the neighborhoods of Forrest Hills and Decatur Terrace, those residential areas south of Rockbridge Road, the American Legion property east of the city and the Rio Circle commercial district.
The city is waiting on an updated feasibility plan from the Carl Vinson Institute, which it hopes to have this week. Elmore said he’d like to take the Vinson numbers and meet with home and landowners in the proposed annexation areas before the end of this month.
The city likely has its work cut out, particularly with Rio landowners and the Legion who have both spoken against annexation in the past. Also, Decatur Terrace was on Decatur’s most recent map two years ago.
Avondale Estates currently has a tax base that is 89 percent residential and 11 percent commercial.
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