Decatur’s public facilities authority bill passed the Senate this week and received its first reading in the House Thursday. Sen. Elena Parent, D-Atlanta, who shepherded the bill through the Senate, said there’s a good chance the bill could get approved next week.
“I haven’t heard any pushback,” she said. “I like the idea of what Decatur is proposing. It would benefit my constituents.”
Upon passing the PFA would have authority to seek bond funding to purchase the 77-acre United Methodist Children’s Home. Unlike a general obligation bond, bonds secured by a PFA don’t require a vote and therefore funding could be achieved faster.
But it doesn’t guarantee that the city can purchase the land. Decatur figures to have plenty competition, for what Atlanta-based realtor Bill Adams called “a once in a lifetime property.”
Last month when the UMCH announced intentions to sell, Vice President of Development John Cerniglia told the AJC he immediately began getting “many phone calls” from builders and developers.
Meantime at a recent Decatur City Commission meeting several UMCH alumni spoke, asking that at least one alumnus get a spot on the five-member PFA.
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