Decatur officials confirmed that the three Bank of America parking lots downtown are unavailable for re-configuration as a public park. The lots are either owned or close to getting purchased by developers Pope & Land Enterprises Inc, said Assistant City Manager Lyn Menne.
The Downtown Decatur Neighbors has eyed the Commerce Drive/Church Street property for a roughly one-acre park since it’s 2014 formation. Last month the group gave a presentation before city commissioners that drew about 100 supporters. DDN President George Dusenbury even suggested the city could seize the lots through eminent domain
“We’re not against a park,” Menne said. “But that’s very expensive land. For instance the construction value of the [proposed Cousins Properties development of the] Callaway Building is valued at $55 million. A development like that helps our tax base, which is 85 percent residential. Besides, downtown development is what we planned for starting 30 years ago.”
Menne said she has yet to see any plans from Pope & Land, which developed One Decatur Town Center and Two Decatur Town Center in the 1980s.
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