State Representative Karla Drenner, D-Avondale Estates, read three local annexation bills Monday, including a portion of Decatur and all of Avondale Estates. Each passed through the policy committee, and now need 9 of 16 signatures from DeKalb delegates to reach the House.
In a surprise move, however, Drenner introduced the Avondale master plan minus the Decatur Terrace neighborhood, south of College Avenue between Avondale and Decatur.
Drenner publicly announced the removal on a local blogsite posting without saying where the neighborhood will wind up. But both Avondale City Manager Clai Brown and Acting Mayor Terry Giager said Decatur Terrace and its 144 homes are being moved onto Decatur’s map.
Last fall, Decatur Terrace petitioned for removal from Avondale Estates (favored by 109 lots or 76 percent of the neighborhood) and for getting added to Decatur (favored by 100 or 69 percent). But Decatur City Manager Peggy Merriss has consistently reiterated the city doesn’t want any additional residential districts because of its overburdened school system. The neighborhood’s petition claims only 17 students at most would enter the system.
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