Developer Alliance Realty will present revisions in its proposed project for North Arcadia Drive and East Ponce de Leon Avenue, during Decatur’s city commission meeting, 7:30 p.m. May 21 at City Hall, 509 N. McDonough St.
Several commissioners expressed reservations concerning the project April 16, with Brian Smith and Scott Drake voting against several components.
But attorney Den Webb who represents Alliance believes the changes will meet commission approval.
“We’ve dressed up the outside [of the grocery store, long rumored as Publix, though neither Webb nor Alliance will confirm] with some different architecture,” he said. “We’ve added more artistic elements—it’ll look good. We’ve added a hardscape statue garden between the store and East Ponce.
“We’ve also re-oriented the ground floor apartments,” he added, “which now face outward and are walk-up units.”
The development calls for 289 apartments total, two retail buildings and the 50,000 square foot grocery. The commission will have to vote on, among others, the developer’s special exceptions, the master plan and annexation of about 8 of the 9.78 acres into the city.
The project recently got a critical boost from the school board, which determined that it should have a positive financial impact on City Schools Decatur, and that the number of school-age children produced by the apartments won’t overburden the district.
But it still faces considerable contention. In March the city’s planning commission unanimously deferred Alliance’s rezoning request for the site. Meantime three DeKalb County commissioners have strenuously opposed the project along with at least two longtime businesses on East Ponce, Paws Whiskers & Wags pet crematory and the Pin Ups strip club.
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