The Legislature and the coming Battle for Northlake Mall (Tucker: schools, taxes)

[jeoff]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Probably not something the established AA power in COA would be enthused about, however.

I think that the demographic change is going to happen with or without DH. Even with that, a smaller part of a larger pie, is probably better than a larger part of a shrinking, rotting, pie--especially if you have statewide or national aspirations--as the Mayor might.

[AnsleyPark]

Originally Posted by jsvh

As noted above Atlanta property taxes are quite competitive and improving. In fact, because Atlanta has a larger homestead exemption you already pay less property taxes in Atlanta than uni-DeKalb until you start getting to homes worth more than $250,000.

I'm sure most every home in Druid Hill is well over $250,000. Likely a $1mm median.

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by AnsleyPark

I'm sure most every home in Druid Hill is well over $250,000. Likely a $1mm median.

It's closer to $250k than $1m: Druid Hills Real Estate & Druid Hills, GA Homes for Sale | Redfin

But my point is Atlanta property taxes are competitive and improving. I would rather be located in COA with a long-term investment like owning a home.

[GeorgiaLakeSearch]

DeKalb also has the HOST credit.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by lovindecatur

the political complexion (no pun intended) of the city of atlanta would be changed irrevocably.

[scribd]152763477[/scribd]

[aries4118]

City of Decatur Mayor Jim Baskett:

We can’t sit on our laurels and let these gateways to our city just be absorbed by these new people who are just coming on the scene that are wanting to grab up all the commercial they can get. We’ve got to take a long view here. It may be stressful on our city services in the short-term. It may be stressful on the schools in the short term. But we’re talking about 100 years out, if the city of Briarcliff came into being and backed right up to us, there would never be a chance for us to think about having those gateways and having those commercial properties. So we just need to keep our focus on the long view and make sure that we have something in place so we can make some kind of defensive statement about. That’s part of it.
Part of it is the fact that at a meeting last year with our legislative representatives…they told the cities in DeKalb County to get their acts together – they weren’t willing draw up these maps, they wanted us to draw up maps – and show them what things were going to look like. So the DeKalb Municipal Association has been working now ever since then to try and come back and make a response to the legislature. And so this is something that we have need to at least have for the DMA to at least say that these existing cities have these interests, long term interests.
…So as much as we don’t like the discussion of annexation and as hard as it’s been the last few years to have that discussion, we don’t have a choice.

http://www.decaturmetro.com/2013/12/26/catch-up-on-the-decatur-annexation-conversation/

http://decaturish.com/2013/12/17/decatur-commission-recap-domestic-partnership-registry-approved-annexation-discussed/#more-5255

[JPD]

Originally Posted by aries4118

City of Decatur Mayor Jim Baskett:

We can’t sit on our laurels and let these gateways to our city just be absorbed by these new people who are just coming on the scene that are wanting to grab up all the commercial they can get. We’ve got to take a long view here. It may be stressful on our city services in the short-term. It may be stressful on the schools in the short term. But we’re talking about 100 years out, if the city of Briarcliff came into being and backed right up to us, there would never be a chance for us to think about having those gateways and having those commercial properties. So we just need to keep our focus on the long view and make sure that we have something in place so we can make some kind of defensive statement about. That’s part of it.
Part of it is the fact that at a meeting last year with our legislative representatives…they told the cities in DeKalb County to get their acts together – they weren’t willing draw up these maps, they wanted us to draw up maps – and show them what things were going to look like. So the DeKalb Municipal Association has been working now ever since then to try and come back and make a response to the legislature. And so this is something that we have need to at least have for the DMA to at least say that these existing cities have these interests, long term interests.
…So as much as we don’t like the discussion of annexation and as hard as it’s been the last few years to have that discussion, we don’t have a choice.

http://www.decaturmetro.com/2013/12/26/catch-up-on-the-decatur-annexation-conversation/

http://decaturish.com/2013/12/17/decatur-commission-recap-domestic-partnership-registry-approved-annexation-discussed/#more-5255

Ignorant and selfish. The gateway to their city is their border, but they think it's some arbitrary place outside their border. If they annex, then by their reasoning the gateway will move once again to some other arbitrary place. Where does it end?

[jsvh]

This makes things more interesting. I think it makes sense for Decatur to annex some. If schools are a concern, Decatur or Atlanta annexation are the only way to get out of Dekalb schools.

But for the new cities, It looks like City of Lakeside is acknowledged by most to be the most likely to end up on the ballot.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by jsvh

This makes things more interesting. I think it makes sense for Decatur to annex some. If schools are a concern, Decatur or Atlanta annexation are the only way to get out of Dekalb schools.

The problem with Decatur is that they want to annex commercial areas but not residential, since their schools are already overloaded. Decatur has less than zero interest in pulling Dekalb kids into the Decatur school system.

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by JPD

The problem with Decatur is that they want to annex commercial areas but not residential, since their schools are already overloaded. Decatur has less than zero interest in pulling Dekalb kids into the Decatur school system.

I would have to see exactly what areas they are proposing. My impression from the statements was that they were considering a larger area to annex than they previously have. But I would not be in favor of them grabbing just commercial area.