Winter Properties will soon break ground on Meeting Park (pictured) , a mixed-use community just off the historic Marietta Square in Marietta, Ga. The $112 million development will encompass over 12 acres between Roswell Street and Waterman Street, which was once the site of Clay Homes, a 132-unit housing complex built for employees of the Bell Bomber plant during World War II. Plans call for 159 residential condominiums, ranging from 900 to 1,600 square feet; 131 townhomes, ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 square feet; and 9 single-family residences, ranging from 2,500 to 3,000 square feet. There will also be 78,000 square feet of retail and office space, a central neighborhood park and additional green space. Homes will range from the low $200’s to the $600’s.

Special Thanks to Michael French from the MDJ for this story!

MARIETTA - Ward 5 City Councilman Anthony Coleman on Monday blasted plans by the city’s housing authority to build only 15 affordable single-family detached homes in the eventual 50-home Lyman Homes redevelopment, saying it’s not enough.

In a letter to the MHA Board of Commissioners, Coleman said the authority promised to invest sale proceeds from the Clay Homes redevelopment by Winter Properties in building more affordable housing units in his ward.

“Lyman Homes is your opportunity to meet that commitment,” he said. “I will not support any proposal that does not reserve at least 20 units for low- and moderate-income homeowners and first-time homebuyers.”

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development generally defines “affordable housing” as homes priced at $250,000 and less.

Coleman said 20 affordable homes in Lyman would replace only 5 percent of the public housing that has been removed since demolition of the former Johnny Walker Homes and Clay Homes and the eventual demolition of Lyman Homes.

Johnny Walker Homes, a 12-acre site demolished in 2003, contained 100 public housing units. Atlanta-based Myrick Co. plans to rebuild it into a mixed-use development that includes 50,000 square feet of retail space, 45 condominiums, 58 townhouses and 18 single-family detached houses.

Meeting Park, the former Clay Homes, which breaks ground today, contained 132 public housing units on its 12-acre site. Winter Properties plans to rebuild the site as a mixed-use development with 166 condominiums, 32 townhouses and nine single-family residences.

Lyman Homes contains 125 public housing units, and the MHA is in the process of relocating residents so it can begin demolition early next year.

MHA Executive Director Ray Buday said about 60 of the 125 families have moved and all residents would be moved shortly after Jan. 1.

MHA Chairwoman Cathy Kampa said families are not being tossed out on the street, but are excited about the possibility to move into affordable homes.

Buday said the 15 affordable homes planned for the 50-unit site near Cherokee and Montgomery streets represents 30 percent of the redevelopment there.

“We think it’s a good percentage,” he said, adding that they did not add any more affordable units to avoid clustering low-income housing.

“You don’t want them all congregated,” he said.

Ms. Kampa said in a letter to Coleman that the MHA plans to provide additional affordable housing in the Lyman-Allgood area around its Lyman Homes site.

“We urge you to take into consideration our full intent to provide a similar proportion of affordable housing throughout the entire Lyman-Allgood area, so that in two, three or four years there are many more than 20 affordable units in that part of town,” she said. “We are going to be doing more in (Coleman’s) ward, just not necessarily at the (Lyman) site.”

Coleman said he is skeptical of efforts outside the Lyman Homes site, where the housing authority only owns a few lots, far fewer than the 20 lots it would need to build affordable housing.

“They don’t own anything outside Lyman,” he said. “I’m not interested in them doing anything outside of Lyman.”

Ms. Kampa said the affordable houses would be blended with market-priced houses in the neighborhoods.

“We want to spread out our affordable houses,” she said. “We want to use (Lyman Homes) as a model community.”

Coleman said he did not want the majority of the redeveloped Lyman Homes site to be market priced, but below $250,000 to attract younger families and city and school district employees.

“I will not support any proposal that enables the majority of new housing in Lyman Homes to be developed as ‘market rate’ without restriction,” he said.

Coleman added he would consider the developments in the Allgood Road area Ms. Kampa proposed.

“I will keep an open mind on supporting that type of approach,” he said. “Only if it results in more affordable housing, more workforce housing and faster redevelopment of Allgood Road.”

Housing authority board member Pete Waldrep said adding more affordable houses to the Lyman Homes site is not out of the question.

“We could get some more in Lyman,” he said. “The standard is 20 (percent) to 25 percent. We kicked it up to 30 percent. That could be tweaked additionally.”

Coleman said he would like to see 100 percent of Lyman Homes become affordable housing.

“I wouldn’t be opposed to that,” he said. “That’s what the need is.”

He said city and school employees need homes to live in within the city limits.

Ms. Kampa said the housing authority is prepared to provide downpayment assistance to city employees for home purchases.

Mayor Bill Dunaway said he is confident the authority is providing adequate affordable housing in its redevelopment plans.

“I think the MHA is committed to building affordable housing in that area,” he said.

MARIETTA, Ga. — A group of residents plans to ask county commissioners Tuesday to ban the sale of marijuana-flavored candy in Cobb County.

Christine Able, executive director of the Osborne Prevention Task Force, said she is concerned the candy encourages children to use drugs.

Companies who sell the candies say the lollipops, gum drops and other treats are geared toward adults and that they advise retailers to sell the candy only to people 18 and older.

Corona, Calif.-based Chronic Candy uses marijuana-related slogans in its marketing and claims “every lick is like taking a hit.” Its hemp-flavored candy is packaged with images of bright green marijuana leaves.

The Web site for Chronic Candy acknowledges using “hemp essential oil” in its products, but maintains that the oil is not illegal.

“One of our goals is to reduce the interaction youths have with drugs,” Able said. “[Chronic Candy] is considered a gateway product. It’s opening the door to wanting to try the product for real.”

Able said the task force plans to plead its case to the board during Tuesday’s public comment period at the commission meeting. The task force will present a petition with 500 signatures that calls for the removal of Chronic Candy and similar products from stores in Cobb County.

Cobb County Commission Chairman Sam Olens said the county could draft an ordinance to address the candy, but it could lead to a lawsuit by candy vendors or the manufacturer.

“We have the ability to enact ordinances, but the question is whether or not a particular ordinance would be legal,” Olens said.

Olens compared the debate over the candy to movements in other cities to ban certain kinds of fat.

Veterans wave to the crowd from a float during the Marietta Veterans Day Parade sponsored by the Marietta Kiwanis Club. It started at Roswell Street Baptist Church and ended at Marietta Square.

Were you there? what are you thoughts on the day and the parade?

This Monday, November 13, Harrison Fastpitch is hosting a fundraiser Golf Tournament at the fabulous Brookstone Country Club. There is a 9am shot gun start and the tournament will be a four man scramble.

Cost — Individual/$75 or foursome/$300
Hole Sponsor — $100 ( company name on Tee Box )
Includes: Green fees, golf cart, range balls and lunch.

Come out and support our local school athletics!

The public is invited to join community, civic and business leaders in celebrating the groundbreaking of “Meeting Park,” Marietta’s newest redevelopment neighborhood near the Marietta Square. The kickoff takes place Tuesday, November 14 at 10 a.m. at the corner of Wayland and Green Streets in downtown Marietta.

Meeting Park is a mixed-use neighborhood of townhomes, condominiums, retail and offices space on the site of the former Clay Homes housing complex.

For more information, call 404-760-1159.

Sponsored by the Marietta Kiwanis Club and the city of Marietta, 10 a.m. Saturday. Parade starts at Roswell Street Baptist Church and ends at Marietta Square. Marching bands, drill teams, floats and veterans groups. Local Women Marines Association chapter will escort grand marshal, Col. Oliver North.

Information: 770-794-5502.

Special thanks to Ward 3 representative Randy Weiner for all their accomplishments this year:

As a parent and board member, I couldn’t be more excited to be involved with this school
system. Marietta City Schools has a lot to offer. I will be walking my ward every Fall during my
four-year term to provide you with information and updates. I have learned so much during my
first year and would appreciate any feedback from you. Feel free to email or call anytime with
comments or questions. Listed below are a few initiatives approved this year.

School Uniforms for West Side Elementary and Marietta Sixth Grade Academy (MSGA)
West Side and MSGA has had a 99% participation rate this year. Both principals have commented about the positive impact of school uniforms. “The uniforms have been met with an overwhelmingly positive reception. I think it has set an important tone for the expectation as far as the students, teachers and parents are concerned.” -Maria Cesaretti-Forese, MSGA Principal. “The Students are eager and ready to get to work when they arrive at school.” -Dr. Darlene Darby, West Side Elementary Principal.

Middle Years IB Program (MYP) for 6th-—8th grade
MYP has rolled out this year for 6th graders, and will next year for 7th and 8th graders at Marietta Middle School. Parents in our
school system want a more challenging curriculum at all grade levels to benefit all students. MYP provides that challenge and will help
better prepare students to take full advantage of the IB Diploma Program at Marietta High School.

Expansion of the Magnet Program to 6th grade at MSGA
The Math and Science Magnet program (MCAA) will extend to 7th grade next school year and 8th grade the following year.

Renovation/expansion to West Side Elementary
West Side will receive much needed improvements starting this Fall. The addition will be the first phase to be completed with
additional classroom space, labs, etc. The renovation will start in June ‘07. Students will be taught in the new classroom space while the renovation is in progress.

A comprehensive strategic plan to be finished Winter’06
The assessment portion of our strategic planning process, completed in August, consisted of mailing out over 5,000 surveys to the
community, internally surveying 10% of our staff, and holding 10 focus groups along with 18 one-on-one interviews. This process led to
the development of 4 key priorities. We are currently developing key action steps and measurements for each priority. The strategic
plan is set to be presented to the board for approval in December and will help shape the course for our future. The initial results of
the parent surveys indicated strong support for magnet/specialized programs in the neighborhood schools.

The Primary Years IB Program at Sawyer Road Elementary
Sawyer Road Elementary is working to become a conversion charter school next year. A charter school will allow flexibility from state
mandates, but in exchange will have to meet accountability standards. The Primary Years IB Program (PYP) promotes critical thinking
skills and aligns well with the philosophy of the new Ga. Performance Standards. Students will also learn a second language.

Hickory Hills Park agreement
The sale of Hickory Hills Park to the City of Marietta is now complete. HH Park will soon receive a major overhaul.

West Side School Enrichment Model
This model is used as the basis for most gifted programs and applies the “know how” of gifted education to a systematic plan for total
school improvement. Enrichment classes are being offered to all students for I hour 4 days a week. Students choose a class from one
of four clusters. Each cluster course is nine weeks in duration. The West Side Extravaganza (open to all parents and the community)
will showcase the students un-tapped strengths, talents and knowledge at the end of each 9 week course with a range of classes from
Robotics to Readers Theater.
-The MCS board approved a fiscally conservative budget and increased our cash reserves-
The MCS board is focused on reaching higher achievement levels. We have several Good News items to celebrate:

Newsweek magazine (May ‘06 issue) named it’s top High Schools in the US. MHS is listed in the top 5% nationwide.

Our system made AYP
(Adequate Yearly Progress under No Child Left Behind) for the first time ever. This compares
to some surrounding systems that did not make AYP—Cobb, Cherokee, Paulding, Gainesville City and Douglas County.

SAT Scores were up by 17 points to 1,057. Statewide, MCS SAT scores placed at #22 out of 181 school systems.

MHS Ga. High School Graduation test results
… showed improvement in all areas and we had an overall 97% pass rate.

MCAA was the 2006 Bronze category award recipient in the Ga. Statewide accountability system school awards.
MCAA won in the highest percentage of students meeting and exceeding academic standards category.

For more information go to www.marietta-city.org and click on Board Key Projects under the BOE tab.
Whatapane@bellsouth.net / 770.427.4956

The Class AAAAA state playoffs begin next week, and the players from both Walton and Wheeler football teams will have that in mind when the two teams meet at Wheeler’s Corky Kell Stadium on Friday at 7:30 p.m. for the regular-season finale.

There is a lot at stake here between the two east Cobb rivals located 4 miles apart - especially for Wheeler. There’s a slight chance the Wildcats could be eliminated from the playoffs. The Raiders, on the other hand, are heading to postseason regardless if they win or lose to the Wildcats.

Both Cobb and Douglas Public Health would like to remind Cobb Chamber members that as they prepare for cold weather, they should take precautions for the seasonal flu as well.

Time: 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Date: Tuesday, November 7, 2006

Location: Jim Miller Park

Cost: $20 for adults

Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Medicare, & Medicaid (Part B) will be accepted.

For more information call the Cobb & Douglas Public Health immunization program at (770) 426-4418 or visit www.cobbanddouglaspublichealth.org.

Click here to learn more about Influenza and what the Cobb and Douglas Public Health is offering during the flu season.