The City Council’s annual budget hearing, which is open to the public, turned out to be nothing more than a formal exercise. According to the story in the MDJ, “Wednesday’s hearing still counts for the record and despite a lack of public comment, the path is now clear for the City Council to adopt its proposed $47.9 million budget later this month.” The council will vote on the budget June 14.

The annual hearing, which is required by law, is always held to seek out the public’s comments and opinions. According to Diane Sellitto, who works for the city, the meetings usually only bring a few people in, if any at all. The MDJ reports that the 2007 budget calls for more than 7 percent higher in spending than the initial 2006 budget; this year’s proposed budget is nearly $50 million.

Do you consider our local government open to your concerns? For anyone who’s been to an annual hearing, what was it like? Was it effective, in your opinion? Are we too busy to care about how our taxes are spent or do we simply trust our City Council?

Let your voice be heard, Marietta!

In recent years, the working class home buyers in Marietta have been challenged with finding an affordable place to live in the city. Areas such as the lower income housing Johnny Walker homes have been demolished, amongst others, in hopes of a new grand plan for the city. According to the MDJ,

The Marietta Housing Authority is considering becoming a developer in its own right and might forego working with familiar big-name companies as it makes plans for the redevelopment of the Lyman Homes public housing project near Cherokee and Montgomery streets, MHA Executive Director Ray Buday said last week.

This is going to be an interesting move for the city. Only time will tell. What do you think? Should the city be getting their hands into a new redevelopment effort instead of letting a company take charge and develop the site?

As we have been reporting to you earlier this year, the Strand renovation is moving along nicely. According to the AJC, there are quite some mixed opionion on the progress that is being made with the renovation/restoration.

Published on: 05/18/06

The Strand Theater on the Marietta Square plans to host a grand reopening next summer. The 1930s-era theater is being restored to seat 500 for shows and will include a coffee shop and an open-air reception area. Last week, the Cobb County Commission approved a $250,000 grant to push restoration along. Friends of the Strand, the nonprofit group restoring the theater, has a 50-year lease on the building, which is owned by the Goldstein family. The lease is rent-free for the first eight years. After that, rent will start at $10,000 a month.

While the county government agreed to a contribution, the matter has been a little sticky. A commissioner and various Cobb residents have said they are wary of putting tax money into the venture.

Here is a snapshot of some opinions of residents of Cobb County according to an AJC article

Cobb Opinions asked people in the Marietta Square:

Yes. It’s a good idea. If the theater is restored, it would benefit the whole area.

JAMIE HUMPHREY, Marietta

Maybe. Generally, I don’t think government should give money to private groups. And, I wonder what I might have to give up if the county is spending tax money that way. But, I’d rather the government give money to something like that than social welfare programs.

DAVID DAWSON, Acworth

No. I don’t necessarily think the county should spend money on the theater; the city perhaps, since it is in Marietta. I live in east Cobb, and I don’t get up to the square that often, so I’m not sure it would directly benefit me. I do hope that the private group trying to restore it makes a go of it. I’ve seen various groups through the years try to restore it.

TIFFANY McKINNON, East Cobb

No. If it will be privately operated and privately benefit from profits, then the theater should not receive money from the government. Once it opens, it will pay for itself. It will be successful.

KEITH HINES, Marietta

Yes. I think the county should give the money. My family is here all the time, and we would use it. Sure, the theater won’t benefit everyone, but nothing ever does. Besides, for the county, $200,000 is a drop in the bucket compared with what it spends money on.

LAURIE STRICKLAND, Marietta

Yes. Sure. Contribute the money. It is a great idea to keep a nice historic site going. The money will go there, or someplace else. We might as well know where it goes.

CHRISTINA TEMBO, Marietta

What do you all think? Is the progress that’s being made a good thing? Is it to connected to certain Marietta families that have a vested interest in the project? What are you thoughts/opinions? Discuss it below!

Community leaders and the city honored donors and friends of Glover Park’s renovation during a 20th anniversary celebration this week on the Square. In 1852 Marietta Mayor John Heyward Glover presented the city with land for its first park in the center of the town’s square. In the mid 1980s, prominent Cobb County developer John Williams donated money for a complete renovation of the park, and a blue-ribbon panel raised additional funds to help make the park what it is today. The renovation began in October of 1985, and the park was reopened in a public celebration May 17, 1986.

It looks like the number of building permits in Cobb County is decreasing over recent years according to an article we came across in the MDJ…

Building permits issued for single-family residential homes in Cobb County have dropped 28 percent through April compared to a year ago.

To date, 1,610 building permits have been issued. By May 2005, 2,253 permits had been issued.

In February 2005, 527 permits were issued while only 458 were issued in 2006. In March 2005, 578 permits were issued and only 423 in 2006. April posted the largest difference. In 2005, 719 permits were issued while only 297 permits were issued last month.

Lee McClead, manager of development and inspections for Cobb County Community Development, said part of the reason is that land available to build on is becoming scarce.

“The availability of land is getting difficult to obtain,” he said.

As a result, he said, builders are building more multi-dwelling structures on smaller plots of land.

“We’re actually issuing more permits for townhouses and condos,” McClead said. “Builders get more for their buck.”

What do you all think? Is the land just gone in the city? We always are wondering just how many 700K homes they can build in the area? Share your opinion below!

The Cobb Commission voted Tuesday to approve a $250,000 grant toward the Square’s Strand Theater renovation fund. However, the money won’t be given until the “Friends of the Strand” has raised $2 million (of a $5 million goal) . Friends president, Earl Smith, has suggested that tax revenue could be contributed to the fund, which might then see some donations coming in from charitible foundations. The fact that the Strand is a privately-owned property has caused some questions about the use of tax money for fund donations. Regardless of where the funds come from, Friends of the Strand hopes this county grant will spur on the project toward the grand opening goal of next summer (2007). For more information, go to Friends of the Strand website.

The Marietta City Council continues to discuss the Historic Preservation Rules in place within the city. According to the MDJ, the meeting last night was quite interesting.

The historic preservation ordinance issue divided the council as Mayor Bill Dunaway used his veto Monday to keep a proposed change to the ordinance on a schedule to be considered at the council’s June meeting.

The story continues…..

Historic preservation rules permit property owners to keep their properties from being listed in a historic district if one is created by the city.

State standards do not include that provision.

If a property were listed in a historic district, its owners would be subject to restrictions governing how they could use their property and what they could do on it.

“I think there’s still a lot of confusion about what the new ordinance would mean if we adopt it,” Ward 3 Councilwoman Holly Walquist said.

Ward 2 Councilman Grif Chalfant exchanged heated words with Dunaway after Ms. Walquist said she planned to vote to put off debate on the ordinance.

“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t chastise my fellow council member,” Chalfant said, angry that Dunaway was arguing with Ms. Walquist.

Ultimately, Chalfant, Ms. Walquist, Ms. Lewis, Ward 7 Councilman Philip Goldstein and Ward 5 Councilman Anthony Coleman voted to kill Dunaway’s veto.

What are you thoughts on the issue of Historic Preservation for our community? This brings us to the issue of the beautiful trees in the historic downtown area.

Should the beautiful, large trees in our community be preserved as well as the historic homes and buildings? We now have a nice patch of treeless land at the new Walnut Grove development. At some point, maybe the city should require that larger trees be planted when a clear cut occurs. Does putting a sapling in the ground where a 100 year old oak once stood meet your standards? Share your opinion below!

Since ancient times, spring has long been celebrated as a season of new life. And though the calendar marks the beginning of spring in late March, it never seems to officially begin until the Square and the city of Marietta are brought back to life. On a social calendar, this was the weekend that spring began in Marietta.

Friday night kicked off the warm season tradition of the Glover Park concert series. Locals and visitors alike made the annual pilgrimage to the Square early Friday evening to set out blankets, chairs, and picnics to reserve their seats for a twilight show. Concert goers wined, dined, and danced to the classic oldies music of Tyn Tymes. The smiles, laughter, and cheers served as evidence that a good time was truly had by all. Whether you missed this event or can’t wait to relive it, you can catch the next concert featuring Jesters on May 26.

The fun at Glover Park was only the initial sign of the weekend spring commencement. Residents and visitors were drawn back outside for the Blue Angels Air Show on Saturday. Time seemed to stand still that afternoon when the Blue Angels took flight around 3:00. The people in and around Marietta were be stilled, even if only for a moment, by the Blue Angels demonstrating their highly skilled tactical maneuvers in Naval aviation. Though high winds and low clouds limited the Angels’ practical ability to really “spread their wings,” the show was impressive nonetheless. They were still able to display such moves as the diamond formation, the starburst, inverted flight, and upward and downward spirals. You can learn more about the Blue Angels at their official website.

Although the weather for a flight demonstration was surprisingly more favorable on Sunday, many Marietta residents settled for only momentary glimpses of the Blue Angels while enjoying the Taste of Marietta.

This annual event reflects the diversity of culture that can be found in our fair city, while reminding us of our beloved southern culture (through the mere abundance of barbecue restaurants alone). Patrons could taste Marietta’s cultural diversity through restaurants such as Brazilian steakhouse, Sal Grosso , the local Irish pub food of Johnnie Maccracken’s and the Asian samplings of Thaicoon and Sushi Bar. Taste was just one of the many senses that were satisfied at this event. Music fans of most genres could find their preference among the variety of bands who entertained with their tunes of country, blues, or rock. The diversity of Marietta was not only experienced through taste and sound, but also through site. The people who participated in the event reaffirmed the cultural variety that Marietta so rightly claims as an attribute to the city. The Taste of Marietta is many things to many people. For nostalgists, it brought the comfort of heritage and tradition. For adventurers, it gave the excitement of trying something new. For most residents of Marietta, it was the experience of both.

This past weekend was one of the best showings Marietta could offer. This weekend represented the annual rebirth of our city, proving it to be a wonderful place to live and visit.

Susan I. McNeel - Arts and Living Editor - WhitlockAvenue.com

We just got an alert that the city is working with the Southern Polytechnic School of Architecture to redesign and make improvements along Powder Springs Street. This is a much needed effort and will really help in the city’s redevelopment surge. What are your thoughts and opinions on the Power Springs street corridor today? What ‘face’ would you like it to have in the future?

CITY OF MARIETTA, GEORGIA

MEDIA ADVISORY

Marietta, Southern Polytechnic partner to improve Powder Springs Street

WHO:
City of Marietta
Southern Polytechnic State University (SPSU) School of Architecture

WHAT:
The City of Marietta and SPSU School of Architecture have formed a collaborative to provide students real world experience while offering the City new approaches to design challenges. Students will present to city officials design ideas from this semester’s collaborative project focusing on improving Powder Springs Street from South Marietta Parkway to Whitlock Avenue.

WHEN:
Wednesday, May 3rd at 10:00 a.m.

WHERE:
Southern Polytechnic State University
Architecture building auditorium
1100 South Marietta Parkway, Marietta
678-915-7778
http://www.spsu.edu/home/about/campusmap.html

PHOTO/VIDEO:
Design presentations

INTERVIEWS:
City officials, SPSU professors, SPSU architecture students

###

The city of Marietta finalized the sale this month of the former Johnny Walker Homes housing project to Alpharetta-based Myrick Company, clearing the way for a new $45 million mixed use redevelopment off Powder Springs Street.

The project will include approximately 50,000 square feet of retail and office space and 45 residential condominiums in two mixed-use buildings. Another 58 townhomes and 18 single family detached homes will be included in the 10.68-acre site.

Myrick hopes to begin turning dirt by this June and expects the first units will be available for sale and occupied in the first quarter of 2007.