Parking problems and upcoming improvements in parts of downtown Stockbridge were a key topic of conversation at the City Council’s June 26 regular workshop meeting.
A presentation was given to the council by Roger Custin and Greg Horton, the owners of BarnBeautiful, a store located on MLK Sr. Heritage Trail. They addressed ways to improve the parking situation along that street and also noted what officials said were some unsightly areas behind the Ted Strickland Community Center and the alleyway along Burke Street.
The business owners asked the city to move forward with the demolition of the old police precinct building, replace signage and move forward with the RSVP plan already approved by the city. They asked who is responsible and what is the timeline for these projects, and Mayor Anthony Ford replied that the city is responsible.
City manager Randy Knighton stated that permits have been acquired for the demolition and it is schedule to be completed during July, weather permitting. Knighton added that the breezeway project is estimated to cost $10,000 and the work on the alleyway is estimated at $350,000. The breezeway is under Knighton’s authority to proceed, while the alleyway expenditure would need the council’s approval.
Knighton said an update on the signage and parking issues, along with information on the appropriate funding source identified by city staff for the other projects, would be forthcoming at the July 8 regular council meeting.
A motion was made by Elton Alexander and seconded by Neat Robinson to approved up to $350,000 to move forward and complete the alleyway project with appropriate funding. That motion passed 3-1-1, with John Blount voting against and LaKeisha Gantt abstaining.
Alexander, Robinson and Alphonso Thomas all stated that they were in favor of going ahead, while Blount expressed concerns about being fiscally responsible and “approving projects on the fly.” Gantt suggested the council solicit the input of the city’s new financial advisor since staff had not identified the funding source.
In other business, the council received an update on issues in the Pine View/Pine Grove subdivision from community development director Camilla Moore. In the way of a June 11 site visit, Moore noted that there were 53 code violations with 60 percent having already been corrected and the others to be corrected by July 1. A final report was expected at the July 8 council meeting.
Geraldine Biggs, representing Warriors Against the Devil Ministries, appealed the city’s denial of a business permit for a proposed church use at 5365 North Henry Blvd. It was initially denied because of restrictions relating to the city’s ongoing moratorium. The council upheld the denial 4-0-1 with Blount abstaining. Another denial was upheld in the case of Andrew James Dixon and a proposed tattoo studio at 31 Hwy. 138, with that vote being unanimous.
The council approved a pre-qualification bid for construction of the city’s proposed new amphitheater and also approved the appointments of two new members of the Youth Council Advisory Board: Jodie Alexander and Gabriel Armstead. Reappointed to the board were Ericka Harvey, Diane Miller, O. Elizabeth Martin, Pamela Warner, Joc’Quelyn Carter and Rosalynd Rawls. All of these appointments are for two-year terms and all were approved by unanimous vote.
