Category: West End: What’s Hot?

Saturday Press Conference in the West End..

I hope that you can join me on this Saturday, October 27th for a Press Conference at 9:00 a.m. at the Shell Gas Station in the West End. This gas station is located at 1355 Ralph D. Abernathy Boulevard, SW (at the corner of Ralph D. Abernathy Boulevard and Langhorn Street, SW). Of the over 200 businesses that are located in District 4, this gas station is one of the trashiest and dirtiest businesses in the area. The City of Atlanta Code Compliance office has cited this individual on many occasions over the last 5 years. We had him in Municipal Court earlier this year for fire safety violations inside his convenience store.

I believe that many times we tolerate the acceptance of bad service, as well as businesses that are not kept to a higher standard. Over the last five years, I have diligently tried to work with the business owner, Mr. Anwar Ali. Unfortunately his business continues to be un-kept. If you have ever just walked throughout his property, both in the front and in the back of the store, on a daily basis you will see trash in the hedges and paper littered on the grounds of the property. He has not properly repaved the grounds around the gas pumps in 15 years, and has not repaved the rest of the property since he purchased it 15 years ago.

About eight or nine years ago, Mr. Ali purchased the building next door to the gas station at 1335 Ralph D. Abernathy Boulevard, SW (formerly a Kentucky Fried Chicken). At that time Mr. Ali stated to me that the reason he purchased this additional property was to expand and make improvements to the current gas station. No improvements have happened, in fact the old Kentucky Fried Chicken building is still boarded up and now has graffiti on the property. I have asked our Code Compliance officer to cite him for the graffiti.  Mr. Ali lives in Peachtree City and I wonder if any of those gas stations in his neighborhood looks like this run down one in our area.

Again, I hope that you can take time out of your busy schedule to join me for this Press Conference on this Saturday, October 27th at 9:00 a.m.  RALLY! RALLY! RALLY!

Cleta Winslow

Councilmember, District 4

404-330-6047 (office)

404-216-1701 (cell)

404-331-8929 (fax)

cwinslow@atlantaga.gov

Are we there yet?

Ever felt like you were on the heels of greatness? 

THIS _ close to accomplishment… you can almost taste it?

Can’t sleep- don’t blink and God forbid, you miss a community meeting!  

Maybe it’s just me, and me knowing what I know- seeing THIS scene occur in New York (Harlem… Brooklyn..)but every meeting, every discussion, every media article, every planning  report  received is confirmation to what I feel deep in my soul.

We’re almost there…..

Not only do we have great residents working hard, we have many community advocates who are passionate about our communities and working to ensure we do “gentrification” correctly.  What do I mean? I mean, not only one group benefiting from the revitalization of our neighborhoods but we ALL benefit; our seniors,children, entrepreneurs, all races, cultures  and income levels- ALL, willing to persevere and work to reap the benefits of the vision.

Let me just say, yesterday I did not feel like this AT ALL.  I felt  tired, a bit defeated and  overwhelmed thinking:

“what more can I do? I just want to stay in my little house on my little corner doing nothing but fight with my landscaping “. 

Then Ireceived a call, an invitation to the West End Merchants Coalition. It  was time for their meeting this morning at 7AM.  YES- 7AM??…same thing I said. “Too early, I can’t make it.” However, the call was very timely as I recently completed a tour of our commercial  space, taking inventory of available locations.  Dragging myself out of bed at 6AM was a much needed renewal.  Not only did Council Member Winslow provide information on all the commercial incentives available, my personal SHE-RO, Deborah Scott of Georgia Standup was the guest speaker.  If you don’t know Ms. Scott, you’re missing out! (www.GeorgiaStandup.org)

Ms. Scott discussed how our businesses (and residents) can benefit from the developments taking place in Atlanta.  Do you know how many developments are taking place in Atlanta?  The list is pretty amazing. I have no idea which I should jump into first (all late) but, after the meeting with Ms Scott-  I KNOW I can’t sit and do nothing…or mentally fight with my landscaping much longer. A wise woman said, “If  you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu!”… I really like that  lady!

Here are a few projects and links for you to research:

Multi-Modal Passenger Terminal:

http://www.dot.ga.gov/informationcenter/p3/projects/mmpt/Pages/default.aspx

http://ajc.com/business/gulch-planners-take-big-1476572.html

http://atlantamagazine.com/fivepoints/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10403206

Fort McPherson:

http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-government/state-aims-to-invest-139780.html

http://www.mcphersonredevelopment.com/

Atlanta Transit:

http://beltline.org/atlanta-beltline-programs/strenghening-the-community/

http://beltline.org/progress/planning/

http://www.atlantadowntown.com/initiatives/atlanta-streetcar/About

Atlanta Stadiums:

http://www.gwcc.com/about/Masterplans.aspx

http://www.investatlanta.com/buildDev/StadiumArea.jsp

http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/football/new-stadium-plan-retractable-roof-demolish-dome-1/nQTK4/

Business Development Opportunities:

www.investatlanta.com/entprnrSmallBus/commercialLoans.jsp

 http://www.dca.state.ga.us/economic/DevelopmentTools/programs/opportunityzones.asp

Community Improvement District:

http://westendcid.org/

Study up, and be prepared to come to the table! NPU-T holds our meeting every 2nd Wednesday of the month at 7PM. www.NPUTAtlanta.org

Please let me know if any links are broken, I’m so excited I can’t type fast enough. 🙂

West End Community Yard Sale (9/22/12)

Huge Community Yard Sale Saturday 9/22/2012

5th Annual Community Yard Sale in Historic West End Atlanta, GA. Saturday September 22nd 2012 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. Lots of stuff. Lots of locations. Breast Cancer Awareness Theme. Directions – I-75/I-85 North or south to I-20 West to exit 55A Joseph E. Lowery Blvd. Maps are available at each address on the list and You can also stop at either of our Two Famous Museums and get a Map;
1. Wren’s Nest House Museum 1050 R.D. Abernathy, Atlanta, GA 30310
2. Hammonds House Museum, 503 Peeples Street, Atlanta, GA 30310

Street numbers of the sales locations are listed below:

COMMUNITY YARD SALE ADDRESS LISTING
1 503 Peeples Street SW The Hammonds House
2 524 Peeples Street
3 548 Peeples Street
4 1050 RDA Blvd The Wrens Nest
5 674 Peeples Street
6 715 Peeples Street
7 715 Peeples Street
8 726 Peeples
9 926 Oglethorpe Avenue
10 1048 Oglethorpe Avenue
11 945 Oglethorpe Avenue
12 680 Lawton Street
13 665 Grady Place
14 1151 Eggleston Street
15 564 Holderness Street
16 664 Holderness Street
17 981 Holderness Street
18 561 Atwood Street
19 549 Atwood Street
20 442 Atwood Street
21 543 Hopkins Street
22 501 Dargan Place
23 1305 Sells Ave,
24 1325 Greenwich Street
25 977 Oak Street
26 1623 Stokes Ave. (Westview Cmty.) Follow RDA pass Kroger to Stokes Ave