Economic Development in South Dekalb (Atlanta, Dunwoody: chapel, house, employment)

[equinox63]

Once upon a time, the corner of Covington Hwy and Panola Rd. was a hub of economic commerce. There was a thriving movie theater, a grocery store, a video game arcade, various small restaurants, a drug store, a reputable music store, etc. Now it contains a Big Lots, a liquor store, an abandoned theater, a lingerie store, a cleaners, a few small restaurants, and a Dekalb County Police Dept. mini-station.

Similarly, the corner of Wesley Chapel (once called “Decatur’s Best Kept Secret”) and N. Hairston used to bustle with at least 10 different businesses with Wal-Mart as the plaza’s hub. Now, there are none. Except for a drug store, I think. The shell of the plaza is now nothing more than an empty eyesore.

What happened? More importantly, how can this be fixed? What can be done to convince real business to invest in South Dekalb County besides the Stonecrest Mall area? With the influx of residents moving closer to the city and markedly farther from the city, without economic development, the nearer suburbs along the I-285 corridor are left to suffer and become havens of suburban blight. Think about Glenwood from I-285 to Covington Hwy. Think about Covington Hwy from I-285 to Panola Rd. Think about Wesley Chapel from I-20 to N. Hairston and to Snapfinger Rd. What happened to the plans outlined in the following link?

ULI - the Urban Land Institute | A Green Light for Wesley Chapel? (http://www.uli.org/AM/PrinterTemplate.cfm?Section=Home&CONTENTID=29416&T EMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm - broken link)

My wife and I often travel into the city for basic needs and recreation. We drive from the Lithonia/Decatur area all the way to Briarcliff or Ponce De Leon to get groceries from the Whole Foods Market. We have to go all the way to Moreland Ave. to go to Barnes and Noble. The closest natural food store is Rainbow on N. Decatur Rd.; otherwise, we have to travel to Sevananda on Moreland Ave, or Return To Eden on Cheshire Bridge Rd. When we want to go to a nice, moderately priced (non-chain) restaurant, the nearest decent places are in Downtown Decatur. We have to travel 15 to 20 miles just to get to a Moe’s, or a Willy’s.

Is it that investors don’t think minorities would frequent a Whole Foods? It is important to note that pockets of South Dekalb County are the second most affluent African-American populations in the United States. Why not take advantage of this untapped demographic. Do investors (even minority investors) think that all minorities want is Hot Wing Stands, Beauty Supply stores, and Fast Food restaurants? Look at the success of the small plaza just south of Panola Rd. and I-20 with the Kinko’s, Starbucks, and Bank of America. Collections of “mom-and-pop” stores don’t increase property value nor provide employment opportunities. The only business of the kind that has been successful is “Davido’s 3.75 Pizza” and “This Is It” (both are either fast food or "soul food" market toward the black community). Many other small businesses end up becoming eyesores unless there is a central hub anchoring the smaller businesses (and attracting more customers).

Imagine if the Wesley Chapel/N, Hairston intersection contained a live/work/play community like the Edgewood Retail District on Caroline St. Imagine if the corner of Panola and Covington had a Whole Foods Market with space for successful preexisting businesses (like Davido’s Pizza and the Subway). Imagine if there was a Barnes and Noble live/work/play/community on Covington Hwy between Panola Rd and I-285. Think about all the people they would employ. Think about how it would greatly boast the area’s economy. If you build it, they definitely will come.

Whether you live in the area or not, please offer suggestions, ideas, and/or assistance in implementing these ideas and improving the economic development and quality of life in these abandoned areas of the eastside of Atlanta. If it worked in the blighted areas of inner city Atlanta, why can’t it work in Dekalb County OTP also?

[lastminutemom]

Forgive my rant, but Vernon Jones has done nothing besides Stonecrest Mall for economic development since he was elected. In Dunwoody, a hospital closed (a big, major hospital) and it was the neighbors who had to notify the community development office of Dekalb.

DeKalb (in my view) has become a bedroom community -- we house the metro area workers -- we have little to no employment outside of government jobs (that includes education) and service jobs. No high tech, no manufacturing, etc.