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Avalon, Goodwill, movies and a school

January 30, 2012 in NIMBY, Politics, Suburban Life with 15 Comments

What do these unrelated things all have in common? They are issues that will come before the city of Alpharetta in the coming weeks. Some have the potential of being controversial. Let’s take a quick peek at each one.

Avalon

North American Properties has submitted plans for its first phase of Avalon, formerly known as Prospect Park. Hatcher Herd’s story in the Revue and News is the best source of information at this point (the city’s website almost never publishes things like site plans. Boo). According to Hatcher’s article, the project will have office, retail and hotel space, a 14 story building, 118 condos and 14 houses. But the strangest part… they want 250 apartments.

Alpharetta is already over its ratio of apartments. The folks at NAP are smart and they know this. I’m curious as to why they would even consider asking for them. My guess is that these change into more condos pretty quick. We’ll have to see.

Avalon’s phase 1 plan goes before the Planning Commission on March 1st.

Goodwill

Everyone loves Goodwill but no one seems to want them next door. Back in 2009 the city rejected plans for a Goodwill on Main Street near Cogburn Road. Now Goodwill wants to build down the road a bit at 495 North Main. An online petition from neighbors is already up and going. I expect objections this year to be the same as in 2009. Alpharetta’s Planning Commission will take up the matter on February 2nd.

At this very moment Goodwill is building a large store on McFarland Parkway in south Forsyth. This store is in a much better location and on a bigger road. My concern about a Main Street location is traffic. It’s clear that Alpharetta and Milton want less traffic and slower speeds on highway 9. A Main Street store would add 1500 trips each day. Sorry Goodwill, you need to keep looking.

Fulton Science Academy’s Impact Fees

Alpharetta’s embattled charter school will ask the city to waive impact fees on their $18 million construction project at Westside and Encore Parkways. The matter has been postponed once already and this issue has been overshadowed by the school’s charter renewal controversy.

City staff recommends that the FSA’s request be denied, requiring the school to fork over the impact fees. If the City Council agrees, will the school’s supporters use the same rhetoric from their BOE struggles? I can see the headlines now… “City denies award-winning charter school.” Tread carefully, councilmen.

Northpoint’s Movie Theater

I don’t expect this to be controversial, but it’s worth watching. On February 2nd the Planning Commission will consider the mall’s request to convert the vacant Parisian space into a movie theater. I expect we will learn the name of the theater at this time.

Photo credit: Dwight Burdette (creative commons)

Parental Guidance Filming Locations

January 29, 2012 in Suburban Life with 0 Comments

We’re not Hollywood yet, but Alpharetta is slowly starting to attract filmmakers to the area. This past fall actors Billy Crystal and Bette Midler were in town to film scenes for a movie called Parental Guidance. This is the biggest movie filmed in Alpharetta since the 2009 film The Joneses staring Demi Moore and David Duchovny.

Crystal and Midler play grandparents who must watch their grandkids while their daughter (Marisa Tomei) goes on vacation. Hilarity ensues as they deal with the generation gap. The movie should be in theaters later this year.

The filming crew set up a base in Dunwoody while filming in Atlanta and north Fulton. Here’s a rundown of Alpharetta-area filming locations.

View Parental Guidance Filming Locations in a larger map

165 Pebble Trail

This ranch-style home near downtown Alpharetta was commandeered by the production company for two full days of filming. On-screen this will be Billy Crystal and Bette Midler’s home in Fresno, California. Look for mostly interior shots.

The owners of the home currently have it listed for sale. Of course a big part of the listing hypes the movie. It is reminiscent of a home in south Forsyth that sold after The Joneses was released in theaters. That home was used by Demi Moore during filming, a fact that no doubt influenced the sale of the property.

The Country Club of Roswell

Marisa Tomei was featured during scenes filmed here. They used the club’s ballroom and golf course. Look for country club staff and members as extras during these scenes.

Ocee Park

Little league scenes were filmed in this Johns Creek park. Skateboard legend Tony Hawk plays himself during scenes filmed here.

Independence High School

Filming occurred at the former Milton High School in downtown Alpharetta. No additional details are available.

Other Metro-Atlanta filming locations

  • The former Bloomingdales at Perimeter Mall
  • Peidmont Park
  • Atlanta International School
  • Gwinnett Braves Stadium

 

North Fulton’s best newspaper writers

January 18, 2012 in Suburban Life with 2 Comments

I try hard to promote other local bloggers that create valuable content. You can find a few on the right in my blogroll. Somehow I’ve managed to forget some exceptional local writers who work in more traditional journalistic roles. If you’re not reading these guys and gals, you should be!

Joan Durbin

Joan writes for the Neighbor Newspapers. It’s her restaurant reviews, written in a column called “Dining Destinations”, that stand out to me. She’s easily the best food writer in north Fulton. Writing about food may seem like, um, a piece of cake. In fact it can be pretty difficult to put into words the taste, smell and texture of a dish. Joan does this in a way that places you in the seat right next to her.

She wrote one of the first legitimate reviews of Bite in Alpharetta right after they opened – and it was a good one. I also appreciate her frankness in a review of Scratch Fresh. She was delicately critical of a popular locals joint.

Ray Appen

I don’t agree with Ray Appen on every issue, but you’ve got to respect him for his longevity in Alpharetta. He’s published Alpharetta’s weekly newspaper, the Revue & News, for 29 years. Needless to say, a lot has changed in Alpharetta in that span of time. His little paper has covered it all. I appreciate his opinion and perspective.

My favorite recent column from Ray was his father’s day story from last year. It’s an amazingly vivid and almost surreal account of a traffic accident he observed with his son.

Randy Wyles

He’s got an amazing background as both a private investigator as well as journalism. Wyles has mastered all media from television to radio and print. I’ve enjoyed his recent online work at examiner.com and the Johns Creek Patch. His article on teen-aged daughters and their boyfriends is hysterical.

a.e. mayer

Ok, this is a but of a stretch, but maybe not. She used to be a journalist, is that good enough? Mayer makes this list because she’s just too darn cool. I have one initial in my writing name – she’s got two… in all lowercase. Double cool.

Mayer writers a very witty blog that doesn’t get enough attention. She’s also written a book called Temp: An Accidental Fairytale. I’ve been told it’s a fantasy story about cubicle dwellers in a fairytale setting. I’ve promised to read and review the book. I haven’t forgotten about you a.e!

Wild turkeys invade Windward

January 11, 2012 in Suburban Life with 5 Comments

So here I was, driving along the Windward side street of Edison Drive at 5:00 pm yesterday. Something caught my eye. At first I thought it was a group of geese. Then I saw their necks moving all around while they walked. Not geese, these were wild turkeys!

A group of four turkeys were pecking around in the well-manicured flowerbeds of the Metropolitan Club, probably destroying some pansies. I whipped the car around and snapped this blurry picture with my cell phone. They were not afraid of me or my car. They took one look in my direction and carried on with their pecking, almost as if they belonged here. Perhaps they’ve got an account at Private Bank?

Fulton Science Academy – Transparency and Accountability

January 10, 2012 in Faith in the Burbs, Suburban Life with 5 Comments

This is the second of two articles about the charter renewal of the Fulton Science Academy.

Last week I talked about how both the Fulton County School Board and the Fulton Science Academy acted poorly when negotiating the school’s charter renewal. Today I’ll discuss why the FCSB was justified to insist on a shorter charter term. But first let’s reveal the elephant in the room…

The Gülen Movement

This is a loosely organized group of followers of a Islamic theologian from Turkey. Here in the states they are heavily involved in education including the formation of dozens of charter schools. Many believe that the Fulton Science Academy is under Gulen influence.

If you search the internet you’ll find a lot of websites and blogs critical of the Gulen movement. Most of them have a heavy conspiracy theory tinge to their writings.

It doesn’t bother me that people of the Islamic faith from Turkey want to open schools here. However…

Gulen opponents earned a boost of credibility when a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist penned a story in the NY Times about the movement. Gulen-run schools have been accused of operating without financial transparency, offering contracts to Turkish-owned businesses without competitive bids and a lot more. Read the NY Times story for yourself.

Fulton Science Academy doesn’t seem to be nearly as shady as the schools outlined in this article. For example, I don’t see a Turkish connection with the contractor they selected to build their new campus. However there are a few conflicts that concern the Fulton County School Board.

Grace Institute

FSA spends taxpayer money on services offered by the Grace Institute. It isn’t clear to me how Grace consults the school except that they are an Educational Management Organization. According to tax returns the school continued to spend more and more money on Grace’s services each year. The FCSB insisted that the relationship with Grace end early in 2011. At this point it isn’t clear if all ties have been severed.

Transparency and Accountability

The relationship between FSA and Grace isn’t clear nor are how funds are spent. The linkage is unusual and makes many wonder who is the ultimate governing body of the school. And to make the waters more murky, some FSA board members also served on Grace’s board.

And speaking of boards… The FSA’s board should be made more diverse to include parents, school board officials, or possibly distinguished members of the community.

There are other potential issues but these strike me as the most severe. It isn’t appropriate to offer blanket waivers and maximum contract extensions to a school with such unresolved issues. The Fulton County School Board acted reasonably and responsibly when they insisted on a shorter charter. I believe the Fulton Science Academy is a terrific school. They have the opportunity to be a truly exceptional school if they will do the right thing and operate with more transparency.

The debt and building

And one final note on this issue… I believe the city of Alpharetta’s Development Authority dropped the ball. Here was a group that had the opportunity to question FSA’s dealings yet failed to do so. They failed to notice the conflicts of interest and they didn’t consider the rocky relationship between the school and the school board. The city approved the issuance of revenue bonds and construction on the new campus began. If the charter impasse continues, the school will shut down and default on the debt. And while the city and school board are not on the hook for the debt, a default might create an ugly new problem… another stalled development project in Alpharetta.

Fulton Science Academy – A game of chicken

January 4, 2012 in Faith in the Burbs, Politics, Suburban Life with 3 Comments

This is the first of two articles about the charter renewal of the Fulton Science Academy.

It’s been difficult for me to get my hands around the issue of the Fulton Science Academy’s charter renewal. Most issues like this involving children or faith are pretty easy to grasp. Start with something like land use then combine some NIMBY sentiments and a pinch of xenophobia. But FSA’s situation is entirely different with a lot of influencing factors coming into play. Those on both sides of the issue are not afraid of employing emotional appeals or hyperbole to make a point. And in issues like this the truth usually is found somewhere in the middle. So after spending many hours of my Christmas break reading up on this fiasco, I’ve come to the conclusion that FSA’s charter renewal is really just…

A game of chicken

Yep, both sides were plowing ahead at full speed, waiting to see who would swerve first. Unfortunately those along for the ride include several hundred children, their families, taxpayers and a few bond holders. And all of these groups stand to lose big because of it.

“Increasingly volatile and combative relationship”

That’s how the credit rating agency Fitch described things between the FSA and the Fulton County School Board. They made this comment as they were downgrading FSA’s credit rating on their $19 million building bond. The relationship was volatile because each side had a big club to bring to the fight. FSA’s club was their recent Blue Ribbon Award from the Department of Education. Surely the school board would not deny a request from a school with such a high distinction. Armed with this, they asked for a ten year renewal on their charter, the maximum allowed. Additionally they requested a full waiver of Title 20 rules.

FCSB’s big club was a Georgia Supreme Court decision in 2011 that found that the state could not approve charter schools. That authority, according to the court, rests only with county school boards. It makes FSA’s appeal process more difficult. This is the FCSB’s chance to flex its muscle under the new ruling. As such, the Title 20 blanket waiver was off the table and they would only consider a three year charter renewal.

Neither side moved much after months of discussion. The FSA reduced their proposal to eight years but the FCSB made it clear that they would only consider three. Nevertheless, only the eight year proposal was brought before the school board. And at the end of this game of chicken, the FCSB didn’t swerve. Crash! They unanimously voted down FSA’s eight year request.

Both sides have acted poorly. Supporters of the FSA have been out in force claiming that the FCSB wants to shut down an award-winning school. It’s hyperbole pure and simple. It’s clear to me that the FSA wanted to force the school board into making such a vote even though another offer was on the table. Nobody desires to shut down this school.

On the flip side, the FCSB has not acted in good faith since the vote. FSA has relented (finally), agreeing to the three year term. However, the FCSB now will not consider it, saying the matter is closed. I don’t understand why they cannot move to amend or reconsider a matter that was before them. Most deliberative bodies easily have this option available under their rules. It would be best for all parties involved to approve the three year charter renewal and move on.

Tomorrow I’ll talk about why the FCSB is justified in wanting a shorter charter term for the Fulton Science Academy. And as always, there’s an elephant in the room that needs to be discussed. Stay tuned.

Alternative media in Alpharetta

January 3, 2012 in Suburban Life with 3 Comments

Today marks the second anniversary of Roots in Alpharetta. It’s been a fun two years and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the conversations and friendships that have resulted from writing. While most blog readers probably don’t care much for anniversaries like this, I’d beg your indulgence a bit today. It’s this occasion coupled with the new year that makes me a bit reflective.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from writing in 2011 it is this – there is a role for alternative local media in Alpharetta. You’d think citizens would be covered for most newsworthy events that might happen. Atlanta is home to several TV stations and the AJC. We’ve got weekly newspapers such at the Revue & News, the Alpharetta Neighbor and Forsyth News. And don’t forget hyper-local online media such as The Patch that run lean and nimble news gathering operations.

Yet even with dozens of news rooms covering our area, some stories simply don’t get reported on. What stories are these local media outlets missing? Sometimes it is community buzz. Perhaps it’s a new restaurant that opened featuring a talented young chef. It might be about crime or violence that disrupt the peace in an otherwise safe suburb. Maybe it’s a question not being asked of candidates running for public office. Or it could be the back-story, the narrative behind the news that uncovers details or motives not clearly visible from the surface.

Why are journalists missing these stories? I don’t think it is deliberate although that could be a possibility. Some editors and publishers are not willing print the entire story for one reason or another. It could be that they are not using technology to listen to community chatter. Or it might be because of gaps in news cycles.

Roots in Alpharetta is certainly not exclusive when it comes to local alternative media. Other local blogs (many are in my blog roll) do outstanding work in their own respective ways. Bob Strader did a tremendous job on his blog last year reporting on school redistricting in north Fulton and Forsyth. He took a deep-dive into the issue, reporting on how redistricting effected families at the neighborhood and even street level. No other news source came close to his level of detail.

Whatever the story might be or the reason behind not reporting it, hyper-local bloggers have a role to play. It isn’t my desire to be a journalist. However, I’m more than willing to report on a story that isn’t being told for one reason or another. Sometimes it takes a local blogger to scoop a story before a news room will run with it. That’s a role I’ll gladly fill if that’s what it takes to get stories told in our community.

Thanks for reading Roots in Alpharetta in 2011 and happy New Year!

Photo Credit: RogueSun Media (creative commons)

Some ideas on the Highway 9 Corridor

December 12, 2011 in Suburban Life, Traffic with 5 Comments

This is the second of two articles on Milton’s Highway 9 LCI project.

Alpharetta and Milton recently received a $100,000 grant from the Atlanta Regional Commission under the Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) program.  The funds will study the Highway 9 corridor through the northern part of Alpharetta and Milton. On Friday I wrote about the survey being conducted as a part of this LCI grant.

Milton has a little problem – their tax base is largely residential. Only this highway 9 corridor and portions of the Crabapple area are considered business districts in the city. Compare this to Alpharetta or Johns Creek – cities who both have large retail and corporate office components to kick in tax dollars. In Milton a larger share of taxes are shouldered on residents. Most in Milton acknowledge the need to expand at least the Highway 9 area to help balance things out.

On the other hand, LCI projects and the consultants behind them have a history of pushing urban projects with high density residential housing components. Will Milton’s consultant, Urban Collage, suggest changing land use in this area to mixed-use and/or high density? If they do, it would run counter of the needs of this city. More than anything, I’m most curious to see if this happens.

So beyond the survey, here are some high-level thoughts on this corridor…

Westside Parkway

Before changing anything, it’s important to look upstream. Alpharetta should finally have a contiguous Westside Parkway by early 2012. The goal (or hope) is that commuters use this as a bypass around downtown Alpharetta. It’s a pivotal assumption in Alpharetta’s newly-approved downtown plans. It would behoove Milton to conduct studies on how this will effect traffic on Deerfield Parkway.

How will commuters use a completed Westside Parkway? Will they drive from Haynes Bridge, all the way up Westwide to Deerfield, then up to Highway 9? Or will they peel off at Windward and head west? Or will they ignore it completely and continue to use Highway 9 as they do now? After all, Highway 9 is a straight shot while Westside/Deerfield twists like a snake for a few miles.

All plans for this corridor hinge the Westside linchpin.

Deerfield/Morris Technology Park

This area is where you’ll find the largest parcels of undeveloped land. It’s also the only place in Milton with a high-tech, corporate campus setting. Please oh please don’t suggest mixed use here.

Financial payment processor Global Payments owns land here and keeps talking like they want to build on it one day. Land use in this particular area should remain the same.

Windward

Probably my favorite feature on this side of Windward is the road to the south. A small road runs parallel to Windward from Costco, behind the stripmalls and banks to the old Cingular campus. How about replicate this idea north of Windward? It’s possible to hop parking lots from Panera Bread to Walmart and Fry’s. Let’s connect them with an honest-to-goodness road. Creating interconnected backroads would alleviate a lot of traffic in Windward itself.

 


View Windward Idea in a larger map

Highway 9

I wouldn’t be opposed to slowing traffic on Highway 9, particularly south of Webb Road and Windward, if the traffic studies show that Westside diverts traffic. All bets are off otherwise. I’d trust someone like Urban Collage to work some magic here, provided that high residential density isn’t a factor in the equation.

Trail Connectivity

I’m surprised there wasn’t more on this in the survey. This are has a few streams and floodplains that might not be a bad place for a few walking trails. But let’s be realistic as these are not commute alternatives. However, trails are amazingly popular attractions. Connecting the residential components on the north end of Deerfield and Morris to places like North Park, Cogburn Road Park and the city’s new pocket parks would be a big win. The office parks (like Verizon’s campus) would probably love to provide connectivity (as some do to Alpharetta’s Big Creek Greenway).

Alpharetta’s Indian community is vitally important

December 10, 2011 in Cubicle Life, Suburban Life with 2 Comments

In 1998 I went to India. It was a crazy time as I was just out of college and new to my career. I lived for two months in Andheri, a suburb of Mumbai. We were in a free trade zone with a bunch of technology companies. In a lot of ways it was like working in the Alpharetta of Bombay.

That's me in India, 1998. I'm the fella on the left.

It was an amazing experience, especially for a young man in his early 20′s. I learned a lot about business, getting a valuable and early taste of offshore software development. I certainly learned a lot about myself in the process.

But more than anything, I developed a deep respect for Indians. I learned to appreciate their cuisine, even though it was difficult to overcome some picky eating habits I still clung to at that age. I enjoyed their unique festivals, celebrations and traditions.

I also experienced Indian hospitality in so many ways. I truly believe the spirit of hospitality ingrained in Indian culture rivals that of Southern hospitality. If you’ve ever been invited to dinner in an Indian family’s home then you’ll understand what I’m talking about.

Today there are over ten thousand Indians living in north Fulton county, drawn here by an abundance of information technology jobs. Surely anyone who’s wandered Alpharetta’s cubicles has worked with these guys. It has been my experience that Indians are intelligent and highly skilled technologists with a solid work ethic.

Outside of the office Alpharetta’s Indians have created vibrant local communities. It’s not hard to find observances of Indian holidays and festivals in this area. We’ve got Indian grocery stores, places to rent Bollywood movies, even dance clubs spinning Indian tunes. And let’s not forget their amazing cuisine. There are four Indian restaurants on Windward Parkway alone. We’ve got so many Indian restaurants that some specialize in individual regions of the sub-continent.

You don’t have to travel to Asia and brush your teeth with bottled water to gain an appreciation of Indian culture. I’ve developed some great friendships with Indian co-workers right here in Alpharetta. I even get invited to play cricket from time to time. It only took a few overs and a quick wicket for me to realize how terrible I am at India’s favorite pastime. It’s an awesome sport though.

I tell of my experience with Indians to hammer home one point – Alpharetta’s Indian community is vitally important. They are significant in number, perform important work for local industry and bring unique cultural diversity to this area. I wanted to take the time to lift them up today, especially in light of recent events in Alpharetta. I’m better and more rounded because of my past experiences with the Indian people. Alpharetta is too.

Take the Highway 9 LCI Survey

December 9, 2011 in Suburban Life, Traffic with 1 Comment

Alpharetta and Milton are conducting a study on the future of the Highway 9 corridor. The study is paid for by a $100,000 grant awarded to the cities by the Atlanta Regional Commission under their Livable Centers Initiative (LCI).

The area under study is Highway 9 from Mayfield Road north to Bethany Bend. It also includes Windward Parkway from Highway 9 to GA-400 as well as Deerfield/Morris/Webb Road areas.

A sample pic from the survey. Doesn't this place look familiar?

Part of the grant pays for a survey which was put together by the consulting firm Urban Collage. How does it work? The consultant is attempting to understand visual preferences for development in the area. First they divide the corridor into two “character areas” – Highway 9 and Windward/Deerfield. Next you’ll see pictures of stores, strip malls, office parks, and green space. You’ll be asked to rate each picture based on how appropriate you think it might be for the character area.

My biggest problem with the survey was lumping Windward together with Deerfield Parkway and Webb/Morris roads into one character area. These are three distinct areas with different characteristics. It was sometimes difficult for me to judge a building on appropriateness in this area. What is good for Windward may not be right for the north end of Deerfield Parkway.

Nevertheless, if you’re like me you spend a lot of time in this part of Alpharetta and Milton. The survey is worth a few minutes of your time. I encourage you to take it by going to this link:

http://collage.questionform.com/public/Milton-Hwy-9-LCI-Compass-Survey

On Monday I’ll write a followup to this article with thoughts on developing Milton’s business corridor.

 

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