Walkable Tuesday
Sept. 9 — Welcome to this week’s Silver Streak!
Read below for more on the Dunwoody City Council’s final decision to reject a low-income senior housing complex near Ashford Dunwoody Road.
➟ Plus, there’s news on improvements and requisite growing pains when it comes to centering connectivity and walkability for Atlanta’s west side.
And, Sandy Springs UMC has announced a campus demolition and reenvisioning that will focus on the congregation’s long-term needs and budget.
But first, a few headlines:
🚰 DeKalb County and the Urban League of Greater Atlanta launched the Water Rate Assistance Program (WRAP), an initiative aimed at helping income-eligible households manage water and sewer bills.
🚈 Starting this week, the Atlanta Streetcar will be suspended for three to four months for infrastructure work. Shuttle vans will ferry passengers along the route.
🚧 MARTA will close Garnett Station for six weeks beginning Saturday while construction crews replace the 44-year-old platform pavers.
🚣♀️ The Sandy Springs City Council approved a $2.6 million sale of approximately 14 acres of North Island Ferry Road riverfront property to expand the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.
🚲 The City of Dunwoody will host a free Kids Bike Safety Rodeo this Saturday at an updated gathering area in Brook Run Park. The event will teach young cyclists ages 5-14 essential safety skills in an interactive environment.
🎭 The Smyrna Arts Council will celebrate its 10th anniversary this Saturday with an interactive dinner theater performance.
🕓 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter.
• Senior housing complex denied
• Connecting Atlanta’s west side
• Reenvisioning Sandy Springs UMC
AND
• Stories of Atlanta | Lance Russell
Enjoy!
Low-income senior housing project rejected by Dunwoody City Council
❌ The Dunwoody City Council at its Sept. 8 meeting voted unanimously to deny a rezoning application that would allow the construction of a low-income senior housing complex on Ashford Dunwoody Road, despite the fact that the developers at the last minute reduced the height and density of the complex.
Dominium, a property management and development company, had requested to rezone a three-acre property from O-I (Office Industrial) to PD (Planned Development) to allow the site to be redeveloped into an age-restricted, income-restricted housing community with 215 rental units, with an approximate 240-space underground parking garage, and eight surface visitor parking spaces.
The proposal has been met with overwhelming opposition from people who objected to the density, height, and location of the project.
🗳️ Read more about the decision here.
The Ultimate Fall Getaway Guide to Lake Oconee
SPONSORED BY VISIT LAKE OCONEE
🍁 Fall is one of the most magical times to visit Lake Oconee. As the leaves shift from green to fiery hues of red, gold, and orange, Georgia’s serene lake country becomes the perfect escape for leaf lovers, cozy travelers, and outdoor adventurers alike.
Whether you’re planning a romantic weekend, a family outing, or a solo recharge,this ultimate fall guide will help you make the most of the season at Lake Oconee, Georgia’s hidden gem for fall getaways.
Find your reason to unwind, reconnect, explore, and linger longer at Lake Oconee this fall.
Slow improvements may make Atlanta’s west side more connected, pedestrian-friendly
🚶 Just west of the Downtown Connector lies a string of historic neighborhoods lumped together between old warehouses: The Goat Farm Arts Center on Huff Road, Brickworks along the Marietta Street Artery, and the Howell Interlocking Junction near Brady Avenue – all harken back to a time when Atlanta flourished because of the railroad.
This once industrial area, known locally as “the Westside,” has become a boomtown in recent years. But for residents and visitors, those same railroad tracks crisscrossing the land often muck up easy access to the restaurants, entertainment, and daily necessities less than a mile away.
Rough Draft talked to Westside residents about growing pains when it comes to connectivity and walkability, and how those residents choose to interact with their neighborhood through shopping, restaurants, personal services, and more.
🚗 Check out the full article here.
Sandy Springs UMC plans new campus after demolition
🏗️ Sandy Springs UMC will demolish its campus at 86 Mount Vernon Hwy., which includes a large sanctuary, fellowship hall, classrooms, and business office. According to a news release, the new campus will be built on this site.
Sandy Springs UMC leaders determined the existing campus was too large for the congregation’s long-term needs and too expensive to maintain, according to the release. The sale of the activity center and the decision to demolish the main campus came after a multi-year research and reenvisioning process.
⛪ Read more on the story here.
‘They Just Wanted Some Gum’: Stories of Atlanta by Lance Russell
VIA SAPORTAREPORT
🪙 One of the most sought-after attributes in our fast-paced, never-enough-time lives is convenience.
As with the mousetrap, when you create something truly convenient, the world will beat a path to your door. The microwave oven, overnight shipping, and drive-thru windows also come to mind, and, if you think about it, you’d probably agree with the addition of vending machines to that list.
There are few places one can go these days where a vending machine cannot be found. But, as convenient as retail machines are, there are some situations where their convenience has created a problem.
🍬 Learn how a coveted sweet treat caused the protest on this episode of Stories of Atlanta.
Explore more of our newsletters
💡 Did you know Silver Streak has other newsletters that go deeper into what’s happening across metro Atlanta?
➡ Stacks: Our newest newsletter covering Atlanta’s literary scene, author profiles, book reviews, and more comes out the second Sunday of each month.
➡ Sketchbook: All about Atlanta’s art scene. Artist profiles, art openings, museum events. Wednesdays.
➡ Side Dish: News about the food scene. Beyond just openings and closings, Side Dish includes recipes and a regular feature on pop-ups. Thursdays.
➡ Scene: The only newsletter focused on the movie world. Reviews, interviews, podcasts. Fridays.
📧 All of our newsletters are free, you can unsubscribe at any time, and we never sell your data. Subscribe here.
🖋️ Today’s Silver Streak was edited by Julie E. Bloemeke.
