Dunwoody USA

Mayor's Speech a Hit, All Saints Fish Frys Return Tonight

2012-02-21T23:44:00.005-05:00

New Dunwoody Mayor Mike Davis gave his first State of the City address Tuesday night in a crowded ballroom at the Crowne Ravinia Hotel. If the mayor's administration is as big a hit as his speech, rest assured the city will be in good hands over the next four years.
Speaking from an outline - and not regurgitating a written speech - the mayor was confident and straight forward. He also mixed in a bit of humor.
"I have a lot of friends here tonight," said the mayor. "And only one person that didn't vote for me. Sorry Bob (smiling at the man he defeated in the November election, Bob Dallas)."
The mayor once again spoke of the need to "stop buying stuff and start fixing stuff." He talked about continuing the city's three-year run of operating with a surplus, said the PVC Farm is "not a park yet," and the importance of stopping the executive session leaks.
The new mayor talked about his vision for economic growth and his plans for a "CEO round table." He said he'd like to meet with 20 CEO's per month, and lobby "their CEO friends" to move their businesses to Dunwoody. He said there are 2.3 million square feet of vacant office space in the city, which equates to 10,000 workers, who would eat and shop in Dunwoody during the course of their day. He said about 70 percent of the city's revenues comes from business, which helps keep our property taxes the lowest in the county. The mayor did warn that our aging stormwater infrastructure has council considering a yearly rate hike from $48 to $69.
And the mayor wasn't afraid to tackle our schools, which fall under DeKalb County School System jurisdiction. "It's our problem, isn't it. The key for Dunwoody now is to elevate and distinguish our schools from the rest of DeKalb County. We have to get word out because we do have better schools than the rest of the county."

All Saints Fish Frys Begins

The Lenten season starts Wednesday, which means the start of the All Saints' Knights of Columbus "World Famous Fish Frys."
The Knights serve up fried fish, broiled cod and salmon with sides of hush pupies, roasted potatoes, cole slaw and green beans on Ash Wednesday and each Friday until March 30. The Fish Frys are from 5pm to 8pm and are open to the public (it's the only time there are almost as many non-Catholics as Catholics on the All Saints campus). The Knights serve, on average, almost 1,000 meals per night.
There is a venue change this year, from the All Saints' social hall to the more spacious gymnasium.

While on the Knights, on President's Day the organization, which is credited with adding the words "under God" into the Pledge of Allegience, aired a television ad which reminded our political leaders that freedom of religion, for all religions, has always been acknowledged and embraced by our country's greatest presidents - whether Republican or Democrat.
As a member of the Knights, I thought the ad was tastefully done. Click on the photo below to watch.

State of the City Address, Real Estate in Atlanta Attractive Asset

2012-02-20T18:14:00.000-05:00

Mayor Mike Davis

Dunwoody, GA – The City of Dunwoody and the Rotary Club of Dunwoody, with assistance from the Dunwoody Chamber of Commerce, proudly present the third annual State of the City Address on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at the Crowne Plaza Ravinia, located off Ashford Dunwoody Road.

Dunwoody’s new Mayor Mike Davis will deliver this year’s City address focusing on new goals and opportunities for 2012, smart growth, fiscal responsibility, economic development and the key milestones and projects expected to take shape in the coming year.

“Beginning the year with a new mayor, new and returning council members and a number of critical objectives, 2012 promises exciting opportunities for the City," said Warren Hutmacher, City Manager. “At the State of the City address, we not only celebrate the many accomplishments of the past year but we announce a new set of goals and targets for 2012. It’s a high energy event that has become a tradition for the City."

This year’s festivities kick off with a reception beginning at 6:00 p.m. followed by the State of the City Address scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. start. In addition to Mayor Davis, the Rotary Club and the City are honored to have Chris Cummiskey, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, as a guest speaker. Entry to the State of the City event is free and open to the public. Early arrival is encouraged, as seating and parking will be limited.

The Presenting sponsor for the third annual State of the City Address is the Rotary Club of Dunwoody in conjunction with the City of Dunwoody and Dunwoody Chamber of Commerce. Carbonara restaurant, a new addition to the quality Dunwoody dining landscape is this year’s VIP event sponsor. Additional participating table sponsors for this event include: The Park at Perimeter Center, Bank of North Georgia, Café Intermezzo, Clark Patterson Lee, Community and Southern Bank, Convention and Visitors Bureau of Dunwoody, Costco, Dated Events, LLC, Dentistry With a Difference, Dunwoody Development Authority, Georgia Perimeter College, Hill International, Inc., Hotel Equities, InterDev, LLC, Jacobs Engineering, JAT Consulting Services, Inc., Lowe Engineers, Perimeter Community Improvement Districts, Piedmont Bank, Stout Atwood LLC, Sun Trust Bank, and The Crier Newspapers.
For more information regarding the City of Dunwoody or State of the City Address, please contact Edie Damann, Marketing and PR Manager, at 678-382-6700 or edie.damann@dunwoodyga.gov.

Atlanta Real Estate is Attractive Asset

Dr. Marc Faber

The housing market in the south of the United States is among the most attractive asset classes in the world, Marc Faber, the editor of the Gloom Boom and Doom Report, told CNBC on Friday, because while homebuilder stocks had rallied, property prices hadn`t moved much.

"If you look at the supply of homes, new construction, and you compare it to immigration into the United States, to the growth of the population, then these (southern) markets are very attractive from a longer term perspective," Faber told Bernie Lo on CNBC`s Straight Talk.
Among the markets he pointed to were Atlanta, Phoenix and Miami. Faber said investors could earn a rental yield of 8% per year and buy homes in the south of the US at a 40 to 50% discount to construction costs.

Click Marc Faber to read full story.

Neuman Defense Gets More Bizarre, Why Our Banking System is a Mess, Home Selling Advice

2012-02-16T23:32:00.001-05:00

Attorneys in the high-profile murder case against Hemy Neuman said Thursday angels and demons resembling singers Olivia Newton John and Barry White told him to kill Rusty Sneiderman in the parking lot of a Dunwoody preschool.

Neuman admits pulling the trigger but said he did not know right from wrong at the time and should be sentenced to a mental facility instead of prison.
Click photo to watch WSBTV news report.

Click photo to watch WSBTV news report

Why Our Banking System is a Mess

This week I learned, firsthand, another reason why our banking system is so screwed up. I am representing a buyer who made an offer on a vacant property that was foreclosed on by Wells Fargo. The property is clearly unoccupied, and I wouldn't hesitate to guess that it's been unoccupied for 3-4 months. Nonetheless, Wells Fargo is insisting that my buyer initial the clause below. Wells Fargo will not even consider the offer, which is very close to the list price, unless this clause is initialed.

So if my client wants the property, which he does, the bank is forcing him to acknowledge, in writing, that a "bona fide tenant with a bona fide lease" is occupying the property. How ludicrous is that?
We've been assured by the real estate agent representing the bank that this clause has not caused problems in any of the hundreds of transactions in which it has been a part of the contract, but it has given my client and I pause, and he even considered withdrawing the offer (which could cause the bank to hold onto the property for an even longer time frame, losing more money - in carrying costs - in the process.
Another reason why our banking system is in the state it is in ...

Home-Selling Advice

If you are thinking about selling your here are three faux-pas to avoid.
1. Hanging out when buyers are viewing your home: Buyers stalk properties online and off, checking obsessively for price reductions and the like. But buyer-side home stalking is unobtrusive to sellers. On the other hand, buyers can feel personally stalked and stifled in their ability to fully explore or verbally process their impressions of a home when you, seller, hang out inside your home while it’s being shown.

As soon as a buyer sees you in the house, it instantly becomes much more difficult for them to”
(a) envision themselves living there (it’s your house, after all),
(b) be comfortable opening up drawers, closet doors, etc., and
(c) express their thoughts about how this house might be exactly what they’re looking for, if they can knock out that wall and get rid of those cukoo murals you so lovingly painted in your children’s rooms.

Sellers: If you want to sell your home, it’s best to not be around when buyers are looking. Give them some breathing space and a chance to truly walk around and consider what they like and/or dislike about your home without lurking and looming (and, let’s be real - eavesdropping) nearby.

2. Showing a messy house: Life gets hectic, and it’s easy for things like laundry, dishes and other house cleaning tasks to fall by the wayside. It’s also difficult to keep the home in which you and your 4 kids, 3 gerbils and 2 Labrador Retrievers live perfectly spotless for months at a time, while you’re waiting for an offer. But when you decide that you’re going to sell your home, it’s imperative that you make a pact and a plan with yourself and your family that the place will be in tip-top shape when buyers come knocking.

Remember: your home is competing with dozens of others, as well as with buyer’s HGTV-infused visions of what their next home should look like, so first impressions really count.

Sellers: Stuffing the closet is not the answer. (Buyers will be opening that closet door, after all.) Pack up your personals like you were moving (best case: you are), and put all but the essentials in storage, if needed. Get the carpets cleaned, do the dishes, make the beds, mow the lawn, dust, sweep and mop. Ask your agent to give you a gut check on whether your idea of clean is clean enough (better yet - ask them for the number of a house cleaner who you can engage to get the job done to showable standards).

This might all seem obvious, but agents and buyers alike are constantly amazed at the condition of some of the homes they walk into. Take my word for it; I’ll spare you the ‘ewww’-inducing stories.

3. Overpricing your home: Buyers already have lots to do before making the largest purchase of their lives. They have to wrangle their finances into order, jump hoops to qualify for a loan, collect the cash for down payment and closing costs, and invest sometimes hundreds of hours into market research and house hunting. With all of this already on their plates, the prospect of trying to negotiate down a crazily high asking price is just too much work (and too outside their comfort zones) for most buyers to deal with. The average buyer won’t even bother looking at your home if the asking price is clearly high and off base compared with other similar, nearby homes for sale; they’d rather sit tight and wait .

Sellers: Price to sell from the beginning. Work with your agent to determine a price that is supported by the data on how much nearby homes have recently sold for. You’ll save yourself a lot of time and anguish and get a lot more legitimate bites from serious, qualified buyers.

PVC Farm highlights DHA Meeting, Update from Nancy Jester

2012-02-12T23:37:00.003-05:00

Discussion on the future of the 16-acre PVC Farm was one of the main topic at Sunday night's Dunwoody Homeowners Association meeting.
If you believe a "leak" from a special called executive session of the Dunwoody City Council on February 3, the city is in discussions with developer John Wieland concerning the sale of the property. While the "leaker" needs to be dealt with accordingly (fired immediately), the question being asked is why is the city holding an executive session on this matter? The parcel of land being discussed is owned by the city (the citizens of Dunwoody), and thus the public should be made fully aware of council's intentions (remember, when this land was originally purchased, we were told, directly, that it would become a park on more than one occasion by more than one person.
And why is the city in discussions only with Wieland? Not that there is anything wrong with Wieland, a quality builder, but if the land is to be sold to a developer, shouldn't it be put up for bid? Highest and Best? Regardless of who it is sold to, the city controls the zoning on the property, so we really don't have to be concerned with a project that doesn't fit the master plan (or high density). And hopefully, the city will reserve four or five acres as a park.

The DHA also heard a presentation for Wellstreet Urgent Care, which plans a $1.3 million dollar renovation of the old Blockbuster next to the BP at the intersection of Mt. Vernon and Chamblee Dunwoody. While Wellstreet has a wonderful-looking rendering of its building, it wants a variance for its proposed signage, asking for more than double the allowable size.
By unanimous vote, the DHA supports the current codes for the Dunwoody Village Overlay District, and city signage. My guess is the city will follow suit, and Wellstreet will be denied its variance, at least as presented to the DHA. By the way, Wellstreet is planning a facility that will service 70-80 patients per day, seven days a week. Good luck to Wellstreet, but I'm a big supporter of Dunwoody Urgent Care. My experiences with DUC and Dr. Casey Locarnini has been nothing short of exceptional!

Update from Nancy Jester

The following was sent by our DeKalb County school board member Nancy Jester via email on Sunday evening.

As you probably know, the DeKalb House delegation met last week to consider the reapportionment and, pursuant to SB79, reduction of the DeKalb County Board of Education. I was in attendance at their meeting and you can view the video posted on John Heneghan's blog by clicking here. It's an interesting and enlightening view of the Body Politic that is the legislative delegation from DeKalb.

The subcommittee of the delegation presented a 5-member map as their sole recommendation but could not garner enough signatures for approval.

I must note that it was inaccurate for any of the Representatives to state that they had not received maps from board members. Just as with the county commissioners, individual board members presented maps to the subcommittee and Representatives within the delegation. I was in attendance at a public meeting where Mr. Womack (BOE rep., district 4) and Mr. McChesney (BOE rep., district 2) presented maps to the subcommittee. Furthermore, I have presented a map that was endorsed by three BOE representatives.

As I stated last year during the discussion surrounding SB79, I was concerned about the mechanics of shrinking the BOE. I asked repeatedly for guidance on how this was to be accomplished. I saw conflicting legal requirements that would make it difficult to accomplish the goals of those advancing this idea. Furthermore, I disagreed (based on important statistical distinctions) with the thesis that a smaller board will somehow be a "better" board in DeKalb. But, in the political realm, this was a "win" for legislators despite the complexity. As predicted, we are now faced with the difficulties and unintended consequences of last year's legislative actions.

Please note that I still believe that the map that is placed on my website (click here to view it) is best map for DeKalb. I have worked on an alternative map that combines some of the attributes of a map presented by Reps. Oliver and Benfield (OB map) with my original map. Click here to go to my blog to view this updated map.

Here are just a few of the reasons I believe that my alternative map (TJ map) is an improvement to the OB map:

The TJ map is the most likely to pass judicial scrutiny and compliance testing based on the traditional redistricting principles of "compactness" and "dispersion". The districts in our map are more compact than those of the OB map and represent a low dispersion quality. They will have more favorable compliance numbers on both the Plosby-Popper scale and Reock/convex hull measurements.
High School attendance lines (the main design feature of the OB map) change and schools close. The DCSS planning department has stated that redistricting for school zones will occur more frequently than in the past. If we are building districts on the current attendance areas, they will soon be incongruent with each other.
It complies with SB79.
It keeps communities of interest united.

Please email your legislators once again and ask them to support the TJ map.

Late breaking news: Sen. Millar has developed a bill to delay the implementation of SB79 so that the complex issues surrounding it can be worked out. Stayed tuned...

As always, I am available if you have any questions or concerns.

--Nancy

DHA Meeting, Update from Nancy Jester

2012-02-09T19:31:00.003-05:00

The Dunwoody Homeowners Association's February meeting is 7:30 pm this Sunday night at the Cultural Arts Center (Room 4) next to the library. Among the items on the agenda, a presentation of Wellstreet Urgent Care slated to replace the old Blockbuster behind the BP Station, and a presentation by Marlow's Tavern, which will occupy a portion of Calico Corners on Dunwoody Village Parkway.

AGENDA

Announcements and introduction of distinguished visitors

1. Approval of Minutes – for December 2011 and January 2012

2. New additions to DHA board

3 Wellstreet Urgent Care Presentation and Variance request

(going into old Dunwoody Village Blockbusters location)

4. Marlow’s Tavern Presentation

(going into part of Calico Corners building on DV Parkway)

5. Board only session

Votes as needed on any motions

Adjourn

DeKalb School Board Reapportionment Update

(from Nancy Jester)

(Thursday) the DeKalb Delegation will meet to discuss the redistricting of the DeKalb Board of Education.

As you may have read, the sub-committee of the delegation approved a 5 member board district that would eliminate the 4 members up for election this year. I do not support this approach. You can read about it on the new website for DeKalb School Watch - DeKalb School Watch Two. Click here to view their latest post on this subject. Thank you DeKalb School Watch for your continued dedication to the children and taxpayers of DeKalb!

A new map has been proposed that unites and keeps intact, communities of interest. It's the best map I've seen to date. I, along with Don McChesney and Pam Speaks endorse this map as the one we believe the delegation should approve. I've posted a new blog entry on my website (click here to view it) with this map and it's statistics. This is the only map that I have seen that keeps the district population deviations within the acceptable limits (<1%).

If you agree with Don, Pam and me, please email the DeKalb Delegation (their emails are listed below) and tell them to support this map.

If you have time and want to be present at the DeKalb Delegation meeting, please join the meeting tomorrow, Thursday, February 9th at Noon; 605 Coverdell Building (across from the Capitol). Please note that the meeting may be delayed depending on the time that the Session ends.

Parking for the meeting: You can park for $5 in the deck on Jesse Hill.
As always, I am available if you have any questions or concerns.
-Nancy

DeKalb Delegation Email List:

mailto:pat.gardner@house.ga.gov,%20simone.bell@house.ga.gov, gloria.tinubu@house.ga.gov, tom.taylor@house.ga.gov, mike.jacobs@house.ga.gov, elena@elenaparent.com, scott@repscottholcomb.com, marymargaret.oliver@house.ga.gov, stacey.abrams@house.ga.gov, stephanie.benfield@house.ga.gov, karla.drenner@house.ga.gov, michele.henson@house.ga.gov, billy.mitchell@house.ga.gov, earnest.williams@house.ga.gov, howard.mosby@house.ga.gov, Rahn.mayo@house.ga.gov, pam.stephenson@house.ga.gov, dee.dawkins-haigler@house.ga.gov, randal.mangham@house.ga.gov, curt.thompson@senate.ga.gov, emanuel.jones@senate.ga.gov, fran.millar@senate.ga.gov, steve.henson@senate.ga.gov, jason.carter@senate.ga.gov, ronald.ramsey@senate.ga.gov, gloria.butler@senate.ga.gov

A Spot-On Super Bowl Prediction; Joe Namath

2012-02-06T00:41:00.000-05:00

The Giants beat the Patriots 21-17 to win the Super Bowl.

If only I had more conviction ...
If you read my blog Sunday morning (posted Saturday night), I picked the Giants to beat the Patriots 21-17. Too bad I don't have a bookie (of course I also picked LSU to beat Alabama)!
Congratulations to Eli Manning and the Giants, who out-played Tom Brady and the favored Patriots. That's two Super Bowl victories for Eli, to one for his more heralded older brother Peyton, if any one's keeping score.

Click on photo to watch trailer.

Speaking of quarterbacks, if you subscribe to HBO, it is well worth the time to watch the 87-minute documentary on Joe Namath, who celebrated the 50th anniversary of his high school championship in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania in 2011. There may never be another Joe Willie Namath. The former Alabama and New York Jets star quarterback was both brash and humble; forceful yet fragile. His reached the highest highs and lowest lows. He was Broadway Joe, but at the same time, the same grounded kid who never forgot his humble upbringing in western PA. You don't have to be a football fan to enjoy HBO's Namath.

Real Estate & the Super Bowl

2012-02-04T18:54:00.000-05:00

Despite what you read in national publications and the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the real estate market in the metro area, specifically in Dunwoody, is showing signs of improvement. While we have yet to see prices start to climb, sales volume is trending up (see chart above).
In the last 15 days, 14 new listings have hit the market in Dunwoody in the 30338 and 30360 zip codes. To view any of the listings, click on the link below.

Dunwoody Homes for Sale

Super Bowl Prediction

Prior to getting into real estate, I worked fulltime in the sports media for over 20 years covering the NFL, among other leagues and sports. I'd like to think I'm pretty good at predicting the outcome of games. However, my record on this blog is not very impressive (as Bob L. would tell you in a heartbeat).
With that said, here's my prediction for the Super Bowl. I like the Giants to beat the Patriots, 21-17 (sorry my New England friends, this is nothing personal). New York is on a roll having won five straight games, and Eli Manning is the hotter quarterback. In three playoff games, Manning is averaging over 300-yards passing a game, throwing 8 touchdown passes and only one interception.
Of course, it all comes to do turnovers, but all things being equal, I like the Giants (especially getting 3-1/2 points)!

Another School Redistricting Meeting Tonight?

2012-01-31T13:09:00.000-05:00

So are you ready for another DeKalb County School redistricting? Well, there's a meeting by the DeKalb County Delegation tonight to address redistricting (details above). But take a deep breath. The meeting concerns redistricting off the DCSS school board representatives and not the students. Apparently the delegation will also take up the issue of reducing the size of the school board from nine to seven. For more on this evening "surprise" meeting, read Dunwoody Farmer Bob.

Real Estate Update

2012-01-26T22:56:00.000-05:00

My listing in Dunwoody North, one of 50 single family homes in Dunwoody under contract.

This week my Keller Williams office here in Dunwoody, which is part of the Rawls Group of KW offices, released its proprietary numbers for the 4th quarter of 2011 (thanks to the resources of our of managing broker Shaun Rawls, I have little doubt our numbers are more in depth and accurate than any other real estate company in the city).

According to the numbers, in the metro Atlanta area, there were 15.1 percent more homes sales in the 4th quarter of 2011 than in the 4th quarter of 2010. In Dunwoody, the increase was even greater.
In the 30338 and 30360 zip codes, 51 single-family homes sold in the 4th quarter, up from 31 homes in the 4th quarter of 2010. However, the median sales price dropped from $314,000 to $306,000, which is less of a drop than most cities in the metro area experienced. But the bottom does appear to be very near (we really won't know it until it's in our rear view mirror).
Is now the time to put your home on the market? Absolutely. Especially if you are "moving up." Not only are interest rates at historic lows (call Randy Lipp of Starkey for a rate quote), but the money you will save on the purchase of a higher-priced home, will make all the difference. In other words, you'll give a little, but get a lot in return!

There currently are 147 active single family homes listed in Dunwoody (30338, 30360), priced from $94,900 to $1,200,000, with an additional 50 homes under contract. The 3-to-1 ratio is very promising.

To view any of the active listings with photos, click on the top link below. To view in a line item report, click on the bottom link.

Buyer's Report

CMA Line Report

If you have any questions about buying or selling a home, or know someone who does, please give me a phone call at 404.644.5220, or send me an email at bobfiscella@kw.com.

Dognapping in Dunwoody

2012-01-25T07:15:00.001-05:00

I didn't know if you'd see this story otherwise, but these are truly the "dog days of Dunwoody!"

By Alexis Stevens

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

This 2-month-old Maltese puppy is a sibling
to the dog that was stolen

How much is that doggy in the window? Police in Dunwoody say a man didn't bother to find out. The man allegedly ran out of the Petland store on Ashford Dunwoody Road with a 2-pound Maltese puppy worth $1,800.

The suspect initially told store employees he planned to buy the puppy as a gift, and they let him hold it. When a store worker turned away, the man allegedly dashed out of the store and into a waiting car Sunday afternoon.
“I hear, ‘Someone just stole a puppy!'" Geoff Campbell, the store's sales manager, told the AJC Tuesday. “Our doors were closed, but he banged them, and that’s what got everyone’s attention."
Two store employees ran after the man, who identified himself as "Romeo," but weren't able to catch him, Campbell said.
Two store employees ran after the man, who identified himself as "Romeo," but weren't able to catch him, Campbell said.

"He had a pretty good start," Campbell said. "He had a car waiting around the corner, and he got in and took off.”
Click Dunwoody dognapping to read full story.

Big Turnout for City's Open House on Much-Needed Road Project

2012-01-19T23:02:00.002-05:00

Crowded room at St. Patricks for City Open House.

It was fabulous to see the great turnout for Thursday evening's open house at St. Patrick's Church on North Peachtree concerning the improvements to the Tilly Mill/N. Peachtree/Peeler intersection.

I commend the city for hosting the open house, and city council 1.0 for putting this project on the agenda. My question is - why did it take so long? And do we really have to wait until the fall of 2013, at the earliest, before the project breaks ground? If so, how long will it take to get a turn lane on Mt. Vernon?

I understand the estimated cost of construction is $1.6 million and the city doesn't have the funding to start the project any sooner. I get that. But maybe if we didn't spend $1.44 million on the Peachford Rd. extension - what's now being called the "road to nowhere" - maybe the city could start construction tomorrow? Or yesterday?
The Peachford Rd. extension will someday be part of the redevelopment of Georgetown. But the Tilly Mill/N. Peachtree/Peeler intersection has been a mess for years, and should have been addressed long before now. One of the reasons Mike Davis was elected mayor is because he gets it. Said Davis upon being elected, “we need to work on our priority list. We need to start at number one, then number two, then number three…not go to number 27 because we have a bunch of money burning a hole in our pockets.”
This project is a great example of starting at No.1.

While on road projects ...

One of my pet peeves is the rare occasions in which I have to drive my daughter to school at Dunwoody Elementary. I know it's not a priority of the city to fix the traffic disaster that is "morning drive" on Womack Rd. (not to mention afternoon drive), but man-o-man is it chaos!
Round trip from my house to the school is 1.9 miles. On Thursday morning that trip took 32 minutes. And that's an improvement from the last time I had to do it in December! In case you're keeping score, I averaged less than four mph. I think I violated Dunwoody's anti-idling law on multiple occasions.

City Meeting on N.Peachtree,Tilly Mill, Peeler Interchange

2012-01-17T22:36:00.000-05:00

Public Information Meeting – Intersection Improvement

Courtesy of Councilman John Heneghan's Blog

The City of Dunwoody will be hosting a Public Information Meeting to discuss an intersection improvement at North Peachtree Road and Tilly Mill Road on Thursday,

January 19, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church

4755 North Peachtree Road

This will be an open house style meeting with no formal presentation. The proposed intersection improvements involve adding turning lanes to Tilly Mill Road, North Peachtree Road and Peeler Road to improve safety and reduce traffic congestion.
This project was identified as a high priority project in the city’s Comprehensive Transportation Plan.
For more information or if you have any questions, please contact the Public Works Department at 678-382-6850 or public.works@dunwoodyga.gov.

Parents Night at Dunwoody Elementary, Murphey Candler Spring Softball

2012-01-16T23:38:00.000-05:00

Dunwoody Elementary School is hosting a Prospective Parents night on THURSDAY, JANUARY 19th at 6:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria.

Parents of rising Pre-K and Kindergarten students as well as any parents interested in learning more about Dunwoody Elementary School are invited to attend. You will have the opportunity to meet our principal, assistant principals and PTO representatives as well as learn more about our school and take a short tour of our beautiful building.
We look forward to sharing our school with everyone!

Murphey Chandler Spring Softball

Registration for Girls Softball at Murphey Candler closes on January 22. If you have interest in signing up your daughter, click on Murphey Candler Softball. My daughter is entering her third season at Murphey Candler, and she has had a fabulous time!

Annual DHA Meeting - Worth Your Time

2012-01-13T23:18:00.000-05:00

The Dunwoody Homeowners Association is holding its annual meeting at 2 pm Sunday at Dunwoody United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. If you are a homeowner in Dunwoody, I believe it is worth your time to attend (especially now that the Falcons have been eliminated from the post-season and will not be playing opposite the meeting).

I believe there is a lot of misconception about the DHA and what it does. I certainly had my thoughts about the organization before becoming an active board member. I thought it was stodgy bunch of senior citizens that cared little about anyone's opinion but its own, and was hell-bend on keeping its firm vision of Dunwoody intact.

I was wrong. The DHA is made up of a diverse 28-member board whose sole purpose is to look out for the best interest of the homeowners. All the homeowners - not just those in Dunwoody Club Forest or homes zoned to Austin and Vanderlyn.

Bill Grossman, DHA president

The board consist of members who were in favor of the city as well as those against; those who voted for the parks' bonds and those against; those who feel a Chick-fil-A is a welcomed addition to Williamsburg and those who don't.

Monthy DHA meetings provide a forum to express opinions on issues facing homeowners. Everyone who attends has the opportunity to have his/her voice heard. Unlike city council meetings, DHA meetings are interactive. While Sunday's meeting will not be interactive like the other 11 yearly meetings, I do feel you find it very informative and well worth your time.

I hope to see you on Sunday!

Agenda

DHA President's Update

Presentation of Business of the Year award to Chamber of Commerce

Dunwoody Nature Center plans for 2012 and presentation of the Dave Adams award to Brent Walker, Parks Director: Alan Mothner

PCID, the next ten years: Donna Mahaffey

Presentation of the Citizen of the Year award to Pam Tallmadge

Dunwoody Police Dept. Community Involvement: Chief Billy Grogan

Presentation of Community Service awards to Ken Wright, Robert Wittenstein and Danny Ross

Remarks by Founding Mayor Ken Wright

Remarks by New Mayor Mike Davis

By laws update vote and Executive Committee election: Bill Robinson

Adjourn

New Council Meets, National Championship Game, the Falcons & Tebow

2012-01-08T23:14:00.000-05:00

Dunwoody's new city council will hold its first regularly scheduled meeting at 7 pm Monday night. It is a non-voting meeting, but with a robust agenda.
Among the items to be discussed: the 2012 capital paving plan, the five-year paving plan and the winter storm response plan (which will go a long way towards solving some of the issues that arose last year). I encourage you to click on the links above provided by Councilman John Heneghan. These plans are almost certain to affect you over the course of time.

Alabama, LSU clash in National Title Game

College football doesn't get any better than tonight's BCS National Title Game in New Orleans between the top-ranked LSU Tigers and the second-ranked Crimson Tide of Alabama. This is a rematch, as LSU beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa, 9-6, in overtime on Nov. 5. The game doesn't kickoff until a little after 8:30 pm ET, so if you plan on attending the council meeting, you may have to leave early to catch the opening kickoff.
I don't have a dog in the fight, I'm simply hoping for a competitive game that isn't decided until the final minute. If I were a betting man, my money would be on LSU. I feel the Tigers offensive talent is more capable of putting points on the scoreboard. For what is it worth, I think LSU wins 21-17 (sorry, Mr. Cranky Pants - I know you are pulling hard for the Tide)!

Falcons Season Ends, Tebow's Broncos advance

While college football doesn't get any better than Monday night, the Atlanta Falcons can't get much worse than Sunday when they were bounced out of the playoffs 24-2 by the New York Giants. For all the hype that surrounds this team and quarterback Matt Ryan, the Falcons have yet to win a playoff game with him behind center. They are now 0-3.

Meantime, the highly-criticized Tim Tebow just keeps winning. Tebow wrote the next chapter of his never-quit story by leading the Denver Broncos to an improbably 29-23 overtime victory over the heavily-favored Pittsburgh Steelers to advance to the next round. Say what you want, but all the kid does is win, with style and grace. I give the Broncos little chance of beating the Tom Brady-led New England Patriots this coming weekend, but I'm looking forward to Tebow proving me wrong!

Perimeter Mall Replaces Bloomingdale's; Last Season for Dunwoody's Seacrest on Idol?

2012-01-06T07:30:00.001-05:00

By Peter Cox
Dunwoody Patch

Perimeter Mall moves quickly.
One day after Bloomingdale's announced it would be closing its Perimeter Mall store, Von Maur, an Iowa-based department store, made public its plans to move into the slot.
Von Maur, an upscale department store, will move into the mall and open in the fall of 2012, General Growth Properties, which owns Perimeter Mall, announced Thursday.
Click DunwoodyPatch.com to read full story.

Last Season for Dunwoody's Ryan Seacrest on American Idol?

Rodney Ho
Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Ryan Seacrest, with blond tips and Brian Dunkleman in tow, launched “American Idol” nearly ten years ago. Entering season 11, a much wealthier, darker-haired Seacrest is about to hit a crossroads.

His three-year, $45 million contract expires after this season. Is Seacrest ready to truly say, “Seacrest out?”

Hollywood Reporter speculates that given the show’s declining ratings trajectory (season 10 notwithstanding), he may have to take a pay cut to stick around. Simon Fuller, who was a big ally of Seacrest, the story noted, is no longer involved. Producers could pay a replacement significantly less, of course, than $15 million. Click Ryan Seacrest to read full story.

Weekend Weather

Good news, bad news on the weather front this weekend. Temperatures will heat up into the low 60s and Friday's forecast is outstanding! However, there is a 40 percent chance for rain on Saturday and Sunday. Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope the 60 percent chance of no rain prevails.

Dunwoody Swears In New Council

2012-01-04T00:15:00.006-05:00

Judge David Nahmias swears in new city council.

The Dunwoody City Council chamber had not seen a packed gathering like Tuesday night's since the great "Backyard Chicken Debate." But unlike that hostile assembly, this one had mostly smiling faces as new Mayor Mike Davis and Councilors Terry Nall and Lynn Deutsch were sworn into office (Councilman John Heneghan was also sworn into office for a second term).

View from the back standing next to CEO

It was like a Who's Who's of Dunwoody, with Georgia Supreme Court Justice David Nahmias, a resident of the city, presiding over the ceremony. Outgoing Mayor Ken Wright handed the gavel to the new mayor. Also on hand, former mayoral candidate Bob Dallas, who's been nothing short of gracious in defeat - it would have been easy for Bob to skip the event. State Representative Tom Taylor was in attendance, along with DeKalb Commissioner Elaine Boyer and her chief of staff Bob Lundsten. And even DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis made the trek north (but arrived late and had to stand in the back of the jam-packed room, which seemed somewhat appropriate).

The only piece of business was picking a mayor pro tem. Not surprisingly, Councilman Denis Shortal got the unanimous support of the new council.

The next council meeting is Monday night and it could be an interesting agenda. I suspect at some point in time (but not Monday night), the new council will take a run at rescinding, or at the very least discussing, the vote by the previous council to narrow Dunwoody Village Parkway to two lanes. The public appears lukewarm to the idea, at best. You can include me in that group, as I really don't understand the $1+ million expenditure in city funds (plus another $1.4 million in grants). Perhaps someone will educate me on why this makes sense for the city, especially at this juncture in time.

New Council Swearing In; Sanitation Schedule

2012-01-02T23:43:00.002-05:00

Mike Davis

Tuesday evening at 7 pm at City Hall, newly-elected Mayor Mike Davis and Councilors Terry Nall and Lynn Deutsch will take the oath of office (the ceremony is open to the public, click on the link for more information). Congratulations to our new elected officials, but now the going gets tough. As they say, you can't please everyone. I expect the new council to be more pragmatic than the outgoing council. Mike Davis is on record as saying, "we need to stop buying stuff and start fixing stuff." Adds Terry Nall, "we need to separate the needs from the wants."

Sanitation Schedule

According to the DeKalb County website, garbage and yard waste that is normally collected on Monday, will be collected on Tuesday. Tuesday garbage and yard waste collection will be Wednesday. Regular collection schedule will resume on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012.
No curbside recycling pick-up service this week.

Happy New Year

2011-12-31T18:05:00.000-05:00

Wishing you a healthy and prosperous New Year!

A Taste of Texas in Dunwoody

2011-12-28T11:44:00.001-05:00

One of my holiday presents came a little late, but well worth the wait. I found out Wednesday morning, while reading Access Atlanta, that the Austin-based chain Chuy's has opened a restaurant here in Dunwoody, at the location previously occupied by Fire of Brazil near Perimeter Mall. If you're not familiar with Chuy's, it's a very casual, family-friendly atmosphere - perfect for a quick, inexpensive meal out (or to go). Chuy's chips and salsa are fabulous, enchiladas mouth-watering and famous Rita's (margaritas) worth the price of admission (which is free).
Chuy's was always one of my favorite stops during my four-years at the University of Texas (okay, 4 1/2 years)!
Below is the review from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

By Bob Townsend
For the AJC

Chuy’s has landed in Dunwoody. The Austin-based Tex-Mex concept — known for its wild-and-crazy decor, Elvis shrines, and “Big as Yo’ Face Burritos” — has been expanding to new cities in Texas and out-of-state, including Nashville. The Perimeter area is the first metro Atlanta outpost.

The look: Located in the former Fire of Brazil space on Perimeter Center West, the freestanding building is easy to spot, splashed with a riot of psychedelic colors. As a company motto puts it, “If you’ve seen one Chuy’s, you’ve seen one Chuy’s.” In Dunwoody, the eclectic design ranges through a series of dining rooms, a circular bar area and an outdoor patio, with metal palm trees, Mexican folk art and velvet Elvis paintings.

The scene: One recent afternoon, the parking lot was full, and '50s rock-and-roll was blaring from the outdoor speakers. Inside, most tables were packed with a mix of lunching office workers and families, including some screaming children, and the decibel level made shouting the only way to communicate.

The menu: Chuy’s covers all the Tex-Mex favorites, and boasts freshly made tortillas, sauces and guacamole. House specialties include the Chuychanga with roasted chicken, cheese and green chiles ($8.99) and Elvis green chile fried chicken, breaded with Lay’s potato chips and smothered in green chile sauce ($8.79). The Elvis Presley Memorial Combo pairs three different enchiladas, a crispy beef taco, and tostada chips with chile con queso ($10.29).

The drinks: Margaritas with fresh lime juice top the drinks list. Father Agave features Don Julio silver and Grand Marnier ($8.75). The house Texas martini comes in a shaker with a salt-rimmed martini glass and jalapeno-stuffed olives ($7.95).
The extras: Happy hour, weekdays 4-7 p.m., centers on a vintage “Nacho Car” with a trunk table of free chips, salsa, queso and other munchies, plus $4 house margaritas and $2.50 domestic beers from the bar.

Is Housing Rebound Just Around the Corner?

2011-12-28T10:22:00.000-05:00

I found the article below while reading Moneynews.com. While I do not have a crystal ball and can't predict the future, our Atlanta housing numbers are trending towards a rebound, from the bottom up. It's a short article - definitely worth the read.

By Julie Crawshaw

Contrarians say that after five years of slumping real estate sales and prices, there are strong and diverse signs that the single-family housing market is poised for a rebound.

“It has become increasingly apparent to us that the pieces for a housing rebound next year are beginning to fall into place,” declared Barclays Capital analyst Stephen Kim in a recent note to investors, CNBC reports.
In some metropolitan areas both sales and prices are rising and foreclosures are declining, and prices overall are lower than they have been in years.

For example, in Tampa, Fla., South Bend, Ind., Grand Rapids, Mich., Raleigh, N.C., Wichita, Kan., and Green Bay, Wis., the median sales price of an existing single family home increased 1 percent to 2 percent in the third quarter, during which time the jobless rate and/or payrolls growth also improved dramatically.

The National Association of Home Builders is forecasting a 5.1-percent increase in new home sales and a 10-percent increase for new home starts in 2012.
Moreover, residential rents have risen to the point at which many renters can consider buying, especially given that both existing home inventory is at a five-year low and new home inventory is at a 40-year low.

Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr. John Tuccillo told the state association’s 2012 Real Estate and Economic Forecast Conference in Orlando that Florida is in a “mini-recovery,” the Destin Log reports.
“Sales are trending up, listing inventories are falling, the supply of lender-related properties has stabilized, and we are seeing multiple offers on homes in some local markets,” Tuccillo said.

Political Odds and Ends

2011-12-23T11:24:00.000-05:00

It's two days before Christmas, thought I'd pass along a couple of interesting political items.

Why is our federal government in financial straits? Our elected officials just don't get it. However, a simple two-minute lesson from CNBC's financial expert Rick Santelli is all they need. Watch the short video below. It's a straight-forward explanation of why our national debt will not be shrinking anytime soon.

Can't decide which presidential candidate to vote for in 2012? USA Today has helped simplify the process - or at least made it more entertaining - with a "candidate match game." Click on the graph below, then click on "Begin the Quiz" and answer then 10 questions to help determine which candidate's views align with your own. Wouldn't this have been great to have for Dunwoody's last election.

Real Estate Update

2011-12-17T09:33:00.001-05:00

My newest listing in Dunwoody North. This is a wonderful opportunity for a first-time homebuyer or seniors seeking stepless living. For complete details, click on the photo above.

As we approach Christmas Day, all signs point towards a real estate market that has either hit the bottom or is very close. For homes priced at $100,000 or less in the metro Atlanta area, the market has already shifted from a buyers' market to a sellers' market. There are less than 6 months supply of homes in this category (which means that if not a single new listing came on the market, it would take 6 months to sell all the existing inventory). Another great sign is that jobless claims are at their lowest level since the spring of 2009. Naturally, the real estate market goes hand-in-hand with the jobs market. There are currently 105 active listings in Dunwoody in the 30338, 30360 and 30350 zip codes with another 30 homes under contract. In the past 30 days, 20 homes have sold. The median average listing price is $335,000. The median sales price is $294,500.
To view any active listing with photos, click on the first link below. To view all active listings in a line item report, click the second link.

Buyer's Report

CMA Line Report

Need a Role Model?

2011-12-13T23:10:00.000-05:00

Need a role model for your children? Forget about our politicians and public leaders. Eventually most of them will let us down. Instead, point your children in the direction of Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow. The kid is a winner. Plain and Simple. And he does it with class. Never a negative word about anyone.
Seemingly every NFL pundit wants Tebow to fail. They'll tell you what he can't do, and why he can't do it. They'll tell you how he doesn't have an NFL-caliber arm. How his footwork is poor. How he can't read defenses.
And despite all his flaws, he just keeps winning. Tebow won two National Championships at the University of Florida, and since he took over as the Broncos starting quarterback this year, the team has won seven of eight games, three of those in overtime. The Broncos are now in first place, battling for their first playoff berth since 2005.
Even if you're not a football fan, Sunday afternoon's game against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots is must-see TV.
I'll be rooting for Tebow.

Click on the photo to watch a story that helps define who Tim Tebow is.

Update From Councilman Shortal

2011-12-11T23:10:00.002-05:00

The following update was sent out Sunday evening by Councilman Denis Shortal.

My fellow citizens .... the following are some update items of interest ....

1. Last Council Meeting of the Year...... The last City Council meeting of 2011 will be Monday, 12 DEC 2011. There, as always, are some agenda items of interest but most important is that this will be the last Council meeting for Mayor Ken Wright, Councilman Danny Ross and Councilman Robert Wittenstein. All three of these gentleman have been heavily involved in the formation of and, the first three years of our City. I ask each of you to make a special effort to attend this meeting to show your appreciation to Ken, Danny and Robert for the massive effort they have put forth on behalf of all of us citizens of Dunwoody. The meeting will start promptly at 7:00 PM this Monday, 12 December at our City Hall. Please try to be there by 7:00PM.

2. Dunwoody Police Christmas For Kids ...… This 3rd annual event is spearheaded by our own "Dunwoody's Finest" ... our Police men and women with support from our city staff, businesses and citizens. We are still in need of some toys for children up to ages 15. If you can find it in your spirit of giving and budget please bring unwrapped toys to the police reception area in our city hall by 15 DEC. It will be greatly appreciated and you will be bringing the joy of Christmas to some young children. Click on the following website for a very well done "You Tube" presentation on our Christmas for Kids program ...

3. Fire Hydrants ... In the last two "Clean, Fix and Shine-Up Dunwoody Days" we have made a max effort to paint all the fire hydrants in Dunwoody. We are aware that there are still a few hydrants that need painting. If you see one of these please note its location and send me an email including the location so that we can put it on our "to do" list.

4. Elections ... My congratulations to our newly elected mayor and council members ... Mayor elect Mike Davis, Council Members elect Lynn Deutsch and Terry Nall. They will officially take office after they are sworn in ... this is tentatively schedule to take place at a special called meeting on 3 JAN 2012. Please check the city website ... http://www.dunwoodyga.gov/home.aspx ...for final details and for other important city information. Also, my sincere congratulations to all of you that got out and voted. Although I personally would like to see 100% voter turn out, the percentage of citizens that voted far exceeded expectations. To me that demonstrates that you are heavily involved in the future of our city and for that I say ... thank you!

5. Recycling .... In previous "updates" I have told you that it is my perception that the number of Dunwoody households that are recycling has greatly increased ... now I have proof. The following numbers were provided by Ted Rhinehart, Deputy COO/Infrastructure of DeKalb County ... thanks Ted. From the end of 2008 thru the end on 2010 (the latest full year numbers available) the number of Dunwoody family households that are recycling has increased from 3,778 to 4,819. Percentage wise the increase was from 31% to 40%. I think when the final 2011 results are in these numbers will be even higher. For the YTD 2011 Dunwoody residents have recycled 1,513,120 pounds of recyclable materials ...that is impressive. Our thanks to all of you who have joined the "blue box recycling brigade." For those of you interested in joining the recycling effort ... below is all the information you will need:

Call the Sanitation Customer Service (404) 294-2900 or email sanitation@co.dekalb.ga.us and subscribe to the residential recycling program. (Initial subscription cost is $30.00 which includes the blue box and 200 blue bags). You can also subscribe to the recycling program, by going to the following website ... Residential Curbside Recycling ... click on "Residential Subscription Curbside Recycling Application," fill out the application and send it along with your check or money order of $30.00 to the Sanitation Division, 3720 Leroy Scott Drive, Decatur, GA 30032. Make checks payable to DeKalb County. A "blue box" and 200 blue bags (a four year supply) will be dropped off at your address once your request is processed.

6. Security .... Tis' the season that we all need to increase our security awareness. Keep your house doors locked at all times, keep some lights, TV etc. on when you are away, keep a sharp eye on your neighbor's homes around you and don't open you door to strangers until you have verified their identity. If what you are seeing doesn't pass your "smell test" call 911 ASAP. When out and about be vigilant of your surroundings, provide extra security of your wallet and purse, when shopping park in a well lit area and don't park next to a van type vehicle, if you feel uncomfortable get someone to walk to your car with you, as you approach your car look under and into your car prior to opening a door, once in your car lock your doors immediately and please don't leave anything of value in your car where it can be easily seen. You will be glad you took these precautions and our police will have more time to tend to other issues.

7. Paving .... By the end of this week all the streets on the 2011 paving list should be paved. There is still some stripping to be done on streets that have already been paved and that will be started as soon as these last residential streets are paved. We have now paved more streets in the last two years than in the previous 20 years that I have lived here. My thanks to all our city staff in the Public Works Department for a job well done. As you know, we had all the streets in the city evaluated in 2009 using a laser truck to keep the "politics" out of the decision of the priority of paving the streets. I am well aware that just about anyone, who's street has not already been paved, can justify that their street needs paving. It boils down to the fact that many years of neglect cannot be rectified over night. We should all take confidence in the fact that we are making great progress and your taxes are more than 19% less than what they would have been had we not become a city.

8. Request .... I have one request ... when you get a chance please email me with what you feel are the two or three top priorities for our City for 2012.

9. That is about all for this evening. Please pass this on to all your friends, neighbors, members of your HOA or anyone else you think maybe interested. If anyone would like to be added to my email list please let me know and I will make that happen. Thanks for making it a great year for our city ... all of you make all of this worth doing. In closing, Meredy and I wish each of you a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah or whatever you celebrate this special season of the year. May each of us find the PEACE we all desire!

Let Us Continue To Build Our City Together

Denny Shortal
Dunwoody City Council, District One, Post-1
Mayor Pro Tem
denis.shortal@dunwoodyga.gov
PH (O) 678-382-6700 (C) 678-246-9006