Dunwoody USA

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

Lessons Learned from the Elections

2011-12-07T22:08:00.000-05:00

Future Dunwoody politicians learned some valuable lessons from Tuesday's runoff.

The first lesson learned is negative campaigning DOES NOT WORK in this city. PERIOD! Over the past few years, I've had the opportunity to get to know Bob Dallas. He's a good man. I can't think of a time when he said anything bad about anyone. However, Bob made the mistake of hiring a high-powered, high-priced political consultanting firm with a history of "going negative." In the past few weeks, Dallas' campaign sent out mailers - and supposedly robo calls, although I did not receive one - that made mountains-out-of-mole-hills about insignficant flaws on Mike Davis' record. There may even have been inaccuracies in the materials. The backlash was brutal. Clearly, the negative nonsense hurt Dallas more than it helped. It's the second time a candidate has tried negative tactics in Dunwoody. Those candidates are now 0-for-2.

What also hurt Bob was the fact that he did not take a strong stance against the parks' bonds, which failed by a 2-to-1 margin on the November ballot.
While the bonds hurt Dallas, they crushed incumbent councilman Robert Wittenstein in his race against Terry Nall. The bonds were like an albatross around Robert's neck, as his lost by, ironically, almost the same percentage as the bonds. Although I didn't see eye-to-eye with Robert on many issues, he did earn my respect for the time and energy he put into the job, which is technically a part-time gig. At times, Robert appeared to be omnipresent - seemingly at every community meeting and event. He says he will remain active in the community. Hopefully that is the case.

Finally, what we learned is that the mayor and council cannot have their own agenda, regardless of how noble their intentions. The agenda must match the will of the people, or our elected officials will pay dearly at the ballot box.

Davis, Nall Sweep to Victory

2011-12-07T00:13:00.003-05:00

2011 Runoff Election Results

Mayor

Mike Davis, 3432, 60 percent

Dallas - 2267, 40 percent

Council Post 4

Terry Nall - 3699, 65 percent

Robert Wittenstein - 1980, 35 percent

Mike Davis

I'll have to admit, I expected the runoff for Mayor and City Council District 1 to be decided by a razor-thin margin. It was anything but.
Mike Davis and Terry Nall swept to easy victories Tuesday night. Despite being outspent 3-to-1, Davis easily defeated Bob Dallas to become mayor-elect. He will replace the outgoing Ken Wright. Meantime, Nall's margin of victory over incumbent Robert Wittenstein was even more impressive, as he collected 65 percent of the vote.

Terry Nall

It's not hard to figure out why Davis and Nall won handily, as both were against the ill-advised parks' bonds that were soundly defeated last month, and Davis appears to have benefited from all the negative literature distributed by the Dallas' campaign in the last couple of weeks. Kudos to Davis' volunteer campaign advisors Heyward Wescott and Brent Morris, who out-smarted Dallas' highly-paid consultants. Let this be a lesson for future candidates in Dunwoody - this city's voters will not tolerate negative campaigns.
How will the election of Davis and Nall change city hall? Expect core projects like roads and infrastructure to take a greater priority. In the words of Terry, "we need to separate the needs from the wants."

Vote on Tuesday

2011-12-06T00:22:00.004-05:00

A reminder that there are two important runoff elections for Dunwoody City Council on Tuesday. Turnout is expected to be very low, so don't forger to vote because your vote will count.

I've had quite a few folks ask me who to vote for. My simple advice is to vote for the candidate whose values most align with your own.

In the race for City Council, District 1, I will tell you that I am voting for Terry Nall. While I appreciate everything Robert Wittenstein has done in helping start the city, over his three-year term he has lost touch with his constituents. How else to explain his firm backing of a parks plan that would have raised our out-of-pocket taxes almost 100 percent, which was rejected by two-thirds of the population. I agree with Terry Nall's measured plans for improving our parks. I also feel Terry's idea of transparency in government aligns with mine. Dunwoody Farmer Bob wrote a nice blog piece on why Terry is his choice. I urge you to read it.

To me, the mayor's race is a much more difficult decision. Again, like the council race, I personally like both candidates. I feel Bob Dallas has the decided edge in government experience, however, I am utterly disappointed in how negative he has allowed his campaign to turn. Unfortunately, he has unwittingly followed the advice of his political consultants (do those running for office in Dunwoody really need paid political consultants)? I have real problems with this. It shows a complete lack of judgement and leadership. Despite Bob's depth of experience, I question whether he is more prepared to lead the city that Mike Davis. I can find a half-dozen reasons to vote for each candidate. I am voting for Davis.

Take my thoughts for what they are, but bottom line, regardless of candidate, please vote on Tuesday!

Update From Councilman Shortal

2011-11-28T10:57:00.001-05:00

I received the following from Dunwoody Councilman Denis Shortal last night.

Good evening my fellow citizens .... the following are some update items of interest ...

1. Thanksgiving ... I trust each of you and your Families and friends had an outstanding Thanksgiving. Indeed all of us have a lot for which to be thankful.
2. Runoff Election ... The run-off election for Mayor and City Council District One, Post 4 will be held on 6 DEC 2011. Remember, this is a city wide election and every citizens in Dunwoody gets to vote for candidates for both offices.
Regular Voting ... will be at your normal city voting polling place from 7 AM to 7 PM on 6 DEC 2011.
Remember you must have a government issued photo ID when you vote in person.
Absentee Voting ... you can still vote absentee but you must move quickly. Go to the following website for an absentee ballot application ...
Print the application, fill it out and fax it to Voter Registration at 404-298-4038 ... you can fax it in today. If you don't have a computer or fax capability you can mail the completed application (you must hurry) to Voter Registration, 4380 Memorial Dr., Suite 300, Decatur, Ga 30032 or take your application directly to the address above and vote absentee directly in person or call (Ph # at bottom of this email) or email me and I will assist you to get a ballot application.
After submitting your ballot application you will receive a ballot from the DC Voters Registration Office ... Fill it in an immediately mail it to .... "Voter Registration, 4380 Memorial Dr., Suite 300, Decatur, Ga 30032." Your completed ballot must be received at the Voter Registration Office by the close of business on 6 DEC to be counted. FYI, the phone # at the Voter Registration office is 404-298-4020.
Personal Request ... This is run off election which historically has a low voter turnout. I ask each of you to make your vote counts and your voice is heard by making the extra effort to exercise your privilege to vote .... a lot of great Americans have given their lives defending your voting privilege including my college roommate, 1/LT Robert Klages, USMC, who was Killed in Action and awarded the Silver Star for valor in combat.
Sample Ballot ... below is an example of the sample ballot ...
*SAMPLE BALLOT* DEKALB COUNTY *SAMPLE BALLOT*

OFFICIAL ABSENTEE/PROVISIONAL/CHALLENGED BALLOT
OFFICIAL GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION RUNOFF BALLOT OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA

DECEMBER 6, 2011

To vote, blacken the Oval ( ) next to the candidate of your choice. To vote for a person whose name is not on the ballot, manually WRITE his or her name in the write-in section and blacken the Oval ( ) next to the write-in section. If you desire to vote YES or NO for a PROPOSED QUESTION, blacken the corresponding Oval ( ). Use only blue or black pen or pencil.

Do not vote for more candidates than the number allowed for each specific office. Do not cross out or erase. If you erase or make other marks on the ballot or tear the ballot, your vote may not count.

If you change your mind or make a mistake, you may return the ballot by writing “Spoiled” across the face of the ballot and return envelope. You may then mail the spoiled ballot back to your county board of registrars, and you will be issued another official absentee ballot. Alternatively, you may surrender the ballot to the poll manager of an early voting site within your county or the precinct to which you are assigned. You will then be permitted to vote a regular ballot.

"I understand that the offer or acceptance of money or any other object of value to vote for any particular candidate, list of candidates, issue, or list of issues included in this election constitutes an act of voter fraud and is a felony under Georgia law." [OCGA 21-2-285(h) and 21-2-383(a)]

CITY OF DUNWOODY

For Mayor

(Vote for One)

( ) BOB DALLAS

( ) MIKE DAVIS

For City Council At Large Post 4

(Vote for One)

( ) TERRY NALL

( ) ROBERT WITTENSTEIN (Incumbent)

2. Election Prospective ....The Mayor's position and District One, Post-4 City Councilman's position are up for election. ALL Dunwoody citizens that are registered to vote get to vote for candidates for BOTH positions. In my opinion, we are at a pivotable point in the history of our City and the outcome of this election is critical to our future. Again, become informed about the candidates.... ask the hard questions and demand a straight answer ... don't except double talk. Judge the candidates not just by their answers but more importantly by their actions. Note how they have voted on local issues and who they have voted for in general elections. That will give you a good idea as to where they stand. Over 70% of you voted a conservative ballot in the last general election. There are candidates running that fit the conservative philosophy of the vast majority of you and there are candidates running that are on the opposite side of that philosophy. The current buzz words now used by the candidates is "I am fiscally conservative" ... but as in all situations, past and present actions are more important than these words. Another important issue to look at is ... what is the source of a candidate's campaign funding. I keep asking myself ... what is the motive for folks who live outside Dunwoody making large campaign contributions to certain candidates? You are a very astute citizenry and I know you can determine that motive.

3. Special Called Meeting ... There will be a Special Called Meeting at City Hall on 5 DEC 2011 at 7 PM to discussed the purchase of the 5.15 acre plot west of Shallowford Rd at the Peachford RD intersection. At the time the "Letter of Intent" was signed the negotiated price was $1,436,000 ... FYI, I voted against this purchase. As you recall this was part of the "package deal" with the 19 acres at the old Shallowford Hospital site. The 19 acres was contingent on the Park Bond passage but the 5.15 acres was a straight purchase thus not contingent on the Park Bond passage. On this 5.15 acres, we are currently in a 45 day "free look period" with ends around 9 DEC. During this 45 day period we had two independent appraiser value the property ... one appraisal can in slightly above the negotiated price and the other appraisal came in at $1,300,000. On the DeKalb County Tax Record the property in appraised at $750,000. The purchase was deferred at our meeting on 14 NOV with the request that the City Manager meet with the property owners in an effort to negotiate a lower price.

4. Regular December Meeting ... There is only one regular City council meeting in December and that is on 12 DEC. On a personal note this will be the last council meeting for Mayor Ken Wright and Councilman Danny Ross. Both of these gentleman have worked endless quality hours and days to start up and continue to enhance our City and, to improve our quality of life in Dunwoody. Each of us owe these two "public servants" our gratitude for a job well done! Ken and Danny .... THANK YOU is not enough but please accept it as a small token for what you have done on behalf of every citizen of Dunwoody.

5. Convention and Visitors Bureau of Dunwoody (CVBD) .... The CVBD presented their 2012 budget and marketing plan at our 14 NOV council meeting. They presented a budget with a surplus as well as a very aggressive marketing plan to attract conventions, conferences, family reunions, etc. to our city's first class hotels, restaurants, and businesses. To date, the staff, business owners/managers and volunteer citizens that make up the CVBD leadership have done a superb job of fulfilling their mission.

6. Stage Door Players ... Dunwoody's own theatre group presents the Stage Door Players Christmas Show comedy open 2 DEC and runs thru 18 DEC. Shows are some Thursdays and all Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sunday afternoons a 2:30 PM. If you haven't been to one of the Stage Door Players productions you are in for a real treat by attending. For more information call 770-396-1726. See you at our theatre!

7. Marine Corps Toys for Tots Concert ... Again this year St. Luke's Presbyterian Church on 1978 Mt Vernon Rd will be hosting the Marine Corps Toys for Tots concert. This concert, which is not religion specific or a religious service, features all your favorite song and tunes of the Christmas and Holiday Season and is open to all the citizens of Dunwoody and surrounding communities. LtCol Mike Varicak, USMC, Inspector-Instructor, H&HS Bn, 4th MLG based in Marietta, GA and his wife Beki will be the Marine representatives at this concert. Admission is only one new unwrapped toy which the Marines will, on your behalf, use to bring a smile and joy to some child in the greater Atlanta area who might otherwise be facing a lonely Christmas. The date and time of the concert is 4 DEC 2011 at 5 PM. I hope to see you there.

9. That is about all for this evening. Please pass this on to your friends, neighbors, members of your HOA or anyone else you think maybe interested. If anyone want to be added to my email list please let me know and I will make it happen. Thanks for your continued positive support of our CIty ... you are impressive and involved citizens for which I am thankful.
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

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T09:52:00.000-05:00

With sunny skies all day and a high of 67 degrees, you can't blame the weather for not having a Happy Thanksgiving. Plus the fact there is a super lineup of football - and what goes better than Thanksgiving and football!

12:30pm Packers vs Lions

4:15pm Dolphins vs Cowboys

8:20pm 49'ers vs Ravens

And if that's not enough, there's a college football game this evening as well, 8pm, my Texas Longhorns facing arch-rival Texas A&M for the final time, as the hated Aggies are leaving the Big 12 conference for the SEC. To all my Aggies friends (and sister), I say, "good luck with that!"

Light Up Dunwoody

2011-11-19T21:55:00.000-05:00

Sunday is Light Up Dunwoody -

an annual community event to welcome the holiday season.

Christmas Village opens at 3:00 pm and concludes with the lighting of the

tree at 6:00 pm at the Farm House. Vendors will offer wonderful holiday treasures and refreshments!

At the Spruill Farm House, Santa will welcome children to sit on his lap,

and a Santa sleigh with reindeer will be available for more

photo opportunities. Bring your own camera!

Everyone is invited, and there is no cost to participate in this family friendly event.

Real Estate Friday

2011-11-18T08:34:00.000-05:00

While we still have not seen an upturn in the price of housing in the greater Atlanta area, we are seeing signs that the market has stabilized, and perhaps even bottomed out (we won't know the latter until after the fact).
There are currently 114 active single-family listings in Dunwoody (zip codes 3038, 30360, 30350), with 32 homes under contract. That ratio of less than 4-to-1 is the best we've seen in sometime (more than three years).
Since the start of October, 22 homes have sold - again a very good number compared to active listings. The median average sales price is $325,000, with the highest price $758,000 and the lowest $139,900.
To view any active listing (including photos), click on the Buyer's Report link below. To view a list of all the active listings, click on the CMA Line Report. To view the sales price of the 22 homes that have sold since the start of October, click the Sold Homes link.

Buyer's Report
CMA Line Report
Sold Homes

If you have interest in any of the homes currently listed for sale, please give me a call at 404-644-5220 or email me at bobfiscella@kw.com. I'll be happy to set up a viewing.

Latest Mortgage News

The average rate for a conventional 30-year fixed rate mortgage (FRM) reached a record low, according to Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey. For the first time in history, the 30-year FRM dropped below four percent, averaging 3.94 percent for the week ending October 6, 2011. That's a 0.33 percent difference from last year's average of 4.27 for the same week in October. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage—one of the most popular options for refinancing—fell to 3.26 percent, the lowest level on record.

Runoff Voting Made Easy

2011-11-16T11:57:00.001-05:00

Last Tuesday's election draw almost 10,000 Dunwoody voters to the polls. That's the good news. The not-so-good news is that number represents less than 37 percent of the registered voters in the city.
On December 6, Dunwoody will hold a runoff election for mayor as well as city council, at large district 1. If the runoff draws approximately the same numbers as the runoff three years ago, less than 2,000 voters will decide those key positions.
With that, DeKalb County Board of Elections has made it easy to vote in the runoff. By clicking on the photo below, you can download the form to request an absentee ballot.

Former Candidate for Mayor Makes Endorsements

I received the following email from former mayoral candidate Gordon Jackson. I thought Gordon would have made an exceptional mayor - a man of high character who sticks by his principles.

Thanks to those of you who voted for me. I am most appreciative of and humbled by your support. Although I fell a little short in the race, this was an amazing process and I urge your continued participation in the City of Dunwoody affairs. Dunwoody is a great place to live but I can tell you from my discussions with hundreds of citizens, there is no shortage of opinions on what needs to be done or what direction the city should pursue. Your voice needs to be heard in the process. Not only at the polls but also at the City Council meetings and the city boards, the planning commission, etc. Stay involved.

There are two runoff races remaining and the vote for those races will be December 6th. Depending on the results of the runoff races, the council could have a very different philosophical base. I remain very concerned about the power of the big building, high density development agencies in the Perimeter area and their ability to directly affect the direction of Dunwoody growth and completely change the character of the city. Therefore, I am endorsing Mike Davis for mayor since I believe him to be the only candidate now in the race who will fight for a traditional Dunwoody. The attachment contains an advertisement which is running in today's Crier. I urge your support and vote for Mike in the election on December 6th.

In concert with my concern for the direction of the city in the future, I am also endorsing Terry Nall in the runoff council race. I have known Terry for some time and believe him to also stand for traditional Dunwoody values. I also urge your support and vote for Terry on December 6th.

Thanks to you all again. Your support meant more than you will ever know.

Gordon Jackson