34 Days until the 7/31 vote!

There is only a little more than a month until one of the most important votes in Brookhaven history. And no, I don't mean the vote on cityhood...

July 31st marks the vote for the future of transportation in Metro Atlanta and the state of Georgia. Also known as the Transportation Investment Act (TIA) 2012 or TSPLOST, the vote next month is a defining moment in our economic growth and development. Traffic is killing our city. Businesses leave (or choose not to come) to Atlanta every year because of our increasing transportation problems: lengthy commutes, limited alternative transportation options, vast environmental impacts, and millions of dollars wasted in gas, time, and maintenance. Atlanta is WAY behind on transportation. Our city spends less on transportation than almost any other area (48th in the nation for capital transportation expenditures) and at the same time are the 9th most congested. While other cities are exploring ways of getting people out of cars and into transit, Atlanta continues to just maintain (70% of our funds are spent on maintenance).

We finally have a solution. The 2012 TIA represents a bi-partisan program that will invest 8.5 BILLION dollars over the next 10 years to help to untie our traffic knot and make our region more competitive again. It means a penny sales tax region-wide to support transportation projects throughout the Atlanta region (and others throughout the state). All funds raised will stay in the 10-County region and can be used to support a wide range of projects. A very important item to note is that all the projects have already been decided upon- this is not something where the money will be used, politically, in a different way than was promised.

The Transportation Investment Act called for the formation of a Regional Roundtable, made up of county commissioners and mayors from all ten counties. Projects considered for funding by the referendum can be found here (PDF).

Investments in regional transportation will help create and support hundreds of thousands of  jobs -- and will free up our clogged roadways so we can be more productive at work and spend more time at home. Investing in our region will bring jobs, prosperity and an improved quality of life for decades to come.

Just a few points to consider:

• We need more money invested in transportation in Atlanta, period. It will happen one way or another (gas tax, property tax, etc.). This is by far the most economical and well laid out plan we've ever had. To think of getting that many mayors and government officials together and then to agree on a project list ever again is highly unlikely. 
• Transportation improvements take time! Part of this money will go to create the infamous Atlanta Beltline, but even if that gets 100% funding, it's still years and years (I think ~ 20) away from final completion. We need to start these projects now for future generations. Wouldn't it have been great for those before us to do the same?
• We can't afford not to. There are other states and urban areas just waiting for us to say no. Business will move away taking jobs and economic growth with them. We will become stagnant and known as a place where we aren't willing to invest in our failing infrastructure. 

Now for you local folks, here is a list of what the TIA will do directly to improve DeKalb County:

• $700 million: Extension of rail transit from Lindbergh to Clifton Corridor
• $25 million: Corridor improvements for North Druid Hills from Buford Highway to Lawrenceville Highway
• $25 million: Construction of a new connecting route between Buford Highway and Peachtree Industrial
• $10.6 million: Interchange improvements to I-20 E at Panola
• $25 million: Replacements and expansion of Clifton Road bridge over the railroad to allow for bike/ped lanes
• $142 million: local improvement projects such as intersection improvements, sidewalks, signal timing, etc.

For more information on projects and how to get involved, please see the links below:

• Untie Atlanta: Advocacy Group
• Atlanta Regional Commission: Regional planning and intergovernmental coordination agency for the 10-county area
• Transform Metro Atlanta: Educational Group
• T-SPLOST.com: Fact sheet & Project list

Library Coffee Co- Closing 5/31

Sad, sad news to report today... our beloved local coffee shop Library Coffee Co is closing its doors after over 3 years in business. We had heard rumors a week or so ago that the owner has sold/leased the space for a new sushi restaurant. As much as I love sushi... local coffee shops are so much better. We are very sad to see this place go- we have many good memories of happy hours, wine tastings, live music, and sunday coffee walks with the pup. I doubt a sushi restaurant will have half as much atmosphere (or $3 draft beers!). We will keep you posted on any updates, and see below for the email from the owner.

Yes, the rumors are true! After an awesome 3 and a half year run we are closing our doors on May 31st. While it is truly sad to close our doors, I have an amazing offer and life opportunity that I simply cannot pass up. Brookhaven has been part of my life for 11 years and our goal when we opened up was to try and give Brookhaven it's own independent meeting space/café. While that was a resounding success, it has truly been an honor to serve the community.

Secondly, AND MUCH MORE IMPORTANT, I have 12 employees who are losing there jobs, half of which I have worked with for over 3 years. I do feel an obligation to do my best to transition them to new opportunities and I would greatly appreciate any of your efforts to that end. If you have or know of jobs available please get in touch with me so I can help any or all of them transition to a new job.

Owning and operating Library Coffee Company has fulfilled one of my many dreams and I thank each and every one of you who has been part of the experience.

BE HUMAN

Sincerely,

Brian Kahan
Owner, Library Coffee Co.
Be Human.

Cheers to 3 great years... We will miss you,

BHReview

Brookhaven Farmers Market- Starts this Saturday!

The Brookhaven Farmers Market is opening this Saturday, May 5th! We attended this many weekends last year and enjoyed the likes of High Road Creamery, West Wind Farms, and other local vendors.

This year, opening day vendors include: Double B Farms (new!), Phoenix Gardens, Dillwood Farms, Harvest Moon, and Noring Farms. There will also be Watsonia Farms (organic fruit),  along with other newbies Dunwoody Honey, Mo' Mint & Thyme, Darby Farms, Happy Hogs, and One Screw Loose (love all these names!). Other activities include Chef Matt Swickerath (of the award winning Valenza Restaurant) will be demonstrating how to make fresh mozzarella cheese at 11am. 

The market also welcomes back Sweet Tea Factory, West Wind Farms, Mad Mama's Gourmet, High Road Craft Ice Cream, King of Pops, 2 Fun-Guys Mushroom Logs, The Cheese Course and Monica's Handmade Bath and Body.

For a full description of the Market, please visit read the market newsletter.

Revitalization of Briarwood Park- We need your help!

A group of community leaders in the surrounding Brookhaven neighborhoods have gotten together to create a "Briarwood Park Revitalization Project." Their goal is to renew interest in revitalizing the entire park. As we have previously blogged, the park is in need of some updating and refreshing. 

There is a very important meeting community meeting this Saturday (5/5 at 3pm) at the Briarwood Rec Center to discuss the options for this park. Our Dekalb County CEO, Burrell Ellis, will be in attendance, and the purpose of the meeting is to discuss the immediate and future plans for the Briarwood Park, which includes the pool, the two tennis courts, the rec center and playground.

With a meaningful commitment and support from the community, they fully expect the results will include a renovation of the pool, concession stands and bathrooms in addition to adding a gated entrance, privacy fencing and landscape buffer. Many of you may not know that there is already a new sprayground (children's water featured playground) opening this summer in place of the kiddie pool. The park has a lot of potential, and our community needs to come together so that the county sees how serious we are about utilizing it.

If you are available, please try to be at the Briarwood Recreation Center at 3pm this Saturday, May 5th. Everyone's attendance at the meeting will really help to support the effort to clean the park up and make it a safe, enjoyable place for residents to spend time. Come hear what the plan is for Dekalb County, and what the county has in terms of clear vision with allocated funding and specific improvements planned and available for review.

This outreach effort is being sponsored by the following community leaders:

• Rob Turner (Drew Valley)
• Ron Heller (Drew Valley)
• Jared Levitt (Brookhaven Fields)
• Jeff Beck (Ashford Park)

Hope to see you at the event!

Brookhaven Bolt- May 19th!

The 5th annual Brookhaven Bolt 5k Race is to be held on Saturday, May 19 this year at Village Place Brookhaven. There are opportunities available now to sign up for the race, donate or volunteer. Registration for the race is currently $25 (until May 13)- course map is below. This would be a great training race for those planning on running the Peachtree in July.

All proceeds are donated directly to Ashford Park Elementary School. The group is in need of up to 60 volunteers on race day to help manage the pre-race setup, the actual race, water stations, t-shirt pickup, and clean up.

If you are interested in being a part of this incredible event send an email to thebrookhavenbolt@gmail.com or fill out your contact information on their website at www.brookhavenbolt.com.

Kids/Baby Consignment Sale

If you have a little one, or expecting one soon, don't miss out on the 2012 Spring/Summer Kids Consignment Sale at St. James United Methodist Church!

The church is holding it's bi-annual sale THIS Friday and Saturday (March 9th & 10th from 9am to 2pm). Saturday they mark many of the items down by 50% but the really good items go quickly. At their fall sale I scored a foam puzzle mat and a Baby Einstein exersaucer for a grand total of $15. That was about $100 worth of goods for only $15. 

There are also great opportunities for volunteering, which allows for special "preview" shopping on Thursday evening. For more details head to St. James' website.
 

-Post by local Guest Blogger, Anne. Follow her personal parenting blog Licensed Professional Mom

Back to Brookhaven! Action Needed

Quick post today, but I had to get this out. As many of you know the Brookhaven Cityhood bill was changed by the State Senate from the City of Brookhaven to the City of Ashford...

(pause)

Hmm... City of Ashford?? Where is that you ask? Exactly! Whether you are for, against, or undecided about cityhood- at least let the vote be for Brookhaven and not Ashford. The credibility and recognition that has been built up around the name Brookhaven and the area it represents will be gone. What about Town Brookhaven, Brookhaven Station, Brookhaven MARTA station, Brookhaven ______ Church, Brookhaven Fields, Brookhaven Heights, Brookhaven Arts Alliance, Brookhaven Beer Fest, and businesses/organizations/neighborhoods with "Brookhaven" in the name??  Our area will go through an identity crisis that will be confusing to prospective home buyers, businesses, developers and residents alike.  Just like a business, brand recognition for a city is important to sustaining the locality and "image" of the area to outsiders and potential residents.  This can affect property values, future developments and the desire to live in a given area.  Let's not throw everything Brookhaven has built as a community out the window by changing our identity.    

Anyway, now that you know the official position of us here at BHreveiw, if you feel the same way, step up to action.

There has been a lot of media activity around this subject, but I did want to let you know that the senators will be meeting tomorrow, February 28th at 2:00pm to revisit this subject. In order for them to even consider it, they need to hear from you: residents, business owners, visitors about why you think it should be changed back, if you do.

I encourage you to email the senators today (see addresses below) with an email with the subject line: Back to Brookhaven! Encourage them to give us our Brookhaven identity back!

Senate committee:

john.wilkinson@senate.ga.gov

horacena.tate@senate.ga.gov

rita.smith@senate.ga.gov

rick.jeffares@senate.ga.gov

steve.gooch@senate.ga.gov

frank.ginn@senate.ga.gov

donzella.james@senate.ga.gov

doug.stoner@senate.ga.gov


You are also welcome to attend the meeting at the capital. Go to this website to confirm the exact date and time of the hearing:

www.senate.ga.gov/committees/en-US/committee.aspx?Committee=85&Session=21