"Athens is not a typical small city," says Letter Writer

 Dear Mayor Denson and ACC Commissioners,

I am compelled to write to you regarding Selig Enterprises’ plans submitted to Athens Clarke County Planning Department for a Mixed Use Development in Downtown Athens, dated May 3, 2013.  The plans come before you on July 2nd for a vote on a Special Use Permit.  I appreciate that Selig Enterprises wants to invest and has already spent money researching in downtown Athens, but I feel that this property has tremendous potential that is not captured by the current Selig plan.  

To own this size piece of property in downtown Athens, is a tremendous opportunity.  This particular property is special and pivotal to Athens.  Selig Enterprises and the Athens community should continue to develop the plans for this property.  Thankfully, Selig Enterprises has already shown that it is willing to listen, but there are still important ideas to incorporate into this development.  I realize the likelihood is that Selig will proceed with this project but, as a committed member of this Athens community, I want to express my concerns to you. 

I was born and grew up in Athens, attended UGA, left for eight years and then returned to raise a family.  After living in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, MD, I appreciated the walkability and convenience of city living, and it was important for us to find a home in-town.  In 1999, my husband and I purchased a house in the Cobbham neighborhood where we live with our two daughters.  I pass by the proposed site for the Selig development multiple times a day.  

I understand that Selig Enterprises’ development plan follows our current ACC code and actually is not building to the maximum on certain specifications.  Also, approval of the Special Use Permit makes sense.  Nonetheless, I lament the timing of this development, especially based on the fact that in reference to Selig’s presentation of its plans during the Planning Commission meeting on June 6, 2013, some of our Planning Commissioners and ACC Commissioners are calling for Downtown zoning regulations to be re-examined.  And many, including experts like Danny Sniff, think that the site has more potential.

This site offers a unique opportunity to accentuate beautiful views.  The continuous heights of the buildings in this development negate many possible sightlines.  Also, it feels like it is boxing in Downtown Athens.  The planned structures are massive for Athens and lack “air” around them.  I understand that density plays into the equation and certainly higher than two and three stories will work in places, but not largely and continuously on the entire development.  Similarly, a development in this location should feel like a continuation and part of the town; reflecting the scale of the Historic Hodgson Oil buildings across the street seems appropriate.  The landscape gently slopes towards the river and, historically, the low warehouses have complemented this natural feature.

I have urged Selig Enterprises to consider designing their residential spaces for high-end retirees, empty nesters and young professionals.  These are the groups who Jeff Speck, author of “Walkable City:  How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time,” says are craving walkable communities.  Athens is touted as an excellent place to retire and yet there is little in downtown living for mature people.  Once the “luxury undergraduate student living” trend has run its course, I am gravely concerned about the impact that this development, along with the multiple other apartments marketed to this population, will have on our downtown.  Also, I am unsure on how a development, whose residential space is aimed at the college student, will attract other Athens residents and visitors to its non-residential area.

Additionally, the management of traffic flow in this corner of downtown seems to point to a smaller scale development in order to achieve more livability success.   It is also pertinent that Selig review the Complete Street Policies adopted by GA DOT and ACC that put forth the idea that all modes of transportation get equal attention.  Ultimately, it might bring more revenue (for all parties) to have a smaller-scale, beautiful success rather than a large, typical design that quite possibly will have vacancies and other negative impacts for Athens in the future.

As for future development in downtown Athens, I urge our community to expect something amazing and full of Athens’ character and spirit.  Athens is not a typical small city.  We need development that shows an understanding of Athens and what makes Athens appealing and extraordinary.  I think that developers could use this uniqueness to their advantage and enhance our community. 

I thank you for your time to read this letter and for your consideration of its content.

Sincerely yours,

Elizabeth Patel DeMarco

P.S. This letter for me represents a compromise.  Truly, I wish that A & D owner Ms. Frances Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Selig, and ACC would come to a different agreement since it is my understanding that the price reflects the current zoning and the price dictates Selig’s development.  The current plan and even modifications of the current plan are unworthy of this incomparable and beautiful piece of land.  It will be an incredible loss of opportunity for our Athens community.