6 More Steps to a Greenhaven Reality

Concerned Citizens for Cityhood of South Dekalb (CCCSD) just wrapped up its last meeting of the year and much has been accomplished, but much need to be done. Dekalb residents living in the proposed boundaries were given a chance
to ask questions and express their opinions and concerns. 

As with any major undertaking such as planning for a new city, proposals such as this will draw the ire of residents who want no part of it. This is understandable. There are many that have no issue living in unincorporated Dekalb. There are many that live on the periphery of Decatur city who identify strongly with it. There are many that identify with unincorporated Tucker, Stone Mountain and Clarkston, who don't want their address to change. There are many that don't want their taxes to increase or even to add another governmental layer to their life. This is all understandable. Then there are others who doesn't want to identify with a part of Dekalb that they think has a much higher crime rate or is "ghetto". 

From 1992-1996, I lived in unincorporated Stone Mountain (zip code 30088), then moved to Conyers, came back to unincorporated Decatur (zip code 30032) from 1999-2002. I then moved to midtown Atlanta from 2002-2010, then buckhead from 2010-2013, then back to the south Dekalb area since July 2013. I was just as impressed with the area when I moved back. The housing stock is amazing, the neighborhoods are well kept and the people are pleasant. 

It gave me a sense of pride that I moved from "prestigious" Atlanta zip code 30309, which straddles midtown and buckhead to a south Dekalb zip code (30034), only to find that my old buckhead zip code has a crime rate which is about three times higher than my new south Dekalb zip code. It made my wife and I feel good that my middle school-aged daughter said that the kids at her school (Chapel Hill Middle) is better behaved than her old middle school (Sutton Middle).

I'm aware that there are "challenged" areas in southern Dekalb County, but someone expressing that they do not want to become a part of a city forming in southern Dekalb County because it's "ghetto down there" is like someone in Buckhead or Ansley Park saying they don't want to remain a part of the city of Atlanta because of some city of Atlanta neighborhoods having a high crime rate. 

The Reasons for Forming a City:

So, Why a City?

CCCSD views this effort as a strategic positioning of South DeKalb to join the rest of the region in effectively competing for assets and quality of life.  Forming a city would:

• -          Protect the commercial and more valuable assets in South DeKalb from the aggressive annexation plans of bordering and interior cities.  This would enable South DeKalb to be sustainable for the future.
• -          Remove South DeKalb from bearing the burden of pension costs that all DeKalb residents should bear but which new cities are leaving to unincorporated areas.
• -          Enable the creation of a more efficient city structure through direct and contract services as well as reduce labor and other costs.
• -          Allow the residents of South DeKalb to have leaders that focus on the future of South DeKalb with economic development as a prime objective.

And, Why a Large City?

Unlike other new cities or those discussing formation, South DeKalb does not have a proportional comparable commercial base.  Thus, South DeKalb has to amend the model most cities are following to address its commercial vulnerability and disparity. 

-    Small cities in South DeKalb find it hard to be sustainable.  All the cities in the southern part of DeKalb County have significantly higher millage rates (which determine amount of taxes) than their northern counterparts in order to provide services.

-      Taxes are likely to remain lower with a big city than with a smaller, struggling city due to economies of scale.

-       South DeKalb’s primary weakness – its economic vulnerability – would significantly benefit from being able to leverage larger sums of revenue for bigger projects and for being able to cohesively plan over a larger territory while providing a united front to potential investors (from the federal government to outside investors).

A big city has its challenges.  CCCSD addresses local representation - a sense of place and control - by following models such as the city of Atlanta – a Council system complemented by an enhanced Community Area Planning Unit system (CAPU).

Timeline

CCCSD is planning to submit a proposal for cityhood for the 2015 legislative session.  In order to do that, Phase 1 must be completed by December 31, 2014. CCCSD must complete a feasibility study (Phase 1), find legislative persons to support its bid (Phase 2), and garner public support (Phase 3).  Phase I is Preparation, Phase 2 is Approval, and Phase 3 is Implementation.  

This is where we are:

1. Establish an Executive Committee for Cityhood Jul 2014

2. Establish boundaries Aug 2014

3. Get initial legislative support Sept 2014

4. Raise funds ($30,000) for a study Jul-Dec 2014 

5. Get broad public support Jul 2014-Dec 2014 

6. Conduct the study Sept-Dec 2014

7. Get DeKalb legislative support Jan-Mar 2015

8. Lobby the State legislature  Feb-Mar 2015

9. Get legislative approvals Mar 2015

10. Finalize structure

11. Hold public referendum Jun 2015

12. Hold elections Nov 2015

13. City begins Operation Jan 2016

As with these initiatives, some neighborhoods will be opposed and some will want to join. Public input and feedback is a required part of the process as everyone in the affected area must be heard.

Written by: 

Ari Meier handles the social media and content creation for CCCSD and is a resident and advocate of the future Greenhaven. His day job is Social Media Marketing and Content Creator at Hawaii-based real estate solutions provider, PEMCO Limited. He's also an author of three books, a modern painter and plays keyboards in his indie rock band, blue.math.