Monday, July 21, 2008

Deal on balcony to let Stone Mountain Streetscape go forward

By DAVID MARKIEWICZ
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 07/21/08

More than a year after it began, a flap over a restaurant balcony in Stone Mountain might be nearing resolution.

And with that, the city's much-anticipated Main Street Streetscape project might finally begin.
The $1.2 million first phase of the downtown improvement effort has been delayed because of a dispute between the owners of a retail store and city officials over a balcony that overhangs Main Street. The balcony, which provides for outdoor dining, is supported by three support posts which are stuck in the middle of the sidewalk in front of the shop.

Those posts have to go to make way for new sidewalks planned for Streetscape, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation. But the owners of the property argued that their balcony was being taken without compensation.

The dispute has gone on for about 14 months. But officials including City Manager Barry Amos said Monday that an agreement is in its final stages and just awaits the approval of a DeKalb Superior Court judge.

Details of the agreement were being withheld pending approval of the judge.

The first phase of Streetscape could begin by early next year and would take about six months to complete. It is a key piece in the proposed makeover of the the DeKalb city's historic downtown.

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