Related: a study of disenrollment in APS's early grades, post Covid.

"Material factors like housing, financial challenges, & transportation options weighed heavily to families as well as their child’s school’s environment & relationship with school staff"

www.nelsonmullins.com/storage/F1GK...

Yes, I think you're right. Lower enrollment does create a situation where some level of closure makes financial sense. But even with that factor, I wonder if the closure number might not be this high if that TAD money had gone to schools.

Jon Birdsong (with the group that owns the South Downtown properties) reports construction is underway

I don't want all of that to be true. I want our leaders (and voters) to be bold and brave and truly support policies that reverse the damage of car dependency. But in the end we need results and we need them quickly. Maybe it's up to developers to be the leaders. I don't know.

If city, state, and national leaders are too weak to make bold decisions about reversing car-centric, unsustainable practices, maybe we really are dependent on the market (developers) to do the right thing and build places that both enable & demand pedestrian-focused urbanism?

We had full projects lists with More MARTA and TSPLOT -- whomp whommmmmmp -- didn't work out too well. Yes, a project list is better than a wild-west slush fund, but I hope we can learn from mistakes.

I don't know if Atlanta leadership has the political will for it to actually happen, but I love @danimmergluck.bsky.social 's idea about letting the current TADs expire and creating new ones that are specific for affordable housing, with no room for funny business.

I hadn't thought of that! I'm not sure if Publix had a "restrictive covenant" with this landlord, but if so, that will prevent another grocer from being able to move in for a set number of years (I hate that GA law allows it).

Hopefully this isn't the case!

www.marketplace.org/story/2018/0...

Also, all my sympathies for the staff! Best wishes for landing on your feet with new jobs, y'all. Seriously.

Fingers crossed that the deck could come down some day! I assume that most of the potential buyers of the Peachtree Summit tower will want to keep that parking deck. I hate to wish for a tower to come down, but I wouldn't protest if it results in overall improved land use via new development.