Decatur is looking at possibly adding 1700 parcels that would increase the city’s real estate tax base by $566.6 million and the city’s population by about 7,800 residents, according to an annexation report presented to the City Commission on Jan. 22.
The next day, an ad hoc annexation committee for nearby Avondale Estates presented their initial report that listed 89 parcels, mostly commercial and valued at almost $39 million, for possible expansion.
Both cities want to increase their commercial tax base to relieve the burden on residential property owners. “In 1994, the City’s residential property made up about 76% of the total tax digest. In 2007, residential property was approximately 85% of the total digest,” Decatur City Manager Peggy Merris said. In Avondale Estates, residential property accounts for at least 90 percent of the tax digest.
“I want to go as fast as we can without breaking anything,” Avondale Estates Mayor Ed Rieker said, adding “If we don’t come up with a plan, someone will.” The race is on!
In the continuation, see a listing of some of the properties Avondale is considering annexing.
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Avondale Estates Annexation Avondale Estates may pursue three pieces of local legislation to annex property that lies in three different state House districts. The city appointed an ad hoc annexation committee on Jan. 15 after Decatur indicated it might attempt annexation of the property between the cities this legislative session.
Allan Kirwan, chairman of the Avondale Estates ad hoc annexation committee, told city officials at a special called work session on Jan. 23 that it appeared Decatur would not try to get annexation approved this year. “The committee finds that at this point we are not ready to annex substantial properties,” the ad hoc committee’s first report said.
The committee suggested city officials develop an immediate, 2-year, 5-year and “an ultimate year” annexation plan and the city should try to assess the positions of the property owners regarding annexation. Committee members also said the zoning code should be revised to accommodate different types of properties that might be annexed. Kirwan said four owners of five parcels on East College might be interested in annexation into Avondale. “We need to identify and meet with the owners,” he said, adding that a benefit of annexation would be increased security for businesses in the area that have been robbed.
The committee’s report included 23 parcels on East College Avenue, Maple Street and Dalerose Avenue owned by 10 owners and sitting on the Avondale side of Sams Crossing. It also listed several parcels on Laredo Drive, Rio Circle and Pine Street, including the closed Fenner Dunlop factory. The list also included the Avondale Station Apartments, Avondale Villa Apartments, several parcels on Kensington Road and Covington Highway near the Juvenile Justice Building, and six parcels on Wells Street, Hobbs Street and North Clarendon Avenue. Commissioner Sandra Varian said Stratford Green condominiums were interested in annexation.
