It sure is good motivation to put all I have into this site to make it work. I want an air conditioned job again, with occasional trips out and about meeting and learning about interesting things and people.
I guess I’ll just have to admit that it will probably be Fall before I can devote a full 8+ hours a day to the site. Believe me, I’m looking forward to that time! Until then, I’ll keep rolling out new features and articles. I’m more than ready.
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On Tuesday, Grow Decatur is having a reception for anyone who would like to see how they might help move the community forward.
Decatur Public Library, Madden Room, Tuesday, May 15 at 4:30pm.
We would like you to join us, and also ask you to pass this invitation to anyone else you think might be interested in being a part of Decatur’s continued development. Family, friends, people in your neighborhood or co-workers, etc. Everyone is welcome.
Items to be discussed include an overview of Grow Decatur, explanation of current activities that could use volunteers, and opportunities for service that we see in the future.
Thanks!
Grow Decatur
Bruce Nims
One question I have is regarding the Civil War statue, which is currently prominently displayed in the park. It isn’t on the drawing. I’ll have to shoot off an email and find out where it is to be located or relocated to.
Yesterday was also the first time I’ve ever been inside the Transfer House. It looks much better on the outside. I was surprised to see the condition of the ceiling. Hopefully a new use for the building will be included in the plan.
2013 changes for Central Park, Click on image for larger view.
The traffic direction around Central Park will be reversed from what it is currently. Franklin Street will have new sidewalks and landscaping, much like the new sidewalks and landscaping being installed this year in other parts of downtown. And if memory serves me right, a larger viewing area for parades will be located in front of the Transfer House facing Franklin Street.
More Images:
New landscaping around the Transfer House.
Central Park, showing the traffic and parking changes.
A portion of Franklin Street, S. Park and Prairie Street.
New stage for Central Park.
My son pointing to where we were. Hard to miss that building!
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Residents can receive information and provide input on the proposal for changes to Franklin Street and Central Park during the open house. Phases I and II are currently underway on the three-phased project to bring new sidewalks, landscaping, lighting, recreational opportunities and other amenities to the downtown area.
The Open House will be structured as an informal informational gathering where attendees can see conceptual renderings and provide feedback on the final phase of the project.
Contact Billy Tyus at 424-2727 or Stephanie Ashe Brown at 424-2725 for more information.
]]>“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by these tornadoes,” said Carl Baker,Mid Illinois Chapter Executive Director. “Local Red Cross chapters are already offering victims food and a safe place to stay and more workers and equipment are being sent it to help people who were in the path of these storms.”
The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center reported at least 97 tornadoes blew across Kansas,Iowa,Nebraska and Oklahoma. Particularly hard hit were the towns of Woodward and Norman in Oklahoma,the towns of Creston and Thurman in Iowa and areas in and around Wichita,Kansas. Currently, hundreds of relief supplies are being moved to the affected areas. These supplies include comfort kits,tarps,coolers,rakes and other cleanup supplies. The Red Cross is also sending in additional staff and disaster equipment.
SAFE AND WELL The Red Cross encourages people to register on the Red Cross Safe and Well website to let loved ones know they are safe by visiting www.redcross.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). From a smart phone,visit www.redcross.org/safeandwell and click on the “List Yourself as Safe and Well” or “Search for Friends and Family” link.
People in the affected areas can let loved ones know their status on the Safe and Well site. Friends and family outside the disaster area can then search for messages from their loved ones by using a pre-disaster phone number or complete address. Safe and Well also enables disaster survivors to update their Facebook and Twitter status through the website.
HOW TO HELP People can help those affected by disasters like these tornadoes,as well as countless crises at home and around the world,by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Consider making a donation today by visiting www.redcross.org,calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions enable the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter,food,emotional support and other assistance in response to disasters.
]]>Attend a Grow Decatur community focus group to take part in shaping a vision for our community on Saturday, April 21 st at 9AM or Monday, April 23 rd at 6:30 PM. Both will be held at First Presbyterian Church, 204 W. Prairie Avenue, Decatur, IL.
Grow Decatur is a community effort launched in February to help make Decatur strong and vibrant.
For more information see www.growdecatur.com, call 424-6296 or contact Beth Nolan at bnolan1679@gmail.com
]]>Adam Brown has had quite a ride over the past few short years. It wasn’t long ago, he was running for city council and I remember him quickly responding to a questionnaire I sent out to all of the then city council candidates. I think his response was one of the first I got back. It was obvious he wrote the response himself. There was no slick marketing team with canned responses manning his email account. His quick response impressed me since this is just a small local blog. At that time I had no idea he would climb the political ladder so quickly. I wouldn’t be surprised if one day he will run for congress but it doesn’t look like it will be quite as soon as maybe he had hoped for.
It appears at this point that Johnson’s protege and former chief of staff Jerry Clarke will most likely be the choice for Tim Johnson’s endorsement. Clarke called Johnson his mentor in a recent television interview and Clarke has recently picked up several endorsements by current and former Republican state representatives. It certainly seems that Johnson, who easily won the primary and then announced his retirement shortly afterwards, helped pave the way for Clarke, who didn’t have to run a primary in his own name. Was that the plan all along? Call my cynical but it looks that way.
At any rate a decision should be coming soon as to who the appointee will be.
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New sidewalks and landscaping for downtown.
The angled parking on Main Street looked odd and I witnessed one woman back up her minivan after she honked her horn twice, I guess as a distress signal before backing up into a lane of traffic she couldn’t see. She also gave me a dirty look while I walked by. I’m not sure what that was about but maybe the stress of backing onto such a busy street overwhelmed her and she forgot how lovable I am.
Angled parking across from the Lincoln Square Theatre on Main Street.
Merchant Street was no more and I can’t say I miss it. It was looking tired before the backhoes got to work. It actually looked better as a dirt road than what I remembered. The plan is to have arches crossing each end of the street to signify its importance downtown. I just wish there were more shops to choose from because really only one side of Merchant Street has actual merchants. The other side is mostly residential.
Merchant Street, Downtown Decatur
One thing that irked me was the seemingly needless removal of so many healthy trees. All that remains are stumps scattered about downtown. The trees are being removed because of damage their roots have done to some sidewalks and the fact that they probably don’t fit into the new look. I’ve noticed heaved sidewalks in front of the Lincoln Theatre, though I don’t know if it was caused by the trees or just the freezing and thawing of old, shabby sidewalks or possibly zombies trying to escape from beneath. I say get rid of the zombies and keep the trees. If a tree is a hazard I don’t have a problem removing it but if it’s causing no harm, let it be. I did a visual inspection of the sidewalk and road near two large trees recently cut down (see below) and I didn’t see any damage to the pavement at all around them.
Large tree cut down across from Central Park. Notice the pavement and plant container have no cracks.
Too late to save this one too!
I’m sure the end result will be a great improvement over the old look. I hope it encourages new development and I think it will. I have a feeling the angled parking will probably be nixed eventually for parallel parking, which would put a dirty look on my face because I can’t parallel park to save my life but that’s ok. I’ll just find somewhere else to park.
Most of the construction should be done by the time the Decatur Celebration rolls around again in August, which will be great. I guess we’ll just have to get a big blue screen to drape over the Barnes parking garage and project a beautiful park on it, because unfortunately that hideous thing will still be there, mocking us. I think I’ll give it a dirty look when I walk by next time. I usually do.
Some more photos:
Poor guy was just trying to cross the street...
Even this looks better than the old Merchant Street.
Creepy hatches. I never walk on those things.
Did I ever tell you the joke about the chicken crossing the street? It got backed over in an angled parking spot...
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First phase of construction to be completed before summer's end.
A picture is worth a thousand words. These are screen captures of the presentation given before the city council on the changes for Nelson Park with before and after shots. I think it helps to actually see what is being proposed. The first phase of construction will focus on the area in front of the current Beach House restaurant with a new boardwalk, docks and other improvements.
Current shoreline
Proposed shoreline
Current Pier
Proposed pier
One of the current docks
What a new dock would look like
Current dock with narrow out of code walkways
Proposed dock
Beach House Today
Beach House with new boardwalk to be built this year.
View of new docks, boardwalk, landscaping in front of Beach House.
First phase of construction to be completed before summer's end.
Even the name of your board member is displayed. My residence used to be in District 1; now I’m in District 4 and just barely.
Here is a good article on the upcoming primary candidates for the Macon County Board:
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