Midtown To Host 5th Annual Tour of Homes

Midtown Neighbors' Association (MNA) will host the 5th Annual Tour Of Homes, April 5-6, 2008. As in the past, the Tour will feature a variety of homes that are what make Midtown such a unique place to live.

From modern high-rise condominiums to single family homes constructed in the early 1900's, the Tour is an annual delight in Midtown.

Additionally, various "points of interest" are often included on the tour. They might include a local church, school or other unique site that visitors to Midtown might otherwise miss.

Tickets will be available soon at the Tour Website. Later ticket outlets will include Outwrite Bookstore at 10th and Piedmont, and the Presenting Sponsors, Morris & Raper InTown Real Estate. Our company is pleased to be a part of this great event! It truly gives people the chance to see what "living" in Midtown is like. Many of the ticket sales for the tour are from OTP (Outside the Perimeter)

Additionally, I serve on the Board of Directors for MNA as the Membership Chairman. MNA is a not-for-profit association, completely managed and operated by volunteers (like myself, giving some 20+ hours a month to the organization) with the goal of making Midtown a better place to live.

The proceeds raised from the Tour are reinvested back into the neighborhood for projects that include everything from installing additional street lights, funding private security patrols, purchasing trash cans, neighborhood cleanups, and other neighborhood events. MNA is also the only organization officially recognized by the city which gives the neighbors a voice "at the table" when issues come up.

So mark your calendars and join us and see what Midtown Atlanta is all about! Make sure you bring your appetite...we have lots of great restaurants, some which are sure to be Tour Sponsors and maybe offering Tour specials!

The Proposed Peachtree Street Car

Already 2 or more years in the making (or study process), the Peachtree Street Car is making tracks (no pun intended) towards becoming a reality! The task force issued their findings in March, 2007, and now they are seeking public input into the proposed Street Car. What is it going to look like? This is a picture of the Portland, Oregon Streetcar, and the same type that could be gliding up and down Peachtree Street between 16th Street in Midtown and Downtown within 6 years. (Hey, nobody said we do everything fast in the South, right?)

I attended the first of 4 public meetings that are being held (actually now only 2 left as two of them were today, and the others will be next week and the following week in Midtown. Here is that meeting information:

Wednesday, January 16, 6-8 p.m. AT&T Midtown 2 Building,

725 West Peachtree Street AT&T: (404) 888-0349

Tuesday, January 22, 6-8 p.m. First Presbyterian Church,

1328 Peachtree Street, N.E. First Presbyterian: (404) 892-8461

The meeting will cover the vision of the Street Car, where it initially will go, how long it will take to build and become operational, and MOST importantly, the proposed funding to build it! The current proposed funding will have a long term impact on anyone who lives or owns a business in the proposed special assessment district.

I hope to see many of my neighbors there!