Where do you see Doraville headed in the next 5-10 years?
Four years ago, I answered this question by talking about how Doraville is lagging behind its neighbors, but so much has changed over these past four years that I have to revise my answer.
We have new apartment buildings, single-family homes, and townhome communities and more under construction. Two new schools are being built, as well as our city center’s development starting at the end of September.
The next 5-10 years hint at unprecedented growth for our downtown and BuHi corridors. The new schools will drive families to purchase homes in our city and new businesses will bring more people to our city, helping grow our hundreds of mom-n-pop restaurants and retail stores.
Our partnership with Assembly has seen the first phase of development, a massive movie studio where an abandoned car factory one stood, with phase two coming soon. The current council, myself included, as well as our city staff are heavily responsible for the improved impression our city has had on developers.
Why run for city council?
Being a city council member is no walk in the park. You are under constant public scrutiny. People are quick to bash any mistake you make, and are slow to offer praise.
As a 14+ year resident of Doraville and a six-year council member, I believe that my skill set as an architect can, and has, been put to use helping guide the city. I’m not just a Doraville home-owner, I’m also a small business owner, husband, and father here in the Northwoods neighborhood. I have a lot at stake within the community.
Working these past six years on council has been challenging, exciting, educational, and, I believe, helpful to our community. I desire to continue working with my fellow council members to help guide Doraville over the next four years. Our city center project is well underway and I’d love to help guide it through to completion.
What are your qualifications?
As a practicing architect, I have a unique set of skills that lend itself well to helping the city. Architects act as mediators between clients and builders, helping to guide projects to fruition. We work hand-in-hand with property owners, real-estate agents, builders, and end-user clients to create projects which benefit all parties involved.
The skills I have acquired over the past 25 years are perfect for working with the other city council members, the mayor, and the city staff. I have two degrees from Georgia Tech, a Bachelors of Science in Architecture and a Masters of Architecture.
I am also an Eagle Scout, earning this honor in my hometown of Randolph, New Jersey. The past six years on council have taught me a great many things and with those years under my belt, the next four years will be even more effective, efficient, and prosperous for the city.
What are your thoughts on the millage rate and homestead exemption?
A few years ago myself and former council member Andy Yeoman led the charge to tackle the millage rate and homestead exemption question in a new and inventive way.
At the time, the city millage rate was 9.0 (0.009 mills) of our total tax bill and the homestead exemption was set at $25,000. We helped change it to a rate of 9.0 with a 2.5 mill plus $10,000 deduction. This means now the effective city tax rate for home owners is 6.5 (0.0065 milll) plus a $10,000 deduction.
This saves the average home owner money while helping keep our city’s budget aligned with our spending goals. Keep in mind that only 20% (approx.) of your total tax bill goes to Doraville, while the other 80% goes to the state and county.
The city is in a very good place financially and the resident’s property taxes are stabilized. As further redevelopment takes place in the city, I would like to see a future reduction of our general millage rate by another point or more.
What are your goals over the next four years if you are re-elected?
There are a number of items that I would like to see tackled over the next four years, both big and small.
1.) I’d like to continue to move the millage rate from 9 mils down to 8 mils through gradual reductions. This will only be possible with our city’s growth as new residents, businesses and infrastructure will help increase our tax base thus spreading the tax burden out and allowing for a reduction across the board.
2.) I’d like to see the city center project through to completion. Even though the project is well into the design phase and construction/demolition is starting shortly, there is still a long way to go on this project. The current council has worked very hard towards a common goal and I’d love to be able to see that through.
3.) Buford Highway is a major corridor of our city and its many shops and restaurants have been our city’s life-blood over the years. However, there are a lot of challenges along the corridor, including pedestrian safety issues, walkability problems, and redevelopment struggles that council can start to address more proactively now that our downtown project is underway.
I’d like to try and find a way to “right-size” the actual highway by widening sidewalks and adding bike lanes, trees, and protective barriers. These additions along with new mid-block crossings would slow traffic, improve safety, increase walkability, and add to the already thriving businesses of our BuHI cooridor.
4.) I’d like to continue to protect, through zoning and other legislation, our current residential neighborhoods. This can be accomplished through new overlay zonings, more thoughtful tree ordinances, sidewalk and roadway improvements, traffic calming measures, and careful code/police enforcement.
Working on council does not mean working alone. We have to work together as a body to move the city forward. I believe that I have, through many years of demonstrated service, earned the respect of my fellow council members, city staff, and our police department. We share a common vision of what the next ten years of Doraville looks like. We will continue to work hard to make Doraville the best place it can be for all residents.