01-19-18 Sandy Springs Reporter

Page 1

JAN. 19 - FEB. 1, 2018 • VOL. 12— NO. 2

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Sandy Springs Reporter

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► State, city officials debate best ways to regulate short-term rentals PAGE 4 ► Touring theater company for seniors eyes expansion PAGE 20

Bookbonding on MLK Day

BY JOHN RUCH johnruch@reporternewspapers.net

PHIL MOSIER

OUT & ABOUT

Bring on the bagpipes! 1,500 expected in Tartan Trot run Page 16

Is Sandy Springs’ arts-oriented civic center a smart play? See COMMENTARY, Page 10

POP SECRETS OF A SNACK FAVE | P6

Advocates’ secret concept influences affordable housing talk

Teacher Nancy McCord and High Point Elementary School fifth-grader Layelin Zamora, 11, read a book together as an example of the Sandy Springs Mission’s work during the city’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day event Jan. 15 at Heritage Sandy Springs. The annual event, attended by over 200 people, had a new program focused on introducing residents to a local nonprofit and how they can get involved. The Sandy Springs Mission aids at-risk, primarily Latino students in local schools with a partly Christian program. For more information, see sandyspringsmission.org.

As an artist myself; I fully support art as a core in civic identity. Construction and traffic are my only main concerns preand post-completion.

reporternewspapers.net

A Sandy Springs couple and their secret concept for a new mixed-income community have been a strong influence on the city’s affordable housing and north end redevelopment policy discussions for at least two years, according to internal city emails. Yet the general public has been unaware of their recommendations and plans, as they repeatedly insisted on secrecy — largely agreed to by city officials — to avoid “scrutiny,” “resistance” and “objections.” David Couchman, Melanie NobleCouchman and their philanthropic Noble-Couchman Foundation have not been the only voices in city policy discussions, and not every city official is sold on their vision. But, the emails show, their behindthe-scenes access and influence have See ADVOCATES on page 13

Plan for vacant houses could expand a park BY JOHN RUCH johnruch@reporternewspapers.net

EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATOR

Creating a student-operated cafe at North Springs High Page 8

Two long-vacant houses aren’t the ideal neighbors for Allen Road Park. But in a possible redevelopment deal, part of the properties may add to that city green space. The 60-year-old houses at 75 and 85 Allen Road have been targeted by city Code Enforcement officers in recent years amid unsuccessful sales attempts. Morris Nejat, a New York City medical doctor brokering the latest sale on behalf of his father-in-law, says that a better future appears to be coming. “We’re in contract with a development See PLAN on page 23


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