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Buckhead Reporter
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SEPT. 4 — SEPT. 17, 2015 • VOL. 9 — NO. 18
What’s going down your drain? COMMENTARY 8
Will it be enough?
A SPECIAL SECTION, PAGES 15-18
New battles revving up over bicycle lanes BY JOE EARLE
joeearle@reporternewspapers.net
PHIL MOSIER
The Lovett School’s Jay Harris, center right, scores a touchdown during the Lions’ game against The Westminster Schools’ Wildcats in the “Battle of Buckhead” on Aug. 28 in Kilpatrick Stadium. The Wildcats beat the Lions, 26-23. See additional photos on page 27.
Punchline may resurrect at Landmark Diner
Buckhead’s bicycle battles appear to be cycling back. More than 50 residents packed NPUB’s September board meeting as the neighborhood planning group debated proposals intended to make the city of Atlanta more bike-friendly. Several residents voiced objection to the city’s bike plans as well as a proposal recently outlined by state transportation officials to add bike lanes along portions of Peachtree Road through south Buckhead. State transportation officials are considering redrawing the lanes on Peachtree Road through Buckhead to add a central left turn lane and to add bicycle lanes along the portion of Peachtree south of Peachtree Battle Avenue. “I think Peachtree is just one of those roads where cycling is a bad idea,” said resident Valerie Taylor, who attended the Sept. 1 meeting of the board of Neighborhood Planning Unit B. But resident Mike McLeod defended bike lanes, saying they were not a new idea. “It’s a perfect opportunity to have a bike network,” he said. “You can get people out of their cars. There’s data that shows traffic flow will improve. I know it’s difficult to believe, but if you take cars away, you can improve traffic flow.” The Georgia Department of Transportation’s new plan will likely be presented for SEE NEW BATTLES, PAGE 6
BY JOHN RUCH
johnruch@reporternewspapers.net
A stand-up switcheroo may resurrect the historic Punchline Comedy Club at Buckhead’s Landmark Diner. In turn, Atlanta comedy legend Jerry Farber’s Side Door club would move from the diner, where it occupies a side room, to a new Buckhead or Sandy Springs spot. Everyone involved differs on how close the Landmark is to becoming the new home of the Punchline, which shuttered its Sandy Springs doors in April after 33 years of hosting top stars. Farber said he suggested the comedy swap and is hopeful the deal will happen as a rare moment of club camaraderie. “I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart [for the Punchline]…They were always good to me,” said Farber, the 77-yearold dean of Atlanta’s comedy scene, who headlined the Punchline 26 times. “I’ve gone through the comedy club wars.” Punchline co-owner Jamie Bendall said he understands the curiosity—among both the public and comedians—about the future of his club, which was forced to close its Roswell Road
spot by a pending redevelopment plan. The Punchline was a nationally known stop for such legends as Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy and Jerry Seinfeld. “We’re in discussion” with the Landmark, Bendall acknowledged, but also said that talk of a deal is “still very premature.” “We’ve probably seen somewhere in the vicinity of 30 to 50 different properties,” Bendall said. “To highlight this one with any more attention than any of the others isn’t fair to anybody.” Meanwhile, the Punchline continues to stage “pop-up shows” in various towns, including Peachtree City and Alpharetta. The next one will be held Sept. 17 in conjunction with an Alpharetta food truck event. Bendall said those onetime shows are “separate and distinct” from the search for the Punchline’s permanent home, but could continue as part of the business. “Nothing yet,” Landmark owner Tom Lambrou said on Aug. 31 about a potential Punchline deal. “We talk about it, SEE PUNCHLINE, PAGE 4
SPECIAL
State transportation officials are considering redrawing lanes on Peachtree Road through Buckhead.