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2/20/13
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Alcohol plan goes to council
Riverfront businesses say they want second entertainment district
The popularity of a proposed downtown arts and entertainment district has some asking the city to consider creating a second district for its riverfront.
A plan to designate a roughly 90-acre strip along Bank Street Northeast and Second Avenue Southeast was unanimously approved by the Decatur Planning Commission on Tuesday. The measure now goes before the City Council with backing from downtown merchants, Decatur Downtown Redevelopment Authority, Chamber of Commerce and the city Planning Department.
The proposed district would allow alcohol to be served outdoors and carried in the street within its boundaries. Patrons can purchase only one alcoholic beverage at a time, but cannot take alcohol from one business to another. Drink sizes are limited to 16 ounces, and alcoholic beverages must be carried in paper or plastic containers.
Glass bottles and cans are prohibited, as is alcohol purchased outside the district and brought within its boundaries.
Dozens of residents, downtown business owners and city officials filled the council chambers to hear the commission's public hearing. Of the three who spoke, all were in favor of the district.
Susan Conner, co-owner of Riverwalk Marina, asked the city to consider adding another district that would include areas along the Tennessee River. Susan and Steve Conner's restaurant and bar The Hard Dock is on the river.
"I think it's a wonderful idea, but we feel a little jealous and left out," Susan Conner said. "The Hard Dock, Holiday Inn, the new Food Fite and Amberly Suites all have alcohol licenses which meet the requirements to have an entertainment district."
City Planner Karen Smith said state law allows cities to establish up to two districts of no more than a half-mile by a half-mile. Smith said officials want to study the potential for a second district on the riverfront.
"It's just a matter of working out the geographics and mathematics," she said.
Smith said some have proposed extending a riverfront entertainment district down to Ingalls Harbor and pavilion, which have hosted several festivals and events.
The ordinance for the proposed downtown district is modeled closely to one in Savannah, Ga., which has been successful, Smith said.
Last year, the legislature passed a law, co-sponsored by Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, creating another category of alcohol licenses issued by the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. It allows cities of at least 25,000 to pursue entertainment districts. To qualify, a district must have at least four businesses licensed to sell alcohol.
"Young professionals have been asking for this, and we view it as an economic developer," said Crystal Brown, the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce's vice president of business development. "We have a lot of confidence that our citizens will be responsible, and this will be an enhancement to our downtown, not an impediment."
At Tuesday's public hearing, downtown property owner Judith Tardy said she supports creating the district but has seen many downtown redevelopment initiatives come and go.
"You should consider the many owners who will be directly economically affected by your actions," Tardy told the seven-member commission prior to its vote.
In voicing her support, former councilwoman Pat Woller asked the commission to consider the next generation of potential residents and business owners.
"We must look to the future," Woller said. "It may not be mine or your preference, but it is the preference of the younger people who want more places to go."
Collins and former councilwoman Shirley Hammond, a downtown businesswoman, sent letters of support, while resident Darin Peer sent one stating the proposed district was not right for Decatur.
"This is not The French Quarter in New Orleans, not Laclede's Landing in St. Louis and not Beale Street in Memphis. ... this is Decatur," Peer wrote. "I believe a better, more responsible approach to this would afford businesses the luxury of serving and allowing alcohol to be enjoyed in and around their property by patrons, but not allowing them to purchase a drink at say, Cafe 113, then allowing them to walk all the way to Simp McGhee's. This could potentially create a trail of trash not seen downtown."
District 5 Councilman Chuck Ard, who previously said he favors an arts and entertainment district, abstained from Tuesday's vote because he will address it on the council. Council President Gary Hammon has cited concerns about its enforcement, but Decatur Police Chief Ed Taylor has been involved in its planning and said he is supportive of the district.
Tiffeny Owens can be reached at 256-340-2440 or towens@decaturdaily.com.
Downtown arts and entertainment district
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One drink on-street limit: Licensed businesses can serve only one drink at a time in a paper or plastic container to a customer.
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Drinks outside businesses: Patrons can purchase a drink from a licensed business and go outside to drink it. They cannot enter another licensed business with that drink. An alcoholic beverage acquired elsewhere cannot be brought into the district.
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16-ounce limit on alcoholic beverages.
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Cans, glass and bottles prohibited.
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Open container law still enforced where applicable.
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Hours: No alcohol allowed earlier than 6 a.m. or later than 1 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 a.m. to noon Sunday.
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Why is everybody so obsessed with drinking in this area? I've seen alcohol ruin many lives in my part of town so be careful what you wish for with this. At least the police won't have to drive the drunks far to lock them up.
Oh no, not boundaries....I am certain that rule will be strictly followed! The Chief of Police may be for this, but I doubt he has seen the trash in the parking lots downtown, where customers are allowed to leave with their open containers becuase the establishments really don't care if they do or not. If they don't care now, they won't care when the new district is approved. Are we gonna have boundary police? Give me a break with the boundary stuff. The City has to decide if they want a people friendly downtown, or a adult friendly downtown. An "entertainment district" is nothing more than adult entertainment, not suitable for a family or children. Call it what it is. So, it is not good enough that the businesses that sell alcohol and are restaurants by day, and full blown nightclubs by night complete with "bouncers" that they already have outdoor patios, now lets take it out front for the world to see. This will make money for the city coffers, but it will cause problems. Will I take my grandkids downtown for pizza and parades if this ridiclious 24/7 district is approved? No. There are already drunks walking on Moulton Street now downtown with their open containers. Lets just make it legal with boundaries. Like the lady from the chamber said, we have confidence our citizens will be responsible. What sand pile is her head under? Be honest, some will, most will not. They are not now. The clubs over serve which causes DRUNKS.. DRUNKS leave usually in cars. Clubs don't police their selves now, they will not when this is mad legal, they are after all a business that sells, they are there to make money. Decatur aways wants their cake and eat it too, and an (Adult) Entertainment district mixed with family events do not mix. Use some common sense. If this were for certain events, maybe, but 24/7 no. This will take more effort on the police department's part than the Chief realizes I am afraid. After all, not many Chief's are out when the clubs are open.
"former councilwoman Shirley Hammond" <----- she was a council woman? (or did the Daily screw this up)?
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(no disrespect is meant towards Ms Hammond asking this question. I just dont' recall her being a council woman and think this is a misprint by the Daily's column author. The only female council members I can recall in the past 20 years are Pat Woller and Dot Montgomery. )
not sure what benefit that the Hard Dock would be to this district. I mean it doesn't connect to any of the downtown areas and you sure don't want people drinking "waling across that bridge" as part of an entertainment event.
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It might be able to be it's "own district" for outdoor events at the marina, such as the "wild game cookoff" etc that's held there. (or did they move that to Ingalls Harbor?)
This is in response to THOR, I am the owner of The Brick and I kinda assume you are talking about us with this post. I would like to address some of the things in your post. The Brick did not have anything to do with this "entertainment district" business. We support the idea since it is out there, but it will make our jobs harder. I am a mother with 3 children and if you think we don't take the business if selling alcohol seriously then you are not only wrong but also not familar with our place after 9 p.m. Our "bouncers" are there because when alcohol is involved sometimes you need to have back up for everyones safety and comfort. WE TAKE OUR JOBS VERY SERIOUSLY, I wouldn't want a drunk being on the road and we do everything humanly possible to avoid this. We pay for cabs out of our pockets, our "bouncers" and other employees take people home and we respondsibly sell alcohol. We are dilligent about not serving to minors and not over serving people. Sure people get over served sometimes because we are not perfect but we don't allow people to keep buying just so we can make a buck!! One more thing, the cans and bottles in the parking lot beside our business are from people drinking in their cars before they come in! Our "bouncers" are also at the exits making sure NO ONE leaves with any alcohol! This is another thing that we are very careful about. We clean up our parking lot every Monday morning because it looks trashy from what has been left over the weekend from our customers, but it DID NOT come from inside The Brick. I don't want to ever be respondsible for hurting the city or any person, we are trying to make a living as honestly and respondsibly as possible.We don't always get it right but we try harder than you can imagine.
To Tina,
I appreciate your response and I am sure you do all that you claim, but let us be honest, saying that all of those containers in the parking lots are all from people who bring their own and that it did not come from inside the Brick, I really don't see that you can say that with all certainity. You may believe that , but some of it does. Come on. It is responsible for you and your staff to clean up the lot, and I commend you for that. But maybe on Saturday morning as well. Yes, you do overserve, I have relatives who frequent your business and they have left drunk. I do realize that efforts are made to avoid this, but you must admit that it happens, drunks are arrested in that area, whether they were drinking before they came to your business or not. It is not just the Municipal parking lot that is next to your business that is littered with the used containers, it is across the street and in the alleyways as well. I am VERY familiar with your place of business after 9 P.M.. I applaud your efforts, I applaud you not having anything to do with the entertainment idea, but I don't see you saying anything against it either. I did not mention your business by choice, there have been other ventures downtown similiar to yours that I was referring to as well. I do believe by your comments that you take your business serious, and that you are trying hard to be a respected business, and I think you have accomplished that, but as you know it is a continuing process. I will however criticize your comment on over serving. You are not perfect, but it is not hard to see when a person has had enough, I commend your honesty on admitting that it does happen. Should it happen? No, can more be done to prevent that issue ? I think would you would agree that more can be done. It too is a continuing process. Efforts to insure this does not happen, and calling cabs and making efforts for those who need assistance is very responsible on your part.
Ms. Hammond was a council member. She was successful in getting the sign ordinance passed.
Thor, there is ALWAYS work to be done to make sure people are safe when they are in our place or leaving our place. I guess I just want to make the point that I WOULD NOT AND HAVE NOT sold to someone that is obviously intoxicated just to make money. That isn't the reason we have The Brick. There is a reason most bars close after a year or so, they are in it for a quick buck. We are trying to build something that will be here for our kids, a place that is part of the community. I know your original post wasnt just about The Brick and I'm not trying to get on my grand stand. I just want to let you know and anyone else that reads these posts that I know the seriousness of EVERY drink that goes across my bar. This is life and death....might sound extreme but it is true. We are going to handle this entertainment district thing the same way we handle our day to day operations......Try to make it enjoyable for everyone while we make sure it's safe. That's alot harder than it looks.
i see we have a Morality Nazi in the mix.......
Yea Tammy, I am..Proud of it...proud to speak out that I don't want my grandkids exposed to this when they are downtown, what of it?
...and Ms. name caller, I am not a Nazi, you on the other hand could use a lesson in manners.
What exactly does Thor think his grandchildren will be exposed to, someone holding a beer? An empty cup thrown down? Get a grip. I hardly think having an entertainment district is going to turn downtown Decatur into Bourbon Street. The majority of people that will be out drinking will more than likely be doing it at night. Your children should be home by then anyways, and if they see someone walking down the street during the day carrying a beer, I hardly think they'll be scarred for life.
If you don't want your grandkids around it then move them to Hartselle. Hartselle will never have any of that .
me thinks thou protest too much. you seem to desire that just because you dont like something, that no one should.! also what made you think i was referring to you?
@ Angie K., I got a grip, I also got an opinion.It is a 24/7 six day a week district that is proposed, or did you not read that? You don't need to worry about my grandkids and where they are, I do that just fine. I do not believe children should be exposed to that, apparently it doesn't bother you. Ok, your opinion. It would be nice to express opinions w/o somone like you getting personal. @ Roger , done lived in Hartselle, live in Decatur now, you live in Hartselle apparently so worry about Hartselle.@ Tammy ...You think like person who not care. It again would be nice to express an opinion w/o someone like you acting like they know me...and you weren't calling me an Nazi??? Yeaaaaaaaa Right.
Goodness, having your own thoughts on something is wonderful! We don't have to agree on every detail of life, that would be weird and boring. I think it is important that people in Decatur are able to express their opinions and have a conversation that is honest and helpful. Decatur is growing and that is a good thing. Thor, we don't agree but I enjoyed the "conversation".
Actually, Thor, the article clearly states not in effect after 1 am and before 6 am with some additional limitations.on.Sunday. Yes, it is in effect most of the time but 24/7 is inaccurate.
Can't WAIT for DISHONEST DOO-GOODER ANDERS and LYIN GARY to vote to loosen the rules on alcohol! Let 'Em Loose, Rog-n-Gary! You guys are solid!
I didn't make it personal, I asked a simple question. Bourbon street is also a 24/7 district, have you ever been? I would feel more than comfortable taking children down it during the day to see the shops, but I would question the judgement of any parent who walked through there with their small children after around 9 pm. It's about using common sense, try it sometime.
Shirley Hammond was instrumental in banning cell phone towers from the city. What foresight!