The City of Atlanta InRem Hearing is this Thursday, April 22, for Paces Properties (the current owner of the former Intown Suites property, 1944 Piedmont Circle NE).
At the April 19 NPU-F Meeting, an attorney for Paces Properties advised they have reached an agreement with the City to start clean-up on the property on Tuesday, April 20. Paces also agreed to put new fencing up. The company who has a contract to purchase the property from Paces Properties ((Fairfield Residential) will hire security for the site. The attorney also advised he believes the InRem hearing will be postponed to a later date to allow the clean-up and sale to be completed.
From the view of the Piedmont Heights Civic Association, Paces Properties blatantly abandoned the property more than two years ago and allowed it to become a blight on our community. The City of Atlanta showed a total lack of corporate or citizen responsibility by their lack of any discernible action. Paces Properties also failed to acknowledge numerous citations issued on the property. The City staff recommendations for the property were to demolish it. We believe that demolishing the existing structure to be an appropriate action, one that Paces Properties should have to pay. Punitive action is entirely appropriate, and let it serve as a message to other property owners of the importance of living up to their responsibilities as good stewards and citizens of Piedmont Heights.
We urge our neighbors and other interested citizens to register for the InRem Hearing.
To register online, go to: https://zoom.us. Then click "Join a Meeting" and enter the Webinar ID 867 3625 1040. The next page is a registration page, which will then provide you with the Zoom login information for April 22.
Or, to join via telephone, dial 877-853-5257 or 888-475-4499
then enter Webinar ID: 867 3635 1040, and press # to Join.
You can also enter comments on the Registration page. Please feel free to adapt the language several of our board members have already used as a template:
Paces Properties has repeatedly ignored concerns from the neighborhood for years and has completely abandoned this property. Now that there are potential consequences that could hurt their ability to sell, they seem to be paying attention. However, their prior actions indicate a complete lack of corporate responsibility and concern for public safety. They have been grossly negligent, which has led to a major blight on the community and the City. Their efforts now are simply too little too late and they must be held fully responsible!
As a nearby property owner who takes pride in fostering a safe and beautiful community, I wholeheartedly concur with Staff recommendation to demolish the buildings on the property. I further insist that Paces Properties bear the cost of the demolition to deter future negligent property owners.
Please do not delay/continue this matter. Hear it on the scheduled date, April 22, 2021. HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.
