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City of Decatur authorizes study of East Lake MARTA station

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City of Decatur authorizes study of East Lake MARTA station

FILE PHOTO USED FOR ILLUSTRATION PURPOSES: A MARTA train passes over the mural at the corner of Dekalb Ave. and Arizona Ave. on Thursday, April 17, 2014. File Photo by Jonathan Phillips
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A MARTA train passes over the mural at the corner of Dekalb Ave. and Arizona Ave. on Thursday, April 17, 2014. File Photo by Jonathan Phillips

A MARTA train passes over the mural at the corner of Dekalb Ave. and Arizona Ave. on Thursday, April 17, 2014. File Photo by Jonathan Phillips

This story has been updated. 

With other MARTA stations in Atlanta being developed into mixed use projects, the city of Decatur is turning its eye toward the East Lake MARTA station.

At its regular meeting on Nov. 7, the City Commission approved a grant application for further study of the MARTA station and the half-mile radius around the station, which the city says is underutilized. The Liveable Centers Initiative grant would pay 80 percent of the $125,000 for the study. It requires a 20 percent local match which will be split with the city of Atlanta and MARTA, meaning Decatur’s share will be $8,500.

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“It sounds like a really reasonable cost for getting that work done,” Mayor Patti Garrett said.

The study could eventually lead to redevelopment of the station. Currently the Avondale MARTA station, also in the city of Decatur, is being turned into a mixed-use “transit oriented” development.

Here is a copy of the memo provided to the City Commission by Planning Director Angela Threadgill and the resolution adopted by the City Commission.

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Threadgill said, “An LCI study for the East Lake MARTA Station is an effort to show how the existing underutilized surface parking lots could be built out as a TOD.  This is the second-most underutilized MARTA transit station in the system, both ridership numbers and surface parking.  There are 621 on-site parking spaces, which on average only 39 percent are used.  The study would also incorporate creative placemaking strategies for the existing surrounding corridor that stretches between City of Atlanta and City of Decatur. The possibility of additional neighborhood-serving commercial uses, mixed incomes and workforce housing will improve MARTA transit ridership, while also improving economic development opportunities in our respective cities.”

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