Duluth Historical Society Blog

Preserving our history, recording the present and reaching for the future

Monthly Archives: February 2010

Duluth clerk honored as state’s best

From Gwinnett Daily Post – Feb 25, 2010

DULUTH — Teresa Lynn’s work maintaining Duluth’s records, processing taxes and running elections is often overlooked as part of a well-functioning city.

But this week Lynn was recognized as the best at what she does, named clerk of the year by the Georgia Municipal Clerks and Finance Officers Association.

Lynn handles many of the back-office operations for the city, everything from payroll to information technology and janitorial.

Mayor Nancy Harris said she nominated Lynn for the award because of her professionalism and heart for working with residents.

“She’s very customer-focused. She enjoys working with people and giving them assurances,” Harris said. “She’s really dedicated to the city. … She just gives a lot.”

Lynn, who has worked for the city for 17 years, has also made Duluth her home.

“I love Duluth. I love its citizens. I love what it stands for, the community feel you have here,” she said. “It’s the citizens of Duluth that make it special.”

Lynn said she was proud to be a part of the clerks’ association, where she serves as treasurer, and said she was “humbled” by the award, a surprise that was given to her at a banquet Monday in Athens.

PRESS RELEASE

New exhibits: Presidential display called “The American President” at the museum and city hall. Olympic exhibit, including the current Georgia connections. A DAR exhibit on Georgia Day.
A new look to the museum with the addition of our new display cases.

We are ready for prime time viewing.

History of things yet to come.

The following is taken from today’s AJC – Friday, Feb 19, 2010

Duluth turns to TAD

The city of 26,000 in December green-lighted the creation of its first tax allocation district to spur redevelopment along a three-mile stretch of Buford Highway.

Last month, the city invited residents to weigh in on its redevelopment plan, which locals helped shape after months of input. The plan, 20 to 30 years out, called for landscaped medians and pedestrian overpasses, gateways at North Berkeley Lake and Old Peachtree roads and mixed-use developments.

“We’re looking at the big picture to make [Duluth] a more attractive place for businesses,” Harris said.

The city would almost double the size of its 60-acre downtown district, making Buford Highway the epicenter of a new live, work and shop environment, said economic development manager Chris McGahee.

There are just 400 undeveloped acres remaining in the city of 10 square miles. Most are family-owned or pose topography problems, so mixed-use, in-town living makes sense, McGahee said.

“We’ve all gotten a little bit tired of our moats, our castles, our subdivisions with the yards we have to maintain,” McGahee said. “We’re looking to be more communal.”

Judy Wilson, a 27-year Duluth resident, said she welcomes improvements. “Our city has nothing attractive on Buford Highway,” said Wilson, referring to industrial buildings and vacant lots. “It looks deserted, unkempt, abandoned. We need to fix the sidewalks, put in sewer.”

Woody Bell, also of Duluth, recalls riding his bicycle up and down the city’s stretch of Buford in the 1950s, when it was a rural two-lane road. In the early ’90s, it was widened and Duluth lost its tree canopy. Now empty land and vacant buildings mingle with Dairy Queens, ballet schools and the city’s Public Safety Center.

Bell, who owns Woody’s Nursery, said he’s not sold on the idea of flushing buildings up against the highway or creating medians that will hamper tractor-trailers from maneuvering in and out of his business.

“I think it’s got a lot of potential, if things are done right,” he said. “I just don’t want it to harm the people who are there.”

Click here for the full article

If anyone has pictures of the “widening of Buford Highway” please let us know.  Thanks.

Judy Wilson

Guest Speaker

Tomorrow evening, tuesday at 7 pm we have a guest speaker form the DAR.  Her topic will be about Georgia Day and Oglethorpe.  We should all learn a lot about this little known event. The state of Georgia has issued a proclamation for this day.

Today’s Activities

Work continuing on Presidential Exhibit and beginning our new Olympic Exhibit.  Be sure to check out new exhibit at City Hall (outside Council Chambers).

oops…seems we have a water leak.  Have been advised to shut water off at the street, so  we will be closed this weekend till the county can find the problem.  More as we know it