Realty Services director: Project is moving ‘slowly’

Alliance Realty Services Managing Director Jack Wilcox admitted his company’s East Decatur project, between North Arcadia Drive and East Ponce de Leon Avenue “is moving forward slowly.

“But then again,” he added, “that’s the way it often goes. I would say right now everything is going to plan.”

Wilcox said the “biggest unknown” is working out sewer capacity with DeKalb County, but he believes on-site demolition and beginning construction should begin by the second quarter of 2019.

Current plans for the 9.7-acre development call for 289 apartments, two retail buildings totaling 12,000 square feet (with probably only one restaurant) and a 50,000-square-foot grocery long rumored as Publix. Though not yet ready to give official confirmation, Wilcox said Alliance hopes to sign a lease with a grocer “fairly soon.”

The project was approved in July by Decatur’s city commission through a complicated sequence of votes. This included rezoning, changing land use (from light industrial to commercial/high density) and annexing about 8 acres into Decatur (the entire project’s now within city limits).

The package includes 14 parcels and eight businesses. None of the businesses, including the junkyard with its trademark car on stilts, has yet closed.

Wilcox said the new development should open about 15 months after construction commences.