City's Five-Point Intersection Revamp Put on Hold

City council voted on Tuesday to amend this year's budget, pulling a planned revamp of the five-point intersection of Main Street, James B. Rivers Drive, Ponce de Leon Avenue and Silver Hill Road.

At Tuesday night's meeting, City Manager Barry Amos said the cost of the project "has continued to escalate," and the department of transportation has limited funding for it. "It's no longer financially feasible to do it alone," he said.

The revamp would have closed off Silver Hill Road at the intersection, making it a four-way crossing. The intention was to ease congestion caused by commuters between south DeKalb County and Atlanta.

Other actions in the meeting included:

-The council approved A Abby Lawn Care as the contractor for landscaping the first section of the streetscape that was completed last year.

-The council approved an award proposal for renovation of the building to be occupied by the Georgia Military College.

-Susan Coletti, reporting for for the community affairs committee, announced a community garden meeting March 8, 7 p.m. at Stone Mountain First United Methodist Church.

-The city-wide yard sale will be May 28, Coletti said.

-The Downtown Development Authority has leased a space in the Weatherly Building on Main Street to a framing shop, and it's in negotiations to lease out other spaces in the building, DDA Interim Director Kim Delaney reported.

-The city's Facebook page, Stone Mountain Village, is active again, Delaney said.

-The Crab Pot, a seafood restaurant, will be opening the second or third week of this month on Main Street, where Mama Mia's used to be, Delaney said. ABC Consignment, a furniture store, opened recently on Main Street.

-The visitor's center had 189 visitors from 13 states and three countries last month, Delaney reported.

-Jim Tavenner, head of the city's public works, was awarded the 2011 Public Service Award by the Stone Mountain Rotary Club, Mayor Patricia Wheeler announced. Tavenner has been a city employee for 27 years.

-The city of Stone Mountain has won a local government award from the Atlanta Regional Commission for its arts microenterprise program and will be recognized at a breakfast this week, the mayor said. .