BlackHall Studios Responses to STOP THE SWAP

Below are 13 reasons why it is imperative to Stop The Swap: Facts are below

1. Clear-cutting 50+ acres of forested connected greenspace (only 36 acres are, in fact, wooded) and replacing it with 50+ acres of impervious surfaces will be detrimental to the functioning of the wetland. (We will not be impacting an wetlands. Furthermore, it is not physically possible under current regulations to create 50+ acres of impervious surfaces on 50.3 acres of land. Fifty plus acres of Intrenchment Creek Park receives 1.5 million gallons of water from a 1" rainfall (USGS Rainfall Calculator). When those 50+ acres are covered with concrete, asphalt, and other impervious surfaces the 1" rainfall becomes 1.5 million gallons of fast moving storm water runoff. State and local regulations have detailed requirements for managing storm water which will not allow this scenario to happen. After construction, storm water will be controlled to leave the site at the same rate as at predevelopment.

2. Intrenchment Creek Park is public forested healthy greenspace that provides protection for severely threatened Intrenchment Creek in the most under-parked industrial area in unincorporated DeKalb County. (The ‘forest’ consists of trees that are 25-30 years old max. There will be a net gain of green space acreage by the county that will be landscaped as approved by the county with money provided by Blackhall.

3. Intrenchment Creek drains virtually all of east Atlanta and adjoining unincorporated DeKalb County. Intrenchment Creek Park is vital to the protection of Intrenchment Creek, South River,

downstream neighbors in south DeKalb County and neighbors all the way to Jackson Lake, fifty miles southeast. This development will not impact Intrenchment Creek. The creek (and South River) are in need of cleanup/management; Blackhall will participate in the cleanup and management of this important waterway.

4. The large wetland that is part of the park’s greenspace helps to clean storm water runoff as well as remove pollutants from the City of Atlanta Custer Avenue combined sewer overflow facility and Intrenchment Creek Wastewater Reclamation Center before reaching the South River. BlackHall will have no impact on this wetland.

5. Hundreds and hundreds of relatively young trees that provide improved air quality for residents of this highly industrialized area will be lost. BlackHall will plant new trees to compensate.

6. Naturally functioning wetlands like the one in Intrenchment Creek Park is the most cost effective way for DeKalb County to reduce pollution and improve water quality in the South River. BlackHall will protect the existing wetlands.

7. This land swap is being proposed solely for the convenient expansion of Blackhall’s current physical footprint across Constitution Road from their current location. The land sway was conceived by a professional landscape architect to create a permanent green buffer between the Gresham Park Neighborhoods and the industrial areas along Constitution Rd. Blackhall was prepared to build on land they own along Bouldercrest Rd and only delayed construction because of the potential benefits to the community and the support expressed by members of the community and DeKalb County government. The swap will create an enhanced park experience, preserve the character of Bouldercrest Rd and provide improved pedestrian access to the park and trails for community residents.

8. The lack of environmental awareness and stewardship being exhibited by DeKalb County's leadership is absolutely astounding. This proposed swap is environmentally conscious. It will result in increased public greenspace. Blackhall will provide almost $4million dollars of improvements to the public greenspace without costing the taxpayers anything. All construction will be done to protect and improve the natural environment.

9. DeKalb County's leadership is condoning an environmental injustice by supporting tactics by Blackhall that pit under-served neighborhoods against their environment and each other. DeKalb County leadership is taking the long view towards the betterment of south DeKalb county. This exchange will create a closer connection between the neighborhoods and the environment. Neighborhood residents will have improved access to the parks and trails. It is increasing the amount of greenspace, separating residential areas from industrial uses while supporting economic development will attract the services, jobs, and opportunities that the area needs. This solution brings people closer to the greenspace, thereby increasing the benefits.

10. Communities are being placed in the position of choosing between proven quality of life benefits provided by parks and greenspace and the highly speculative and questionable promise of economic development by Blackhall. There will be a net gain of parks and greenspace, both in quantity (acreage) and quality (almost $4million of trails, facilities, and landscape with better access). This project will provide both economic investment and investment in parks and greenspace. This swap will expand the quality of life benefits for the area.

11. Blackhall should be willing to invest in the community where they are located without the lure of a trade that will require clear-cutting the community's park. BlackHall is already making significant investments in the community. They contribute over $80,000/year towards the cleanup and maintenance and improvements, an amount that will increase when their expansion is complete. The improvements they are funding were proposed by BlackHall because of their commitment to the community.

12. Blackhall can and should build on property they own along Bouldercrest Road that is already clear-cut and will have minimal impact on the environment or surrounding communities. Building on the Bouldercrest property will change the character of Bouldercrest road with industrial-type buildings on both sides of the road. It will also alter the character of the South River Trail because property must be secured with a chain link fence and black fabric (on both sides of the trail) and will do nothing to improve accessibility of the trail for Gresham Park residents.

13. Trading a public park to a private developer sets a dangerous precedent for future trades that could affect any park in DeKalb County. The park land is not being lost. The park is simply relocated to area contiguous to Gresham Park and Intrenchment Creek to create a more continuous greenspace. In so doing, it will create a permanent buffer between the Gresham Park neighborhoods and the industrial uses. The new park space will be landscaped by Blackhall as approved by the county and residents.