...and we r to park where?? I missed that part.

across the street behind princess theater, bring your pistol.

Oh, no! People may actually have to walk a couple of blocks before and after eating pizza because MM lacks the customary HUGE parking area adjacent to it. That may spark an interest in a local shop you've never seen (boost for local businesses) or give you time to talk to your spouse/child/date/friend (in person--not by text!) or give you a little exercise (work off the pizza?). Is that a bad thing?

I hope MM does well, but the parking problem can't be overlooked. It will simply add to the problems of parking for the courthouse and municipal building. Like it or not, many people will simply forgo MM because of this issue.

That is one ugly building, just like that gym. Why not put something downtown that is in line with the older buildings? It does not

"complement the other downtown buildings". I was hoping for a more classic building, but I'm not the one paying for it! Just my opinion.

Let's see... There are 3 parking lots within a hundred yards of the place, one is a few feet to the Northwest behind the Princess not to mention all up and down 2nd and Moulton Streets. It DOWNTOWN not out in Punkin Center, which is, by the way, a quiet, pretty place, but not conducive to owning a thriving restaurant. I think it'll revitalize downtown for sure. Don't want to go there, fine. There are plenty of places NOT downtown to eat. Personnaly, I like several places on the Beltline as well as many of the downtown eateries. I plan to check out Mellow Mushroom as soon as they open. There will still be the old standbys, but I think the new Art school will bring a lot of new folks to the downtown area. Remember, a city dies if new money does not steadily flow in from outside to replenish the money flowing out for goods and services. Why has downtown languished for so long? Because we have built new businesses, but we haven't done a very good job of bringing in enough new revenue. We need take in more money than we send out. Simple.

Parking lot across from City Cafe (corner of 1st/Moulton), parking next to The Brick (corner of 1st/Moulton), parking on Moulton St. behind the Hospice building, parking across from Courthouse, parking along Moulton St. All of those are within 2 blocks of the corner of Moulton/2nd. Go to Parkway Place Mall or any other large shopping district and you'll walk a LOT further than 2 city blocks. Looking forward to MM in downtown Decatur!! And walking a block or two will be WORTH IT!

Where is the historic commission on this? Why doesn't Melinda Dunn steo ina nd say that it's not a historically correct design?

Interesting comments. Our downtown has far more parking than most downtowns. Most of it lays vacant 24 hrs. a day. Parking problems must exist before they can be solved. At this point parking is only a perceived problem. This architect is fairly well known for his traditional and historic work. I've seen many of his buildings in Decatur and Huntsville. He is one of the few architects I have seen that knows how to detail a historic structure correctly. I wonder why he ventured away from that here. Must have been the owners wishes. I like the building he has designed. It looks appropriate for what it is to me.

Jerome Theodorou says, "Just ate at mellow mushroom for the first time. I can honestly say chef MOES pizza blows this off the grid!!!!!!" Maybe there will NOT be a need for much parking since Jerome says his pizza is better than MM.

Maybe we should think about street cars to take people from one location to another. It would certainly help connect 2nd Avenue to Bank Street and give a historic flare!

Why are there some people that find something negative about EVERYTHING! Remember if you can't be a part of the solution you ARE the problem! Yea for Mellow Mushroom! If you haven't had their Parmesan Pretzel you are missing out!

John and Decatur High get it. Well said.

I love the design. Can't wait for it to open.

All these negative comments tell us exactly WHY our downtown has sucked for so long!!! And as far as the parking, believe me, after you eat all that yummy pizza, you will need to walk it off...people in citys like Chicago and New York don't complain about walking and they do it everyday...just think how wonderful downtown could be with eateries and good shops to walk to...so much better than our stinkin teenaged overrun mall...I am soooo excited for a revitalized downtown!!!