Wednesday, May 15, 2013
The small downtown street between South Peachtree Street and College Street has new sidewalks, brick pavement and more.
The city of Norcross celebrated the completion of the Skin Alley Block Project on Tuesday (May 14) with an announcement and the making of cement handprints. Norcross Mayor Bucky Johnson and Community Development Director Chris McCrary spoke in front of the crowd of around 20 to explain the city's dedication to the project and all of those who helped it come to fruition. The city of Norcross started the transformation of the back alley between South Peachtree Street and College Street in May 2012. Construction workers tore up the asphalt along the alley so that a new sewer and water line can run though it, and they also installed grease traps for the restaurants and conduit. In September, paver bands, sidewalks, curbs and landscaping were …
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
The streets of old Norcross will be filled with with strolling magicians, acrobats, and live music May 10 - 11.
Update, May 10, 6 p.m.: The Jazz in the Alley event Saturday has been cancelled due to the chance of inclement weather, according to the city of Norcross events Facebook page. ----- The historic streets of Norcross will be transformed on Friday night as the sidewalks and alleys of the old town are filled with street entertainers, and on Saturday, live jazz will fill the air in the recently renovated Skin Alley. From 7-9 p.m. Friday, May 10, "keep your eyes open for a mythical beast, magicians and fire-eaters - or maybe even a 9-foot tall acrobat," says Tixie Fowler, the city's PR and Marketing Manager. "It is the first of many 'random' evenings throughout the summer when Atlanta's finest street performers (also called 'buskers') have been …
Monday, April 15, 2013
A three-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bath home is on the market for $500,000.
Looking for a new house? What about on Skin Alley in Historic Downtown Norcross? AOL Real Estate posted a three-story residence for sale that faces the recently upgraded alley. Sitting right behind Dominick's, Dress Up Boutique and Taste of Britain, the 2002 home has three bedrooms, four-and-a-half bathrooms, and a two-car garage. The listing says the bedrooms are oversized, and one of them has a balcony overlooking downtown. There are also two family rooms: one on the main floor and another on the lower level, complete with a fireplace and built-in shelving. As for the updated kitchen, it has a large center island. Bonuses include a second balcony, hardwood on the main floors, and even an elevator for convenience. The price tag is listed …
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Adding sidewalks and brick pavement to the downtown Norcross alleyway was finished at the start of this month, just in time for the carriage rides.
The new look of downtown's Skin Alley debuted during Sparkle! last month, just in time for the horse-drawn carriage rides to stroll down it. The face-lift includes widening the road with paver bands and concrete, giving it an overall appearance to give it a plaza-like feel. Many see it as a huge improvement on the way it looked before. The new street is more inviting, and the brick pavement matches the sidewalks on other downtown streets. There have been some complaints on the updates, though, such the nostalgia and history that came with the old alleyway. I have personal experience with this, too: On Skin Alley right behind 45 South Cafe was where my then-boyfriend (now husband) proposed to me. When I pointed out the new Skin Alley to …
Friday, September 14, 2012
Expect to see pavers, new sidewalks and more on Jones Street, College Street and Skin Alley in Norcross.
New streetscaping improvements are coming to downtown Norcross, and first on the schedule is the long-awaited Skin Alley Block Project. The streetscaping started Wednesday, according to Norcross City Engineer Jeff Mueller. As part of the newly approved Livable Centers Initiatives Study, Skin Alley's facelift includes widening the road with paver bands and concrete, and adding an area where trucks can load and unload materials. The addition of curbs and landscaping at the Jones Street entrance of the alley will give it a "plaza-like" appearance, Mueller said in a press release. "It's a big part of the Skin Alley block," Mueller told Patch. "It's something that the city's been working for for some time, so there's a lot of anticipation." …
Thursday, May 31, 2012
The first phase of the project begins Thursday in downtown Norcross.
- GOVERNMENT
-
Thursday, May 31, 2012
The Skin Alley Block Project has begun construction for its first phase, according to the city of Norcross website. According to the article, workers will be tearing up the asphalt along the alley so that a new sewer and water line can run though, in addition to installing grease traps for restaurants there. Conduit also will be added so that electrical lines could possibly run through, if funding for underground utilities becomes available. "By planning ahead, we won't have to replace any of the new work being done now," explained Craig Mims, Norcross' Director of Public Works, Utilities and Parks, in the article. "Although the funds are not currently available to go underground, that is something that is being considered for the future…
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Or do you think we shouldn't change history?
Skin Alley has gone through much transformation over the last few years. As a tiny paved road, the downtown alleyway adjacent to South Peachtree Street was originally intended to be a place just for delivery trucks. Historians say it's been used for other things, too, but since downtown's revitalization, more and more businesses have been trying to beautify it instead of keeping its back alley look. Awnings and landscaping have been added to improve Skin Alley, and stores such as Terra Dog Bakery have established its storefront there. Additionally, the city plans to remove the existing asphalt and widen the alley by the end of July as part of its redevelopment. At the end of the day, we're still stuck with the name Skin Alley, which many …
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
The plan involves removing existing asphalt and widening the alley for traffic, in addition to new infrastructure for businesses.
- GOVERNMENT
-
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
The Norcross Community Development recently sent out a public bid request for the second phase to redevelop Skin Alley, according to the city website. The second phase of the Skin Alley Block Project, which is set to start in mid-July, involves removing the existing asphalt and widening the actual alley by several feet. This addition is so it can safely accomodate traffic by pedestrians, delivery trucks and cars. Infrastructure will also be added for more storefronts to face the alley. What do you think of the new additions to Skin Alley? Tell us in the comments below. "We're putting in grease traps, sewer lines and water lines," said Norcross City Planner Chris McCrary on the city's page. "Conduit will also be installed through which …
Monday, March 26, 2012
Norcross took a step back to the 19th century last Saturday for Wild West Day.
Historic Downtown Norcross took a step back in time to the 19th century last Saturday for Wild West Day. Taking place on Skin Alley and South Peachtree Street, the festival was filled with live music, food and a gunslinger. Kicking off the event was gunslinger Jim Dunham, a historian and accomplished gunslinger. He told tales of the West and did live demonstrations with his pistols, sans bullets. Judges and guests sampled barbecue from Mojito's, 45 South Cafe and Iron Horse Tavern and voted for their best picks. From the ballots, Iron Horse's pulled pork taco was the clear winner. There was also a drawing for a $50 gift certificate to any downtown restaurant in the afternoon, too. In between all of it, music was played by T. Collier and …
Friday, March 23, 2012
Don a cowboy hat and head downtown this Saturday for some Western-style fun.
- ARTS
-
Friday, March 23, 2012
Grab those cowboy boots and head to Historic Downtown Norcross this Saturday to celebrate Wild West Day, filled with barbecue, live music and a real gunslinger. All day, guests can listen to live music from country rocker T. Collie and jazz and blues band Soul Tribe. A barbecue contest will be brewing among multiple downtown restaurants, so buy a $5 sample for all the entries and vote for the best one. The contest ends at 6 p.m., with winners for each of the three categories: Wildest in West (most creative), Slap Yo Mama (best overall) and Gunslinger's Guzzle (best barbecue sauce). U.S. champion gunfighter Jim Dunham will be doing demonstrations of his super-fast draw and other tricks while telling tales of the Wild West. There will also …
Bob Wilkerson
9:59 am on Friday, September 14, 2012
According to the "old timers" I've talked to (Col. John Adams for example) the name comes from its one time popularity as a place where the young guys met to gamble on a game called "Skin". That lends some credibility to the dice game someone mentioned earlier. Let's keep this interesting and whimsical name. more ›