Clayton County Transit System went Tango Uniform, so no worries about expansion!

Where are the blacks in Fayetteville that someone is running from? Where do they live? That is what is usually associated with the term 'white flight'. Business owners of failing businesses have left; Delta personnel have left. Were they running from the 'blacks' that have moved in? In my community, whites have moved in - and I live in Fayetteville. I've been here six years - with the same neighbors. Gosh, some of them are 'white'. I think Chrissy has a clearer picture of what is happening throughout our country. We're all tightening the purse strings - and spending wisely/looking for the bargain. Developments in Fayetteville are tightening up the covenants - not too many rentals, etc. The families in my development have all maintained their property to the 'pristine' standard. What is happening here is not the 'white flight' - its the flight of those who can't afford to live here any longer. . .and maintain.

great neighborhoods in the last six months, I would hope you would know the correct name. Once is an typo error, etc., four times means you don't know better. Better check those signed leases again.

Real Estate Honchos like thrift stores because they pay their rent and never go out of business. These "non-profit" businesses make tons of money. They run on donated goods and volunteer staff. All they have to worry about is rent and utilities.

Morgan, actually it's my understanding the Goodwill store is moving into the former Linens and Things location, not Barnes and Nobles.

Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if B&N got wind of their new co-anchor and decided it wasn't worth the effort to renew - even at a reduced rate.

It's a lot more politically correct than admitting the new tenant's customer base will become a "concern" to B&N's customer base.

I guess nobody in Fayetteville needs to purchase books.....I swear, my town looks more and more like Riverdale every day.

Wow now that surely is a poor choice of words RKS!! Wow would it be "ghetto" to have a Goodwill here in fayetteville? Would it be any better if the name were different? Not only does that sound negative but to make it seem as though Fayette is the only county that supports GOODWILL! Please let's not belittle anything or anyone who tries to come and help people in any county. My question would be to anyone are you doing anything to help your county or the people who are in need? Or are you just worried about the IMAGE that your county holds?????????

I am worried about the fact that MY town has become South Riverdale...crime ridden, full of thugs and the fact that the value of my property is not what it should be as a result of a town that is in a state of transition. I don't object to a Goodwill store, I object to it being in a location like the B and N spot...it needs to be in a low end part of town....let's not ghetto up every shopping center here in town. Put it down by Big Lots. Let's all look at the reality of the fact that this town is not what it used to be - look at all the bank robberies, look at all the kids walking around with "pants on the ground" - look at the empty shopping centers, look at the filthiness of many of the stores that we have, look, look, look! We are turning into Clayton County.

RKS,

I would politely disagree that Fayetteville is looking like Clayton County. Instead I would say that what you are seeing is a reflection of all of society. We no longer teach our youth to have respect for themselves and for authority. We no longer teach that your appearance can make a difference in getting your foot in the door and not even being looked at.

I disagree that Goodwill needs to be in a low-end part of town. Last check we still had a free capitalist market and they have every right to make a dollar. Goodwill provides a great service and often times BRAND NEW CLOTHES WITH TAGS. This service is vital in a time when America is being over run by huge government spending, bad decisions, and massive unemployment.

None of us are to good for Goodwill. You want to change the filthiness of the stores start talking to the store owners and get them on board with taking pride in their store. For all those stores (and there's only a few) there are many more who are doing a great job, are clean, and provide great customer service.

Change starts with you, complaining gets you no where. Step up to the plate RKS and do the right thing and make a difference in your community. You might just find you have inspired others to do the same.

I lived in Riverdale for most of my school years, graduating from North Clayton, and can tell you that Riverdale is not the town it used to be. The problem began decades ago when Eastern went under and there was a mass exodus out of Riverdale - houses being hastily sold. The economy of Riverdale was hit hard. I remember when my parents sold their house in '89 or '90 for 80,000...six months later when our neighbor sold their house (which was larger than ours) they felt lucky to take 65,000. You can't sell in a market that is "undesirable" and even at that time Riverdale was headed towards being undesirable.

Fayetteville, in the 80's and early 90's, was mostly pecan groves down highway 85. It was a lovely quaint town that was expensive to buy a house in - every one wanted to live in Fayette but not every one could afford the 2 acre minimum. My parents bought in Hampton.

Some call this "white flight", but what I see is there would be no flight if there was no chase. In other words, it's not just white folks that want a better city to live in. As another blogger pointed out weeks ago, the black community wants a better living for their family as well and will, when able, seek out those areas. From what I know of my own acquaintances, they take better care of their property than the red neck trash that lives next to me.

This is not a black/white issue as much as it is a zoning, ordinance, and board of education issue. If you want a nice community - keep those three in check.

"The most beautiful things in life cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart." - Helen Keller

That was so beautifully put and I agree 100%. Thank you for that word of wisdom. I am not orginally from here but I use to lived in Clayton County 6 years ago. My husband and I bought our first house there and were very excited. Long story short after 2yrs in the subdivision we began to see a change in it and wanted to move. Heard about Faytte and the school system. Leased a house in Fayette and loved it and the school system. My daughter liked her old school better and wanted to go back and we did. Move to Hampton was there for 2yrs and sure nough it began to change. Not only blacks all ethnic groups that did not care moved there and the community started looking bad.
Now we are in Fayette county and really like it here. It's sad I heard a lady make a comment while we were outside looking at a potential house. Her words were : "why is it that everywhere we go these "N" follow", I was hurt but upset. I don't care where anyone is if it something that I want and like, I work hard for it and will get it. We can chose to be a great leader or stand back and follow anything.
Once again thank you DAWN!!

Mothers of all color just want what's best for our family, don't we?

"The most beautiful things in life cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart." - Helen Keller

represents the best in America!!

I am afraid that you give me too much credit. I can not in good conscience claim to have NEVER used the "N" word. I have. But it was long ago before I learned to argue without resorting to that last ignorant line of defense. I don't admit this as part of any "white guilt" syndrome, I'm just trying to be honest.

We should all take a lesson from Helen Keller. Here is a woman who could easily have seen her world as ugly and vile. Instead she chose to fill her heart with beauty.

"The most beautiful things in life cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart." - Helen Keller

Dawn is right, it's not a black/white issue anymore. It's a safety issue. When you don't feel its safe for your wife or children in your own neighborhood. When you read about the drug busts in your local shopping center, holdups and the trouble in neighborhood schools, then you try to leave. Unfortunately we are seeing all these things now in F'ville. I remember when Riverdale was just like F'ville used to be. You have face the facts.