1) Most of that area is not inside the actual City of Decatur, and therefore doesn’t benefit from the city taxes. Decatur city taxes go to the marketing and public relations, the recreational facilities and programs (which is a pretty big portion of the budget), public safety, and economic development, not to mention the City of Decatur Schools. Instead it’s part of Unincorporated DeKalb County, and a mostly-ignored part at that.

2) No MARTA stations, combined with lack of road upkeep and signs, makes it an unfriendly area for travelling in if you don’t know exactly where you’re going, and it has the reputation for being the sort of area you don’t want to get lost in.

Just my two cents. I think you’re right, though, there’s a lot of unrecognized potential there. (This is Elizabeth from brunch, by the way)