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Published Thursday, July 23, 2009 in Local

'Drop Dead Diva' to film in Newnan Aug. 3

By Elizabeth Melville

The Newnan Times-Herald

Crews with Lifetime Television's newest hit, "Drop Dead Diva," will return to Newnan for filming.

On Tuesday, the Newnan City Council gave Sony Pictures Location Manager Mitch Harbeson permission to film in downtown on Aug. 3.

"Thank you for all your support and direction in the last five months," said Harbeson. "[Diva] was the second highest rating Lifetime has ever received for a show coming out."

Harbeson asked to film scenes at 40 West Washington St. The scenes will include a conversation between a girl and her grandmother.

Council denied Harbeson's initial request to block city parking spaces at First Baptist Church from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. for filming. Instead, Harbeson plans to park the equipment trucks at the Wesley Street gym.

Councilman Ray DuBose was opposed to Harbeson's initial suggestion because many employees utilize parking on that street.

Harbeson had asked to close the southbound lane of West Washington, but he withdrew the request after council denied the request for church parking spaces.

Council -- with councilmen Rhodes Shell and Bob Coggin absent -- approved Harbeson's request to have hold-and- release traffic on West Washington Street during filming to shoot an exterior scene at the residence with dialogue.

Mayor Keith Brady advised Harbeson to work out the logistics of filming with Newnan Deputy Police Chief Rodney Riggs.

Harbeson, as a backup plan, got permission from council to film an exterior scene at another home on Kellogg Street. There will be hold-and-release traffic from Park to Temple Avenue. If the production company opts to film at the Kellogg location, they would park their equipment on Carmichael Street behind the old Newnan Hospital.

Local production company Tin Roof Films began work on "The Fat Boy Chronicles" on Thursday with filming at Newnan High School.

On Aug. 3 and Aug. 4, as "Diva" films on West Washington, Tin Roof has gotten permission to film at the First Baptist Church Warehouse and sanctuary. During that time, Brown Street will be blocked to through-traffic from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

On Aug. 5, the production company will film at the recently closed Gridiron Grill. Council gave them permission to block seven parking spaces from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and then again from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

On Friday, the production company requested to film at a residence on Hollis Heights. Traffic will be blocked on Hollis Heights between both sides of Waverly from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Council granted the request contingent upon the production company receiving written proof of 100 percent cooperation from the residents.

In other Newnan Council business:

* The city amended two of its zoning ordinances to clarify the acceptable materials that are permitted on the exterior elevations of buildings in the Interstate 85 corridor, and to revise the height limitations to allow a maximum of 85 feet. The new exterior materials standards will only apply to those buildings that utilize the additional height allowance.

* Council agreed to give the Newnan Youth Activities Commission $2,500 for the creation and management of the newly-formed Newnan Youth Council.

* Council established a three-person commission -- Brady, Councilman Clayton Hicks and Mayor Pro-tem Cynthia Jenkins -- to meet with city staff regarding the creation of an Urban Redevelopment Plan through the Georgia Initiative for Community Housing. The commission will then make a recommendation to council at its Aug. 25 meeting at 6:30 p.m.

* Council approved a resolution opening qualifying for the mayoral race and council districts B and E -- Shell and DuBose -- at 8:30 a.m. on Aug 31. The closing of qualification time will be 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 2. Council also appointed Jane Scoggins the elections superintendent and Della Hill the assistant elections superintendent for the Nov. 3 general election.

* The city awarded a bid to replace the roof of the Public Works facility on Boone Drive to Lichty Commercial for approximately $40,000.

* Council awarded the bid for full-depth reclamation and paving at Fire Station No. 3 to ShepCo. Paving for $121,676. Funding will come from impact fees.

* Council voted to confirm Hicks as a member of the Regional Development Center Board of Directors.

* The city approved the prioritized list of streets for resurfacing under the Local Assistance Road Program for 2010.

* Council approved the transmittal of the 2009 Capital Improvements Element, which includes the short-term work program, to the Chattahoochee-Flint Regional Development Center and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA).

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