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Hey, Brookhaven / Chamblee! This week: Chamblee broke ground on the $4.6 million Fish Bolt Park along the Rail Trail, Atlanta Chinatown Mall kicked off a revamp ahead of its 40th anniversary, and DeKalb Schools restarted its redistricting process with a new timeline for public input. Plus, restaurateur Michel Arnette's newest concept, Siren, is about to open its doors in Brookhaven, Chamblee's council has six zoning cases, and DeKalb has a data center lawsuit.

- News — Fish Bolt Park breaks ground, Chinatown Mall gets a heritage-minded makeover, and DeKalb Schools relaunches its redistricting process with a public input timeline.
- Business — Michel Arnette's latest concept, Siren, is set to open in Brookhaven this Tuesday.
- Events — From a 5K "Hot Pursuit" run to a murder mystery dinner and a sumo demo, there's a packed weekend ahead.
- Government — Chamblee tackles six zoning cases and e-bike safety rules while DeKalb weighs townhome rezonings and a nuisance-property crackdown.
- Construction — A Peachtree Blvd building is getting a unit-by-unit refresh, and a Chamblee parcel merge hints at a bigger project on the way.

Let's dive in.

NEWS

DeKalb Schools restarts redistricting plan and releases timeline for community input
The DeKalb County School District has restarted its comprehensive facilities planning process to address uneven student populations across schools. Local families in Brookhaven and Chamblee will have opportunities to provide public feedback on upcoming school boundaries and facility adjustments as community engagement sessions begin.

Chamblee breaks ground on $4.6 million Fish Bolt Park along Rail Trail
The City of Chamblee officially broke ground on Fish Bolt Park, a $4.6 million environmental park development along the Chamblee Rail Trail. The project will feature walking paths, seating areas, and ecological infrastructure designed to help manage local stormwater while expanding public green space.

Atlanta Chinatown in Chamblee undergoes revitalization ahead of 40th anniversary
As it approaches nearly four decades in Chamblee, the Atlanta Chinatown Mall on New Peachtree Road is undergoing renovation and property updates. The revival effort aims to preserve the site's cultural heritage while enhancing the visitor experience at the dining and retail hub.

Brookhaven volunteers team up to mark storm drains and protect local waterways
Volunteers partnered with Brookhaven's Stormwater Division to mark local storm drain inlets and raise community awareness about runoff pollution. The hands-on event reminded neighbors how stormwater flows directly into nearby streams and creeks.

Chamblee announces 5th annual Chalk Walk & Artist Market on Broad Street
Chamblee's 5th annual Chalk Walk & Artist Market is scheduled for Saturday, September 12 in Downtown Chamblee. The festival will feature live chalk art, local artisan vendors, live music, and family activities along Broad Street.

Developers sue DeKalb County over moratorium on new data centers
Shadowbox Studios and an affiliated real estate company have filed a lawsuit in DeKalb County Superior Court challenging the county's temporary ban on data center construction. The case centers on questions of commercial land use and industrial zoning authority within the county.

BUSINESS

Restaurateur Michel Arnette opening new restaurant Siren in Brookhaven — Siren, the latest dining concept from restaurateur Michel Arnette, is scheduled to officially open in Brookhaven on Tuesday.

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EVENTS | Presented by

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Monday, August 17
- Sandwich Scavenger Hunt | Brookhaven Branch Library
- HKG ATL Fintech Summit | Aprio

Tuesday, August 18
- I Said What I Said: Live In Atlanta | Charlie Loudermouth Park
- Diamond Painting | Brookhaven Branch Library
- Dinner and a Diva: Rossini's The Barber of Seville | Petite Violette

Wednesday, August 19
- ADAC Fall Sample Sale | ADAC
- Sidetracked Wine Co. Hosts Endless Summer Junk Journaling Workshop | Sidetracked Wine Co.

Thursday, August 20
- Maximize Your Membership: Tools for Growth - Navigating Your Chamber and Info Hub | Brookhaven City Centre Briarwood Conference Room
- Veteran Entrepreneurs 3rd Thursdays Mixer! | Courtyard by Marriott Atlanta Dunwoody

Friday, August 21
- Murder Mystery @ Petit Violette | Petit Violette

Saturday, August 22
- Brookhaven Police Hot Pursuit 5K | Blackburn Park
- Try Sumo • Catch Flowing Noodles • Explore Japan | Lewis Global Karate
- The Isley Brothers & The O'Jays | Chastain Park
- Chuck Leavell: Film Songs and Stories | Charlie Loudermouth Park
- Household Hazardous Waste Event | City of Chamblee
- Taste Urban: Anniversary Celebration! | Uptown Atlanta
- FREE Puppy Hour at Central Bark Brookhaven | Central Bark Brookhaven
- KARAOKE PAINT PARTY BYOB | 2700 Northeast Expy c800
- The Alden | Big Green Egg

Sunday, August 23
- Jon Batiste With Atlanta Pops Orchestra | Chastain Park
- Fox Archives Day | Atlanta History Center

GOVERNMENT

Note: our information comes from posted meetings documents (agendas and minutes when available) — latest source document hyperlinked to each meeting.

Past Week Roundup

City of Chamblee
Chamblee's City Council held a public hearing and work session covering six separate zoning cases along major corridors including Buford Highway, Peachtree Road, and New Peachtree Road, though minutes aren't published yet so outcomes aren't confirmed. Council also took up a public art grant for a mural at a local bookstore, along with artist selection and funding details. A parking maintenance and use agreement for Pierce Drive came up under new business, and Councilmember Jimmy Furst placed a discussion item on the table about micromobility safety, covering rules for e-bikes and scooters around the city. Staff also floated a recommendation to fill a vacant seat on the Public Arts Commission. If you bike, scoot, or walk around Chamblee, the micromobility conversation is worth watching since it could shape future infrastructure and safety rules.

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners
The Board of Commissioners held a zoning meeting and a regular business meeting this past week, and minutes aren't posted yet for either, so these reflect what was on the agenda rather than final votes. The zoning meeting featured proposals to convert industrial land into single-family neighborhoods, new townhome rezonings, a liquor package store request, and county-wide amendments targeting chronic nuisance properties and residential entertainment uses. At the regular meeting, commissioners considered multi-million dollar grant applications for lake and dam renovations at several county parks, an $800,000 budget boost for Sugar Creek Tennis & Golf, and a sewer funding agreement tied to a major Decatur development. They also took up an extension of the moratorium on adult entertainment businesses, a historic preservation appeal on Clifton Road, and large contracts for health center lighting and elevator upgrades. If any of these land use or infrastructure decisions move forward, they'll shape zoning patterns and county spending for years to come.

City of Brookhaven
Brookhaven's Arts and Culture Commission met to talk through several public art and beautification projects around the city. Members discussed the city's role in DeKalb County's "The Cows are Coming" public art initiative and reviewed plans for a new "Artist Wall" feature at the upcoming City Centre development. Staff also gave updates on a mural planned for North Druid Hills Road and new wall art coming to the Public Safety and PEP municipal buildings. These projects won't change zoning or budgets in a big way, but they'll shape how public spaces look and feel across the city in the coming months.

DeKalb County School District Board of Education
The Board of Education approved a wave of major contracts, including a $22.8 million school nutrition distribution deal with Gold Star Foods and a $10 million renewal for architectural and engineering services on capital projects. Board members also signed off on nearly $6.2 million in USDA food processing contracts and up to $1.5 million for district-wide elevator maintenance. On the facilities side, the board approved HVAC cooling tower replacements at two elementary schools, a sewer easement at another elementary campus, and a construction agreement for stadium improvements at Dunwoody High School. The board also advanced a second reading of a new districtwide policy on Artificial Intelligence use and gave a first reading to a policy governing law enforcement investigations in schools, both of which will affect how classrooms and campuses operate going forward.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

City of Chamblee
- Wild Aster Books (3460 Chamblee Dunwoody Way) — A public art grant, mural concept design, and artist selection for the site are on the agenda for council consideration.
- 4997 Buford Hwy — A zoning public hearing regarding proposed land use changes on the Buford Highway commercial corridor is on the agenda.
- 5295 New Peachtree Rd — A public hearing on proposed zoning modifications along New Peachtree Road is on the agenda.
- 6000 Peachtree Rd — A zoning public hearing for property along Peachtree Road is scheduled for council consideration.

Meetings This Week
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole | Aug-18, 9:00 AM | key topics: Scott Candler Water Treatment Plant overhaul, road paving, trail extensions, pet sales regulations
- City of Chamblee — City Council Regular | Aug-18, 6:00 PM | key topics: planning and zoning cases, Woodacres Nature Preserve award, Chamblee Dunwoody Way mural grant
- City of Brookhaven — Board of Appeals Work Session | Aug-19, 5:30 PM | key topics: residential variance requests, stream buffer encroachments, tree removal
- City of Brookhaven — Board of Appeals Regular | Aug-19, 7:00 PM | key topics: residential zoning variances, stream buffer reductions, setback adjustments

CONSTRUCTION

Permits
- 3630 Peachtree Rd NE — Commercial fire sprinkler work filed. Century's relocating and adding to the existing system to meet code.
- 3715 Peachtree Rd NE — Interior alteration permitted for a townhouse unit. New flooring, kitchen cabinets, carpet, and fixtures are on the way.
- 5980 Peachtree Rd Ste A1A, Chamblee — $184,269 commercial renovation closed out. The project added a new restroom, break area, and janitorial space to an existing tenant space.
- 5007 New Peachtree Rd, Chamblee — Two tax parcels got combined into one. This usually signals a bigger redevelopment project is coming down the line.
- 5070 Peachtree Blvd Ste B110, Chamblee — Renovation and repair project closed after a water and grease review. Routine, but part of a bigger pattern of activity at this address.
- 1501 Lake Hearn Dr, Brookhaven (Hilton Garden Inn) — The hotel restaurant just changed ownership. Expect the same space, new operator.
- 5070 Peachtree Blvd Ste B100, Chamblee — Permit closed after routing sheet and plans got uploaded. Another piece of the multi-unit activity happening at this address.
- 5070 Peachtree Blvd Ste B125 and B120, Chamblee — Both units got drywall and paint work closed out. Looks like this building's going through a full refresh, unit by unit.

Road Work

Under Construction
- ATMS/ SYS Optimization: Peachtree Industrial Blvd from Peachtree Rd to New Peachtree Rd — Crews are upgrading traffic signals along Peachtree Industrial Blvd between Peachtree Rd and New Peachtree Rd to improve signal timing and traffic flow.
- SR 13 from Fulton County Line to CS 757 / Chamblee Tucker Rd — GDOT is resurfacing this stretch of SR 13 to fix its low pavement rating. Expect ongoing maintenance work along the corridor.
- Ashford-Dunwoody Road Eastbound Ramp at I-285 — Construction continues on a third lane for the eastbound ramp connecting Ashford-Dunwoody Road to I-285 northbound. The added lane targets chronic congestion at this interchange.
- PATH400 Trail Extension from Windsor Pkwy to North of Baroque Cir, Phase II — This is the middle segment of the PATH400 Trail extension, adding a new bike and pedestrian path. The project falls in Fulton County, just outside the Brookhaven/Chamblee line, but it's close enough to affect connectivity for anyone using the trail system.

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Until next week,
Brookhaven / Chamblee Busybody

Disclaimer: We use advanced data retrieval and analysis techniques across hundreds of sources, and may be prone to occasional error. Independently verify information with a secondary source, and please let us know if we got anything wrong via the feedback form.