Brookhaven / Chamblee: $150M for German Cars

Hello, Brookhaven and Chamblee neighbors—it’s a massive week for our local corridors and community hubs. From a transformational $150 million facelift for North Druid Hills to a perfect health score at a Chamblee favorite, we've got the pulse on what's moving the needle in our neck of the woods.

- News — Between a $150 million overhaul for North Druid Hills and a perfect health score for a Chamblee favorite, our local landscape is seeing some high-profile wins and critical safety discussions.
- Business — Dresden Drive's newest destination is officially fully leased before its grand opening.
- Events — This weekend brings a meaningful community run for CURE at the Concourse, plus a packed slate of local theater, music, and workshops.
- Government — Local officials are moving on everything from a $27 million school budget boost and rail trail expansions to a new "pet litter" registry for Brookhaven owners.
- Construction — Keep an eye out for paving crews on Buford Highway and a surge of new residential permits popping up across Ashford Park and Drew Valley.

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Let’s dive in:

NEWS

Brookhaven approves transformational $150 million North Druid Hills redevelopment project
The City Council has officially greenlit a massive overhaul of the North Druid Hills corridor, anchored by a new flagship Nalley BMW facility. This project is set to revitalize an aging stretch of the city with significant infrastructure improvements and a major boost to the tax base without the high-density residential units that usually spark neighborhood pushback.

Gainesville Little Caesars Fails Inspection As Chamblee Eatery Scores 100
While a pizza chain up the road was failing its health report card, a local Chamblee shawarma spot just proved that high volume doesn't have to mean low standards by acing its inspection with a perfect score. It is a reassuring bit of news for the local lunch crowd and a testament to the quality of the dining scene along the city's diverse international corridors.

Residents question safety at Brookhaven apartment complex after fire report details
Internal details from a recent fire report have prompted residents to demand answers regarding the maintenance and safety protocols at a local apartment complex. It’s a sharp reminder that as Brookhaven continues its rapid development, ensuring existing residential safety remains a critical priority for the community.

DeKalb Commission defers update to noise ordinance
If you were hoping for a quicker resolution to late-night disruptions, you’ll have to wait as the county commission pushed the vote on updated noise regulations once again. The delay suggests officials are still struggling to find the middle ground between a thriving nightlife and the peace and quiet expected by residents in neighborhoods like Ashford Park and Drew Valley.

BUSINESS

Parkside on Dresden - opening - This massive mixed-use addition to Brookhaven’s version of a main street is reaching its final form with all street-level retail space now officially claimed. It’s a rare feat for a project to be fully leased before its official debut, signaling that the appetite for a walkable, boutique-filled Dresden Drive remains at an all-time high as the neighborhood continues its transition into a dense urban hub.

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EVENTS

The weekend is anchored by one of the neighborhood’s most meaningful annual traditions: Sunday at the Concourse Athletic Club brings families together for Lauren’s Run, a community race and picnic benefiting CURE Childhood Cancer. Expect localized traffic around the Concourse as residents gather for a great cause.

Monday, April 20
- Eggstravaganza Scavenger Hunt | Brookhaven Branch Library
- Weekday Winning: Mega Mondays | Wild Heaven Toco Hills (Toco Hills)
- StoryWalk® at Mason Mill Park | Avis Williams Library (Mason Mill)
- Spring Art Walk | Urban Art Collective

Tuesday, April 21
- LOCKED SHUT | Vision Studios
- Arrows In Action | Buckhead Theatre (Buckhead)
- Boys Like Girls – The Soundtrack of Your Life Tour | Buckhead Theatre (Buckhead)
- DESIGN ADAC | Atlanta Decorative Arts Center (Buckhead)

Wednesday, April 22
- SEAT - Sports, Entertainment, Art & Tourism | Assembly Studios
- After work beginner Bridge Lessons | 1835 Savoy Dr

Thursday, April 23
- Floating Wetland Trash Trap Installation | 3770 Longview Drive
- Chanel Day 2026 | Marist School
- Upcycle For Earth Day | DeKalb Library
- Private Screening of MICHAEL | LOOK Dine-In Cinemas
- AFROBEATS THURSDAYS ATL | Red Room Lounge (Buford Hwy)
- Willie Nelson & Family | State Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park (Buckhead)

Friday, April 24
- The Art Of The Blend: A Tea-Tasting & Blending Workshop | Distillery of Modern Art (Chamblee)
- AV & FRIENDS COMEDY | Brews & Hops Taproom
- Michael " Movie - Meet up & After Party | Cr8tive Lyfe Studios
- James Artissen | LOOK Dine-In Cinemas
- The Choir of Westminster Abbey | The Cathedral of St. Philip (Buckhead)
- Alabama Shakes | Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park (Buckhead)

Saturday, April 25
- Brookhaven Farmers Market | Brookhaven Farmers Market
- Flower Bookmark | Brookhaven Branch Library
- Disgraced - On Stage April 17 - May 3 | Merely Players Presents (multi-night run through May 3)
- Jon Batiste With Atlanta Pops Orchestra | State Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park (Buckhead)

Sunday, April 26
- Blooms Art Class: Chinese Watercolor Peonies | Atlanta Chinatown
- Lauren's Run & Family Picnic to benefit CURE Childhood Cancer | Concourse Athletic
- Shaken & Stirred: A Cocktail-Making Workshop | Distillery of Modern Art (Chamblee)
- STAMPED: AYA x Friends - ATLANTA | BLOCK & DRUM
- Two Feet: The Next Steps Tour | Buckhead Theatre (Buckhead)

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 City Council
Major infrastructure and redevelopment plans are on the agenda for Chamblee’s public hearing and work session. The city is scheduled to discuss acquiring the legal right-of-way for segments 7 through 12 of the Chamblee Rail Trail, moving the popular walking and biking path one step closer to expansion. Also up for a vote is the funding for the "60% design" phase of the Peachtree Boulevard realignment, a project that will eventually reshape traffic patterns through the heart of the city. Beyond the roads, the council is set to consider awarding a contract for upgrades to Keswick Park and is reviewing new rules for electric vehicle parking and the regulation of beauty and wellness businesses. Several zoning cases are also being proposed that could bring new residential and commercial developments to key corridors near the MARTA station and along Chamblee Tucker Road. Because minutes are not yet available for this meeting, these items remain subject to final council action.

Brookhaven City Council
Brookhaven leaders moved forward with several neighborhood improvements and public safety investments this week. The City Council approved $375,000 to replace the Brookhaven Park Pavilion and allocated over $446,000 for new police tactical response kits. In a move toward city-wide cleanliness, the council passed a new "Pet Litter Registry" ordinance to increase owner accountability. Significant changes to the city’s development laws were also approved, specifically regarding building heights and density, which will dictate the scale of future construction projects. Meanwhile, at the Board of Appeals, officials discussed several high-impact variance requests. These include proposals to build within protected floodplains and stream buffers, as well as requests to increase "impervious coverage"—the amount of non-absorbent surfaces like concrete on a lot—which can significantly affect local stormwater runoff. The Development Authority also authorized a major agreement with Atlanta Real Estate Holdings, LLC for the development of three parcels within the city, signaling more large-scale growth on the horizon.

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners
DeKalb County commissioners are set to consider a $16 million overhaul of the police vehicle fleet to modernize the county's public safety response. Also on the agenda is a new initiative to crack down on "party houses" and non-compliant short-term rentals using a cloud-based monitoring platform to ensure Airbnbs follow local rules. Quality-of-life proposals include a new rebate program to encourage homeowners to swap gas-powered leaf blowers for quieter electric models and stricter oversight for "blasting operations" at construction sites to protect nearby homes from structural shakes. For those using county services, $9 million is being proposed for critical repairs to health and mental health facilities. The board is also scheduled to review a "septic to sewer" infrastructure petition for several neighborhoods and a long-awaited amendment to the Nuisance Ordinance, which would give the county more power to shut down properties associated with chronic criminal activity. As minutes are not yet posted, these items are currently scheduled for discussion and have not yet reached a final vote.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

City of Chamblee
- 4849 Peachtree Road — A public hearing is on the agenda for a zoning case that could lead to commercial upgrades or new housing on this prominent thoroughfare.
- 1900-01 Century Boulevard — A proposal for a large-scale Development of Community Impact near I-85 is scheduled to be heard.
- 2145 Dering Circle — A public hearing for a zoning case involving this industrial and commercial property is being proposed.
- 3289, 3297 Hardee Avenue — A final vote is scheduled for a zoning change or development plan for this property.
- 2816, 2820, 2822, and 2824 Chamblee Tucker Road — A zoning change affecting four adjacent lots is up for a final vote, which typically signals a consolidated new development.

City of Brookhaven
- Brookhaven Park (4158 Peachtree Road) — Funding of $375,000 was approved for the replacement of the park pavilion using settlement proceeds.

Meetings This Week
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole — April 21, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Commissioners will consider a $26.5 million investment to build three new fire stations and over $50 million in emergency wastewater infrastructure upgrades for the Snapfinger facility. Also on the agenda are proposed regulations for data center developments, pet shop sales, and a formal support plan for unhoused residents. Notable locations mentioned include the DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, Frazier Rowe Park, and the Kensington LCI area.

DeKalb County School District Board of Education - April 20, 2026 at 11:30 AM
The Board of Education will discuss a massive $27.7 million budget amendment this week, primarily to fund salary supplements for the 2026 fiscal year. For families in the Brookhaven and Chamblee areas, the board will also discuss over $10 million for electrical and roofing repairs across the district and more than $4.2 million for tech and security infrastructure at the new Sequoyah and Cross Keys campuses.

- City of Chamblee — City Council Regular — April 21, 2026 at 6:00 PM
- City of Chamblee — Discover Chamblee Advisory Committee — April 22, 2026 at 12:00 PM

CONSTRUCTION

Permits
- 3747 Peachtree Rd NE — Phased interior renovations are kicking off for healthcare serveries and pantries across three floors. Expect a steady stream of contractors at this medical-heavy stretch of Peachtree.
- 3645 Peachtree Rd NE — A major electrical overhaul is underway with a new 1200-amp service being installed. That is a massive power upgrade, signaling a heavy-duty infrastructure refresh for the site.
- 5001 Peachtree Blvd, Ste 130 — New business alert at Peachtree Station. A Fire Marshal review is one of the final hurdles for a new tenant moving into the busy Whole Foods-anchored center.
- 41 Clairview Dr — Fire restoration and apartment renovations are officially moving forward here. It’s a necessary step toward getting these units back online after damage.
- Neighborhood Wide — Keep your earplugs handy. Six new single-family detached homes were permitted this week, alongside a wave of property maintenance and "notable" projects totaling over $250,000 in Ashford Park, Drew Valley, and beyond.

Road Work

Under Construction
- SR 13 / Buford Highway Resurfacing (DeKalb County) — Paving crews are active on the stretch from the Fulton County line through to Chamblee Tucker Road. This project is tackling a major refresh of the corridor to improve the road surface; expect overnight lane closures and shifting traffic patterns through the heart of Brookhaven and Chamblee.
- Peachtree Industrial Blvd Signal Optimization (DeKalb County) — Tech upgrades are underway for the traffic signals between Peachtree Road and New Peachtree Road. While intended to improve timing and flow long-term, keep an eye out for utility crews and intermittent lane closures while the new system is dialed in.
- Ashford Dunwoody Road EB Ramp at I-285 (DeKalb County) — Construction is moving forward to add a third lane to the eastbound ramp connecting to I-285 northbound. This operational improvement aims to clear the bottleneck near the Perimeter, but expect heavy equipment and narrowed lanes as you approach the interstate.
- PATH400 Trail Extension - Phase II (Fulton County) — Work continues on the middle segment of the trail extension from Windsor Parkway to north of Baroque Circle. This project bridges the gap between Sandy Springs and Brookhaven; watch for construction activity and equipment near the Windsor Parkway trailhead.

Pre-Construction
- Ashford Dunwoody Road @ Windsor Parkway — Intersection safety and operational upgrades are coming to this busy Brookhaven crossing to help improve regional mobility and traffic flow.
- Chamblee Rail Trail Extension — A new shared-use path is planned to run from Pierce Drive north toward Peachtree Boulevard, continuing along Peachtree Industrial until it crosses Chamblee Dunwoody Road.
- Shallowford Road (New Peachtree to Chamblee Dunwoody) — Pedestrian and bike access is getting a boost with a 10-foot shared-use path on the west side and a 5-foot sidewalk on the east side of the road.
- I-285 Express Lanes (DeKalb & Fulton Counties) — This major regional project is in the works to construct two managed lanes in each direction from the North Springs MARTA station on SR 400 through the I-285/SR 400 interchange, extending east to Henderson Road.
- SR 141 (Peachtree Boulevard) @ North Shallowford Road — Located in the heart of Chamblee, this project will re-align the intersection at Parsons Drive and Peachtree Road to improve safety and navigation.
- I-85 and I-285 Bridge Preservation (DeKalb County) — Vital maintenance is scheduled for four bridge locations across DeKalb, including joint replacements, painting, and polymer overlays to extend the life of the infrastructure.
- North Fork Peachtree Creek Trail — Multi-use trail planning is moving forward for a path connecting Fischer Trail to Chamblee-Tucker Road.
- I-85 Pavement Markings (DeKalb & Gwinnett Counties) — Expect improved nighttime visibility on the commute with a project to refresh pavement markings from north of SR 155 up to SR 140.