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Happy voting day, Brookhaven / Chamblee. If you haven’t cast your ballot yet, make sure to get that done today. This week: Brookhaven put its proposed $45.6 million 2027 budget into a 24-page booklet, with public hearings set for Nov. 3 and Nov. 17, and neighbors near the Chamblee office tower implosion say dust is still lingering. Plus, we've got a full slate of weekend events, from a rooftop soirée and coat drive to the Chastain arts festival.

- News — Brookhaven's first-ever budget booklet leads the way, alongside Chief Dieppa's move to Florida, post-implosion dust complaints in Chamblee, and DeKalb's 5-2 "urban camping" vote.
- Events — The Brookhaven Chamber's rooftop soirée and coat drive kicks off Friday, and the weekend also brings the Chastain Park Fall Arts Festival (Nov. 7–8), AfroBall, and Other Desert Cities running Nov. 6–22.
- Government — Chamblee's Downtown Development Authority weighed a proposed $272,166 incentive payment, while Brookhaven's council took up easements for the Peachtree Creek Greenway's next phase.
- Construction — A $234K Buford Hwy retail build-out and a Peachtree Rd land disturbance permit headline the closed permits, with SR 13 resurfacing still under way.

Let's dive in.

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Brookhaven produces booklet to help illustrate proposed 2027 budget
The 24-page "2027 Proposed Budget in Brief" is the city's first booklet of this kind and was compiled in-house at an initial cost of about $800. It outlines a $45.6 million budget with no new or expanded programs, drawn mainly from taxes (84%) and license and permit fees (8.8%), with public hearings set for Nov. 3 and Nov. 17 at City Centre.

Chamblee Police Chief Dieppa to lead police department in Florida
Chief Michael Dieppa, who joined the Chamblee Police Department in October 2023, has been named the next police chief of Mount Dora, Florida. The city credits him with launching a Real-Time Crime Center, buying new patrol cars and equipment, earning a Georgia Law Enforcement Certification for the department, and swearing in Andrianne Byrd as the city's first female assistant police chief.

Neighbors react as dust lingers after Chamblee office tower implosion
The vacant 18-story former Georgia Department of Revenue building at 1800 Century Boulevard was imploded at 7:45 a.m. Saturday, and people nearby reported dust and dirt remaining days later, with crews pressure-washing the property next door. Atlas Demolition said it is reviewing each complaint individually and that it planned the implosion with local officials based on site-specific evaluations and applicable city and county requirements.

Rail service resumes at Brookhaven station after power substation fire
A traction power substation at Brookhaven Station caught fire, prompting MARTA Police to evacuate the station, rail power to be shut off, and DeKalb Fire Rescue to respond. A bus bridge carried affected passengers between the Lenox and Chamblee stations until service resumed Tuesday night.

DeKalb County School District lays out new proposals for redistricting
Option A would not create a new middle school, while Options B, C and D would convert Woodward, John Lewis or Dresden Elementary School, respectively, into a middle school for the Cross Keys area. Parents have until 11:59 p.m. Nov. 10 to complete the survey, and no final decisions have been made.

DeKalb approves controversial 'urban camping' ordinance
The DeKalb Commission adopted the ordinance in a 5-2 vote on Tuesday, with Commissioners Michelle Long Spears and Ted Terry voting against it. Opponents argue it criminalizes homelessness, while supporters say it targets harassing behavior such as aggressive panhandling and other safety concerns.

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Tuesday, November 3
- Tech Help for Beginners | Chamblee Library

Wednesday, November 4
- The Industry Linkup: ATL Culinary & Food Entrepreneur Networking Event | BLOCK & DRUM
- RockLan One: Priority Playlist Soundstage - Atlanta | Square Globe Studios

Thursday, November 5
- LEGO Day at Chamblee | Chamblee Branch
- Money Matters - Financial Education and Budgeting Workshops | Chamblee, GA
- Mindfulness for Everyday Life | Chamblee Branch

Friday, November 6
- Other Desert Cities (Nov. 6–22) | Merely Players Presents
- The Fab Four: Tribute to the Beatles | Buckhead Theatre
- Homeschool Fun Friday | Brookhaven Branch Library
- Brookhaven Chamber's 2nd Annual Rooftop Soirée & Coat Drive | Brookhaven City Centre, Rooftop

Saturday, November 7
- AfroBall 2026 | Savoy Atlanta
- Chastain Park Fall Arts Festival (Nov. 7–8) | Chastain Park
- Beer City Cup Atlanta (Nov. 7–8) | DeKalb County, GA
- Pruning | Chamblee Branch
- Don't Get Taken for a Ride: Master the Art of the Car Deal | Chamblee Branch
- 3rd Spot: Georgia vs Ole Miss | City of Chamblee
- Friends of the Chamblee Library Interest meeting (FoCL) | Chamblee Branch
- Life Giving Wounds Retreat | Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church

Sunday, November 8
- 2026 Memory Walk | Blackburn Park
- Caffeine and Exotics at Assembly Atlanta Studios | Assembly Atlanta
- A Fall Cocktail-Making Workshop by Eventful | Chamblee, GA

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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: The Downtown Development Authority's agenda put tax incentive paychecks front and center, led by a proposed $272,166.45 administrative payment from a major apartment and commercial development downtown. The same agenda included a $35,460.15 fee tied to an office development that reported 546 full-time workers, well above its 200-job target. The authority also took up its September financial report, which showed more than $13 million in assets and legal costs of $144,548, already past the full-year $100,000 budget. Those numbers matter to you because the authority's incentive deals shape how much property tax revenue the city collects from big downtown projects. Minutes aren't published yet for this meeting or for the Discover Chamblee Advisory Committee, so outcomes aren't confirmed. That committee's agenda included updates on the UGA watch party series, a marketing review of A Taste of Chamblee, and a citywide economic development report.

City of Brookhaven: The City Council's regular meeting covered a resolution to acquire temporary and permanent easements for the next phase of the Peachtree Creek Greenway trail. That step has to happen before construction can start on the trail, which will connect parks and neighborhoods. The council also took up two public works task orders for design and permitting, $330,000 to Dewberry Engineers and $160,000 to RK&K, for a combined $490,000. Members also recognized the Parks and Recreation Department. The Planning Commission retreat agenda included a workforce housing text amendment, regional affordable housing trends from the Atlanta Regional Commission, and a school district briefing on enrollment and capital projects. The council work session was canceled, and the next council meeting is set for Nov. 17.

DeKalb County School District: The Audit Committee reviewed a state audit of how the district spent its E-SPLOST sales tax money in fiscal 2025. Members also heard updates on the E-SPLOST procedures manual and on efforts to hire a full-time internal auditor for that money. No votes were recorded. The Policy Committee met virtually to review drafts on artificial intelligence, internet acceptable use, and the disposal of surplus school property, again without votes. Earlier in the week, a joint work session with county commissioners focused on student safety, workforce pathways, and shared facilities, with no formal action taken. These sessions shape the rules and spending oversight that will affect your child's school down the road.

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners: The board's agenda was packed. As covered in today's news section, the commission adopted the urban camping ordinance. Commissioners also took up the purchase of the former YMCA property on Snapfinger Road, plus more than $4.6 million in federal grants for renovations at five county parks. Rezoning requests for townhomes and a mixed residential community were on the agenda, along with a proposal to move 30 vacant county-owned lots to the regional land bank. The board also considered up to $490,797 in SPLOST funds to design a joint fire and police training facility, which would affect public safety spending across the county.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

City of Chamblee
- Trackside (5170 Peachtree Rd) — The authority reviewed compliance filings showing 546 full-time jobs created and considered a $35,460 administrative fee for the Trackside development.
- The Oliver / Olmsted Chamblee (Chamblee Gateway South) — A proposed $272,166 annual administrative payment to the Downtown Development Authority was placed on the agenda for review under the project's tax incentive agreement.

City of Brookhaven
- Peachtree Creek Greenway Phase II (2021 N. Druid Hills Rd) — The council approved a resolution authorizing the acquisition of temporary and permanent easements to advance construction of the Peachtree Creek Greenway Phase II project.

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners
- Sylvan Circle NE to Apple Valley Road — Commissioners considered transferring county-owned property and a permanent easement to the City of Brookhaven for Special Services District Project 10.

Meetings This Week
- City of Brookhaven — Mayor John Park Town Hall | Nov-03, 5:00 PM
- City of Brookhaven — City Council Regular | Nov-03, 6:30 PM | key topics: FY2027 proposed budget presentation and first public hearing, LifeLine animal welfare recognition
- City of Brookhaven — Planning Commission Work Session | Nov-04, 5:30 PM | key topics: workforce housing ordinance overhaul, lot size reductions on Windsor Parkway, single-family attached rezoning on Archway Drive
- City of Brookhaven — Planning Commission Regular | Nov-04, 7:00 PM | key topics: workforce housing density mandates, rezonings on Windsor Parkway and Archway Drive, neighborhood commercial rezoning at Osborne Road
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole | Nov-05, 9:00 AM | key topics: Gresham Road residential rezoning, $9.9 million Lithonia Park rec center contract, pedestrian crosswalk beacon upgrades
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Planning Commission | Nov-05, 6:00 PM | key topics: commercial-to-residential rezonings on Memorial Drive and North Druid Hills Road, freight terminal expansion, chronic nuisance ordinance
- DeKalb County School District — Board of Education | Nov-09 | key topics: Dunwoody High School stadium improvements contract, theater audiovisual upgrades, artificial intelligence and property disposal policies

CONSTRUCTION

Permits
- 5150 Buford Hwy, Unit B 199 — Restaurant remodel permit closed. The work changes the restaurant type and covers life safety and fog/grease requirements, with the space moving in as is.
- 3983 Buford Hwy NE, Chamblee — $234K interior build-out closed for an existing one-story retail building. You'll likely see a new storefront open here soon.
- 4041 Clairmont Rd — Commercial apartment permit closed. The filing lists no description or dollar value.
- Parking Deck (address not listed) — Permit closed for modifications to an existing three-level open-air parking garage. The filing doesn't include a street address or cost.
- 6000 Peachtree Rd — Land disturbance permit closed under Chamblee permit #1571. It went through watershed, fire and GIS review, so expect dirt-moving work on the site.
- 5305 Peachtree Blvd — Commercial fire marshal life safety review closed.
- 5347 Peachtree Industrial Blvd — $145K retail retrofit closed for drink machines. The work leaves the structure and walls alone.
- Site with existing structure and driveway (address not listed) — $78K Brookhaven permit closed (MS26-00101). The project adds gravel cell parking for caretaker use, and it went through fog review.

Road Work

Under Construction
- Buford Hwy (SR 13) resurfacing — Crews are repaving Buford Highway from the Fulton County line to Chamblee Tucker Road. GDOT lists the work as about 94% complete.

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Until next week,
Brookhaven / Chamblee Busybody

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