Brookhaven / Chamblee: A 40% Tax Hike and Robin Thicke Comes to Chamblee

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Happy Fourth of July weekend, Brookhaven and Chamblee. The biggest local story this week is one that will show up in your mailbox before long: the City Council approved a 40% property tax increase, and if you haven't done the math on what it means for your bill, now's the time (preview: it’s not as bad as it probably sounds). On a lighter note, Robin Thicke is headlining Chamblee Rocks on Saturday, the Peachtree Road Race is back, and there's plenty more worth knowing before the holiday weekend kicks off.

- News — Brookhaven's 40% property tax hike leads the week, alongside a new pocket park near Lenox Park, underground utilities coming to Dresden Drive, and serious misallocation allegations rocking DeKalb County Schools.
- Business — Clean Juice calls it quits after just one year at Parkview on Dresden, and Chamblee barbecue staple Old Brick Pit lands in hot water after failing a health inspection.
- Events — The Peachtree Road Race rolls through Saturday morning, Chamblee Rocks brings Robin Thicke to downtown on the Fourth, and there's a full week of library events, live music, and holiday festivities to work through.
- Government — Brookhaven officially adopted its millage rates and greenway easements, a sweeping bar safety overhaul was unanimously deferred, and DeKalb County punted on trail funding and property tax rates for at least a few more weeks.
- Construction — Two restaurant build-outs are moving through permits in Chamblee, and SR-13 resurfacing is actively disrupting Buford Highway between the Fulton County line and Chamblee Tucker Road.

Let's dive in.

NEWS

Brookhaven City Council votes to increase property taxes by 40%
The Brookhaven City Council has approved a 40% property tax increase — the city's first millage rate hike in more than a decade — citing rising operational costs and service demands. Though this sounds really bad, it only accounts to an extra $400 per year if you own an $800k house. That’s $400 you’d rather have I’m sure, but not as bad as “40% tax hike” might seem on the surface.

Brookhaven approves future park space on Goodwin Road with significant charitable gift
The city has approved a $1.5 million land acquisition on Goodwin Road to create a new pocket park, with a generous charitable gift helping make it happen. The site, affectionately known as "Goodwin Island," will protect a slice of greenspace, turning it into something the whole neighborhood can enjoy.

Brookhaven approves funds for sending Dresden Drive utilities underground
Overhead utility lines along Dresden Drive are on their way out, as the City Council has approved funding to bury them underground. The project promises a cleaner streetscape, safer sidewalks, and more reliable service along one of Brookhaven's most-traveled corridors; it’s a meaningful quality-of-life upgrade.

DeKalb County Schools accused of misallocating millions in education funding
Serious allegations have emerged that DeKalb County Schools misallocated millions in education funding, putting the district under a harsh public spotlight. For families in Brookhaven and Chamblee whose kids attend DCSD schools, this is a story worth following closely, as accountability in how that money is spent matters directly to classrooms in our neighborhoods.

Robin Thicke to headline Chamblee Rocks Summer Concert
Chamblee is pulling out all the stops this year for July 4th, as five-time Grammy nominee Robin Thicke is set to headline Chamblee Rocks. It's shaping up to be quite the event, the kind that draws neighbors out of their houses and into downtown Chamblee for a night worth remembering.

10 spectacular things to do this Fourth of July weekend in Atlanta
America turns 250 this weekend, and Atlanta is ready to celebrate in style, highlighted, as always, by the legendary Peachtree Road Race kicking off just down the road at Lenox. Whether you're racing, watching, or just looking for something great to do with the family, there's no shortage of options across the metro this Fourth of July weekend.

BUSINESS

Clean Juice - closing - The organic juice and smoothie franchise has shuttered its Brookhaven outpost at the Parkview on Dresden development after just one year in business — a short run for a concept that had plenty of foot traffic to compete for.

Old Brick Pit Barbecue - failed health inspection - The Chamblee barbecue institution landed on the wrong kind of headlines after failing a recent health inspection due to vapes and chemicals near the BBQ pit, and food kept at the wrong temperature. Not great!

North DeKalb Day Center - opening - DeKalb County is opening a new homeless services day center near PDK, expanding the county's support infrastructure for residents experiencing homelessness.

EVENTS | Presented by

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The Fourth of July falls on a Saturday this year, and the Peachtree Road Race is back — Atlanta's beloved 10K rolling from Lenox down to Piedmont Park, drawing tens of thousands of runners and spectators along the corridor. If you're not racing, plan around road closures on Peachtree early Saturday morning. And once the dust settles, Chamblee's own outdoor concert brings the celebration right to the neighborhood.

Monday, June 29
- Fossil Frenzy Scavenger Hunt | Brookhaven Branch Library
- Civic Season is Here | Chamblee Branch
- Julia Knight Art Exhibition: Meditations | Chamblee Branch
- Preschool Storytime | Doraville Branch Library

Tuesday, June 30
- BFCA Book Club | Brookhaven Fields Community Association
- America250 Art Workshop for Kids | Avis Williams Library - DeKalb County

Wednesday, July 1
- What's Your Favorite Fox Theatre Memory? | Brookhaven Branch Library
- Crafty Wednesdays | Chamblee Branch
- Tiye, K.C. Mills, and Tati Richardson- Madly Driven | Eagle Eye Book Shop

Thursday, July 2
- SABOR @ Block & Drum | BLOCK & DRUM
- LEGO Day at Chamblee | Chamblee Branch
- The Peachtree Health & Fitness Expo | Lenox Square
- Under Pressure Pop-up at Brush Sushi | Buckhead Village District

Friday, July 3
- Food Truck Fridays | 4001 Peachtree Road NE
- Preschool Storytime | Doraville Branch Library
- 2026 Northside Hospital Peachtree Junior | Lenox Square
- Sarah McLachlan - Better Broken Tour | Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park
- Welcome to Atlanta Party | Atlanta History Center
- Summer Fridays | Buckhead Village District

Saturday, July 4
- Brookhaven Farmers Market | Brookhaven Farmers Market
- Chamblee Rocks 4th of July Concert | Downtown Chamblee
- Peachtree Road Race | Lenox to Piedmont Park
- Saturday Vinyasa Yoga Classes with Highland Yoga | Buckhead Village
- Live Animal Encounter | Fernbank Museum of Natural History

Sunday, July 5
- Basque in the Sun at Gypsy Kitchen | Buckhead Village District

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 Brookhaven — City Council Regular Meeting

The Brookhaven City Council wrapped up a busy June 23 session by officially adopting the city's fiscal year 2026 tax and assessment rates — including millage rates for the General Fund, bonds, the Special Service District, and the Special Tax District, plus stormwater and street light assessments — following two public hearings held earlier that same morning. On the infrastructure side, the council approved acquiring the easements needed to advance Phase II of the Peachtree Creek Greenway trail and awarded a $155,250 contract to Roadway Asset Services for a comprehensive citywide pavement condition assessment, which will help prioritize future road repair spending. The council also approved a $50,000 transfer from reserves to serve as the city's local match for the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program, and separately moved $150,000 in reserves to the Legal Department to cover rising outside counsel costs. One closely watched item did not advance: a sweeping overhaul of public safety rules for late-night alcohol-serving establishments — which would have replaced the current occupancy-based system with a data-driven, risk-based framework including baseline off-duty police staffing requirements and a tiered penalty structure — was deferred unanimously and will return at a future meeting.

City of Brookhaven — 2026 Mid-Year Advance

The Brookhaven City Council was scheduled to meet June 27 for its annual Mid-Year Advance — a planning session, not a voting meeting — to map out priorities for infrastructure and redevelopment through the rest of the year. A key topic on the agenda is how to allocate the additional revenue generated by the Special Service District mill rate increase approved June 23, with staff recommending a focus on projects closest to the City Centre, including new sidewalks and utility undergrounding on Dresden Drive and a multi-use path connecting Sylvan Circle to Apple Valley Road. The council is also scheduled to discuss taking a much larger role in the redevelopment of the MARTA Brookhaven/Oglethorpe station property, with staff directed to explore a revised intergovernmental agreement with MARTA that would give the city direct control over master planning the transit-oriented development site. Because no minutes are yet available, none of these items should be taken as decided — items on a planning advance agenda may be refined, deferred, or set aside entirely before any formal vote occurs.

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners

At its June 23 meeting, the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners rejected a county-wide proposal that would have established zoning standards and regulatory guidelines for data centers in industrial and office districts — a consequential land-use decision given the industry's rapid expansion across metro Atlanta. The board also approved an update to the county code adding an excise tax on short-term rentals and clarifying related zoning rules, with planning staff required to report back with further recommendations in six months. Several high-dollar items were deferred to committee: over $4 million in trail design contracts — including $3.12 million for South River Trail Phase VI and nearly $1 million for the North Fork Peachtree Creek Trail from Fisher Trail to Chamblee Tucker Road — were pushed to the Public Works & Infrastructure Committee until July 14. Decisions on the county's 2026 property tax millage rates and proposed fee increases for residential sanitation and stormwater services were also delayed, headed to the Finance, Audit & Budget Committee on July 7 — meaning residents won't know the final impact on their bills for at least a few more weeks. On a positive note, the board approved a $1.2 million contract with Trusted Hands Senior Care to provide in-home assistance for seniors, along with an implementation plan for a North DeKalb day center to support residents experiencing homelessness.

DeKalb County School District — Board of Education

The DeKalb County School District's Policy Committee met June 25 to review several significant policy updates, though no official votes were recorded and the items remain under deliberation. The most consequential topic for local families is a review of Policy JBCC — Student Assignment — which governs how students are assigned to schools and directly affects neighborhood attendance boundaries; no final decision was made. The committee also took up a new Artificial Intelligence policy, a revised Literacy Policy, and updates to the Internet Acceptable Use policy for students and staff, all of which are still being evaluated. Residents who want to weigh in on any of these policies — particularly student assignment, which can affect property values and school enrollment — should plan to engage before the committee's next scheduled meeting on July 30, 2026.

City of Chamblee — Downtown Development Authority

The Chamblee Downtown Development Authority's regular meeting scheduled for June 23 was canceled, meaning no development projects, funding decisions, or policy items were considered. The cancellation also applies to the Chamblee Public Arts Commission's June 25 meeting, which was similarly called off with a notice of cancellation posted in place of minutes — so no art project approvals or commission actions are on record from this week either.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

City of Brookhaven
- Dresden Dr — A utility undergrounding project along Dresden Drive between Ellijay Drive and Caldwell Road, plus a sidewalk extension from Thompson Road to Clairmont Road, is scheduled to be prioritized using newly increased Special Service District funding.
- Sylvan Cir / Apple Valley Rd — A multi-use path connecting Sylvan Circle to Apple Valley Road is scheduled to be considered for advancement as part of the city's SSD infrastructure prioritization.
- 4001 Peachtree Rd — The council approved easement acquisitions needed to move forward with Phase II of the Peachtree Creek Greenway at its June 23 regular meeting.

Meetings This Week
- City of Brookhaven — Planning Commission Work Session — July 1, 2026 at 5:30 PM, PEP Building. No agenda is available yet.
- City of Brookhaven — Planning Commission Regular — July 1, 2026 at 7:00 PM, PEP Building. No agenda is available yet.

CONSTRUCTION

Permits

- 3127 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd, Ste 400 — Tenant build-out of existing shell space filed for a new restaurant. A formerly empty suite is getting a full commercial kitchen treatment.
- 5460 Peachtree Blvd "B," Chamblee Plaza — Permit filed for a continuing small restaurant with an expanded Asian cuisine menu. An existing spot leveling up its offerings.
- 4034 Parsons Dr — Fire Marshal review underway for a new Emergency Responder Radio Coverage System (ERRCS) installation at an apartment complex. Routine safety infrastructure, but signals an active property.

Beyond the commercial activity, the week's remaining 93 permits were largely residential and minor — property maintenance, occupational tax certificates, and right-of-way utility work. Nothing dramatic, but the utility encroachments (13 of them) suggest ongoing infrastructure work threading through the area's streets.

Note: A car dealership with a parking deck proposed at 2061 N. Druid Hills Rd and a Buford Highway restaurant inspection at 5145 Buford Hwy were flagged in the data but fall just outside the Brookhaven/Chamblee boundary.

Road Work

Under Construction
- SR-13 Resurfacing (DeKalb County) — Paving work is underway on SR-13 (Buford Highway) from the Fulton County line to Chamblee Tucker Road. The project targets a stretch with a low pavement condition rating, so expect lane disruptions along this well-traveled corridor while crews work.
- Peachtree Industrial Blvd Signal Optimization (DeKalb County) — Signal timing upgrades are active along Peachtree Industrial Boulevard between Peachtree Road and New Peachtree Road. The work aims to improve traffic flow, but expect intermittent signal irregularities while the system is being tuned.

Utility Work

- Cliff Valley Way — Beginning today – Mon. 8/10, Cliff Valley Way will close for approximately six weeks to continue replacement of sewer lines as part of the Cliff Valley Sewer Replacement Project from 9am-4pm, Mon-Fri. RIP to your favorite cut-through to avoid the Clairmont I-85 exit backup.

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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.

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