Brookhaven / Chamblee: A $900M Life Sciences Boom and SAP Postponed

Hey Brookhaven and Chamblee — it's a big week on multiple fronts. A $900 million life sciences campus is officially in motion along the I-85 corridor, and DeKalb County just rolled out a blight tax that could finally put pressure on those long-neglected properties you've been walking past for years. Plus, Sting is at Chastain Friday and VaHi Porchfest returns Saturday — here's everything you need to know before the weekend hits.

- News — A $900M life sciences hub is reshaping the I-85 corridor, DeKalb's new blight tax targets neglected properties, and school closure talks are on pause — for now.
- Business — Potbelly is planting its first Atlanta-area flag in Chamblee, and the beloved Chamblee Tap & Market is expanding all the way to Kennesaw.
- Events — It’s time to venture out of the neighborhood for VaHi Porchfest. Also, Sting headlines Chastain Park on Friday, Ilana Glazer and Sherri Shepherd hit Buckhead Theatre, and a pruning class at the library is more useful than it sounds.
- Government — DeKalb commissioners advanced $26.5M for three new fire stations, blocked a concrete recycling plant, and tightened short-term rental rules — plus the Brookhaven City Council meets Monday on the Lake Hearn Side Path and a $2.8M fund transfer.
- Construction — Buford Highway resurfacing is actively underway, signal optimization is in progress along Peachtree Industrial, and a $32M emergency radio system is going into a Perimeter Summit apartment complex.

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Let’s dive in.

NEWS

Brookhaven's Life Sciences Hub Enters Next Phase with $900M Investment
Nine hundred million dollars is a number that tends to reshape a neighborhood, and that's exactly what's at stake along the I-85 and North Druid Hills Road corridor. The next phase of Brookhaven's life sciences campus is officially underway, with the project positioned to become a major engine for high-tech employment and medical research — which means property values, traffic patterns, and local infrastructure are all likely to feel the ripple effects.

DeKalb Schools Postpone Discussions on Potential Campus Closures
DeKalb County School District has officially hit pause on talks about school consolidations and closures — a move that will come as a relief to families who've been quietly anxious about what those conversations might mean for their neighborhood schools. The delay doesn't make the issue disappear, but it buys time for parents in the Brookhaven and Chamblee clusters to organize, ask hard questions, and make their voices heard.

DeKalb County Rolls Out New Blight Tax to Target Neglected Properties
That overgrown, boarded-up eyesore on the corner may finally have a price tag attached to it. DeKalb County is rolling out a blight tax designed to penalize owners who let properties languish — the goal being to push neglected parcels toward redevelopment rather than continued decay. For Brookhaven and Chamblee residents who've watched certain properties sit untouched for years, this is a policy worth watching closely.

State of the County Address Highlights Public Safety and Infrastructure Gains
CEO Michael Thurmond used his annual State of the County address to tout DeKalb's progress on public safety and infrastructure — two issues that consistently top the list of resident concerns. The speech included updates on emergency response improvements and ongoing service upgrades that directly touch communities like Brookhaven and Chamblee.

Central Perimeter Office Market Shifting Through Demolitions and Conversions
The old office park model is quietly dying in the Central Perimeter area, with a new report documenting shrinking traditional office inventory as buildings get torn down or converted to other uses. For residents near Chamblee, that shift could eventually mean new residential developments or mixed-use projects rising where cubicle farms once stood — a meaningful change to the area's commercial character.

BUSINESS

Potbelly Sandwich Works - opening - The Chicago-based sandwich chain is planting its first Atlanta-area flag right here in Chamblee, part of a broader multi-unit push into the market.

Chamblee Tap & Market - expanding - The beloved downtown Chamblee food hall and taproom is heading north, securing a new building in Kennesaw — proof that what this neighborhood helped build has grown big enough to travel.

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EVENTS

This is the weekend to venture out of the neighborhood for one of our city’s true premier events - VaHi Porchfest. Also, Sting is back — and this time he's bringing his 3.0 Tour to Chastain Park on Friday night, one of Atlanta's most beloved outdoor venues.

Monday, May 11
- 2026 BFCA Annual Meeting | Brookhaven Fields Community Association
- Mellow Music Mondaze | 4 Corner Studios Inc.
- Adult Take & Make Craft | Brookhaven Branch Library
- Summer Reading Challenge Scavenger Hunt | Chamblee Library
- Summer Reading Challenge Scavenger Hunt | Brookhaven Branch Library
- Bloodywood - System Of A Brown Tour 2026 | Buckhead Theatre

Tuesday, May 12
- Doraville Chamber of Commerce May Networking | Interactive College Of Technology
- Pruning for Beginners | Chamblee, GA
- Ilana Glazer Live! | Buckhead Theatre
- Robert D. Bland in conversation with Claire Haley | Atlanta History Center
- Tuesday Trivia @ Toco Hills | Wild Heaven Toco Hills

Wednesday, May 13
- STORY STAGE presented by The ALIVE Collective | LOOK Dine-In Cinemas
- May Literary Open Mic | Wild Aster Books
- Kandi Burruss | The Buckhead Theatre
- History on the Rocks: Puttin' on the Ritz | Atlanta History Center

Thursday, May 14
- May Book Club | Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church
- Iration | Buckhead Theatre
- Kyma's 4th Annual Champagne Social | Kyma

Friday, May 15
- Sting 3.0 Tour | Chastain Park
- Larry Griffith Band | Little Nancy Creek Park
- 🌸Magnolia Express | Napoleon's Grill

Saturday, May 16
- Brookhaven Farmers Market | Brookhaven Farmers Market
- Rigs & Coffee Atlanta | Rack Attack Atlanta
- HPC Fit: Faith, Fitness & Reset | Aatma Dance Studio
- VaHi Porchfest | Virginia-Highland
- Sherri Shepherd: Make It Make Sense Tour | Buckhead Theatre

Sunday, May 17
- 75th Anniversary Mass and Reception | Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church
- Jim Breuer: Find The Funny | Buckhead Theatre
- Atlanta Musicians' Orchestra Spring Concert | Ahavath Achim Synagogue

GOVERNMENT

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

Past Week Roundup

DeKalb County Planning Commission

In a wide-ranging session on May 5, the DeKalb County Planning Commission made a series of consequential land-use decisions affecting communities across the county. Residents scored a win when the commission unanimously denied a proposed concrete recycling plant in an industrial corridor, and also blocked a drive-through car wash at a Memorial Drive QuikTrip site — though the same QuikTrip was approved to add fuel pumps and alcohol sales under 22 conditions. A county-wide update to short-term rental excise taxes and zoning rules passed 7-0-1, while new regulations for "Residential Entertainment" events — capped at just two per year in estate-zoned areas — passed on a closer 5-3 vote. A proposal to bring 214 new single-family homes to Norris Lake Way was deferred until July for additional review, while smaller infill housing rezonings at Kelly Lake Road and Columbia Drive were both approved, reflecting the county's ongoing push for small-lot residential development. The commission also elected new leadership, with Jon West taking the chair and LaSonya Osler and Edward Patton filling the vice-chair seats.

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole

The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners' Committee of the Whole advanced a heavy slate of infrastructure and public safety items on May 5, moving them toward a full board vote. The biggest-ticket item was a $26.5 million contract with Cooper & Company General Constructors to build three new fire stations in Tucker, Decatur, and Lithonia — a direct investment in emergency response capacity. The committee also fast-tracked roughly $53 million in emergency repairs at the Snapfinger Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility, including membrane upgrades and wet weather pumping storage to guard against system overflows, while a proposed stormwater utility fee increase was sent to the Public Works & Infrastructure Committee for further vetting before any final action. On the transparency front, commissioners advanced a resolution to create independent civilian oversight of the county's "Digital Shield" surveillance program. Also heading to a full board vote: $8 million in SPLOST funds for a South Peachtree Creek Trail extension, a $15,000 environmental baseline study tied to proposed data center regulations, and new ordinances addressing vagrancy, unauthorized camping, and a ban on pet shop sales of dogs, cats, and rabbits.

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Special Called Meeting

Also on May 5, DeKalb County commissioners convened a Special Called Meeting — a focused, short session outside the regular meeting schedule — to handle two specific matters. The board approved real estate property tax refunds for six commercial properties under a state law that allows refunds when taxes were erroneously or illegally assessed, though specific dollar amounts and property identities were not disclosed publicly. Commissioners also voted to enter a closed executive session, which under Georgia law can cover pending litigation, real estate negotiations, or personnel matters. Because only the agenda — not full minutes — is available for this meeting, the exact outcomes and any discussion details should be treated as scheduled rather than confirmed. Items on special called agendas can occasionally be deferred or withdrawn before a final vote.

DeKalb County School District Board of Education

The DeKalb County School Board met on May 4 in a rare joint session with county commissioners, focused on strategic coordination rather than legislative action — meaning no votes on budgets or zoning were taken. The most consequential agenda item for families was a status update on the Student Assignment Project, the county-wide process of evaluating enrollment and school capacity that will eventually lead to the redrawing of school attendance boundaries. Small-group sessions also covered joint use of public facilities — think parks, libraries, and school buildings shared across county agencies — as a way to maximize taxpayer investment. Rounding out the session were discussions on coordinating school and county police safety protocols and aligning high school vocational programs with local economic development needs.

Meetings This Week
- DeKalb County School District — Board of Education — May 11, 2026
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Board of Commissioners — May 12, 2026 at 9:00 AM
- City of Brookhaven — City Council Regular — May 12, 2026 at 6:30 PM
The council is scheduled to consider a construction contract for the Lake Hearn Side Path, a pedestrian and cyclist improvement project near the Medical Center area funded through a cost-share with the Perimeter Community Improvement District. Also on the agenda: a $2.8 million transfer from the Capital Improvement Plan fund to the general operating fund, a five-year federal Community Development Block Grant spending plan, and the city's first-quarter financial report.

- City of Brookhaven — Arts and Culture Commission Regular — May 13, 2026 at 5:30 PM
The commission is scheduled to vote on up to $8,000 for a World Cup–themed community event and to consider a proposed mural on North Druid Hills Road and repairs to the artistic crosswalks at Windsor Parkway and Osborne Road. New public art installations for Brookhaven City Centre are also on the agenda.

- City of Brookhaven — Development Authority — May 14, 2026 at 2:00 PM
The Authority is scheduled to hear lease update reports for properties at 3292 Buford Highway and 4001 Peachtree Road, and to vote on an amendment to its FY2026 development budget.

- City of Chamblee — City Council Public Hearing & Work Session — May 14, 2026 at 6:00 PM

CONSTRUCTION | Presented by

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Permits

- 1251 Perimeter Summit Pkwy — A $32M ERCES (emergency radio communication) system is being installed at this apartment complex. Phase 1 is underway — the kind of infrastructure upgrade that's legally required in large residential buildings and signals the property is staying current with code.
- 5400 New Peachtree Rd — A commercial building routing sheet was filed. Low on details, but something is in motion at this address.
- 3645 Peachtree Rd NE — New 1,200-amp electrical service going in, replacing the existing setup. A service upgrade this size typically signals a significant renovation or new tenant with heavy power demands — worth watching.
- 3610 DeKalb Technology Pkwy, Ste 180 — Five separate business license code enforcement actions were filed against the same address in Doraville. Repetitive filings like this usually indicate a compliance dispute rather than routine licensing.

On the residential side, 49 occupational tax certificates were filed across the area — a steady clip of home-based businesses getting squared away. There were also 11 tree-related permits (removals and hazardous tree assessments), which tracks with the season.

Road Work

Under Construction
- Peachtree Industrial Blvd Signal Optimization (DeKalb County) — Active signal system work is underway along Peachtree Industrial Boulevard between Peachtree Road and New Peachtree Road. Expect timing changes and possible delays as crews tune the corridor's traffic management system.
- SR-13 Resurfacing, Fulton County Line to Chamblee Tucker Rd (DeKalb County) — Paving crews are actively resurfacing SR-13 (Buford Highway) through this stretch to address a low pavement condition rating. Rough surfaces and lane restrictions are likely — budget extra time if Buford Highway is part of your daily route.

Pre-Construction

- Ashford Dunwoody Road at Windsor Parkway (DeKalb County) — Intersection improvements are planned at this busy crossroads, with safety and traffic flow upgrades on the way. No construction date yet, but this one is fully funded and moving toward bidding.
- Chamblee Rail Trail Extension (DeKalb County) — A new shared-use path is in the pipeline, running from Pierce Drive north to Peachtree Boulevard, then along Peachtree Industrial Boulevard to Chamblee Dunwoody Road. Good news for cyclists and walkers in the Chamblee area.
- Shallowford Road Bike/Ped Improvements (DeKalb County) — A 10-foot shared-use path on the west side and a 5-foot sidewalk on the east side of Shallowford Road are planned for the 0.74-mile stretch between New Peachtree Road and Chamblee Dunwoody Road. A meaningful addition for anyone getting around on foot or bike in that corridor.
- SR-141 at Peachtree Boulevard/North Shallowford Road (DeKalb County) — A realignment of this Chamblee intersection is funded and in development. The project aims to sort out the awkward geometry where Peachtree Boulevard, North Shallowford Road, and Parsons Drive converge — long overdue for drivers who know this spot well.
- North Fork Trail, Phase I (DeKalb County) — A multiuse trail along North Fork Peachtree Creek from Fischer Trail to Chamblee Tucker Road is in the concept and funding phase. Still early, but it's on the books.