Brookhaven / Chamblee: DCSD Executives Sue, and Peachtree Station Changes Hands

Hey Brookhaven and Chamblee neighbors! It's a big week for news that touches your wallet and your neighborhood. Former DeKalb County School District executives are suing the district for millions of dollars, and the Whole Foods-anchored Peachtree Station shopping center has quietly changed hands — two stories worth understanding before they develop further. Plus, Chamblee is kicking off summer with a Beyoncé tribute concert that's shaping up to be the kind of event people actually show up for.

- News — A multi-million dollar lawsuit from former DCSD executives could hit taxpayers, Peachtree Station has new owners, and Chamblee's Summer Concert Series opens with a Juneteenth Beyoncé tribute.
- Business — A charming new espresso bar opens in Chamblee just as The Alden and neighboring Parkview on Peachtree businesses remain shuttered more than a week after the devastating fire.
- Events — A packed week runs from Triumph at Chastain Tuesday night to a rooftop Full Moon Party Sunday, with a Dresden Tavern ribbon cutting, LEGO Day at Chamblee Library, and free puppy hour in between.
- Government — DeKalb is moving toward setting 2026 property tax millage rates and sanitation fee hikes, Brookhaven's council votes Tuesday on stormwater contracts, and six zoning cases are on Chamblee's recent docket.
- Construction — SR-13 is getting repaved from the Fulton County line to Chamblee Tucker Road, a third lane is being added at the Ashford-Dunwoody I-285 ramp, and a Buford Highway café just changed hands.

Let's dive in.

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Former Executives Sue DeKalb County Schools for Millions
Former high-ranking DeKalb County School District officials have filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the district — and the price tag, if they prevail, will be felt by taxpayers across the area. For families in whose kids depend on DCSD, this one is worth watching closely.

Brookhaven Kicks Off Summer Pool Season
The city's pools at Lynwood Park and Murphey Candler Park opened their gates on May 23, just in time for Memorial Day weekend. Residents in Brittany, Silver Lake, and neighboring communities now have somewhere to be when the Atlanta heat stops being theoretical and starts being personal.

Chamblee to Launch Summer Concert Series with Juneteenth Beyoncé Tribute
Chamblee is opening its Summer Concert Series with a Juneteenth celebration centered on a tribute to Beyoncé — which is, frankly, a strong way to start. The event at City Hall Plaza promises to be a genuine cultural moment for Chamblee residents looking for a reason to gather this June.

New Art Installations Unveiled in Brookhaven Community Gardens
Brookhaven has added nature-themed art installations to its community garden network, turning already-useful green spaces into something worth lingering in. For those who frequent these gardens, the upgrade is a quiet reminder that the city is investing in the neighborhood's livability.

Whole Foods-Anchored Peachtree Station Sold in Major Real Estate Deal
Peachtree Station — the shopping center anchoring the Peachtree Road corridor for both Brookhaven and Chamblee shoppers — has changed hands in a significant commercial deal. New ownership doesn't always mean new tenants or new direction, but on a stretch of road this important to daily life here, it's the kind of development you'd rather know about early.

BUSINESS

Stellow - opening - A new espresso bar has arrived in Chamblee with a warm, personal touch: the shop's design draws inspiration from the owner's grandmothers, giving it the kind of lived-in comfort that's hard to manufacture and harder to find.

The Alden - closing - The acclaimed tasting-menu restaurant is closed indefinitely after a major fire tore through the Parkview on Peachtree complex in Chamblee — a significant loss for a neighborhood dining scene that had come to count on it.

Parkview on Peachtree Retailers - closing - More than a week after the fire, multiple businesses in the mixed-use development remain shuttered and without power as the broader recovery grinds on — a reminder that the damage here extends well beyond any single address.

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Tuesday, May 26
- The Extraordinary Life of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama: An Illuminated Journey by Rima Fujita at OUMA | Oglethorpe University Museum of Art
- Triumph: The Rock & Roll Machine Reloaded Tour | Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park
- Tuesday Trivia @ Toco Hills | Wild Heaven Toco Hills

Wednesday, May 27
- Mastering Networking: The Art of the Follow-Up | Brookhaven City Centre
- Take Flight - Wine, Rooftop, Afterwork Social (Buckhead) | Hyatt Centric Buckhead Atlanta

Thursday, May 28
- Perimeter Young Professionals Sip & Social @ Distillery of Modern Art | Distillery of Modern Art
- Lotus Lens Screening: All We Imagine as Light | Atlanta Chinatown
- ALZATE | Atlanta Eagles Arena
- LEGO Day at Chamblee | Chamblee Library
- Woodford Reserve Bourbon Dinner | Fogo De Chao Buckhead
- Under Pressure Pop-up at Brush Sushi | Buckhead Village District

Friday, May 29
- Dresden Tavern Ribbon Cutting | Dresden Tavern
- The Pasta Experience by Eventful | A Hands-On Pasta Making Workshop | Distillery of Modern Art
- Maxwell Street: 70s Rock Tribute & Rubber Revolver | 300 Bowling Atlanta AMF
- Riverside Train Band | Napoleon's Grill
- Summer Styling Soiree at Maeve | Buckhead Village District

Saturday, May 30
- Brookhaven Farmers Market | Brookhaven Farmers Market
- (Cinco) 75th de Mayo Celebration | Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church
- The Final End -Red Carpet Premiere | LOOK Dine-In Cinemas
- FREE Puppy Hour at Central Bark Brookhaven | FREE Puppy Hour at Central Bark Brookhaven
- Elevated Spirits: Rooftop Mixology Class | St. Julep
- Blade Rave | Buckhead Theatre
- Saturday Vinyasa Yoga Classes with Highland Yoga | Buckhead Village

Sunday, May 31
- Creative Caviar by Eventful | A Guided Caviar Tasting Experience | Distillery of Modern Art
- Basque in the Sun at Gypsy Kitchen | Buckhead Village District
- Full Moon Party at St. Julep Rooftop | St. Julep
- 3 Guys Burgers & Buys – Sunday Nights at L3 | Local Three Kitchen & Bar

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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 Board of Commissioners – Committee of the Whole

The DeKalb County Committee of the Whole met on May 21 and moved a wide-ranging set of items toward full Board votes, with some of the most significant touching residents' everyday costs. The committee advanced a proposal to set the tentative 2026 property tax millage rates — the first formal step in determining what homeowners will owe this fall — alongside proposed fee increases for residential and commercial sanitation service and for public parking at county-owned facilities. On the infrastructure side, the committee forwarded official county support for two GDOT roundabout projects: one at the intersection of Ponce De Leon Avenue and East Lake Road, and another at Clairmont Road and Rosecliff Drive, both of which are heavily traveled corridors affecting daily commutes. The committee also moved forward a public hearing on extending the county's existing moratorium on adult entertainment businesses, and advanced several airport-related contracts for Peachtree DeKalb Airport totaling over $2.7 million, covering taxiway design, a perimeter security fence replacement, and the 2026 Good Neighbor Day Airshow. None of these items are final — all still require action by the full Board of Commissioners — but the committee's advancement signals strong momentum behind each proposal.

City of Brookhaven – Board of Appeals

Brookhaven's Board of Appeals held both a Work Session and a Regular Meeting on the evening of May 20, with an agenda dominated by residential variance requests — none of which have minutes posted yet, so outcomes are not yet confirmed. The most recurring theme across multiple properties is stream buffer encroachment: three separate homeowners are seeking permission to build within the city's standard 75-foot stream buffer, a protected zone designed to control erosion and neighborhood drainage, which means the board is being asked to weigh private construction interests against environmental protections that benefit the broader community. Several other applicants are seeking relief from rules governing retaining wall height and placement — common on the area's hilly lots — while one request on Sunland Drive proposes increasing impervious surface coverage, which can affect how much stormwater flows off a property onto adjacent land. A notable one-off item involves a Skyland Drive homeowner seeking permission to remove a specimen tree located outside the designated buildable area of their lot, a type of request that often draws interest from residents who value the neighborhood's tree canopy. Because no minutes are available, all of these items remain scheduled and may be tabled, deferred, or withdrawn before or during the meeting.

City of Chamblee – City Council

Chamblee City Council convened on May 19 with a full docket of land-use decisions and infrastructure steps, though no minutes have been posted, so all items below reflect what was scheduled and may not reflect final outcomes. A progress update on the bond-funded Chamblee Park project at Woodacres Road and Clairmont Terrace was on the agenda — a development residents have been tracking as a major greenspace investment for the area. The council was also set to consider a Preliminary Engineering Agreement for road and connectivity improvements spanning Broad Street, Peachtree Road, and Irvindale, which represents the first formal step toward potential roadwork affecting one of the city's core commercial corridors. A second reading of amendments to the city's Alcohol Ordinance was scheduled, which could affect how nearby businesses are permitted to serve alcohol. Six separate planning and zoning cases were also on the docket, representing a broad wave of potential development or land-use changes across the city, along with a resolution to join an amicus brief in Chang v. City of Milton — a case that could set legal precedent affecting how Georgia cities handle zoning and property rights matters.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

City of Chamblee — City Council Regular
- 1900 & 1901 Century Blvd — A planning and zoning review (PZ2026-1644) is on the agenda for these two properties, which are being considered together under a Design Controls and Incentives case.
- 3663 Clairmont Rd — A planning and zoning case (PZ2026-1663) is on the agenda for this address.
- 5037 Peachtree Rd — A planning and zoning review (PZ2026-1664) is scheduled to be considered by the Council for this Peachtree Road property.

Meetings This Week
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Board of Commissioners — Tuesday, May 26 at 9:00 AM, 178 Sam's Street, Decatur (Multipurpose Room A1201)
Commissioners are scheduled to adopt tentative 2026 millage rates — the first formal step in setting this year's property tax bills — and consider fee increases for residential sanitation and stormwater services. The agenda also includes a proposed $1.86 million perimeter security upgrade at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport and a public hearing on extending the county's moratorium on new adult entertainment businesses.

- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole — Tuesday, May 26 at 9:00 AM, 178 Sam's Street, Decatur (Multipurpose Room A1201)
- City of Brookhaven — City Council Work Session — Tuesday, May 26 at 4:30 PM, PEP Building
The council is scheduled to hear presentations on the city's utility monitoring program and a review of the Cherry Blossom Festival, along with a preview of items set for a vote at the evening's regular meeting. No final votes are expected at the work session.

- City of Brookhaven — City Council Regular Meeting — Tuesday, May 26 at 6:30 PM, PEP Building
The council is scheduled to vote on submitting an application to GDOT for 2026 Local Road Assistance funding and on terminating the city's existing contract for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) inspections and assessments — a move that could signal a change in how Brookhaven manages stormwater infrastructure oversight. A proclamation honoring St. Martins in the Fields Episcopal Church's 75th anniversary is also on the agenda.

- City of Chamblee — Downtown Development Authority Regular Meeting — Tuesday, May 26 at 6:30 PM, Chamblee City Hall Council Chambers, 3518 Broad Street
The DDA is scheduled to review its April 2026 financial report and take up old and new business items related to downtown development and revitalization efforts. A public comment period is on the agenda.

- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Zoning Meeting — Thursday, May 28 at 5:30 PM, 178 Sam's Street, Decatur (Multipurpose Room A1201)
Commissioners are scheduled to hear a range of rezoning requests and special land use permits, including a proposed 214-unit single-family subdivision by D.R. Horton at 8277 Norris Lake Way and three separate permits for a QuikTrip development — covering a car wash, fuel pumps, and an alcohol outlet — at 4733–4775 Memorial Drive. County-wide text amendments on short-term rental taxation and a new "repeated nuisance property" ordinance are also scheduled for consideration. A drive-through special use permit at 2960 North Druid Hills Road is among the commercial items on the agenda.

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Permits

- 1871 Chamblee Tucker Rd — $115K commercial job filed for interior door installation and a sales floor enclosure. Mid-size retail buildout work that points to an active tenant fit-out underway.
- 4186 Buford Hwy, Ste K — Change of ownership and name filed for an existing café space. New hands, same footprint — the space isn't being gutted, just changing operators.
- 3277 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd — Fats, oil, and grease permit filed for a convenience store with deli. Routine compliance work, but signals the deli operation is active or coming online.
- Ashford Trl — Residential tree removal permit issued. Straightforward, but worth knowing if you're nearby.

On the residential side, 79 permits were logged across the area, largely occupational tax certificates and property maintenance filings — the routine hum of a busy corridor. Five coin-operated amusement machine licenses were also filed, which is a quietly interesting cluster. Beyond that, activity was light on the high-dollar or high-impact end this week.

Road Work

Under Construction
- Peachtree Industrial Blvd Signal Optimization — Active signal work is underway along Peachtree Industrial Boulevard between Peachtree Road and New Peachtree Road. Expect timing adjustments and potential short delays through the corridor as crews fine-tune the system.
- SR-13 Resurfacing (DeKalb County) — Paving crews are working SR-13 from the Fulton County line up to Chamblee Tucker Road, targeting a stretch with a low pavement condition rating. If you travel this corridor regularly, expect lane restrictions and rough transitions near active work zones.
- Ashford-Dunwoody Road EB Ramp at I-285 — Construction is active at the Ashford-Dunwoody Road interchange with I-285, where a third lane is being added to the eastbound on-ramp connecting to I-285 northbound. This is a congestion-relief project, but getting there first means navigating the work zone — give yourself extra time if this is part of your daily commute.
- PATH 400 Trail Extension, Phase II (Fulton County) — Work continues on the middle segment of the PATH 400 Trail Extension, running from Windsor Parkway to just north of Baroque Circle. This is a bike and pedestrian project just outside the area boundary, but worth knowing if you access the trail from the Brookhaven side.

Pre-Construction

- Ashford Dunwoody Road at Windsor Parkway (DeKalb County) — Intersection improvements are coming to this busy crossing, with operational and safety upgrades planned. If you cut through here regularly, expect changes to traffic flow once work gets underway.
- Chamblee Rail Trail Extension (DeKalb County) — A new shared-use path will connect Pierce Drive north to Peachtree Boulevard, then follow Peachtree Industrial Boulevard to Chamblee Dunwoody Road. Good news for cyclists and pedestrians looking for a safer off-road option through the corridor.
- Shallowford Road from New Peachtree to Chamblee Dunwoody (DeKalb County) — A 0.74-mile stretch is getting a 10-foot shared-use path on the west side and a 5-foot sidewalk on the east side. A meaningful upgrade for anyone walking or biking along this stretch.
- SR-141 at Parsons Drive / Peachtree Road / North Shallowford Road (DeKalb County) — This complex Chamblee intersection is due for a realignment. If you navigate this tangle regularly, the redesign should eventually make it more intuitive — but expect disruption during construction.
- North Fork Trail from Fischer Trail Park to Presidential Parkway — Phase I (DeKalb County) — Planning is underway for a multiuse trail along the North Fork Peachtree Creek to Chamblee-Tucker Road. Still early stage, but worth watching for trail users in the area.