Brookhaven / Chamblee: K9 Chico Remembered, and Millage Hearings

Hello, Brookhaven and Chamblee neighbors! It's been a week of both grief and momentum. The Brookhaven Police Department is mourning K9 Chico, a partner who gave everything on these streets, and the community is feeling it. Meanwhile, there's no shortage of things that deserve your attention this week, from public hearings on your property tax bill to a $12 million apartment complex quietly permitted on the Doraville edge of the corridor.

- News — Brookhaven opens millage rate hearings (your chance to speak up on taxes), pools are open for summer, and a Chamblee family rebuilding after an apartment fire is finding support from neighbors.
- Business — Sucré, the cafe and bakery tucked inside the Alta Porter complex on Peachtree Road, has closed after just over a year, a short run that many neighbors will notice.
- Events — The Atlanta International Night Market returns to Chamblee this Saturday, and Thursday brings a public mural unveiling at 4001 Peachtree Road worth stepping out for.
- Government — DeKalb is moving toward proposed millage rate adoption and fee hikes for trash and stormwater, while Brookhaven's Planning Commission takes up zoning text amendments Wednesday night that could affect rental rules and older homes.
- Construction — A 55-unit apartment complex is permitted on South Peachtree Road, a new Buford Highway restaurant permit just closed, and several trail and sidewalk projects are officially in the pipeline for Chamblee.

Let's dive in.

Green Box Homes makes regenerative landscaping easy and accessible. They grow beautiful, abundant, and sustainable yards one charming home at a time.

Sustainable design - Eco-friendly practices and materials that create sustainable designs, enhancing the natural environment and promoting biodiversity.

Green installation - Ecological designs brought to life by carefully shaping land, soil, water, and plant communities into resilient, living systems that grow healthier and more abundant over time.

Stewardship - A stewardship package that ensures each project matures gracefully, stays healthy, and continues to improve ecologically over time.

Start your transformation today!

NEWS

Brookhaven to hold public hearings for 2026 millage rate
If you have thoughts about your property tax bill (and who doesn't) now is the time to show up. The City of Brookhaven has scheduled public hearings on the proposed 2026 millage rate, giving residents in Ashford Park, Drew Valley, Brookhaven Fields, and beyond a direct seat at the table on how the city taxes and spends.

Brookhaven Police mourning death of K9 officer after medical emergency: 'A loyal partner'
K9 Chico, a beloved member of the Brookhaven Police Department, died suddenly following a medical emergency, leaving the department grieving. He served alongside Officer Castellanos through the streets of Brookhaven and Chamblee, and by all accounts was exactly the kind of partner you'd want watching your back. He will be missed.

Brookhaven kicks off pool season
Summer is officially on — Brookhaven's municipal pools and splash pads are open and ready. Families in Lynwood Park, Historic Brookhaven, Brittany, and neighboring areas can find updated hours and schedules for the season, so there's no excuse to spend another sweltering afternoon without a plan.

Immigrant family rebuilding after Chamblee apartment fire
A Chamblee family lost nearly everything in an apartment fire, and the community has stepped up with relief efforts to help them find housing and essential supplies. It's a hard story, but also a reminder of what these neighborhoods do when one of their own needs help most.

Atlanta festivals, events and parties to check out during the FIFA World Cup
The World Cup is coming to Atlanta, and the city is not playing it cool about it. A fresh guide from the AJC rounds up the festivals, watch parties, and street events planned throughout the tournament — expect packed sidewalks, flags you might not recognize, and energy that makes this summer unlike most others.

BUSINESS

Sucré - closed - The Brookhaven outpost of the cafe and bakery, tucked inside the Alta Porter apartment complex at 3930 Peachtree Road, has shuttered after just over a year in business — a short run for a sweet spot that many neighbors were still discovering.

EVENTS

The Atlanta International Night Market returns to Chamblee this Saturday, and if you've never been, this is the week to fix that. The market draws thousands of visitors with its vibrant mix of international food, artisan vendors, and live performances — expect crowds and plan your parking accordingly.

Monday, June 1
- Take & Make Craft - Venus Flytrap | Brookhaven Branch Library
- Fossil Frenzy Scavenger Hunt | Brookhaven Branch Library
- Future Stars Soccer Academy - Week 1 | Oglethorpe University
- Mah-Jongg Mondays - Session 2 | Chamblee, GA

Tuesday, June 2
- The Extraordinary Life of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama: An Illuminated Journey by Rima Fujita at OUMA | Oglethorpe University Museum of Art
- Puzzle Swap | Brookhaven Branch Library
- Labor Cost Management Intensive | Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta Perimeter Center

Wednesday, June 3
- Crafty Wednesdays | Chamblee Library

Thursday, June 4
- Brookhaven City Centre Art Mural Unveiling | 4001 Peachtree Road NE
- The Cake - On Stage June 4-14 | Merely Players Presents
- The Elements of House Music Conference & Experience | Cr8tive Lyfe Studios

Friday, June 5
- The Cake - On Stage June 4-14 | Merely Players Presents
- 8 Legged Scales | Brookhaven Branch Library
- INTENNSE Tennis 2026 Season - Week 1 Exclusive Sale | Assembly Studios Gate 2
- Atlanta International Night Market | Chamblee City Hall

Saturday, June 6
- Atlanta International Night Market | Chamblee City Hall
- Brookhaven Farmers Market | Brookhaven Farmers Market
- FREE Puppy Hour at Central Bark Brookhaven | FREE Puppy Hour at Central Bark Brookhaven
- The Cake | Merely Players Presents
- Adopt a Dinosaur | Brookhaven Branch Library
- Soul Synergy Party with Special Guest Duane Powell | Cr8tive Lyfe Studios
- MONARCH SATURDAYS | Josephine Lounge

Sunday, June 7
- Celebrate America DeKalb | Blackburn Park
- Big League Wiffle Ball Opening Day & Night | Assembly Atlanta
- Otherworlds: Speculative Flash Fiction Workshop | Wild Aster Books
- The Cake - On Stage June 4-14 | Merely Players Presents

Markets move. Headlines catastrophize. Inside the noise is the story that matters — the opportunity, not the fear. The Daily Upside: global business and finance, reported without the alarm.

Read for Free Now

GOVERNMENT

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

Past Week Roundup

Brookhaven City Council

Brookhaven's City Council held both a work session and a regular meeting on May 26, with all substantive votes passing 4-0. On the infrastructure front, the council authorized staff to apply to the Georgia Department of Transportation for 2026 Local Road Assistance Funding — state money that could help pay for local roadway maintenance and improvements. The council also terminated its existing municipal storm sewer inspection contract with Integrated Science and Engineering, though no replacement vendor was named, leaving the next steps for the city's stormwater inspection program an open question. Rounding out the evening, the council renewed its cybersecurity monitoring contract with Arctic Wolf to keep city systems protected against digital threats. Earlier in the afternoon work session, the council received a Cherry Blossom Festival update from the city's events manager and voted unanimously to enter a closed executive session — though no public decisions emerged from it.

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners

DeKalb County commissioners had a packed week, with a regular meeting on May 26 and a zoning hearing on May 28 — and because minutes are not yet posted for either, everything below reflects what is scheduled, not what was decided. At the regular meeting, the biggest-ticket items for residents are the proposed adoption of tentative 2026 millage rates (the first formal step toward this year's property tax bills), along with proposed fee increases for both residential trash pickup and the county's stormwater utility, which funds drainage maintenance and flood prevention. The board is also scheduled to consider a $1.86 million perimeter security upgrade at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport and to weigh new roundabouts at the Ponce de Leon/East Lake Road and Clairmont/Rosecliff Drive intersections as part of a broader traffic safety push. At the May 28 zoning meeting, major items on the agenda include a D.R. Horton proposal to build 214 single-family homes near Norris Lake, a QuikTrip project on Memorial Drive seeking permits for a car wash, fuel pumps, and alcohol sales, and county-wide text amendments that would update rules for short-term rentals and create a new "Repeated Nuisance" ordinance to penalize problem properties. As always with agenda-only coverage, any of these items may be deferred, withdrawn, or tabled before a final vote is taken.

DeKalb County School District Board of Education

The DeKalb County School District's board committees convened virtually on May 28, with minutes now posted for both sessions. The Audit Committee discussed the framework for an upcoming forensic audit — covering the designated firm, scope, methodology, and timeline — and received a staff update on corrective actions stemming from a prior E-SPLOST audit, which examines how the district manages its education sales tax revenues; no formal votes were taken at either session, as both were informational in nature. More consequentially, the Policy Committee reviewed three policy items that will move to the full board for eventual action: proposed updates to how board committees are structured (Policy BBC) and how official board meetings are conducted (Policy BC), plus a new draft policy (JBCF) that would establish "Safe Zones" and set protocols for how district staff respond to federal immigration enforcement on school grounds. The immigration policy in particular is likely to draw public attention as it advances toward a full board vote; the Policy Committee's next review session is scheduled for June 25.

Chamblee Downtown Development Authority

Chamblee's Downtown Development Authority held its regular monthly meeting on May 26, though no minutes are yet posted, so what follows reflects the scheduled agenda rather than confirmed outcomes. The published agenda is focused primarily on administrative matters, including a review of the April 2026 financial report — the DDA's budget is typically the engine behind downtown beautification projects, property acquisition, and business support initiatives. The "Old Business" and "New Business" portions of the agenda are where updates on active development proposals or new incentive deals could surface, though no specific projects were listed on the preliminary agenda. Residents with an interest in the economic direction of downtown Chamblee can request to speak during the public comment period, which is also on the agenda.

Meetings This Week
- DeKalb County School District — Board of Education — Monday, June 1
The board will receive a presentation on the E-SPLOST VII Resolution, the next iteration of the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax that funds school construction, technology, and facility upgrades countywide. No vote is expected at this called meeting.

- DeKalb County School District — Board of Education — Monday, June 1
The board will hold its first budget presentation and first millage rate hearing of the season, both open for community input. No budget adoption or millage rate vote is expected at this session — it is the public's first formal opportunity to weigh in before decisions are made.

- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole — Tuesday, June 2 at 9:00 AM
A wide-ranging agenda will include proposed stormwater and residential trash fee increases, a possible extension of the countywide data center construction moratorium, and roundabout proposals for Ponce De Leon Avenue and Clairmont Road. Also on the agenda: ordinances targeting chronic nuisance and vacant properties, a proposed Water Customer Bill of Rights, more than $345 million in water and sewer infrastructure contracts, and a civilian oversight board for the county's "Digital Shield" surveillance network.

- City of Brookhaven — Planning Commission Work Session — Wednesday, June 3 at 5:30 PM, PEP Building
- City of Brookhaven — Planning Commission Regular Meeting — Wednesday, June 3 at 7:00 PM, PEP Building
The commission will hold a public hearing on three citywide zoning text amendments: proposed changes to "household living" definitions (which can affect occupancy and rental rules), updated regulations for nonconforming structures (relevant to older homes that don't meet current setback or size standards), and revisions to the city's zoning review and public notification procedures.

- City of Chamblee — Public Hearing — Thursday, June 4 at 6:00 PM, Chamblee City Hall Council Chambers

CONSTRUCTION

Permits

- 5754 S Peachtree Rd — $12M apartment complex permitted. Edmund Phase II is a 55-unit family housing community coming to the Doraville edge of the corridor — one of the larger residential investments to hit this stretch in recent memory.
- 4601 Buford Hwy — Interior renovation underway. Oveja Design Studio is behind the buildout, flagged for watershed review through Chamblee's permitting process.
- 3747 Peachtree Rd NE — Multiple commercial permits issued covering electrical work and plumbing replacements (three sinks, one water heater). The volume of trade permits suggests a more significant interior refresh than a routine fix.
- 2200 Century Pkwy, Ste 990 — Interior buildout of an existing business suite, filed through Chamblee for life safety review. A tenant is getting settled in.
- 5080 Peachtree Blvd, Ste 200 — New fire alarm notification devices being installed per updated drawings. Routine compliance work, but signals an active tenant.
- 5090 Buford Hwy, Ste 109 — Restaurant permit filed and closed. Someone's cooking up something new on Buford Highway, which continues to be one of the most active commercial corridors in the area.

On the residential side, 33 smaller permits came through — mostly occupational tax certificates, tree removal, and vehicle permits. Nothing dramatic, just the usual hum of a busy neighborhood.

Road Work

Under Construction
- SR-13 Resurfacing (DeKalb County) — Paving work is underway on SR-13 from the Fulton County line to Chamblee Tucker Road, targeting a stretch with a low pavement condition rating. Expect lane restrictions and typical resurfacing disruptions along this corridor.
- Peachtree Industrial Blvd Signal Optimization — 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 some irregularity at intersections while systems are being tuned.
- Ashford-Dunwoody Road EB Ramp at I-285 — Construction is underway to add a third lane on the eastbound Ashford-Dunwoody ramp connecting to I-285 northbound. The extra lane is designed to ease a chronic congestion point, but active work means tighter conditions in the short term — give yourself extra time if this is part of your morning routine.

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 begins.
- Chamblee Rail Trail Extension (DeKalb County) — A new shared-use path will connect Pierce Drive north to Peachtree Boulevard, then continue along Peachtree Industrial Boulevard to Chamblee Dunwoody Road. Good news for cyclists and pedestrians in Chamblee — this closes a meaningful gap in the trail network.
- Shallowford Road — New Peachtree to Chamblee Dunwoody (DeKalb County) — A 0.74-mile stretch of Shallowford Road is slated to get a 10-foot shared-use path on the west side and a 5-foot sidewalk on the east side. A real quality-of-life upgrade for anyone walking or biking this corridor.
- SR-141 at Parsons Drive / Peachtree Road / North Shallowford Road (DeKalb County) — This tangled intersection in Chamblee is getting a realignment. The project aims to straighten out the geometry where Peachtree Boulevard meets North Shallowford Road — one of the more confusing spots in the area for drivers and pedestrians alike.
- North Fork Trail — Fischer Trail Park to Presidential Parkway, Phase I (DeKalb County) — Concept development is funded for a multiuse trail along the North Fork Peachtree Creek, eventually connecting Fischer Trail to Chamblee-Tucker Road. Still early stage, but it's a promising long-range addition for the greenway network.