Brookhaven / Chamblee: Schools at a Crossroads and 3 New Restaurants

Hey Brookhaven and Chamblee — big week on multiple fronts. The High Street apartment project at Perimeter Summit has been withdrawn after community pushback, but don't close the book on it just yet — and DeKalb County Schools is reviving its school closure conversation in ways that could hit close to home for families in both areas. Meanwhile, AMLI Brookhaven is quietly becoming a food destination, Buford Highway is getting a long-overdue repaving, and Mother's Day weekend is shaping up to be genuinely worth leaving the house for.

- News — The Perimeter Summit apartment project is on pause after community pressure, DeKalb Schools is reopening the school closure debate, and three new fire stations are coming to the county.
- Business — AMLI Brookhaven is becoming a micro food hall: bagels, gelato, and pizza are all headed to one address on Lake Hearn Drive.
- Events — Mother's Day weekend delivers the Chastain Park Spring Arts Festival, Alison Krauss at the amphitheater, and more brunch options than you can reasonably say no to.
- Government — Brookhaven formally accepted the High Street rezoning withdrawal and seated three new ethics officers, while Chamblee's DDA weighed a bond for a major downtown mixed-use project and DeKalb Schools kicked off a student assignment review that could lead to boundary changes.
- Construction — Buford Highway resurfacing is actively underway, a cluster of new townhouse permits is signaling real development momentum in Chamblee, and a long-overdue intersection realignment at SR-141 and Peachtree Blvd is in the pipeline.

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Let’s dive in.

NEWS

High Street withdraws application for Brookhaven apartment complex
Developers have pulled their rezoning application for a large apartment complex at Perimeter Summit after the community made its concerns about traffic and density abundantly clear. For residents near the Perimeter who've been watching this one closely, it's a significant — if potentially temporary — pause on a project that would have reshaped that corridor.

DeKalb Schools Plans to Reboot School Closure Discussion
DeKalb County Schools is reviving the conversation around school closures — a discussion that stalled before but appears to be back on the table as the district grapples with shifting enrollment and aging facilities. Given how directly these decisions affect neighborhood schools in Brookhaven and Chamblee, this is one worth watching closely from the start.

Interim superintendent: DeKalb County Schools at a 'critical juncture'
DeKalb's interim superintendent isn't sugarcoating it — the district is facing real enrollment shifts and facility pressures that will demand hard decisions. Families in the Brookhaven and Chamblee clusters should be paying close attention as the board starts deciding where resources and improvements actually land.

DeKalb County to Construct Three New Fire Stations
DeKalb County is moving forward with plans to build three new fire stations, a direct response to the county's continued residential growth and the emergency response gaps that come with it. Faster response times aren't an abstraction — they're the kind of infrastructure investment that matters when it actually matters.

Atlanta Collage Collective brings inaugural show to Chamblee's Oddities Museum
Sixteen local artists are making their collective debut at Chamblee's Oddities Museum — a fitting venue, honestly — in the Atlanta Collage Collective's first formal exhibition. It's another signal that Chamblee's downtown arts scene isn't just growing, it's getting interesting.

BUSINESS

Larita Cafe - opening - A new café specializing in pastries and gelato is set to debut inside the AMLI Brookhaven apartment complex, giving the neighborhood a proper spot to satisfy a sweet tooth without leaving the block.

Dish's Bagels - opening - Local resident Chad Dishner is bringing New York-style bagels to 1410 Lake Hearn Drive at AMLI Brookhaven — a neighborhood-grown venture that promises the real deal, with a side of Southern hospitality.

Mama's Pizza - opening - Rounding out a trio of new culinary arrivals at AMLI Brookhaven, this pizza concept means the complex is quietly becoming one of the more interesting little food clusters to watch in the area.

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EVENTS

Though in Buckhead, you may want to make the trek for the The Chastain Park Spring Arts Festival that runs all Mother's Day weekend — it’s a great reason to head outdoors and browse local artists. Layer in the Brookhaven Farmers Market, Alison Krauss at the amphitheater, and a full slate of Mother's Day brunches on Sunday, and this weekend has something for just about everyone.

Monday, May 4
- The Wallflowers | Buckhead Theatre
- Take & Make Craft - Handprint Bumblebee | Brookhaven, GA
- Summer Reading Challenge Scavenger Hunt | Brookhaven Branch Library
- Take & Make Craft - Handprint Bumblebee | Brookhaven Branch Library

Tuesday, May 5
- Cinco de Mayo Rooftop Fiesta at St. Julep | St. Julep at Kimpton Sylvan Atlanta - Buckhead
- Comedy Show | Napoleon's Grill
- Tuesday Trivia @ Toco Hills | Wild Heaven Toco Hills

Wednesday, May 6
- Organ Recital | Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church
- FOCUS Under Five | Brookhaven Branch Library
- Seis de Mayo Networking Bingo | Chico Cantina
- Freddie Dredd | Buckhead Theatre

Thursday, May 7
- Wellness in Design at ADAC | Atlanta Decorative Arts Center (ADAC)
- Braxton Keith | Buckhead Theatre

Friday, May 8
- Apocalyptica | Buckhead Theatre

Saturday, May 9
- Brookhaven Farmers Market | Brookhaven Farmers Market
- Celebrate Mother's Day Weekend at Chastain Park Spring Arts Festival - May 9-10 | Atlanta, GA
- Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring: Jerry Douglas | Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park
- Naomi Watanabe: From Tokyo | Buckhead Theatre
- Georgia Hosta Society Plant Sale and Show | Oak Grove United Methodist Church

Sunday, May 10
- Flower Power: A Mother's Day Flower-Arranging Workshop | Distillery of Modern Art
- 6th Annual Bad Moms Brunch & Day Party "Moms Gone Wild" | 6035 Peachtree Road, #ste c208, Atlanta, GA
- Celebrate Mother's Day Weekend at Chastain Park Spring Arts Festival - May 9-10 | Atlanta, GA
- May Crowning | Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church
- Mother's Day - Día de las Madres | Plaza Fiesta
- Mother's Day Brunch at The Betty | The Kimpton Sylvan Hotel
- Mother's Day 2026 At Local Three | Local Three Kitchen & Bar
- Mother's Day Brunch at Tesserae | Tesserae
- Celebrate Mother's Day at The Americano! | The Americano at the InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta Hotel
- Sons of Legion - Soul to SØL Tour | Buckhead Theatre

Monday, May 11
- Mother's Day at The Southern Gentleman | 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

Brookhaven City Council

Brookhaven's council met on April 28 for both a work session and a regular meeting, with the evening's biggest headline being the withdrawal of a proposed development at the High Street Atlanta project — the applicant pulled a request to rezone the property and obtain special permits for multi-family residential use and increased building height, and the council voted 4-0 to accept the withdrawal, meaning no zoning changes will happen there for now. On a more operational note, the council unanimously approved a new lease agreement with American Medical Response of Georgia to support emergency medical services in the city, and formally adopted a use policy for the Brookhaven City Centre event space. Three new Ethics Hearing Officers — Joe Cusack, Matt Maguire, and Dan Lee — were appointed to handle future ethics complaints, and the council approved an intergovernmental agreement with Explore Brookhaven to handle payroll services for the tourism arm. Earlier in the afternoon work session, council members received an aquatics presentation — likely covering pool operations or summer programming — and previewed the regular meeting agenda, though no formal votes were taken during that session.

Chamblee Downtown Development Authority

Chamblee's Downtown Development Authority met on April 28 with a focus on financing a major mixed-use project in the city's downtown core — a bond resolution for the "City Center Multifamily and Retail" development is on the agenda, representing a significant financial step toward bringing new apartments and commercial space to the area, though because no minutes have been posted, it's not yet confirmed whether the resolution was approved, tabled, or deferred. The authority was also scheduled to review how DDA-owned properties will be used for the 2026 city events calendar, which affects where local festivals and community gatherings are held throughout the year. A review of the March 2026 financial report was also on the agenda to keep tabs on the budget for downtown improvements. Note that all items listed here were scheduled for consideration — any or all could have been tabled or postponed, as minutes have not yet been released.

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners

DeKalb's Board of Commissioners convened April 28 and authorized a $142.3 million Tax Anticipation Notes loan to cover county operating expenses through 2026 — a large but routine fiscal move to keep government running smoothly between tax collection cycles. Commissioners also approved a resolution supporting a comprehensive plan to assist the county's unhoused population, and allocated $10,000 to Tucker First United Methodist Church's cold-weather shelter and shower ministry. On the infrastructure side, a neighborhood traffic calming project was approved for $15,100, and $1 million was greenlit for new audiovisual equipment at the Maloof Annex Auditorium. However, several major policy decisions were pushed to May 12, including new regulations on data centers (which would require health and environmental assessments before permits are issued), a proposed ordinance restricting pet shop sales of dogs, cats, and rabbits, a new blasting ordinance, and more than $52 million in emergency upgrades to the Snapfinger Wastewater Treatment Facility — all items worth watching as they return next month. Because minutes have not been posted for the companion Committee of the Whole or PECS Committee meetings that also took place April 28, the outcomes of any items discussed in those sessions remain unconfirmed.

DeKalb County School District Board of Education

The DeKalb County School Board held a two-day strategic retreat on April 28–29 focused heavily on budget planning and academic expansion, with the SY2027 budget framework and proposed changes taking center stage as the district moves toward a final spending vote that will affect school funding countywide. The board also advanced a plan to expand Advanced Placement and Carnegie (high school credit) coursework in middle and high schools to improve college readiness, and received an update on the district's ongoing literacy plan, which aims to standardize reading instruction across all schools. A "Disconnect to Reconnect" initiative addressing student wellness and digital distractions was discussed, though no specific policy changes were finalized at this session. Following a closed executive session on April 29, the board voted to approve undisclosed items, which per standard practice typically involve personnel or legal matters. Then on April 30, the board's Policy Committee took up several high-priority updates — including a brand-new draft policy governing the use of artificial intelligence in schools, updates to the internet acceptable use policy, a new literacy policy, and early discussions on a "Safe Space" policy — with those items expected to advance toward a formal vote at the May 28 committee meeting.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

City of Brookhaven — City Council
- 5005 & 8008 Summit Blvd — The High Street Atlanta development's request to rezone these properties and obtain special permits for multi-family residential use and increased building height was withdrawn by the applicant in a 4-0 vote, leaving the existing Office-Institution zoning unchanged.
- 3292 Buford Hwy — The City Council approved a lease agreement with American Medical Response of Georgia, Inc. for this property, which will serve as a base for emergency medical and ambulance services.

City of Chamblee — Downtown Development Authority
- 3518 Broad St (Chamblee City Hall) — A bond resolution to help finance a mixed-use "City Center" project featuring multifamily housing and retail space is scheduled to be heard, along with a review of how DDA-owned properties near this address will be used for 2026 community events.

Meetings This Week
- DeKalb County School District — Board of Education — Monday, May 4, 2026 | J. David Williamson Board Room
The board will hold a joint session with the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners to align on infrastructure, land use, and student safety. The headline item is a status update on the Student Assignment Project, a county-wide initiative to evaluate enrollment and school capacity — widely seen as the precursor to formal school boundary redistricting.

- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole — Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 9:00 AM | 178 Sam's Street, Decatur (Multipurpose Room A1201)

- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Public Works & Infrastructure Committee — Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 3:30 PM | DeKalb County Government Center

- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Planning Commission — Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 6:00 PM | Via Zoom
A packed agenda includes a public hearing on a proposed "Chronic Nuisance Property" ordinance that would allow the county to levy administrative fees against repeat-offender properties, as well as a proposed text amendment clarifying excise tax rules for short-term rentals like Airbnb and VRBO. A long-deferred proposal to rezone land near Norris Lake for 214 single-family homes is also scheduled to be heard, along with a drive-through and alcohol sales expansion for a QuikTrip on Memorial Drive.

- City of Brookhaven — Planning Commission Work Session — Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at 5:30 PM | PEP Building

- City of Brookhaven — Planning Commission Regular Meeting — Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at 7:00 PM | PEP Building

CONSTRUCTION

Permits

- 3666 Shallowford Rd — A gas station is adding Krispy Crunchy Chicken to its offerings. The fried chicken convenience store combo continues its march across Atlanta.
- 4897 Buford Hwy, Suites 162 & 163 — New restaurant permit filed in Chamblee, with Fire Marshal review requested. Watch this space on the Buford Highway food corridor.
- Gradient Lane (4449, 4451, 4453, 4455) — Four permits tied to model homes for a new townhouse community in Chamblee. Addressing is approved but not yet in GIS, which suggests this development is still in early stages. Expect construction activity in the area as the project takes shape.
- 4241 Diamond Ct & 4489 Cupola Ct — A construction trailer permit and an irrigation meter permit, both tied to a new Chamblee townhouse community. The infrastructure groundwork is being laid — this one is actively moving.

Beyond the highlights, the broader permit picture this week skews routine: 27 occupational tax certificates, 35 property maintenance filings, and 5 tree removal permits across the area, with combined residential permit value around $29,500. Nothing alarming, but the cluster of townhouse activity in Chamblee is worth watching as a longer-term development story.

Road Work

Under Construction
- SR-13 Resurfacing (DeKalb County) — Paving work is underway on SR-13 (Buford Highway) from the Fulton County line up to Chamblee Tucker Road. The road scored poorly on the state's pavement condition rating system, so GDOT is addressing it now. Expect lane restrictions and slower travel along this stretch.
- Peachtree Industrial Blvd Signal Optimization (DeKalb County) — GDOT is actively upgrading and optimizing traffic signals along Peachtree Industrial Boulevard from Peachtree Road to New Peachtree Road. This is a 1.1-mile corridor improvement aimed at smoothing traffic flow — you may notice some signal timing changes as work progresses.
- Ashford-Dunwoody Road EB Ramp at I-285 (DeKalb County) — A third lane is being added to the eastbound ramp where Ashford Dunwoody Road connects to I-285 northbound. The goal is to ease the congestion that backs up here regularly. Construction is active, so give yourself extra time if this ramp is part of your daily routine.

Pre-Construction

- Ashford Dunwoody Road at Windsor Parkway — Intersection safety and operational improvements are planned at this busy crossing. Details on the exact scope are still being finalized, but if you regularly cut through this intersection, changes are on the way.
- Chamblee Rail Trail Extension (DeKalb County) — A new shared-use path is planned from Pierce Drive north to Peachtree Boulevard, then along Peachtree Industrial Boulevard to Chamblee Dunwoody Road. Good news for cyclists and pedestrians in the Chamblee corridor once this gets moving.
- Shallowford Road (New Peachtree to Chamblee Dunwoody) — A 0.74-mile stretch will gain a 10-foot shared-use path on the west side and a 5-foot sidewalk on the east side. Modest scope, real impact for anyone walking or biking along this stretch.
- SR-141 at Peachtree Blvd / North Shallowford Road (Chamblee) — This tangled intersection is slated for a full realignment. The project will restructure how Peachtree Boulevard, North Shallowford Road, and Parsons Drive all meet — a long-overdue fix for one of Chamblee's more confusing junctions.
- North Fork Trail, Phase I (DeKalb County) — Planning is underway for a multiuse trail along North Fork Peachtree Creek from Fischer Trail Park toward Chamblee-Tucker Road. Still in concept development, but this could eventually connect several neighborhoods along the creek corridor.