Presented by Rally Built Homes

Hey, Decatur! This week: a scrappy roller derby league is fighting to keep the legendary Golden Glide skating rink spinning instead of becoming a data center, and downtown is bracing for thousands of book lovers as the Decatur Book Festival rolls into the square. Also on our radar: $40K in fresh grants for local restaurants and a DeKalb noise ordinance that just got sent back to the drawing board.

- News — A 52-year-old skating rink gets an unlikely savior, restaurants cash in on downtown grants, and DeKalb reshuffles school zone lines.
- Events — From the Decatur Book Festival's keynote with a Pulitzer winner to bluegrass at Eddie's Attic and a garden tour by bike, this week's calendar is stacked.
- Government — DeKalb commissioners debate a data center moratorium and a $17.9M sewer loan while Avondale Estates eyes golf carts crossing U.S. 278.
- Construction — New homes are rising on 3rd and Robinson, Walmart's parking lot is getting LED lights, and several aging trees are coming down citywide.

Let's dive in.

NEWS

Restaurants win $40K in Decatur Development Authority grants
The Decatur Downtown Development Authority has awarded over $40,000 in grants to support local establishments with facade and interior buildout improvements as well as digital marketing. The funding represents the first round of awards from applications submitted in August, with a second round scheduled for early 2027 to aid commercial vitality across downtown Decatur.

Avondale Estates discusses $500,000 City Hall renovation
Avondale Estates city commissioners met to review plans for a $500,000 renovation of City Hall to improve space for police and municipal administration. The discussion comes as officials evaluate the prioritization and financing of multiple capital improvement projects ahead of formal architectural proposals in October.

Atlanta Roller Derby tries to save legendary Decatur roller rink Golden Glide
After the 52-year-old Golden Glide Skating Rink was acquired by investors and marketed for potential conversion into warehouse or data center space, Atlanta Roller Derby stepped in to help preserve the venue. The amateur flat track league has begun renting space to keep the long-standing community institution rolling.

DeKalb County invites public to shape future parks in master plan update
DeKalb County's Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs is launching a series of community meetings in October to solicit input on its Comprehensive Parks Master Plan Update. Residents across the county are encouraged to share feedback on recreational facilities, greenspace conservation, and future park investments.

DeKalb County Commission withdraws update to noise ordinance
Following nearly two years of debate, the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners voted to scrap proposed revisions to the county's noise ordinance and restart the process from scratch. The withdrawn proposal had sought to regulate noise using specific daytime decibel thresholds and nighttime audibility standards across the county.

Decatur Book Festival brings author sessions, street fair to downtown Decatur
Downtown Decatur is gearing up for the return of the Decatur Book Festival, bringing an array of author panels, exhibitor booths, and literary programming to the city center on October 2-3. The annual event draws thousands of book lovers into local shops, restaurants, and surrounding neighborhood streets.

DeKalb County unveils school zone map
DeKalb County School District officials have released draft student assignment options designed to address facility imbalances and ease overcrowding across the district. The ongoing redistricting study will shape potential attendance boundary adjustments that could affect families throughout central and northern DeKalb County.

EVENTS | Presented by

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Monday, September 28
- Placita Latina v.6: Puentes | Decatur Fine Art
- Monday Nervous System Reset with Benny St. Peixe: A Soft Landing After Your Weekend | Waller's Coffee Shop
- Q/T YOUTH BOARD GAMES @ CHARIS BOOKS AND MORE | 184 S. Candler St.
- Halo Decatur - Meet the Mural Artist (Community Event) | Three Taverns Brewery

Tuesday, September 29
- FHS Open Jam | Legacy Park
- Truckin' Tuesdays | Legacy Park
- Lawrence Rothman | Eddie's Attic
- Adult-ish Sewing Club | Decatur Library
- Taylor Leonhardt: Northern Flicker Tour | ATLANTA, GA + opener, Ethan Nathaniel | Eddie's Attic
- Primary: After and With Alma Thomas -- Alexis Pauline Gumbs in conversation with Bettina Judd | Winter Theatre - Dana Fine Arts Bldg, Agnes Scott College

Wednesday, September 30
- Fall is in the Air - Nature Hike (Ages 5-12) | Decatur Legacy Park
- Student Cello Concert | Waller's Coffee Shop

Thursday, October 1
- Wizarding World Movie Event | Decatur Library
- Singing Workshop in the Pavilion – October | Woodlands Garden
- 18:30EST - Artists Talk with Matt Arnett, Lonnie Holley & Ethan Payne | Decatur, GA
- The Travelin' McCourys: Eddie's Attic (Early Show) | Eddie's Attic
- REEL Art Series #1 - In the Grip of Power | Core Dance

Friday, October 2
- Tai Chi in the Garden | Woodlands Garden
- Decatur Book Festival | Downtown Decatur
- A Keynote Conversation with Brian Goldstone Opens the 2026 DBF | First Baptist Church Decatur
- Honey Hounds | Eddie's Attic
- Less Alone Music Festival | Waller's Coffee Shop
- Candlelight: Neo-Soul Favorites ft. Songs by Prince, Childish Gambino, & More | The Chapel on Sycamore
- Decatur Ghost Tour | Historic Courthouse Square

Saturday, October 3
- 2026 Lillian Smith Book Awards Ceremony | The Decatur Library
- Walk & Talk Decatur | Clarity Fitness
- Mary Kutter | Eddie's Attic

Sunday, October 4
- Burial Beer Co. Re-Launches Georgia | Brick Store Pub
- Hometown Habitat Garden Tour | Glenlake Park & Pool
- Oscar Lindsey | Eddie's Attic

GOVERNMENT | Presented by

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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
Commissioners took up a packed agenda this week covering zoning, infrastructure, and environmental policy. At a special called meeting, the board considered a resolution blocking any lift of the county's data center moratorium until an independent health and environmental study gets completed, plus a $17.9 million state loan to fund the Shoal Creek sewer upgrade and major contracts topping $23 million combined for new sidewalks on Flat Shoals Parkway, a Michelle Obama Trail extension near Narvie Harris Elementary, and a three-year countywide paving program. The board also weighed a rebate program to help residents and contractors switch from gas-powered lawn equipment to electric, and a 500-home composting pilot program for unincorporated DeKalb. At a separate zoning meeting, commissioners reviewed several rezoning requests that would convert office parcels into townhome communities, a restaurant drive-through permit, two child daycare proposals, and a long-range placemaking plan for the Embry Hills-Presidential Parkway corridor. Since these were agenda items only, none of these outcomes have been confirmed with published minutes yet.

DeKalb County School District
The district's Policy Committee met virtually to review eight board policies covering topics like artificial intelligence use, internet acceptable use, board member compensation, purchasing guidelines, and school property disposal procedures. No votes or formal actions came out of this session, so all eight policies remain under discussion. That means changes to how the district handles AI in classrooms or disposes of surplus school properties are still a ways off. The committee plans to pick these policies back up at its next meeting on October 28.

Avondale Estates Board of Mayor and Commissioners
Commissioners took up a busy agenda covering transportation, planning, and public safety this week. They considered an ordinance that would let golf carts and low-speed vehicles legally cross U.S. 278 at a marked crossing between South Avondale Road and Pine Street, a change that would make it easier for residents to get around the city's main corridor without a full-size vehicle. The board also held a public hearing on its 2026 Comprehensive Plan Update, the document that will guide zoning, land use, and development citywide for years to come, before sending it to state and regional agencies for review. Separately, commissioners weighed renewing the city's speed detection permit for radar enforcement along South Avondale Road and considered purchasing two new police patrol vehicles and tactical equipment. As covered in today's news section, the board also reviewed architectural proposals for the $500,000 City Hall renovation project at a work session the same day.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

City of Avondale Estates
- South Avondale Road — An ordinance to establish a designated crossing over U.S. 278 between South Avondale Road and Pine Street for golf carts and low-speed vehicles is on the agenda.
- Avondale Estates City Hall (21 N. Avondale Plaza) — Architectural design proposals to guide planned renovations and modernization of City Hall are on the agenda.

Meetings This Week
- City of Decatur — Environmental Sustainability Board Meeting | Sep-28
- City of Decatur — City Commission Meeting | Sep-28, 7:30 PM | key topics: draft comprehensive plan update, community survey results, automated license plate readers
- City of Decatur — Decatur City Commission | Sep-28, 7:30 PM | key topics: West Ponce de Leon Avenue speed management, North McDonough Street bioretention, Oakview Road safety improvements, Decatur Square transformation, Decatur Legacy Park restoration
- City of Avondale Estates — Board of Mayor and Commissioners Planning Retreat | Sep-29 | key topics: Downtown Master Plan workshop, 2027 fiscal year budget presentation
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Board of Commissioners | Sep-29, 9:00 AM | key topics: data center zoning regulations, street drifting and unauthorized camping penalties, Flat Shoals Parkway sidewalk improvements, water and sewer capital plan
- City of Decatur — Safe Routes to School Committee | Oct-02

CONSTRUCTION | Presented by

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Permits
- 3rd Ave — A new 3-story home is going up, complete with garage, porches, and finished attic space, at a permitted value of $200,000. Expect construction noise and equipment on this block for a while.
- Robinson Ave — Another new build permitted here: a 2-story house with garage, porches, and driveway, valued at $180,000. New construction like this signals more turnover on the street.
- Conway Rd — A $123,000 pool installation got the green light, adding 681 square feet of impervious surface. Expect digging and truck traffic during installation.
- Saint Patrick St — An $85,000 permit covers a new HVAC system for a second-floor addition. Indoor work, so minimal impact on neighbors.
- 465 Clairemont Ave — Crews are removing two large trees after inspection found decay issues. Two replacement trees are going in, so the site won't stay bare for long.
- 360 W Benson St — A declining water oak with rot in its branch unions is coming down, with one new oak planted in its place.
- 2525 N Decatur Rd (Walmart) — The parking lot is getting an LED lighting upgrade, swapping out old wall packs and floodlights for new fixtures. Routine work, but you might notice lighting changes in the lot at night.

Road Work

Under Construction
- Kensington Marta Station-transit Access & Mobility-ph I-lci — The project includes transit projects work. GDOT lists DeKalb as affected county.
- I-285 from Snapfinger Road to SR 8 — This project, selected by the District Maintenance Office, is the resurfacing of SR 407 to improve the roadways current low OCI score. GDOT lists DeKalb as affected county.

Service Requests
- Street Maintenance — 4 reports on 2nd Ave, Claremont Ave (two spots, including 489-499), and E Howard Ave
- Code Violations — 4 reports, two on Sycamore Dr, plus Montgomery St and S Candler St
- Sidewalk Maintenance — 4 reports on Clarion Ave, Nelson Ferry Rd, E College Ave, and S Candler St
- City Facilities Maintenance — Hibernia Ave and Claremont Ave
- City Parks and Greenspace Maintenance — Church St
- Vegetation Maintenance — Madison Ave and Claremont Ave
- Tree Maintenance — Claremont Ave and Superior Ave
- Stormwater Issues — E College Ave and the 152-172 block of W Ponce de Leon Ave
- Street Sign Issues — Near Folk Art Restaurant and on S Candler St
- Missed Sanitation Collection — Lansdowne Ave and the 400-420 block of N McDonough St
- Pothole — 404-522 Ponce de Leon Pl

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Until next week,
Decatur Busybody

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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.