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Hey, Decatur! This week: commissioners are pressing the police chief on Flock license plate cameras while neighbors in Avondale Estates sign a petition to remove theirs. Churchill Grounds is also back with live jazz, and Oakhurst Porchfest turns front porches into stages on Saturday.

- News — Flock camera questions reach the Decatur City Commission and an Avondale Estates petition, while the school officer agreement gets an update and ESPLOST VII heads to the November ballot.
- Business — Cuevacía picked Lulah Hills for its second location, and the historic Churchill Grounds jazz bar is back in Decatur.
- Events — Porchfest brings 200 acts to Oakhurst porches on Saturday, and the week also includes the Great Decatur Grilled Cheese Off, a leadership conference at Agnes Scott, and Lee Bains at the library.
- Government — DeKalb commissioners had a data center ordinance and a surveillance camera oversight resolution on their agenda, and Decatur approved money for Legacy Park restoration and the Ebster activity center.
- Construction — Hospital expansion filings at 2701 N Decatur Rd lead the permits, including a $6M cabling permit, along with two new homes and a fresh batch of service requests.

Let's dive in.

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Decatur City Commission asks questions about Flock camera usage, shares concerns in discussion with police chief
The Decatur City Commission held a work session with the police chief to review the city's use of Flock license plate recognition cameras. Commissioners raised questions about data privacy, retention policies, and public transparency.

Residents sign petition asking Avondale Estates to remove Flock cameras
A change.org petition asking Avondale Estates to remove all 10 of its Flock Safety license plate reader cameras has gathered more than 800 signatures. Organizers are asking for formal legal rules on how camera data is accessed, collected, and shared, and the Board of Mayor and Commissioners says it is weighing the pros and cons of the technology.

Decatur City Commission updates school officer program
At its Sept. 28 meeting, the commission approved updates to the school resource officer agreement with City Schools of Decatur to address student privacy under FERPA. The changes require a written report to the school system after an official encounter involving a credible threat, and clarify how student information may be shared and protected.

Garden-style apartments near Decatur hospital sold to Georgia housing authority
The Housing Authority of DeKalb County has acquired the Park Summit apartment complex near Emory Decatur Hospital. The garden-style property has 148 multifamily units, ranging from studios to three-bedroom floor plans.

What ESPLOST projects are on the ballot for DeKalb voters
ESPLOST VII is on the Nov. 3 ballot and is expected to collect more than $925 million across three school districts by 2032, beginning July 1, 2027 if approved. DeKalb County School District expects roughly $825 million, with City Schools of Decatur and Atlanta Public Schools receiving smaller shares based on enrollment in DeKalb County.

Decatur High launches Georgia's 1st real estate WBL program
Decatur High School has launched what is described as Georgia's first work-based learning program focused on real estate. Participating students can explore careers in property development, valuation, and sales while earning academic credit.

BUSINESS

Cuevacía signs lease to open at Lulah Hills in Decatur — Spur Hospitality's Oaxacan-inspired concept, which launched at Colony Square in January, will take a freestanding 2,600-square-foot space at the forthcoming mixed-use Lulah Hills development at 2042 Lawrenceville Hwy, which is expected to open in 2027.

Historic jazz club Churchill Grounds reopens in Decatur — The historic jazz bar has reopened in Decatur with limited seatings available through online tickets or memberships until its grand opening in November.

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Monday, October 5
- Ryan O'Flanagan | Wild Heaven Beer
- Monday Nervous System Reset with Benny St. Peixe: A Soft Landing After Your Weekend | Waller's Coffee Shop

Tuesday, October 6
- Women's Global Leadership Conference | Presser Hall, Gaines Chapel
- Atlanta Storytellers: "The Songs That Shape Us" | Eddie’s Attic
- Lee Bains in conversation with Peter Biello | Work Lunch | Georgia Center for the Book at DCPL, 215 Sycamore St

Wednesday, October 7
- The Great Decatur Grilled Cheese Off 2026 | Brick Store Pub
- International Walk & Roll to School Day | Decatur, Georgia
- Sustainable Landscaping with Decatur Comunity Habitat | Legacy Park
- An Afternoon of Sewing with Gin | Decatur Library
- Decatur Farmers Market | First Baptist Church of Decatur

Thursday, October 8
- The Book As Art v.14: Ghosted, Gallery Hours | Decatur Library, Fourth Floor Gallery
- Wizarding World Movie Event | Decatur Library
- Singing Workshop in the Pavilion – October | Woodlands Garden
- Hops at the History Center: Notorious Georgia with Neely Young | 101 E Court Square
- The Story Collider | Waller's Coffee Shop
- Amelia Day at Eddie's Attic | Eddie's Attic

Friday, October 9
- Tai Chi in the Garden | Woodlands Garden
- Lauren Watkins: If I'm Being Honest Tour w/ Jordan Cobb! | Eddie's Attic
- A Fundraiser for Decatur Community Players | Waller's Coffee Shop
- Candlelight: Coldplay vs. Imagine Dragons | The Chapel on Sycamore
- Ebster Unlocked - Grades 6-8 | Ebster Gym
- Dale Watson | Eddie’s Attic
- Decatur Ghost Tour | Historic Courthouse Square

Saturday, October 10
- Legacy Park Beautification | Legacy Park
- Friends of Decatur Library Book Sale | Decatur Library
- Workshop: Discovering & Preserving Family History | 101 E Court Square
- Oakhurst Porchfest | Oakhurst Neighborhood / Harmony Park
- Fairies Opening Celebration | Woodlands Garden
- Live Music! The Sonic Merchants & Guests Celebrate Halloween & John Lennon's Birthday! | Waller's Coffee Shop

Sunday, October 11
- Guided Fairy Walk | Woodlands Garden
- Palmyra | Eddie's Attic
- Community Art Making! | Charis Books & More

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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 School District
The Board of Education's Policy Committee met virtually on Oct. 1 to review three district policies. Members looked at rules on solicitations in schools, limits and documentation for board member pay and expenses, and acceptable internet use for students and staff. The committee took no final votes, so none of these changes are official yet. Each policy keeps moving through the board's reading process, and the committee meets again Oct. 28. If you have kids in district schools, the internet use policy is the one most likely to touch your household.

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners
The commissioners met Sept. 29 and Sept. 30, and minutes aren't published yet for either day, so this recap covers what was on the agenda. The Sept. 29 agenda included an ordinance to define and regulate data centers, which would set rules for where these power- and water-hungry buildings can go in the county. Commissioners also took up an ordinance targeting street drifting and unauthorized camping, though that item has been deferred several times in committee. A $3.2 million design contract for 2.1 miles of new sidewalks along a major county corridor was up for a vote, along with a 10-year plan for water and sewer investments. The agenda also listed about $640,000 in early design money for a joint police and fire training facility and a police evidence storage facility, plus a resolution seeking civilian oversight of the county's surveillance camera network. Those camera questions connect to the Flock discussions covered in today's news section.

City of Avondale Estates
The Board of Mayor and Commissioners held a joint planning retreat with the Downtown Development Authority on Sept. 29. The agenda centered on a workshop on the Downtown Master Plan, the guide for how the town's commercial core grows. That plan shapes building styles, walkability, and the kinds of shops and public spaces you'll see downtown. Leaders also had a presentation and discussion on the 2027 budget and capital projects on the agenda. Early budget talks like this set priorities for city services and projects, and they influence property tax decisions down the road.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

Decatur City Commission
- Decatur Square — The Decatur City Commission approved two change orders totaling over $92,000 for extended engineering oversight and materials testing for the Decatur Square Transformation project.
- Decatur Legacy Park (500 S Columbia Dr) — The Decatur City Commission approved a contract not to exceed $197,000 with Trees Atlanta for invasive plant removal and woodland restoration across the park's 22-acre conservation easement.
- North McDonough Street — The Decatur City Commission awarded an $81,576 project budget to replant and maintain deteriorating bioretention rain gardens between West Trinity Place and West Howard Avenue.
- Ebster Park / Ebster Teen Activity Center (404 W Trinity Pl) — The Decatur City Commission received a project status report on the $2.46 million activity center renovation, which is projected for completion in December 2026.

Meetings This Week
- DeKalb County School District — Board of Education | Oct-05 | key topics: $10 million district fuel contract renewal, multi-million-dollar facility maintenance agreements, and a second reading of a new policy on artificial intelligence
- City of Avondale Estates — Historic Preservation Commission Regular | Oct-05 | key topics: residential exterior alterations and rear yard overhaul on Kensington Road, rooftop solar panels on Dartmouth Avenue, and erosion-control landscaping on Fairfield Drive
- City of Decatur — Decatur City Commission | Oct-05, 7:30 PM
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole | Oct-06, 5:30 PM | key topics: townhome rezoning on Old Briarcliff Road, salon suites rezoning on Briarcliff Road, HUD park grants, and a curbside food-scrap composting pilot

CONSTRUCTION

Permits

- 2701 N Decatur Rd — $6M commercial low voltage cabling permit closed. This is the biggest number on the list, and it points to a major build-out inside the hospital.
- 2701 N Decatur Rd — $1.47M commercial permit closed for 72 cable runs. The plan covers duplex and simplex data locations, security camera spots, and wireless access points.
- 2701 N Decatur Rd — $390K institutional plumbing permit closed. The work includes outdoor activity and demolishing the existing plumbing before new lines go in.
- 2701 N Decatur Rd — $100K commercial low voltage permit closed. It adds cabling and wireless access points in several spots.
- 2701 N Decatur Rd — Three commercial fire alarm permits closed. They cover new notification devices and initiating devices in the hospital expansion areas.
- 18 049 10 025 — $217K commercial low voltage cabling permit closed. The filing lists a parcel number instead of a street address, so check the county records if you want to pin down the location.
- Proctor Ave — $200K permit closed for a new 2-story home on a crawlspace. It includes a deck, porch, and driveway, so expect some outdoor construction activity nearby.
- N Decatur Rd — $180K permit closed for a new 2-story single-family home on a slab. The plan includes a 2-car garage.

Road Work

Under Construction
- Kensington Marta Station-transit Access & Mobility-ph I-lci — Phase I of transit access and mobility improvements at the Kensington MARTA station.
- I-285 from Snapfinger Road to SR 8 — Resurfacing of this stretch of I-285 (SR 407) to improve the road's low pavement condition score.

Service Requests
- Code Violations (5): 101-103 E Trinity Pl, Scott Blvd, N McDonough St, Spring St, and Hillcrest Ave.
- Traffic Signal Issues (4): N McDonough St, 633-701 W College Ave, Commerce Dr at E Ponce de Leon Ave, and S Columbia Dr.
- Street Signs (3): Chelsea Dr at Kathryn Ave, Chief Matthews Rd, and S Candler St.
- Sidewalk Maintenance (3): S Candler St, W Trinity Pl, and 418-436 Sycamore Dr.
- Street Maintenance (3): Sycamore St, McKoy St, and W Pharr Rd.
- Vegetation Maintenance (2): E Ponce de Leon Ave and Clairemont Ave.
- City Parks and Greenspace Maintenance (2): Mead Rd Park at 175 Mead Rd and Westchester Dr.
- Missed Sanitation Collection (1): 109-113 Nelson Ferry Rd.

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Until next week,
Decatur Busybody

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