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Hey, Decatur! This week: the school board huddled behind closed doors at an attorney's office, five artists got tapped to bring murals to Halo Decatur, and Brick Store Pub is rolling out its first-ever weekend-long Oktoberfest. Also on deck: a new Italian spot from a well-known local chef, DeKalb's superintendent finalist news, and a stacked calendar of live music at Eddie's Attic all week long.

- News — The school board's off-site closed meeting is raising transparency questions, while Halo Decatur's mural artists and DeKalb's new redistricting maps round out a busy week for local schools and public art.
- Business — Chef Robbie Pacheco is bringing his rustic, chef-driven Italian concept Luga to Commerce Drive this October, and it's the kind of opening worth marking on your calendar.
- Events — From Brick Store Pub's weekend-long Oktoberfest to author talks with Sabaa Tahir and a full slate of Eddie's Attic shows, there's barely an open night on the calendar this week.
- Government — DeKalb named its superintendent finalist, Avondale weighs a $400K match to extend its Shared Street program, and commissioners are staring down a $15.85M paving contract and a data center moratorium fight.
- Construction — I-285's resurfacing push and a Kensington MARTA access upgrade continue, plus a new tenant is moving into an E Ponce storefront and crews are clearing trees along a gas easement on S Columbia Dr.

Let's dive in.

NEWS

Decatur School Board meets privately at lawyer's office
The City Schools of Decatur Board of Education convened a closed-door session away from its usual meeting space, holding the gathering at an attorney's office instead. The closed-door meeting brings questions about transparency.

Five artists selected to create murals at Halo Decatur
Organizers have chosen five artists to design and paint new murals as part of the Halo Decatur mixed-use development in the downtown area.

Avondale Estates to welcome back Shakespeare performances
The Avondale Estates Town Green will host a revamped outdoor series called Shakespeare at Sunset, produced in partnership with the Georgia Classic Theatre, with free evening performances open to the public.

DeKalb Schools pitches list of possible ESPLOST VII projects
DeKalb County School District officials presented a list of potential capital improvement projects that could be funded through the upcoming ESPLOST VII penny sales tax referendum.

DeKalb County Schools releases new redistricting maps
The district unveiled updated draft maps proposing boundary changes aimed at balancing facility capacity and student enrollment across central and northern DeKalb County attendance zones.

BUSINESS

Chef Robbie Pacheco Bringing Contemporary Italian Concept Luga to Decatur — Chef Robbie Pacheco is opening Luga Decatur at 855 Commerce Drive this October, offering a chef-driven menu centered around rustic Italian fare.

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Monday, September 21
- Placita Latina v.6: Puentes | Decatur Fine Art
- Ava Reid with Jordan Ifueko - Winterveil! | Holy Trinity Parish Episcopal Church
- Susan Neiman in conversation with John McMillian | Call It Evil | Georgia Center for the Book at DCPL
- Margaret Glaspy: The I Am Both Tour W/ Special Guest Anna Tivel at Eddie's Attic | Eddie's Attic

Tuesday, September 22
- Truckin' Tuesdays | Legacy Park
- Desperate Bodies: Lydia Mathis in conversation with Yemi Combahee | 184 S. Candler St.

Wednesday, September 23
- Beth Lincoln - The Swifts: A Garden of Vipers! | Little Shop of Stories
- Belgian Beer Meets the Caribbean Table | The Ramspeck at Brick Store Pub
- Tom Rush | Eddie's Attic

Thursday, September 24
- Ari Hest | Eddie's Attic
- DRC Open House | Decatur Recreation Center
- Empire: Sabaa Tahir in conversation with Becky Albertalli | Decatur Library

Friday, September 25
- Brick Store Pub Oktoberfest Celebration | Brick Store Pub
- An Evening with Patrick Davis | Eddie's Attic
- Lucy Kaplansky | Eddie's Attic
- Candlelight: Tribute to Juan Gabriel on Strings | The Chapel on Sycamore
- Friday Night Live – 404 Theory – Modern Jazz Trio | The Reading Room
- Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer | The Chapel on Sycamore

Saturday, September 26
- Agnes Scott College Fall Luxury Bridal Expo 2026 GA Peach State Bridal Show | Agnes Scott College - Julia Thompson Smith Chapel
- Walk For Alopecia | Glenlake Park
- A Soothing Sound Bath & Guided Relaxation: The Garden of Rest | Woodlands Garden
- Pumpkin Patch | Decatur Glassblowing
- ABBAsolutely Mashed-Up & Discofied with The Neon Queen | Waller's Coffee Shop
- Ella Maddux | Eddie's Attic
- SQUASH BLOSSOM BOUTIQUE FALL FASHION SHOW | SQUASH BLOSSOM BOUTIQUE
- Salon: The Art of Conversation with Versaille Jones | Core Dance
- Decatur Ghost Tour | Historic Courthouse Square

Sunday, September 27
- TONY DITERLIZZI + THE WUMP! | Little Shop of Stories
- Porchlight Fundraiser Concert | Waller's Coffee Shop
- Damien Jurado - Decatur | Eddie's Attic
- Meet Me In The Garden: An Evening with Nina LaCour | 184 S. Candler St.

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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

City of Avondale Estates
The Downtown Development Authority took up a request to commit $400,000 in local matching funds to unlock a $1.9 million grant that would extend the Shared Street Program five more blocks eastward from the Town Green. That kind of investment would mean real construction and altered traffic patterns for anyone traveling that corridor, slowing cars down and opening up more space for people walking and biking. Minutes aren't published yet, so it's not confirmed whether the board approved the match, tabled it, or changed the terms. Separately, the Historic Preservation Commission reviewed several infill housing proposals, including a new home and detached garage accessory unit, a backyard studio addition at a historic cottage, and window changes on a 1941 house. As with the DDA item, outcomes on these applications aren't yet confirmed.

DeKalb County School District
The school board's biggest move this week was naming Dr. Norman C. Sauce III as the sole finalist for superintendent, a decision that will shape district leadership for years to come. As covered in today's news section, the board also pitched a list of potential ESPLOST VII projects and released new redistricting maps affecting central and northern DeKalb attendance zones. Beyond that, the board considered a hefty stack of contracts, including a $15 million renewal for portable air conditioning units districtwide, over $4 million in modernization work at Cross Keys High School, and a $1.36 million parking lot project at Dresden Elementary. The board also weighed new policy on law enforcement interrogations in schools and updated student assignment rules. A separate called meeting focused on an E-SPLOST VII update and an executive session, though no vote details came through in the record.

City Schools of Decatur
Several school leadership teams, including Westchester Elementary, Beacon Hill Middle, Glennwood, Talley Street, and Winnona Park, held their September meetings this week, mostly covering routine business like principal's reports, budget planning, and facility updates. Winnona Park's team also planned to review student performance data, including STAR testing trends heading into the new school year. None of these meetings have published minutes yet, so specific votes or decisions from these sessions aren't confirmed. As covered in today's news section, the district's Board of Education also held a closed-door meeting away from its usual location this week. These school-level meetings matter because they're where budget priorities and facility needs get raised before they ever reach the district level.

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners
Commissioners had a packed agenda this week, though minutes aren't yet posted to confirm final votes. Big-ticket items included a $15.85 million countywide road paving contract, a $3.21 million Flat Shoals Parkway sidewalk design project, and a $4.1 million contract to extend the Michelle Obama Trail. The board also weighed a resolution requiring an independent health and environmental study on data centers before the county's moratorium can be lifted, plus a new ordinance regulating commercial blasting near residential areas. Quality-of-life items on the table included an updated noise ordinance, new restrictions on pet store sales, and nearly $3 million combined for mobile healthcare and dental services aimed at uninsured and underinsured residents. A separate Committee of the Whole session met the same morning, though no agenda details were available.

City of Decatur
The Zoning Board of Appeals reviewed three variance requests this week, covering everything from expanded commercial signage to a driveway parking exception and a side yard setback reduction for a home addition, all typical of the small property tweaks that shape how individual lots get used. None of these outcomes are confirmed yet since minutes haven't been posted. The city's Historic Preservation Commission also met this week, though no agenda or minutes were available to detail what came up for review. These smaller-scale zoning decisions matter because they set precedent for how much flexibility property owners get on setbacks, signage, and parking across the city.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

City of Avondale Estates
- 68 Clarendon Ave — A proposal to construct a brand-new single-family home paired with a freestanding garage accessory dwelling unit on a vacant infill lot is on the agenda for commission review.

City of Decatur
- The Cornerstone Jazz Collective (141 E Trinity Pl) — A variance to increase the number of allowable commercial ground and wall signs is being proposed to boost visibility for the venue.

Meetings This Week
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Board of Commissioners | Sep-22, 9:00 AM | key topics: data center moratorium study, $15.85M road repaving, Flat Shoals Parkway sidewalks, Michelle Obama Trail extension, Shoal Creek sewer loan
- City of Avondale Estates — Board of Mayor and Commissioners Regular | Sep-23 | key topics: golf cart crossing on U.S. 278, 2026 Comprehensive Plan update hearing, police patrol vehicles and equipment, speed detection permit
- City of Avondale Estates — Board of Mayor and Commissioners Work Session | Sep-23 | key topics: City Hall renovation architectural design proposals, board and committee appointments
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Board of Commissioners - Zoning Meeting | Sep-24, 5:30 PM | key topics: Chamblee-Tucker Road townhome rezoning, Old Briarcliff Road townhomes, Champions Run expansion, Memorial Drive residential redevelopment, daycare permits
- City of Decatur — City Commission Meeting | Sep-28
- City of Decatur — Environmental Sustainability Board Meeting | Sep-28

CONSTRUCTION

Permits
- 2977 E Ponce de Leon Ave, Ste A — New business permitted to move in "as is." Keep an eye on this spot for a fresh tenant soon.
- Woodfern Dr. — $90K addition and renovation filed, including a carport conversion, new kitchen and bathroom, and structural changes. Expect some construction noise in the area while this one's underway.
- 884 S Columbia Dr — Commercial tree removal permit issued for utility maintenance. Crews are clearing 4 trees along a natural gas easement, so you might see equipment and lane closures nearby.

Road Work

Under Construction
- Kensington MARTA Station Transit Access & Mobility, Phase I (LCI) — Transit access and mobility improvements near the Kensington MARTA station, currently under construction in DeKalb County.
- I-285 from Snapfinger Road to SR 8 — Crews are resurfacing SR 407 to fix a low pavement condition score along this stretch. The concrete rehab work is active now in DeKalb County.

Service Requests
- Code Violations — Reported on Adams St, Montgomery St, Coventry Rd, S Candler St, and Garland Ave, with four acknowledged and one still open
- Missed Sanitation Collection — Greenwood Pl, Avery St, and Upland Rd all had pickups reported missed
- Tree Maintenance — Requests came in for Fairview St and Ridgeland Ave, Fairpark Ln, and Sycamore St, with two acknowledged and one already closed
- Street Sign Issues — Flagged on Clairemont Ave and the 118-132 block of E Lake Dr
- Sidewalk Maintenance — Two reports on W Ponce de Leon Ave, one near 321-323 and another near 144-150, with the first already closed out
- Traffic Signal Issue — Reported on S Columbia Dr
- City Parks and Greenspace Maintenance — Reported on Fairview St
- Animal Complaint — A deceased animal reported on W Howard Ave
- Pothole — Reported in the 200-262 block of E Dougherty St
- Street Maintenance — Reported at Decatur High School

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Until next week,
Decatur Busybody

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