Druid Hills / Candler Park: $125K Park Grant, and a Restaurant Clue on McLendon

Hey, Druid Hills and Candler Park — it was a week worth paying attention to. The Lady Red Devils just completed the deepest playoff run in Druid Hills High soccer history, and Freedom Park landed a $125,000 grant to finally make that 200-acre greenway easier to navigate. Plus, a commercial plumbing permit on McLendon Avenue has all the hallmarks of a restaurant buildout — keep reading for the details.

- News — The Druid Hills girls soccer team made school history in the GHSA playoffs, Freedom Park scored a wayfinding grant, and DeKalb raised its minimum wage to $20 an hour for government workers.
- Business — Fernbank's new Orkin Discovery Zone is open, so head on over for some bug-related family fun.
- Events — A packed week ahead: VaHi Porchfest, Stacey Abrams at Decatur Library Monday, Mac DeMarco at The Eastern Wednesday, and a jazz tribute to Stevie Wonder at Eddie's Attic.
- Government — DeKalb's Planning Commission denied a concrete recycling plant and deferred a 214-unit subdivision, while Atlanta City Council approved a $1.3 billion airport bond and temporarily lifted its public alcohol ban for the FIFA World Cup.
- Construction — A restaurant-ready plumbing permit just landed at 1643 McLendon Ave, Moreland Avenue is losing left turns at Arkwright Place, and two roundabouts are in the pipeline for the Ponce de Leon corridor.

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Let’s dive in.

NEWS

Druid Hills High girls soccer team makes school history
The Lady Red Devils have done something no team before them could — completing the deepest playoff run in Druid Hills High's soccer history during this year's GHSA state championships. For a program still building its legacy, this is the kind of season players and fans will be talking about for a long time.

Freedom Park Conservancy awarded $125,000 matching grant for wayfinding
Park Pride has awarded the Freedom Park Conservancy a $125,000 matching grant to fund the "Find Your Way in Freedom Park" initiative — a project aimed at making the sprawling 200-acre greenway more navigable and accessible for everyone who uses it. If you've ever felt turned around somewhere between Candler Park and Druid Hills, help is officially on the way.

Lake Claire Land Trust holds monthly board meeting and nature play group
The Lake Claire Community Land Trust gathered on May 10 to review land stewardship priorities and map out upcoming volunteer workdays — the kind of quiet, consistent work that keeps neighborhood green spaces alive. The trust's weekly Monday Nature Play Group continues to give local families a hands-on outdoor education option right in the heart of the community.

DeKalb CEO delivers annual State of the County address
CEO Michael Thurmond laid out his vision for DeKalb's year ahead, with infrastructure investment, public safety improvements, and economic momentum at the center of the address. For residents across the county, this is the clearest window into what local government is prioritizing — and what's actually coming down the pipeline.

DeKalb County raises minimum wage for government employees
DeKalb County has bumped the minimum wage to $20 an hour for all full-time government employees, a move the county says is essential for keeping and attracting workers who deliver services residents depend on daily. The raise affects thousands of people across communities including Decatur, Avondale Estates, and Scottdale — a real-dollar change with real consequences for the county's workforce.

BUSINESS

Fernbank Museum - expanding - The Druid Hills institution has opened its new Orkin Discovery Zone, a hands-on educational exhibit featuring live animals — including, yes, a Mexican red-kneed tarantula for the brave among us.

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EVENTS

Monday, May 11
- CPNO Board Meeting May | Candler Park
- Thornhill w/ Fox Lake | Variety Playhouse
- Button Masher | Aisle 5
- Now Then: Morgan Radford in conversation with Stacey Abrams | Decatur Library
- Jimmy Carter Presidential Library Hosts Freedom 250 Truck | Jimmy Carter Presidential Library
- Atlanta Run Club: Monday Night Runs | Ponce City Market
- Summer Reading Challenge Scavenger Hunt | Decatur Library
- Monday FUNday - Half-Priced Cocktails | Wild Heaven Beer

Tuesday, May 12
- Decatur Architecture Walking Tour 2026 | 101 E Court Square
- Tom Morello | The Eastern
- Truckin' Tuesdays | Legacy Park
- Yellow: Amy Pence in conversation with Robert Gwaltney | Decatur Library
- Toadies: The Charmer Tour | The Masquerade

Wednesday, May 13
- slchld | Aisle 5
- Mac DeMarco | The Eastern
- Overjoyed: A Jazz Tribute to Stevie Wonder | Eddie's Attic

Thursday, May 14
- 17th Annual Atlanta Shorts Fest | 7 Stages
- Storytime with Christian Robinson - Dad! | DeKalb County Public Library Decatur Branch
- Cocktails & Conversation with Authors Pamela Norsworthy & Pamela Terry | The Reading Room

Friday, May 15
- Candlelight: Tribute to Fleetwood Mac - Decatur | The Chapel on Sycamore
- Improvised Action Movie | Dad's Garage
- Breakaway Atlanta Official After Party ft. PEEKABOO b2b LYNY (18+ Event) | The Eastern

Saturday, May 16
- Olmsted Linear Park Volunteer Workday at Shadyside Park | Druid Hills Civic Association Events
- VaHi Porchfest | Virginia-Highland
- Culturally Relevant Science | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Educator Appreciation Day | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Live Animal Encounter | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Pierce Pettis | First Existentialist Congregation of Atlanta
- Kirkwood Spring Fling and Tour of Homes | Bessie Branham Park
- Endangered Species Day | Zoo Atlanta
- Keeper for a Day: Elephants | Zoo Atlanta
- Buy Her Flowers Pop Up Experience | 1071 Ormewood Avenue Southeast, Atlanta, GA

Sunday, May 17
- Kennesaw State University Anthropology Club | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Family Nature Walk | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Live Animal Encounter | Fernbank Museum of Natural History

GOVERNMENT

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 Planning Commission

The Planning Commission had a busy May 5 session, making consequential calls on land use across the county. Commissioners voted to tighten rules on short-term rentals and nuisance properties, and passed new regulations for "Residential Entertainment" events — though with a strict limit of just two per year in estate residential zones. On the industrial side, a proposed concrete recycling plant was denied 6-2, a clear win for neighbors who'd opposed heavy industrial activity near residential areas. A massive 214-unit subdivision proposal was deferred until July for further review, while smaller infill housing projects on Columbia Drive and Kelly Lake Road were approved, continuing the county's push for denser residential development on smaller lots. The Commission also delivered a split verdict on a Memorial Drive QuikTrip site, blocking a drive-through car wash outright while simultaneously approving new fuel pumps and alcohol sales there, subject to 22 conditions. The body also elected new leadership: Jon West as Chair, LaSonya Osler as First Vice-Chair, and Edward Patton as Second Vice-Chair.

DeKalb County Committee of the Whole

DeKalb County commissioners advanced several major spending items and policy initiatives at their May 5 Committee of the Whole meeting, with most items now heading to the full Board for final votes. The biggest dollar figures involve the county's wastewater infrastructure: roughly $53 million in emergency work was fast-tracked for the Snapfinger Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility, covering membrane capacity upgrades and wet weather pumping storage designed to prevent system overflows. Commissioners also moved forward a $26.5 million contract to construct three new fire stations serving the Tucker, Decatur, and Lithonia areas — a significant public safety investment for a growing county. An $8 million trail extension using SPLOST II funds, which would connect Medlock Park to the Lulah Hills development along the South Peachtree Creek corridor, was also advanced. Notably, a proposed stormwater utility fee increase was sent to the Public Works & Infrastructure Committee for additional vetting before any final vote, and a new civilian oversight board for the county's "Digital Shield" surveillance program moved forward — a meaningful transparency measure for residents concerned about how the county uses its camera and monitoring infrastructure.

DeKalb County Special Called Meeting

DeKalb County commissioners convened a brief Special Called Meeting on May 5 to handle a targeted set of business, the most substantive of which was approving real estate property tax refunds for six commercial properties under a state law that allows reimbursement when taxes were erroneously or illegally assessed. Note that because minutes were not posted for this meeting, the agenda indicates these items were scheduled for a vote, though outcomes may differ from what was planned. The board also held a closed executive session — standard procedure for discussing pending litigation, real estate matters, or personnel issues — before returning to take final action. No specific dollar amounts or property names were disclosed in the public record. For residents, this type of meeting is a reminder that tax disputes between commercial property owners and the county are resolved through a formal legal process, and refunds come out of county revenues.

Atlanta City Council

The full Council met May 4 and approved a $1.3 billion bond issuance to fund improvements at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, alongside a $39 million contract with Paschen Millhouse JV to build a new 911 Center — two of the largest single expenditures the city has authorized in recent memory. FIFA World Cup preparations are now officially moving through city government: the Council approved a $52.1 million grant application and temporarily lifted the public drinking ban in select downtown areas from June 11 through July 19, 2026. In a more contentious move, the Council voted 12-1 to order a review of all administrative offices not explicitly required by the City Charter, with the goal of identifying positions that could be cut — Councilmember Kelsea Bond cast the lone dissenting vote. A new Special Event Technical Advisory Group was also created to scrutinize permitting for large events with impacts on Piedmont Park, while a supplemental bond ordinance for water and wastewater sustainability projects was tabled and sent back to the Finance/Executive Committee for further review on May 13. Separately, the Committee on Council advanced appointments to the Beltline Affordable Housing Advisory Board and Beltline TAD Advisory Committee, recommended stationing law enforcement at recreation centers used as polling places, and held — without action — both a proposed charter amendment on legislative sponsorship and a resolution that would have launched an independent investigation into city contracts tied to Foris Webb III.

DeKalb County School District Board of Education

The DeKalb County School District and Board of Commissioners held a rare joint session on May 4, using the meeting as a strategic alignment session rather than a legislative one — no final budget votes or zoning decisions were recorded. The most closely watched item for families was a status update on the Student Assignment Project, the county-wide process evaluating enrollment and school capacity that will eventually lead to redrawn attendance boundaries; while no boundaries changed, officials signaled that formal redistricting proposals are on the horizon. The two boards also discussed joint use of parks, libraries, and school facilities to maximize shared resources, and coordinated on integrating school district security with the DeKalb County Police Department. Rounding out the session was a discussion on aligning high school vocational pathways with the county's economic development priorities — a workforce pipeline conversation that could shape how local schools structure their career and technical programs.

Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education

The Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education unanimously approved a $1.6 billion tentative budget for fiscal year 2027 at its May 4 meeting, covering roughly $1.3 billion in general fund operations, $174 million in SPLOST capital projects, and $40.6 million for school nutrition — though this was only the first of two required readings before the budget is finalized. The board also cleared the way for 38 property parcels across the city to be transferred to the Metro Atlanta Land Bank for affordable housing by extinguishing outstanding taxes and penalties on those properties, a meaningful step in the city's broader housing affordability strategy. A MARTA easement was approved at a district transportation facility, advancing regional transit infrastructure work, and a new five-year lease was authorized for the property known as the "Little White House." The board also approved use of a state mental health grant for student services — a notable investment as school districts across Georgia grapple with post-pandemic mental health needs.

Meetings This Week
- DeKalb County School District — Board of Education — Monday, May 11
- Atlanta City Council — Zoning Committee — Monday, May 11 at 11:00 AM
The committee is scheduled to take up a wide range of rezoning and special-use permit requests across the city.

- Atlanta City Council — Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee — Monday, May 11 at 1:00 PM
A proposed lease for a new APD Zone 6 precinct at 2025 Hosea Williams Drive SE is scheduled for consideration, along with a 180-day moratorium on new alcohol licenses in the Edgewood Corridor. The committee will also weigh a firefighter pay overhaul, a nearly $5 million demolition contract extension for blighted properties, and a youth violence prevention funding ordinance.

- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Tuesday, May 12 at 9:00 AM
No agenda is available yet.

- Atlanta City Council — City Utilities Committee — Tuesday, May 12 at 10:00 AM
The committee is set to consider roughly $50 million in sanitary sewer repair contracts and a $24 million expansion of Peachtree Creek watershed infrastructure. Also on the agenda: conveying city-owned land on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to GDOT for the I-285/I-20 West interchange reconstruction and an $8.5 million road resurfacing package.

- Atlanta City Council — Community Development/Human Services Committee — Tuesday, May 12 at 1:30 PM

- Atlanta City Council — Wednesday, May 13 at 9:30 AM

- Atlanta City Council — Transportation Committee — Wednesday, May 13 at 10:00 AM
Dedicated bicycle and motorized-vehicle lanes on the Atlanta BeltLine are scheduled for discussion, along with a $3.6 million Peachtree Street improvement project. The committee will also consider an $824,000 pedestrian safety contract on Campbellton Road, a proposal to close a segment of Gilmer Street SE for Georgia State University's campus, and a residential-only parking designation for Lakeview Avenue NE.

- Atlanta City Council — Finance/Executive Committee — Wednesday, May 13 at 1:30 PM
The committee's headline item is consideration of the city's FY2027 budget and property tax rates, including levies for general operations, schools, parks, and special districts like the Atlanta BeltLine. Also on the agenda: a proposed annexation of several Woodland Avenue NE properties into the city and Atlanta Public Schools, a $1.26 million waterway litter-collection contract, and a $75,000 allocation for senior home repair services.

CONSTRUCTION | Presented by

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Permits

- 1643 McLendon Ave NE — A full commercial plumbing rough-in is underway: floor sinks, a dishwasher, tankless water heater, grease trap, and more. That's a restaurant buildout checklist if we've ever seen one. Something is coming to this address — stay tuned.
- 1355 Euclid Ave NE — A Trane HVAC system swap in Apartment 21B. Routine stuff, but a reminder that this stretch of Euclid keeps humming along.

On the residential side, 33 smaller permits were filed across the area — mostly HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and arborist work (seven tree removal/hazard permits alone, which tracks with the season). Nothing dramatic, but the tree activity is worth noting if you've got a big oak you're keeping an eye on.

Road Work

Under Construction

- SR 42/US 23 at SR 154 & Arkwright Place (Fulton County) — Moreland Avenue is getting a new raised median at Arkwright Place, converting the intersection to right-in/right-out only. No more left turns here, so if you use this stretch of Moreland heading toward Grant Park or the BeltLine, start thinking through your alternate approach now.
- SR 260 at Haas Ave, Eastside Ave, Brownwood Ave & Joseph Ave (DeKalb County) — Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) are going in at multiple pedestrian crossings along SR 260. Expect intermittent lane disruptions during installation, but the end result is safer crossings for people on foot.
- I-20 from Capitol Ave to Flat Shoals Road — Lighting Upgrade (DeKalb & Fulton Counties) — Overhead lighting along this I-20 corridor is being swapped from old high-pressure sodium fixtures to LEDs. Nighttime work is likely, so if you're commuting east on I-20, watch for lane closures after dark.

Pre-Construction
- SR 8/SR 10/US 23 Bridge Maintenance at Lullwater Creek (DeKalb County) — Structural maintenance work is coming to the bridge carrying Ponce de Leon Avenue over Lullwater Creek. If you cross this stretch regularly, expect lane disruptions once work gets underway.
- SR 8/US 23 Drainage Improvements, South Ponce de Leon Ave to Ridgecrest Road (DeKalb County) — Drainage upgrades are planned along Ponce de Leon Ave on this urban corridor segment. Work will likely affect travel lanes, so budget extra time if Ponce is part of your daily route.
- SR 8 Roundabouts at Eastlake and North Ponce de Leon (DeKalb County) — Two roundabouts are in the pipeline for the Ponce de Leon corridor: one at the SR 8/Eastlake intersection and a second at SR 8 where North Ponce, West Parkwood, and East Parkwood converge. This is a meaningful reconfiguration of a busy stretch — worth watching closely as it moves toward construction.
- SR 8/US 23 @ SR 42 Turn Lane Improvements (DeKalb & Fulton Counties) — Intersection upgrades at Ponce de Leon and SR 42 will add a westbound left turn lane with 160 feet of storage and a new westbound right turn lane. This cross-county project should ease some of the bottleneck that backs up here during peak hours.
- DeKalb Ave Railroad Crossing Upgrades at CSX (DeKalb County) — New two-quadrant railroad crossing warning devices are headed to DeKalb Avenue at CSX crossing #639760K. A straightforward safety upgrade, but installation will likely mean temporary disruptions at the crossing.

Service Requests

Traffic Signal Issues — Five signal repair requests are scattered across the area, suggesting a rough week for intersections. Three non-emergency repairs are underway at Oakdale Rd & Fairview Rd, Ponce de Leon Ave & Freedom Pkwy, and Ponce de Leon Ave & Fairview Rd/Lullwater Rd. Two emergency repairs were also filed at Clifton Rd and the Clifton Rd NE & Woodruff Circle intersection.

Potholes — One reported on DeKalb Ave NE, in progress.

Right-of-Way Overgrowth — A visibility issue at Ridgecrest Rd NE & DeKalb Ave NE has been resolved.