Druid Hills / Candler Park: Candler Park's Retail Shakeup

Hey, Druid Hills and Candler Park — a lot moved this week, and some of it hits close to home. Lucille's and Little Tart are part of a retail shakeup on Candler Park's beloved strip that's worth watching, and Atlanta City Council had one of its busiest weeks in recent memory — from a $1.3 billion airport bond to a new 911 center to FIFA prep that's reshaping downtown rules. Plenty to dig into below.

- News — Early voting is open now for the May 19 primary, and City Council President Overstreet's inaugural town hall put residents face-to-face with department heads in a format worth showing up for next time.
- Business — Lucille's and Little Tart are new to the neighborhood in a retail shakeup along Candler Park's charming commercial strip — details on what's changing.
- Events — A candidate forum for HD-90 and SD-44 lands Tuesday at Druid Hills Civic Association, Ty Segall rocks Variety Playhouse Wednesday, and Fernbank After Dark returns Friday with its "Buzzed" edition.
- Government — DeKalb floated a $142M loan to keep county operations running, Atlanta City Council approved a $39M contract for a new 911 center and a $52M FIFA grant, and a new demolition waiting period ordinance passed — plus roundabouts are coming to Ponce de Leon.
- Construction — A generator, an elevator, and a freshly painted facade hint at activity along key commercial corridors, while Ponce de Leon faces a queue of pre-construction road and drainage projects that will reshape the corridor once they break ground.

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Let’s dive in.

NEWS

Early Voting Begins for Georgia Primary Elections
Early voting is open now for the May 19 primary, with multiple polling sites across DeKalb County ready to take your ballot before election day crowds descend. No reason to wait — get in, get out, get it done.

Atlanta City Council president's first town hall connects residents with city liaisons
City Council President Overstreet's inaugural town hall put Atlanta residents face-to-face with the department heads who actually control the levers on infrastructure, public safety, and planning — the kind of direct access that rarely happens. If you've been sitting on a neighborhood grievance, this is exactly the format worth showing up for next time.

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BUSINESS

Lucille's and Little Tart - opening - Two new names are coming to Candler Park's retail strip! Those who’ve had Little Tart before are probably excited to have those croissants closer by. This is part of a neighborhood retail shakeup worth keeping an eye on.

EVENTS

Monday, May 4
- Climate Wayfinding: A Hometown Book Launch with Dr. Katharine K. Wilkinson | Jimmy Carter Presidential Library
- Atlanta Run Club: Monday Night Runs | Ponce City Market

Tuesday, May 5
- Candidate forum to Meet the Candidates for House District 90 and Senate District 44 | Druid Hills Civic Association Events
- Truckin' Tuesdays | Legacy Park
- Vanessa Carlton | City Winery Atlanta
- Cinco de Mayo Rooftop Party | New Realm Brewing

Wednesday, May 6
- Zoning Committee Meeting May | Candler Park
- Ty Segall | Variety Playhouse
- Electrify Decatur Home Efficiency Series: Heat Pump Water Heaters | Zoom
- Black. Single. Mother.: Real Life Tales of Longing and Belonging -- Jamilah Lemieux & Talley | 184 S. Candler St., Decatur, GA
- Clara La San | The Eastern
- May Virtual Book Club | Jimmy Carter Presidential Library
- Volunteer Project | Woodlands Garden

Thursday, May 7
- The Salon ATL | Wrecking Bar Brewpub
- Pub Choir | Variety Playhouse
- Mark A. Johnson in conversation with Jim Auchmutey | Decatur Library
- Queer Ecologies Book Club Reads: What A Fish Looks Like | 184 S. Candler St., Decatur, GA

Friday, May 8
- Fernbank After Dark: Buzzed | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Nostalgix | Wish Atlanta
- St. Paul & The Broken Bones | The Eastern
- Candlelight: Queen vs. ABBA | The Chapel on Sycamore
- Anuv Jain | Variety Playhouse
- Oxford 50th Reunion Reception and Dinner | Emory University

Saturday, May 9
- Live Animal Encounter | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Avondale Estates Wine and Art Walk | Avondale Estates Business District
- moe. | The Eastern
- Legacy Park Beautification | Legacy Park
- Keeper for a Day: Reptiles and Amphibians | Zoo Atlanta

Sunday, May 10
- Meet a Ranger | 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 Board of Commissioners

The Board of Commissioners made its biggest financial move of the week by authorizing a $142.3 million Tax Anticipation Note — essentially a short-term loan to keep county government running smoothly through 2026, a routine but significant fiscal action. Commissioners also approved a resolution supporting a comprehensive plan for the county's unhoused population, allocated $10,000 to a Tucker church's cold-weather shelter and shower ministry, and greenlit a $250,000 contract to update the Kensington Livable Centers Initiative master plan near the Kensington MARTA station. However, several high-profile items were pushed to May 12, including new data center regulations (which would require health and environmental assessments before permits are issued), a potential ban on pet shop sales of dogs, cats, and rabbits, a new blasting ordinance, and over $52 million in proposed emergency upgrades to the Snapfinger Wastewater Treatment Facility. Note that the companion PECS Committee and Committee of the Whole meetings on April 28 have no minutes or documents posted, so it's not yet known what, if anything, those bodies acted on.

DeKalb County School District Board of Education

The DeKalb school board held a two-day strategic retreat at Stone Mountain the week of April 28, where the primary focus was laying the groundwork for the School Year 2027 budget — residents should expect public hearings on school funding allocations in the coming months. The board also advanced a plan to expand Advanced Placement and Carnegie credit courses into more middle and high schools, a push aimed at improving college readiness across the district. A separate Policy Committee session on April 30 moved several significant policy updates toward a future board vote, most notably a brand-new draft policy governing how students and staff may use Artificial Intelligence tools in the classroom and for administrative work. Also advancing toward approval: an updated Acceptable Use policy for district devices and networks, a new dedicated literacy policy aligned with state reading mandates, and early-stage discussions on a new "Safe Space" policy. All policy items from the April 30 session are expected to return for further action at the next committee meeting on May 28. The board also took action following a closed executive session, though the specifics of those votes — typically involving personnel or legal matters — were not disclosed in the public record.

Atlanta City Council — Finance/Executive Committee

The Finance/Executive Committee approved the two biggest-ticket items of the week: a 5-0 vote authorizing up to $1.3 billion in General Revenue Bonds for infrastructure improvements at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, and a 6-0 vote awarding a $39 million contract to build the city's new 911 Center. The committee also unanimously approved $4 million for water meter installation services and a 6-0 vote directing $600,000 to the Grant Park Conservancy for an outdoor classroom, theatre improvements, and fountain repairs. On the other hand, decisions on the FY2027 budget and property tax rates — items that directly affect what homeowners pay — were deferred to May 4, so residents still have a narrow window before those figures are locked in. A proposal to offer free summer camp programming at Camp Best Friends passed on a split 5-2 procedural vote to stay in committee, with Councilmembers Amos and Martin dissenting, meaning that decision is also heading to the May 4 meeting.

Atlanta City Council — Transportation Committee

The Transportation Committee's April 29 meeting produced a range of approvals with real on-the-ground impact: the committee voted 6-0 to rename Lee Street SW to "Judge Thelma Cummings Moore Way," authorized land acquisitions for Segment 4 of the Proctor Creek Greenway trail expansion (including the ability to use condemnation if property negotiations stall), and approved right-of-way acquisition for a new sidewalk project on Moreland Avenue. The committee also accepted a $3.6 million GDOT grant for pedestrian safety improvements on Peachtree Street in Midtown and renewed a $7.5 million contract for citywide sidewalk maintenance and repair. Meanwhile, two notable items were held: a resolution to study the feasibility of privatizing TSA security screening at Hartsfield-Jackson was deferred for more discussion, and a proposal to designate on-street parking on Lakeview Avenue NE as residents-only remains stalled in committee.

Atlanta City Council — Community Development/Human Services Committee

The Community Development committee's April 28 meeting was headlined by a unanimous 5-0 vote to accept a $52.1 million federal grant from FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security specifically for emergency management and public safety planning around the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The committee also approved nearly $1.9 million in additional funding for the construction of Enota Park along the BeltLine and passed a new ordinance establishing a mandatory 72-hour waiting period before demolition permits can be issued for structurally distressed properties — a measure aimed at preserving neighborhood character and preventing rushed teardowns. A 2-0 vote (with three abstentions) placed a temporary pause on the sale of a property on Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway pending a full community impact review. Notably, proposed legislation to create a city Office of Short-Term Rentals and a mandatory Airbnb-style registry was deferred at the sponsor's request, so rules governing short-term rentals in Atlanta neighborhoods remain unresolved for now.

Atlanta City Council — City Utilities Committee

The City Utilities Committee approved a major wave of infrastructure spending on April 28, forwarding more than $45 million in contracts and budget amendments for sanitary sewer repairs across the city — work that directly affects the underground systems residents depend on daily. The committee also unanimously authorized the transfer of 12 acres of city-owned land at 1270 West Marietta Boulevard to Invest Atlanta for future redevelopment, and approved a $24 million change order to add the Peachtree Creek Eastside 2B project to an existing construction agreement. A $1.28 million donation from The Conservation Fund for stream and floodplain restoration at Hunter Hills Refuge was accepted and immediately put to use. One item drew rare dissent: a contract extension for painting and pressure washing services passed 2-1, with Councilmember Alex Wan voting no and two others abstaining. A proposal to waive standard flood-elevation requirements for a home on Oldfield Road was deferred for the second time, remaining held in committee.

Atlanta City Council — Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee

The Public Safety committee cleared two items with broad implications for city residents on April 27: a unanimous vote to restrict police and corrections from using colorimetric field drug tests as the sole basis for an arrest — requiring instead that laboratory confirmation back up any charges — and a unanimous approval of an updated compensation plan for sworn Atlanta Fire Rescue personnel aimed at improving recruitment and retention. The committee also unanimously approved a temporary alcohol consumption exemption for designated downtown streets from June 11 to July 19 to accommodate FIFA World Cup crowds, and approved adding Atlanta Police and Fire facilities to the city's solar energy program. Following concerns raised about last year's "404 Day" festivities, the committee authorized an emergency study and a new multi-stakeholder advisory committee to evaluate the event's neighborhood and resource impacts. A proposed 180-day freeze on new alcohol licenses in the Edgewood Corridor was held at the sponsor's request, leaving that decision open for further community input.

Atlanta City Council — Zoning Committee

The Zoning Committee wrapped up a brisk 26-minute session on April 27, advancing a handful of items while pumping the brakes on more controversial development proposals. On the approval side, the committee unanimously forwarded a sign waiver near Lenox Square on Peachtree Road and a single-family rezoning on Athens Avenue SW to the full council. More consequential items were held or referred back for additional review: a proposal to increase apartment density on Bellview Avenue NW from MR-2 to MR-3 (which would allow taller buildings) was deferred to at least May 4, and a plan for two new digital billboards on Cleveland Circle SW was sent back to committee. A large-scale 13.8-acre proposal to rezone light industrial land on Sylvan Road SW into mixed residential and commercial use also remains stuck in committee pending more information. For residents tracking Atlanta's development pipeline, the pattern this week was cautious — smaller infill single-family projects moved forward while denser, higher-impact proposals were slowed down.

Atlanta Public Schools — Student Advisory Council

The APS Student Advisory Council wrapped up its 2025–2026 term on April 29 with a final session focused on student-generated recommendations to be shared with the full Board of Education — no binding policy votes or budget decisions were made, as this is an advisory body. Student leaders summarized takeaways from their recent "Breakfast with the Board" meeting, where student representatives shared priorities directly with district officials. The session also included recognition of council members for their year of service. While the SAC's recommendations don't carry the force of law, they represent a formal student voice in the policymaking process and can influence how the board approaches issues like school climate and student wellness in the coming year.

Meetings This Week
- DeKalb County School District — Board of Education — Monday, May 4

The board held a joint session with the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners focused on long-range planning. A status update on the Student Assignment Project — the county-wide process that will eventually lead to redrawing school attendance boundaries — is on the agenda, along with discussions on shared facility use, student safety coordination, and aligning high school vocational programs with local workforce needs. No boundary changes are expected at this session, but it marks a step toward formal redistricting proposals ahead.

- Atlanta City Council — Committee on Council — Monday, May 4 at 11:30 AM

The committee is scheduled to consider a resolution (26-R-3532) requesting certified law enforcement officers at every city recreation center used as a polling place. Also on the agenda: appointments to the Beltline's Affordable Housing Advisory Board and Tax Allocation District Advisory Committee, two seats on the Budget Commission ahead of FY2027 planning, and a proposed charter change that would require legislation to carry a named primary sponsor.

- Atlanta City Council — Monday, May 4 at 1:00 PM

A packed agenda covers Atlanta's FIFA World Cup preparations, including a vote on a $52.1 million federal grant and a proposal to temporarily allow outdoor alcohol consumption in parts of downtown from June 11 through July 19. The council is also set to take up the proposed FY2027 budget and tax rates, a $1.87 million construction contract for Enota Park on the BeltLine, a lease expansion for the Atlanta Botanical Garden, and a text amendment that would ban new self-storage facilities within the BeltLine Overlay District.

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

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

- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Planning Commission — Tuesday, May 5 at 6:00 PM, via Zoom

Several significant items are scheduled for public hearing. A D.R. Horton proposal to build 214 single-family homes at 8277 Norris Lake Way — deferred multiple times previously — is back before the commission. Also on the agenda: three permit requests from QuikTrip at 4733–4775 Memorial Drive covering a car wash, fuel pumps, and an alcohol outlet; a proposed county-wide "Chronic Nuisance" ordinance that would establish penalties for repeat-offender properties; a rezoning request at 2960 North Druid Hills Road for a drive-through facility; and a text amendment clarifying excise tax collection on short-term rentals.

CONSTRUCTION

Permits

- 1287 S Ponce de Leon Ave NE — A 3,000W generator permit filed for a commercial property. Backup power infrastructure isn't glamorous, but it usually means a business is serious about staying operational.
- 767 Clifton Rd — Electrical work tied to a new elevator, now closed out. Someone's investing in accessibility or adding vertical square footage — either way, a meaningful upgrade.
- 1593 N Decatur Rd — A fresh coat of paint on the street-facing wall. Minor, but a repainted facade is often the first sign a retail space is getting ready for something.

On the residential side, 18 permits were filed across Candler Park, Druid Hills, and Lake Claire — mostly single-family work, electrical upgrades, and additions totaling just under $100K. The kind of steady reinvestment that keeps the neighborhood's housing stock in good shape.

Road Work

Under Construction

- SR 42/US 23 at Arkwright Place (Fulton County) — The intersection of Moreland Avenue and Arkwright Place is being converted to a right-in/right-out configuration, with a new median eliminating left turns. About 2 miles south, but relevant if Moreland is part of your regular route.
- SR 260 Pedestrian Improvements (DeKalb County) — Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) are being installed at Haas Ave, Eastside Ave, Brownwood Ave, and Joseph Ave along SR 260. Expect intermittent work zone slowdowns in that corridor.
- I-20 Lighting Upgrade, Capitol Ave to Flat Shoals Road (DeKalb/Fulton) — Crews are swapping out old HPS fixtures for LED lighting across this stretch, which may include pole and conduit work. A multi-county project, so lane restrictions could pop up at various points along the corridor.

Pre-Construction
- SR 8/SR 10/US 23 Bridge over Lullwater Creek (DeKalb County) — Maintenance work is planned for the bridge carrying Ponce De Leon Avenue over Lullwater Creek. If you cross this stretch regularly, expect intermittent lane disruptions once work gets underway.
- SR 8/Ponce De Leon Ave Drainage Improvements (DeKalb County) — Drainage upgrades are slated for the Ponce De Leon corridor between South Ponce De Leon Ave and Ridgecrest Road. This is a busy urban arterial, so anticipate lane restrictions in that stretch when construction begins.
- Two New Roundabouts on Ponce De Leon (DeKalb County) — A pair of roundabouts are planned along the Ponce de Leon corridor: one at SR 8 and Eastlake, and a second at SR 8 at the North Ponce/West Parkwood/East Parkwood intersection. Not yet underway, but worth knowing — these intersections will look very different when work is done.
- SR 8/Ponce De Leon Ave at SR 42 Turn Lane Upgrades (DeKalb/Fulton Counties) — Improvements at this intersection include an extended westbound left turn lane, a new westbound right turn lane, and additional operational tweaks. Spans both DeKalb and Fulton counties. Should ease some of the chronic backup here once built.

Service Requests

Potholes — Reported on Euclid Ave NE and Oakdale Rd NE, with multiple complaints logged across both streets in late April.

Downed Trees — Three reports filed on Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Candler St NE, and Euclid Ave NE following what appears to have been a rough stretch of weather.

Traffic Signal Issues — The intersection of DeKalb Ave and Clifton Rd generated multiple reports, including both a non-emergency repair request and a separate emergency signal repair, suggesting the signal has been a persistent problem. A sign repair or replacement was also requested at Ponce de Leon Ave and Clifton Rd.

Right of Way Maintenance — Overgrowth obscuring visibility flagged at DeKalb Ave and Ridgecrest Rd; litter removal on Druid Pl NE has been resolved.