Druid Hills / Candler Park: Commute Chaos, Doughnut Farewells, and Your Week Ahead

Good morning, Druid Hills and Candler Park! From sewer repairs that might reroute your morning commute to some bittersweet closings in the local food scene, there's plenty to catch up on over your coffee. We've also got your ultimate 2026 farmers market guide and a packed week of events ahead.

- Big Stories — Sewer repairs are coming for your morning commute, CPNO recaps their March meeting, and the 2026 farmers market guide has dropped.
- Local Business Updates — It's a bittersweet week as we say goodbye to a legendary doughnut spot and a staple game-day wing joint.
- Upcoming Events — Get those baskets ready for the Candler Park egg hunt and clear your schedule for a heavy-hitting week of live music and festivals.
- Local Government Discussion — From school boundary drama and AI tech funds to World Cup prep, our local officials have been busy this week.
- Development & Construction Nearby — Between $400K porch renovations and new roundabouts in the works, the neighborhood improvements keep rolling.

Let's dive in.

BIG STORIES

CPNO March Meeting: Updates on Candler Park Infrastructure and Safety (March 17, 2026) The Candler Park Neighborhood Organization met this week to talk shop on local infrastructure and safety improvements. It's the kind of meeting where the details of our sidewalks and streetlights get decided, proving that the most important changes start right at home. If you missed it, don't worry—there's always a neighbor willing to give you the SparkNotes version.

DeKalb County water department to close part of North Druid Hills for sewer main repair (March 18, 2026) Your morning commute through North Druid Hills is about to get a lot more "adventurous" (read: you're going to be late). DeKalb Water is shutting down lanes for sewer main repairs, so consider this your sign to take the long way or just work from your couch. No one loves a detour, but we all love functional plumbing, right?

Your 2026 guide to Atlanta's local farmers markets (March 21, 2026) It's finally time to swap the heavy winter coats for your favorite canvas totes. The 2026 guide to local markets is officially here, and our neighborhood spots are ready to shine with fresh produce and artisan everything. Go for the heirloom tomatoes, but stay for the inevitable run-in with that neighbor you haven't seen since the first frost.

LOCAL BUSINESS UPDATES

Sublime Doughnuts - closing - Pouring one out for our collective sweet tooth. The Briarcliff spot at the Village at Druid Hills has officially shuttered after nearly a decade of making our mornings much brighter. We're genuinely bummed to see those A-Town Creams go, especially since it was such a reliable neighborhood staple for a sugar fix. (March 17, 2026)

Hudson Grille - closing - Change is coming to the edge of Little Five Points as this Moreland Avenue sports hub prepares to hang up the cleats. After six years of being the go-to for wings and catching the game on the border of Candler Park, the property is hitting the market. We're keeping our fingers crossed that whatever takes over this massive space is just as much of a community magnet. (March 16, 2026)

UPCOMING EVENTS

Dust off your baskets and get those running shoes ready, because the neighborhood is coming alive this week! From the legendary annual Egg Hunt in Candler Park to a heavy-hitting lineup of live music at Variety Playhouse, this is the week you've been waiting for to get out and mingle with the neighbors.

Monday, March 23
- Moondoggy | Eddie's Attic
- Atlanta Run Club: Monday Night Runs | Ponce City Market
- Walter Trout | City Winery

Tuesday, March 24
- Mahjong new club meet up | Druid Hills Civic Association Events
- $5 Beer + Taco + Trivia Tuesdays in Avondale | Wild Heaven Beer
- Dan Navarro, Jessica Willis Fisher & Tim Easton | Eddie's Attic
- Adultish Sewing Club | Decatur Library
- Rakim | City Winery Atlanta

Wednesday, March 25
- Decatur Farmers Market | First Baptist Church of Decatur
- Insert Laugh Here | Dad's Garage

Thursday, March 26
- Richard Thompson w/ Zara Phillips | Variety Playhouse
- Stalking the Big Cat of Georgia: Screening & Talkback | Decatur Library
- Singing Workshop in the Pavilion | Woodlands Garden
- Anne Wilson | Fox Theatre - Atlanta

Friday, March 27
- Cymande | Variety Playhouse
- beastboi. & 7L | Wish Atlanta
- Space Explorers: THE INFINITE | Pullman Yards
- Cory Booker | STAND | Author Event | First Baptist Church of Decatur
- Grant Park Conservancy's Canopy Soirée Returns | Zoo Atlanta
- Women's Comedy Film Festival | 7 Stages Theatre

Saturday, March 28
- Madison Cunningham w/ Annika Bennett | Variety Playhouse
- Morning Hikes | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Live Animal Encounter | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- The Atlanta Beltline Taco & Tequila Bar Crawl 2nd | Eastside Beltline
- Decatur Easter Egg Hunt | First Baptist Church of Decatur
- Vegetarian Food Festival & Rare Plant Market | New Realm Brewing
- Little 5 Fest | Behind Junkman's Daughter
- Tree Tour: History and Change on the Atl Beltline | Inman Park Coffee

Sunday, March 29
- Egg Hunt | Candler Park
- Family Nature Walk | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Live Animal Encounter | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- On Cinema - The Certified "Five Bags of Popcorn" Tour | Variety Playhouse

LOCAL GOVERNMENT DISCUSSION

DeKalb County School District

Discussion from the Past Week

The Board's Policy Committee got together on March 19 to nerd out over the "rules of the road" for the district. While "policy review" might sound like a sedative, several of these items actually hit close to home—specifically regarding who gets to go to which school and how the district handles its cash.

The heavy hitter on the agenda was Board Policy JBCC: Student Assignment. This is the policy that dictates attendance zones and transfer rules. While there weren't any radical new maps drawn or lines moved this week, the committee was busy reviewing public input and board comments on the current framework. For parents in the Druid Hills or Lake Claire areas keeping an eye on school capacity and "who goes where," this is the administrative engine that drives those eventual boundary decisions.

But here's the thing: the committee also added a discussion on Equity (Policy BAC) at the last minute. This policy outlines how the district ensures resources and opportunities are distributed fairly across all schools. It's a high-level document, but it sets the tone for how the district prioritizes spending in under-served areas versus established neighborhoods.

Meanwhile, the board waded through some logistical housekeeping. They reviewed the rules for Gifts and Bequests, which governs how schools can accept private donations, and Solicitations, which regulates who can sell goods or hawk services on campus. They also touched on Administrative Records—the boring but essential rules for how the district stores and trashes its official paperwork.

Also worth noting: Because this was a committee-level review, no final votes were cast. Instead, these policies—including the big ones on Student Assignment and Equity—are now being polished before they head to the full Board of Education for a final "yes" or "no." The committee is slated to dive back into the weeds at their next meeting on April 23, 2026.

Atlanta Public Schools

Discussion from the Past Week

It was a relatively quiet week for official "yeas" and "nays" at APS, primarily because the Policy Review Committee couldn't actually vote on anything during their March 19 meeting. In a move that likely made for a very short afternoon, only three of the nine voting members showed up. Without a quorum, the meeting turned into a glorified study session—but the topics they tackled are ones that hit close to home for any parent in the Mary Lin or Howard Middle School pipelines.

First on the agenda was a deep dive into Policy JB, which governs student attendance. The district is looking to sharpen the rules on how absences are tracked and managed. Meanwhile, the committee addressed the "iPad in the room" by discussing screen time limits and tablet usage. They are exploring how to balance the district's digital curriculum with student well-being, potentially setting boundaries on how much time kids spend staring at school-issued devices.

But here's the thing: the board is also reconsidering what it takes to actually cross the stage at graduation. The committee debated the role of community service requirements for high schoolers, specifically how those hours are tracked and whether the current mandates need a refresh. Since no votes were cast, expect these topics—attendance, screen time, and graduation requirements—to resurface in future meetings once the full board actually decides to clock in.

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners

Discussion from the Past Week

The county is weighing a big question about its pipes. This past week, the Committee of the Whole dove into a $300,000 study to figure out if DeKalb's Water and Sewer system should stay under the county's wing or be spun off into an independent "Water and Sewer Authority." The goal is long-term stability (and hopefully fewer surprise geysers in the street), but the transition would be a massive administrative shift.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Ted Terry (who represents the Druid Hills and Candler Park area in District 6) is looking toward the future with a proposed "For The People AI Tech Dividend Fund." It's an effort to explore how the county can use artificial intelligence to bolster fiscal stability. It sounds a bit unconventional for local government, but if it helps keep property taxes from skyrocketing, most neighbors would probably welcome the experiment.

On the "not in my backyard" front, the county is moving toward a much tighter leash for data centers and construction crews. A new resolution would require deep-dive health and environmental assessments before any new data centers get the green light, mostly due to concerns over noise and power usage. Similarly, a proposed "Blasting Safety" ordinance is in the works to strictly regulate how developers use explosives to clear land. If you've ever felt your windows rattle from nearby construction, this one is for you.

Finally, the committee moved forward with a controversial ordinance aimed at "unauthorized camping" and public nuisances. While framed as a public safety move, it's sparking the usual intense debate over how the county handles vagrancy and the unhoused population.

Most notable to your neighborhood: Since District 6 Commissioner Ted Terry is the one spearheading the AI Dividend Fund and pushing for stricter environmental oversight, residents in Druid Hills and Candler Park have a direct line to the center of these debates. Additionally, while the infrastructure upgrades discussed (like the $40 million in sewer rehab) are spread across the county, the focus on stricter blasting and noise regulations is particularly relevant for the preservation of older, historic homes in the Druid Hills and Lake Claire areas.

Meetings in the Next Week
- Board of Commissioners, March 24, 2026 at 9:00 AM – The Board is expected to officially pull the trigger on over $45 million in sewer and water infrastructure contracts and cast final votes on the new blasting safety rules. They'll also be deciding on a massive $22 million refresh of the county's vehicle fleet and the "Data Center" environmental study.
- Committee of the Whole, March 26, 2026 at 9:00 AM
- Board of Commissioners - Zoning Meeting, March 26, 2026 at 5:30 PM – A packed agenda of land-use requests, including a high-interest proposal for a new convenience store and gas station on North Decatur Road that has already seen significant pushback from the Planning Commission. Other items include proposals for new cottage homes and townhome developments across the county.

Atlanta City Council

Discussion from the Past Week

In a move that surprised absolutely no one, the Council spent much of the week clearing out a backlog of administrative "housekeeping" while simultaneously bracing for the world stage. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup looming, the city is officially moving into "clean up the house before the guests arrive" mode. This includes new rules for "wrap signs" (those massive building-sized advertisements) downtown and a major push to update the city's aging infrastructure. The Council also voted to update on-street parking fees following a recent study, so keep a closer eye on those meters next time you're heading out.

Meanwhile, things got a bit spicy in the Committee on Council regarding a $910,000 mystery. The city is hiring outside legal muscle to investigate nearly a million dollars in payments made to a former Municipal Clerk for "consulting" related to the Public Safety Training Center. Apparently, the payments kept flowing even though the specific work—verifying names for a referendum—never actually started. At the same time, the Council is trying to reclaim some power from the Mayor's office, pushing for the right to hire their own staff without executive oversight and creating a "backup plan" to fill the 85 vacancies currently sitting empty on various city boards.

On the infrastructure front, the Council greenlit a series of major spends for water quality upgrades and levee improvements. They also finalized several annexations of DeKalb County parcels into the City of Atlanta. For those residents now officially in the city limits, welcome to the fold—you've got new trash collectors and a new school district to get to know.

Most notable to your neighborhood:

Meetings in the Next Week
- Zoning Committee (March 23, 11:00 AM) – The committee will weigh in on a massive 36-acre industrial-to-residential transformation in the Upper Westside and several density-increasing proposals across the city.
- Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee (March 23, 1:00 PM) – Expect a "cheers" to the 2026 World Cup as the city proposes a temporary open-container district downtown for the tournament; they'll also discuss a $7.6M grant for counter-drone technology for the police.
- City Utilities Committee (March 24, 10:00 AM) – High on the agenda: a 14,000-square-foot mural project for the North Avenue Tunnel and a $2.5M fix for permeable pavers in neighborhoods like Peoplestown.
- Community Development/Human Services Committee (March 24, 1:30 PM) – This meeting focuses on a $7.75M grant to scrub lead paint from older homes and an audit of the city's "blight tax" intended to punish neglectful landlords.
- Transportation Committee (March 25, 10:00 AM) – The big ticket is a $1 billion Concourse D expansion at the airport, but the committee will also discuss acquiring land for new sidewalks along Moreland Ave.
- Finance/Executive Committee (March 25, 1:30 PM) – This is the big one for your wallet: the committee will take its first look at the FY 2027 budget and set the property tax rates that will appear on your next bill.

Atlanta NPU

Meetings in the Next Week
- NPU-N Monthly Meeting, March 26, 2026 at 7:00 PM. This virtual session serves as the final neighborhood-level review for zoning variances and liquor licenses impacting Candler Park, Lake Claire, and Druid Hills. Decisions made here will form the official recommendation sent to the city's Board of Zoning Adjustment and the Liquor License Review Board.

DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION NEARBY

Permits
- Oxford Rd — Someone is dropping $400K to level up their lifestyle with a new second-story primary suite and a covered porch. I'm already imagining the Sunday morning coffee views.
- 1871 Gordon Manor NE — This commercial spot is getting a major re-roof. They're peeling back three layers of old material to install a new membrane, so expect some serious dumpster action and construction noise.
- 1585 S Ponce De Leon Ave NE — Perimeter alert! New 6-foot and 4-foot fencing is being installed around this commercial lot. It looks like they're finally buttoning up the property line.
- Clifton Rd — A $300K renovation is hitting this street. We're talking a new addition, windows, and a total kitchen/bath refresh. The neighborhood improvements continue!
- The Minor Stuff — Beyond the big projects, we've got about 23 smaller residential tweaks happening in the area—mostly plumbing, HVAC, and minor repairs totaling about $8,500. It's a busy week for the white van crews!

Road Work

Under Construction
- SR 42/Moreland Avenue & Arkwright Place (Fulton County) — Crews are out there turning this into a right-in/right-out intersection with a new median to stop the left-turn madness. It's just a couple miles south of the neighborhood, but expect some orange cone energy if you're heading toward Reynoldstown or the BeltLine.
- I-20 from Capitol Ave to Flat Shoals Road (DeKalb and Fulton Counties) — This major project spans both counties as they swap out old highway streetlights for bright, energy-efficient LEDs. Your late-night drive home is about to get a lot clearer, but heads up for potential shoulder work and lane shifts while they replace poles and wiring.
- SR 260 at Haas Ave, Eastside Ave, Brownwood Ave, and Joseph Ave (DeKalb County) — Pedestrian safety is getting a boost south of us with new RRFBs (those push-button flashing lights) being installed at these crosswalks. Watch for quick lane closures and "stop and go" traffic while crews get these blinking beacons up and running.

Construction Work Program
- SR 8/SR 10/US 23 @ Lullwater Creek — Bridge maintenance is headed to the span over Lullwater Creek on Ponce. It's still in the planning stages, but expect some lane juggling near the park once the crews arrive to keep the structure ship-shape.
- SR 8/US 23 (South Ponce de Leon Ave to Ridgecrest Road) — GDOT is planning drainage improvements along this stretch of Ponce. This should (hopefully!) mean fewer giant puddles to dodge during our next heavy afternoon downpour.
- SR 8 from East Lake to North Ponce de Leon Ave — Big change alert: two roundabouts are officially in the works for the Ponce corridor. One is slated for the East Lake intersection and the other for the North Ponce/Parkwood junction. Start practicing your "yield to the left" maneuvers now!
- SR 8/US 23 at SR 42 (DeKalb & Fulton Counties) — This project spans the county line to tackle the headache at Ponce and Moreland/Briarcliff. They'll be adding and extending turn lanes to help unclog the gridlock at this notoriously messy intersection.
- DeKalb Avenue at the CSX Crossing — Safety first! New railroad crossing warning devices are being funded for the crossing near DeKalb Ave. It's a small update that makes a big difference for everyone biking and driving that corridor.
- Scott Blvd Complete Streets Plan — The vision for a more "complete" Scott Blvd is moving forward. This plan aims to make the road friendlier for more than just cars, which is a major win for neighborhood connectivity.
- SR 42/US 23 (Austin Ave to DeKalb Ave) — GDOT is currently scoping out a plan to narrow travel lanes to 10 feet through this stretch. The goal is traffic calming, but since it's just in the scoping phase, we have some time before the orange cones appear.
- Atlanta Ave & Adair Street Realignment — This project is set to realign the intersection and upgrade the railroad crossing. It's a much-needed fix to make that awkward turn near the tracks a lot more intuitive.

Service Requests
- Potholes — Oakdale Rd NE (four of 'em!) and Ponce de Leon Ave NE are looking a bit like Swiss cheese this week. Keep your eyes on the asphalt and your hands on the wheel, folks.
- Traffic Signal Repairs — Reported at the intersections of DeKalb Ave & Whitefoord Ave and Moreland Ave & Constitution Rd. Just what we need, a little extra mystery at the stoplight.