Druid Hills / Candler Park: Fringe Fest and a TAD Shakeup Worth Watching

Hey, Druid Hills and Candler Park — it's a busy one this week. Atlanta Fringe Festival is already spilling into your streets through May 31, and if you haven't felt it yet, you will. Meanwhile, Mayor Dickens is making a significant bet on affordability with a proposed TAD overhaul that could reshape how Atlanta funds its own future — worth understanding before it becomes a done deal.

- News — Mayor Dickens proposes stripping the Beltline from certain TAD extensions to fund anti-displacement efforts, DeKalb runoffs are official, and Decatur Square is about to host 60-plus World Cup matches this summer.
- Business — Lucian Books and Wine goes dinner-only starting in June
- Events — A packed week runs from a dino talk at Fernbank and Beauty and the Beast at the Fox to a wine-vs-beer dinner battle at Tio Lucho's and Fringe Festival performances through the weekend.
- Government — Atlanta City Council met to discuss, among other things, privatizing ATL TSA, and DeKalb's full Board of Commissioners meets Monday to vote on tentative 2026 millage rates, sanitation fee hikes, and two roundabout projects — including one at Ponce De Leon and East Lake Road.
- Construction — A major multi-floor renovation is underway at 1784 N. Decatur Road, a Moreland Avenue left-turn ban is coming, and two Ponce De Leon roundabouts are inching toward construction.

Let's dive in.

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Atlanta's Eastside Braces as Fringe Fest Unleashes Two Weeks of Weird
The 13th annual Atlanta Fringe Festival runs through May 31, flooding Eastside venues with experimental theater, boundary-pushing performance art, and the particular energy of people who own a lot of black turtlenecks. If you're near Little Five Points or Candler Park, plan accordingly.

Dickens pitches pared-back TAD extensions to fund $5.5B neighborhood plan
Mayor Andre Dickens is proposing to strip the Beltline out of certain Tax Allocation District extensions, redirecting that financing power toward anti-displacement measures and accountability in neighborhoods like Sweet Auburn and Old Fourth Ward. It's a significant policy pivot, and one that signals the administration is at least trying to make the math of affordability work before the city prices itself out of its own story.

DeKalb County Commission and School Board Races Head to Runoffs
The May 19 primary didn't settle everything — several DeKalb County Commission and School Board contests are headed to runoffs, meaning voters get another say in who shapes local governance and public education. If you sat out the primary, now is the time to pay attention.

Decatur WatchFest '26 to show 60-plus World Cup matches on the Square
FIFA has given Decatur the green light to broadcast more than 60 World Cup matches on large screens at Decatur Square, running June 11 through July 19. Downtown Decatur is about to become the neighborhood watch party that actually has room for everyone — mark your calendar and bring comfortable shoes.

BUSINESS

Lucian Books and Wine - notable change - The acclaimed restaurant is shifting to dinner-only service starting in June, so plan your visits accordingly — and if you want to go deeper, their new monthly book club "Bouquinistes" is focusing on art and cooking for those who like their literary evenings with a good pour.

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Tuesday, May 26
- David Ryan Harris: In Residence at Eddie's Attic | Eddie’s Attic
- Truckin' Tuesdays | Legacy Park
- Read the Rainbow Book Club | Decatur Library

Wednesday, May 27
- Dino Talk | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Atlanta Fringe Festival 2026 | 14th Annual Atlanta Fringe Festival
- Volunteer Project | Woodlands Garden

Thursday, May 28
- Live Animal Encounter | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Beauty And The Beast (Touring) | Fox Theatre - Atlanta
- Tio Lucho's Serves Up a Wine vs. Beer Dinner Battle with A Cork in the Road | Tio Lucho's
- Climate Wayfinding: Healing Ourselves and the Planet We Call Home -- Katharine K. Wilkinson in conversation with Kimberly Reeves | Charis Books & More
- Kennedy Ryan & Jahquel J Book Talk | First Baptist Church of Decatur
- Singing Workshop in the Pavilion – May | Woodlands Garden
- Babylon Is An Action Verb | The Supermarket

Friday, May 29
- EMO FOREVER TOUR Feat. Tremont, Alex Melton, Rookie Of The Year, Nobody's Darlings | Star Community Bar
- Jay Badlani & Friends Vol. 9: A Stand-Up Showcase | BiblioTech
- Opening Reception: Homeland Exhibition | Decatur Library
- Chef & Winemaker Dinner | City Winery

Saturday, May 30
- Burbanck Park Spring Workday | Druid Hills Civic Association Events
- Meet a Ranger | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Live Animal Encounter | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Punch Brothers | The Eastern
- Grindhouse Killer Burgers 10-Year Anniversary Party | Grindhouse Killer Burgers Decatur
- Paint a Pot with L'Arche | Woodlands Garden
- BA Asian Market | Pastries A Go Go
- Tai Chi/Qigong 4 Beginners | Legacy Park
- Behind the Stones: Preservation Tour | Oakland Cemetery
- The Banned Book Bunch - Storytime | 184 S. Candler St.
- Poe, Through the Tales Darkly - Atlanta Fringe | 7 Stages Mainstage
- Lt. Love Dr.'s Boot Camp for Lonely People like You | 7 Stages Theatre

Sunday, May 31
- Family Nature Walk | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Consent & Negotiation 201: Building & Expanding Your Risk Profile | Liminal Space
- Love Stories of Oakland | Oakland Cemetery
- Mornings at the Zoo | Zoo Atlanta

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GOVERNMENT

Note: our information comes from posted meetings documents (agendas and minutes when available) — latest source document hyperlinked to each meeting.

Past Week Roundup

Atlanta City Council

The Atlanta City Council moved forward on several major infrastructure and safety initiatives this week while hitting the pause button on next year’s billion-dollar budget. During the May 18 meeting, the Council approved a study to explore privatizing security at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport and authorized the abandonment of a downtown street for Georgia State University’s expansion. Meanwhile, the Community Development/Human Services Committee agenda includes a massive proposal to shift industrial areas into high-density residential hubs and a plan to offer free summer camps to low-income students, though these items may be subject to future changes or delays. Safety also took center stage as the Committee on Council voted to hold a resolution that would have mandated a police presence at recreation centers used as polling places. These decisions matter to residents because they shape everything from neighborhood density and park safety to how tax dollars are allocated across the city.

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners

The DeKalb County Committee of the Whole met on May 21 and advanced several items that will directly affect residents' everyday costs, with minutes now confirmed. Most notably, the committee moved forward with tentative 2026 property tax millage rates — the first formal step in determining what homeowners and businesses will owe this fall — alongside proposed fee increases for residential and commercial sanitation service and for public parking at county-owned facilities. On the infrastructure side, the committee greenlit official county support for two GDOT roundabout projects at major intersections: one at Ponce De Leon Avenue and East Lake Road, and another at Clairmont Road and Rosecliff Drive, both of which could meaningfully change traffic patterns for commuters across the county. The committee also moved to schedule a public hearing on extending the county's existing moratorium on adult entertainment businesses, and advanced a property easement acquisition tied to a freight corridor improvement project. On the spending side, $98,750 from District 1 reserves was allocated to a childcare needs assessment initiative, and several District 3 neighborhood grants were approved, including $15,000 for senior home repairs and $10,000 for a summer academy. Because the Committee of the Whole primarily sets the agenda for the full Board of Commissioners rather than making final decisions, most of these items — including the millage rates, fee hikes, and roundabout resolutions — will require a final BOC vote before taking effect.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole
- Ponce De Leon Ave NE at East Lake Rd NE — The committee advanced a proposal supporting GDOT construction of a new roundabout at this intersection, moving it toward a full Board of Commissioners vote.

Meetings This Week
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole — Tuesday, May 26 at 9:00 AM
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Board of Commissioners — Tuesday, May 26 at 9:00 AM
The full board is scheduled to adopt the county's tentative 2026 millage rates — the first formal step toward setting this year's property tax bills — and to consider significant fee increases for residential sanitation and stormwater utility services. Also on the agenda: proposed roundabouts at Ponce De Leon Ave. at East Lake Road and Clairmont Road at Rosecliff Drive, a $1.86 million airport security upgrade at PDK, and a public hearing on extending a county-wide moratorium on new adult entertainment businesses.

- Atlanta City Council — City Utilities Committee — Tuesday, May 26 at 10:00 AM
The committee is scheduled to consider adjustments to solid waste service fees, a proposed $20 million transfer for sanitary sewer repairs, and new rules defining when properties are required to connect to the public sewer system. Also on the agenda: an $8.5 million road resurfacing funding transfer and an $822,567 contract amendment for Greensferry Stream and Floodplain Restoration.

- Atlanta City Council — Zoning Committee — Tuesday, May 26 at 11:00 AM
- Atlanta City Council — Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee — Tuesday, May 26 at 1:00 PM
The committee is scheduled to take up items carried over from its April 27 meeting, including a proposed update to the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department's compensation plan, a temporary open-container exemption for the FIFA World Cup in Downtown Atlanta (June 11–July 19), and a resolution to restrict Atlanta Police Department use of field drug tests as a standalone basis for arrest. A proposed 180-day moratorium on new alcohol licenses in the Edgewood Corridor remains held in committee.

- Atlanta City Council — Community Development/Human Services Committee — Tuesday, May 26 at 1:30 PM
A sweeping neighborhood investment ordinance is scheduled for consideration that would extend Tax Allocation Districts and establish a new Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative trust fund aimed at affordable housing and anti-displacement efforts. The committee will also review a nearly $7.9 million proposal to permanently protect 29.89 acres of forested land on Randall Mill Road NW, a $4.5 million gymnasium at Chastain Park, and final votes on rezoning properties along Logan Circle and Chattahoochee Avenue from industrial to high-density mixed use.

- Atlanta City Council — Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee — Monday, May 26 at 3:00 PM
The committee is scheduled to consider a $3.5 million contract for Atlanta Police Department body cameras and a counter-drone detection system, along with a proposed lease for a new Zone 6 Police Precinct at 2025 Hosea Williams Drive SE. The proposed 180-day moratorium on new alcohol licenses in the Edgewood Corridor is also scheduled to be heard.

- Atlanta City Council — Transportation Committee — Wednesday, May 27 at 10:00 AM
Major trail and street investments are on the agenda, including an $8 million agreement for the PATH Westside Connector, additional funding to bring the PATH 400 Trail budget to $7.74 million, and a $6 million GDOT grant for citywide road resurfacing. The committee will also consider a $3.6 million improvement project on Peachtree Street from North Avenue to West Peachtree Street, residential parking restrictions on Lakeview Avenue NE, and a resolution requesting dedicated bike and vehicle lanes along the Atlanta BeltLine.

- Atlanta City Council — Zoning Committee — Wednesday, May 27 at 11:00 AM
A citywide ban on new self-storage facilities within the BeltLine Overlay District is scheduled for consideration, along with large-scale rezoning of properties along Logan Circle and Chattahoochee Avenue from heavy industrial to mixed-use. The committee will also hear proposals to rezone several lots in NPU-J from single-family to duplex, new Special Use Permit requirements for medical cannabis dispensaries, and a permit request for a major alcohol-serving venue at 665 Marietta Street NW.

- Atlanta City Council — Finance/Executive Committee — Wednesday, May 27 at 1:30 PM
The committee is scheduled to take up the Fiscal Year 2027 budget, including setting city and Atlanta Public Schools property tax rates, and to consider ratifying an executive order that would temporarily lift event permit restrictions Downtown to create a FIFA World Cup fan activation zone from June 11 to July 19. Also on the agenda: a utility easement at Fire Station 26 to advance the Howell Mill Road Complete Street project, and the proposed annexation of properties on Woodland Avenue NE into the City of Atlanta.

- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Zoning Meeting — Thursday, May 28 at 5:30 PM
The board is scheduled to hear a proposal from D.R. Horton to rezone 8277 Norris Lake Way for a 214-unit single-family subdivision, along with a cluster of Special Land Use Permit requests for a QuikTrip development — including a car wash, fuel pumps, and alcohol sales — at 4733–4775 Memorial Drive. Also on the agenda: a drive-through permit request for 2960 North Druid Hills Road, county-wide updates to short-term rental tax rules, and a proposed ordinance to penalize repeat nuisance properties.

- Atlanta NPU — NPU-N — Thursday, May 28 at 7:00 PM (Virtual Only)

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Permits

Activity is picking up along N. Decatur Road, where a major multi-floor renovation is underway at 1784 N Decatur Rd NE. Four separate permits have been filed covering levels 2 through 5 plus the ground floor — full demolition and buildout on each level, with MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) work throughout. The permits are still working through city review, but the scale suggests a significant institutional or commercial overhaul is in the works for that building.

- 1643 McLendon Ave NE — New electrical service permitted for a fresh commercial space, with a hefty 600-amp hookup wired per plans. That's a serious power draw — expect a business that means business.
- 586 Candler Park Dr NE — Two permits issued for the same address: a security vestibule upgrade with new door operators, and expanded fire sprinkler coverage. Small but telling — someone's investing in the infrastructure here.
- Lullwater Rd (between The By Way and N. Decatur Rd) — A $50K residential electrical overhaul on a property that still had original BX and cloth wiring. That's old-house archaeology in action — and the right call to remove it.

On the quieter side, 19 residential permits rounded out the week across the area — a mix of additions, alterations, and a couple of arborist permits for dead or hazardous trees — totaling just over $52K.

Road Work

Under Construction

- SR 42/US 23 at Arkwright Place (Fulton County) — GDOT is converting this Moreland Avenue intersection into a right-in/right-out configuration, adding a median that will eliminate left turns. If you cut through this stretch heading south toward Grant Park or East Atlanta, expect changes to your routing.
- SR 260 Pedestrian Safety Upgrades (DeKalb County) — Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacons (RRFBs) are being installed at crosswalks near Haas Ave, Eastside Ave, Brownwood Ave, and Joseph Ave along SR 260. Minor traffic interruptions possible while work is underway.
- I-20 Lighting Upgrade, Capitol Ave to Flat Shoals Road (DeKalb/Fulton) — LED fixtures are replacing outdated lighting along this I-20 corridor. Overnight lane closures are typical for this type of work, so late-night or early-morning I-20 travel could see delays.

Pre-Construction
- SR 8/SR 10/US 23 Bridge at Lullwater Creek (DeKalb County) — Maintenance work is coming to the bridge carrying Ponce De Leon Avenue over Lullwater Creek, just 0.4 miles from the neighborhood. Expect potential lane restrictions on one of the area's busiest corridors when work gets underway.
- SR 8/US 23 Drainage Improvements, South Ponce De Leon Ave to Ridgecrest Road (DeKalb County) — Drainage upgrades are planned along the Ponce De Leon Ave corridor. This urban arterial sees heavy daily traffic, so construction phases could mean lane shifts or localized slowdowns along that stretch.
- SR 8 Roundabouts at Eastlake and North Ponce De Leon Ave (DeKalb County) — Two roundabouts are in the pipeline along the Ponce de Leon corridor — one at SR 8 and Eastlake, and one at SR 8 where North Ponce, West Parkwood, and East Parkwood converge. This one will reshape how traffic moves through those intersections once construction begins, so worth keeping on your radar.
- SR 8/US 23 at SR 42 Intersection Improvements (DeKalb & Fulton Counties) — Turn lane extensions and additions are planned at the Ponce De Leon Ave and SR 42 intersection, spanning both DeKalb and Fulton Counties. The changes aim to improve traffic flow, but the construction phase will likely create temporary congestion at an already-busy crossroads.
- DeKalb Ave at CSX Railroad Crossing Upgrades (DeKalb County) — New two-quadrant railroad warning devices are set to be installed at the DeKalb Avenue CSX crossing. A relatively contained project, but expect brief disruptions at the crossing during installation.

Service Requests

Potholes — Reported on Briarcliff Rd NE and DeKalb Ave NE, both currently being addressed.

Traffic Signal Repair — An emergency signal issue at Clifton Rd NE & Woodruff Cir has been resolved.