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Druid Hills / North Decatur
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Hey, Druid Hills / North Decatur! This week: mosquito traps near North Decatur tested positive for West Nile virus, MARTA is holding a hearing on proposed Decatur bus route changes, and Walk Druid Hills marks its 10th anniversary with a special neighborhood walk. Add in Shaky Knees landing in Piedmont Park, the PDK Airshow, and a $17M autism research boost at Emory, and it's a packed week to catch up on.
- News — West Nile-positive mosquitoes turned up right in North Decatur, Emory and Marcus Autism Center landed $17 million for research, and DeKalb upheld its denial of a controversial data center.
- Events — Walk Druid Hills celebrates a decade with an anniversary stroll and PDK Airshow flies in on Saturday, while Shaky Knees, Hamilton, and the DeKalb Symphony's season opener give the week some serious star power.
- Government — Commissioners advanced an $17.9 million sewer loan and mobile health funding, plus a rezoning near Briarcliff Road and a historic preservation appeal on Clifton Road worth watching.
- Construction — Emory's research building and Clifton Road facilities are seeing renovation permits move forward, while new homes are rising on Memphis Drive and a demolition looms nearby.
Let's dive in.
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NEWS
West Nile mosquitoes multiply in DeKalb, plus $17M for autism research and a MARTA bus hearing
DeKalb finds more mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus
DeKalb Public Health reported that mosquito surveillance traps in Brookhaven's 30319 ZIP code and North Decatur tested positive for West Nile virus, bringing the countywide total to 10 infected traps. No human cases have been reported in the county this year, and health officials are urging residents to eliminate standing water and use insect repellent outdoors.
Marcus Autism Center, Emory University get $17 million for research
Emory University and the Marcus Autism Center secured $17 million in combined federal and institutional funding to expand clinical trials into neurodevelopmental conditions. The funding is expected to support new intervention research and community care models based on the Emory campus corridor.
DeKalb School Board to approve ESPLOST overpayment plan
The DeKalb County Board of Education is scheduled to vote on authorizing $11.9 million from ESPLOST VI overpayments to address capital project needs across the district. The board will also consider formalizing Interim Superintendent Norman Sauce as the sole finalist for the permanent superintendent position.
MARTA Hosts Public Hearing on Proposed Decatur Bus Route Changes
MARTA is holding a public hearing at the Decatur Recreation Center on September 14 to present proposed adjustments to six bus routes serving Downtown Decatur, including Routes 15, 17, 75, 114, and 118, along with changes to its MARTA Reach on-demand zone. Transit planners are hosting an informational session ahead of the public comment period to address neighborhood-specific questions.
DeKalb board upholds denial of Shadowbox data center bid
DeKalb County officials voted to uphold the zoning denial for the proposed Shadowbox data center development. The vote keeps in place earlier objections related to power grid demands and the project's proximity to residential communities.
EVENTS | Presented by
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Shaky Knees hits Piedmont Park, Airshow at PDK, Hamilton comes to the Fox, and the symphony opens its season
Monday, September 14
- StoryWalk® at Mason Mill Park | Avis Williams Library - DeKalb County
- JWJI Colloquium featuring Chaya Crowder (Loyola Marymount University) | Emory Bookstore
- Teen Take & Make: Mini Canvas Painting Kit | Avis Williams Library - DeKalb County
- Books and Babies Storytime | Avis Williams Library - DeKalb County
- PHO 05 - Darkroom Workshop (Symsick) | Callanwolde Fine Arts Center
Tuesday, September 15
- LEGO Legends Club | Avis Williams Library - DeKalb County
- DeKalb Symphony Orchestra Season 62 Opening Night | Schwartz Center for Performing Arts
- Hamilton (Touring) | Fox Theatre - Atlanta
Wednesday, September 16
- Story Time | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Drop-In Technology Support | Avis Williams Library - DeKalb County
Thursday, September 17
- Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Discussion | Avis Williams Library - DeKalb County
- Dino Talk | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Friday, September 18
- Shaky Knees Music Festival | Piedmont Park Magnolia Hall
- Friday Movies | Avis Williams Library - DeKalb County
- Live Animal Encounter | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Saturday, September 19
- Forestry Day | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Live Music: Waits for No Man at 4 pm | Wild Heaven Toco Hills
- 11th Annual Broadleaf Writers Conference | DeKalb County Public Library Decatur Branch
- Walk Druid Hills 10 year anniversary walk | Druid Hills Civic Association Events
- Citizen Science For Everyone: Intro to iNaturalist & Plant ID Ramble | Vista Yoga
- The Creatives' Gathering | 2302 Parklake Dr NE
- Family Yoga | Avis Williams Library - DeKalb County
- 🎟️ATLANTA VICE * ticketed show | Napoleon's Grill
- PDK Air Show | DeKalb-Peachtree Airport
- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Football vs. Mercer Bears Football | Bobby Dodd Stadium
Sunday, September 20
- Blackfoot Daisy | Wild Heaven Toco Hills
- Atlanta Comic Convention | Atlanta Marriott Northeast/Emory Area
- Family Nature Walk | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
GOVERNMENT | Presented by
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DeKalb OKs $17.9M sewer loan, mobile health funding, and sidewalk/bridge design contracts
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 Committee of the Whole pushed several big-ticket infrastructure and health items forward to the full board for approval. Commissioners moved to accept an $17.88 million state loan to upgrade a major sewer trunk line, a project meant to keep wastewater systems from failing as the county grows. They also advanced nearly $2.9 million in contracts to expand in-home and mobile healthcare services for uninsured and underinsured residents, including a new mobile health unit and expanded maternal care. On the transportation side, the board teed up over $8 million in design contracts for sidewalk additions, a bridge replacement, and a trail extension that will eventually improve walkability and connectivity in parts of the county, including a bridge project on North Druid Hills Road. Commissioners rounded out the meeting by advancing a pilot composting program for 500 households and youth safety funding for area schools and community groups. All items now head to the full Board of Commissioners for final votes.
Notable Neighborhood Mentions
DeKalb County Board of Commissioners
- 3040 Briarcliff Road — A rezoning application to rezone the property from Office-Institution to Local Commercial to allow salon suites was scheduled for an upcoming Board of Commissioners public hearing.
- 1080 Clifton Road — An appeal of a Historic Preservation Commission decision concerning the property was scheduled to go before the full Board of Commissioners.
Meetings This Week
- DeKalb County School District — Board of Education | Sep-14 | key topics: superintendent finalist announcement, portable air conditioning contracts, school modernization projects, and student assignment and law enforcement policies
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners | Sep-15, 9:00 AM
- DeKalb County School District — Board of Education Called Meeting | Sep-16 | key topics: E-SPLOST VII sales tax updates and executive session action items
CONSTRUCTION
Emory renovations move forward, new homes rise on Memphis Dr, and a demolition looms on Clifton Rd
Permits
- 101 Woodruff Cir NE — Emory University filed for an interior renovation on part of the 3rd floor at the Woodruff Memorial Research Building. It's ready to issue, so expect contractor activity inside soon.
- 1364 Clifton Rd NE — Fire sprinkler system modification approved and issued at this Emory-area building.
- 1784 N Decatur Rd NE — Emory University pulled a permit for fire sprinkler renovations across floors 4 and 5. Issued and moving forward.
- 868 Artwood Rd NE — A $150,000 residential project wrapped up here, including tree removal, retaining walls, a new pool, patio, and landscaping. That's a lot of outdoor construction now closed out, so the yard transformation is done.
- Memphis Dr — David Weekley Homes closed out a permit for a new 3-story house on lot 16, valued at $245,000. New construction here signals more development in the pipeline for this street.
- Auguste Ave and Sonata Ter — Water meter permits closed for lots 47 and 62, each tied to $215,000 in valuation. Both point to new home builds progressing in these lots.
- Briarmill Rd NE — A $50,000 renovation closed out, covering a kitchen remodel, main-floor updates, and a new wood deck addition. Deck construction means some recent sawing and hammering in the area.
- 1405 Clifton Rd NE — A sewer plug permit is pending for building demolition. Once approved, expect a teardown at this Emory-adjacent address.
Road Work
Under Construction
- SR 236 / LaVista Rd & Shepherds Ln Signal Upgrade — This project is upgrading traffic signals on SR 236 / LaVista Rd at Shepherds Ln.
Utility Work
DeKalb County Press Releases:
- Peachtree Boulevard Lane Closure Sept. 8 — A lane closure is scheduled along Peachtree Boulevard on Sept. 8 through Oct. 2. Drivers should expect potential delays and plan alternative routes.
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Until next week,
Druid Hills / North Decatur Busybody
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Disclaimer: We use advanced data retrieval and analysis techniques across hundreds of sources, and may be prone to occasional error. Independently verify information with a secondary source, and please let us know if we got anything wrong via the feedback form.
