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Druid Hills / North Decatur
Hey, Druid Hills and North Decatur! Lots to discuss this week. A Los Angeles firm just dropped $51 million on apartments in your backyard, DeKalb approved its largest-ever housing investment (funded by your property taxes), and a $30 million assisted living complex is headed to Briarcliff Road. Plus, Fernbank hosts a birthday Dino Bash this weekend!
- News — A $51M apartment sale signals intensifying demand in the area, DeKalb passes its biggest-ever housing fund, and Emory is rethinking how it prepares students for an AI-reshaped job market.
- Events — Fernbank's birthday Dinosaur Bash headlines Saturday, and Eagle Eye Book Shop has author events nearly every night of the week.
- Government — Property taxes, stormwater fees, and sanitation costs are all going up after last week's Board of Commissioners vote, and a pedestrian safety project at North Decatur and Ridgewood is back on the agenda for Monday.
- Construction — A $30 million, five-floor assisted living complex at 1260 Briarcliff Road leads a week that saw 60-plus permits filed across the neighborhood.
Let's dive in.
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NEWS
$51M apartment sale, a record DeKalb housing fund, and Emory's AI reckoning
Los Angeles firm snags North Druid Hills apartments for $51 million as medical hub expansion fuels demand
Los Angeles-based Lion Real Estate Group has paid $51 million for the 292-unit Briarhill Apartments in North Druid Hills, a signifier of how the expanding medical hub nearby is pulling in workers and driving up housing demand.
Property tax increase funds new DeKalb housing initiatives
DeKalb County just approved its largest-ever housing investment, and your property tax bill will help pay for it. The funding targets affordable housing expansion and homelessness reduction across the county.
Universities rethink how to prepare students as AI redefines what it means to start a career
Emory University is one of several Atlanta colleges restructuring its academic programs and career services as artificial intelligence continues to reshape entry-level hiring.
New Ronald McDonald House intentionally designed for healing, comfort and connection
The new $81 million Ronald McDonald House on the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta campus is open: click the link to see images of the thoughtful design for families experiencing some of their hardest times.
EVENTS | Presented by
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Fernbank turns 35 with a Dinosaur Birthday Bash, plus author nights at Eagle Eye
Monday, July 13
- Naima Simone & Kenya Goree-Bell- Ember | Eagle Eye Book Shop
- StoryWalk® at Mason Mill Park | Avis Williams Library - DeKalb County
- American Red Cross Blood Drive | Avis Williams Library - DeKalb County
- Books and Babies Storytime | Avis Williams Library - DeKalb County
Tuesday, July 14
- Paul Tremblay - Dead But Dreaming of Electric Sheep | Eagle Eye Book Shop
- Live Animal Encounter | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Bingo | Avis Williams Library - DeKalb County
Wednesday, July 15
- WIND DOWN WEDNESDAY: LIVE AT LONDZELL | Londzell Performing Arts Theatre
- Dino Talk | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Preschool Storytime | Avis Williams Library - DeKalb County
Thursday, July 16
- Brittainy C Cherry & Kandi Steiner- Karla & Ash | Eagle Eye Book Shop
- Live Animal Encounter | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Discussion | Avis Williams Library - DeKalb County
- Snack and Screen | Avis Williams Library - DeKalb County
Friday, July 17
- Thirsty Neighbors | Wild Heaven Toco Hills
- The Flying Saucers 🛸 | Napoleon's Grill
- FIFA KICK SHOWCASE | Londzell Performing Arts Theatre
- Dino Talk | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Friday Movies | Avis Williams Library - DeKalb County
Saturday, July 18
- Dinosaur Birthday Bash | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Marsoupial | Wild Heaven Toco Hills
- Atlanta Hair & Beauty Showcase | Londzell Performing Arts Theatre
- Meet a Ranger | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Live Animal Encounter | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Sunday, July 19
- BREWHAHA! Drag Bingo Brunch: The Debut Show | Wild Heaven Beer & Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q at Toco Hills
- I.V. Marie- Ruinous Ends | Eagle Eye Book Shop
- Family Nature Walk | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Dino Talk | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- FIFA Watch Party | Piedmont Park
GOVERNMENT
Tax and utility bills rising, data center moratorium extended, and several items punted
Note: our information comes from posted meetings documents (agendas and minutes when available) — latest source document hyperlinked to each meeting.
Past Week Roundup
As covered in today's news section, the Board approved the 2026 property tax millage rates and budget revisions, which will directly affect what DeKalb homeowners pay this year. On top of that, the Board approved fee increases for stormwater utilities and residential sanitation services, so expect your monthly bills to tick up. The Board also extended the moratorium on new and expanded data centers in Districts 1 and 5, a move aimed at limiting heavy industrial development near residential areas. A $20.5 million contract for expansion work at the Snapfinger Wastewater Treatment Facility was approved, which helps the county keep pace with growing demand on its water infrastructure. Several items didn't make it across the finish line this week, including proposed regulations on blasting near homes, a noise ordinance update, pet shop sales restrictions, and a $4.1 million trail design contract, all deferred to future meetings. A pedestrian safety project to add a crosswalk and flashing school zone beacons at North Decatur Road at Ridgewood Drive was also deferred and is scheduled to return July 14.
The Planning Commission met July 7 and issued a slate of zoning recommendations that now head to the full Board of Commissioners for a final vote on August 13. The biggest residential item was a 7-1 vote to recommend approval of a new townhome community on Chamblee-Tucker Road, with a 25% rental cap and a required rear buffer fence attached as conditions. The commission unanimously recommended denial of a proposed package store on Covington Highway, consistent with staff recommendations. Home-based daycare operations on Tarragon Drive and Princeton Park Trail both received recommended approvals, with conditions requiring distance verification from other childcare facilities and at least six-foot buffer fencing. A rezoning request on Gresham Road for a townhome project was deferred a full cycle and will return to the agenda in September 2026. Keep in mind these are advisory recommendations, and the Board of Commissioners makes the final call next month.
Meetings This Week
- DeKalb County School District — Board of Education | Jul-13 | key topics: $15M K-12 social studies curriculum purchase, $3M district-wide roofing repairs, $2.69M public safety technology renewals, new AI classroom use policy
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Regular Meeting | Jul-14, 9:00 AM | key topics: $233M Scott Candler Water Treatment Plant overhaul, pedestrian safety upgrades at N. Decatur Rd & Ridgewood Dr and Stephenson Rd & Valley Brook Rd, new data center environmental review rules, nuisance property and vacant building ordinances
CONSTRUCTION
A $30M assisted living complex leads the week, plus 60+ permits filed
Permits
The biggest project by far is the massive assisted living complex at 1260 Briarcliff Rd, a $30 million build that includes 56 independent and assisted living units across five floors, with three additional daylight basement levels. Memory support is part of the plan too. That's a serious addition to the area's housing stock for older residents. A few other projects worth watching:
- McConnell Dr — $375K new single-family home under construction. Outdoor work is underway.
- Amsterdam Ave — $483K interior renovation. Kitchen, bathrooms, and a wall removal to open up the floor plan, plus window replacements.
- Cornell Rd NE — $60K pool and spa installation permitted. Expect some yard noise while that gets done.
- Woodland Hills Dr NE — $53K porch addition with a new roof at the front of the house, plus extended eaves.
- 1405 Clifton Rd NE — A temporary construction trailer is going in to support an active demolition project. More disruption likely on that block in the weeks ahead.
Beyond those highlights, there were 60 additional residential and minor permits filed this week, covering everything from routine repairs to small business work, with a combined estimated value just under $456K.
Road Work
Under Construction
- Lavista EB Left Turn Lane Extension Active construction is underway to extend the left turn lane at the Lavista and Clairmont intersection.
- Lavista & Shepherds Lane Signal Upgrade Workers are upgrading the traffic signal at SR-236 and Shepherds Lane. It's a smaller scope project, but signal work can mean short delays and shifting traffic patterns, so stay alert through that stretch.
-Cliff Valley Way DeKalb Watershed is closing off this handy cut-through again through August 10th (unfortunately for those who have to brave the Clairmont I-85 exit as part of their daily commute).
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Until next week,
Druid Hills / North Decatur Busybody
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.
