Emory / Druid Hills: DeKalb Development and Novo Cucina

Good morning, neighbors; this week we prepare for the return of the Druid Hills Home & Garden Tour and welcome a new restaurant to the neighborhood. Between a new economic roadmap for DeKalb, some necessary scrutiny over school spending, and a fresh Italian takeout option on Briarcliff, there is plenty to discuss over a coffee at Toco Hills this morning.

- News — From a new economic roadmap for DeKalb to superintendent travel scrutiny, we're looking at the big stories shaping our community this week.
- Business — BusyBody ATL Exclusive: Novo Cucina is now open for takeout on Briarcliff while they await their liquor license.
- Events — The neighborhood's spring social season hits its peak with the return of the Historic Druid Hills Home & Garden Tour and a "Back to the Future" adult prom at Fernbank.
- Government — County commissioners are back in session this Tuesday to hash out departmental budgets and the policy resolutions that impact our local infrastructure.
- Construction — Major upgrades are moving forward at Emory's MRI suites and along the LaVista Road corridor, and lane closures are back after the Spring Break reprieve.

Referral Contest Update: Our current leading referrer has 3 referrals, so it’s still anyone’s game! As a reminder, whoever makes the most referrals by May 10th wins a $50 gift card to Fifth Group Restaurants. Spreading the word and helping us grow means a lot to us and allows us to keep this thing going.

Beyond referring family and friends directly, you can also post / comment your referral link on social (Reddit, Nextdoor, FB groups). Just do so in a helpful, relevant, non-spammy way or people will rightfully dunk on you for posting. As another reminder, you can win rewards beyond just the $50 gift card:

Let’s dive in.

NEWS

Decide DeKalb approves strategic economic development plan
County leaders have officially greenlit a new roadmap designed to dictate how and where investment flows across DeKalb for the next several years. While "strategic plans" are rarely light reading, this one will have a very real impact on the commercial corridors and infrastructure priorities that touch property values from North Druid Hills to Toco Hills.

DeKalb superintendent travel costs draw scrutiny after Horton's federal indictment
Fiscal transparency at DeKalb County Schools is back in the spotlight as Superintendent Devon Horton's travel spending faces new questions following a federal indictment. For parents in the Druid Hills school cluster, it's yet another chapter in the district's leadership saga — and a reminder to keep an eye on where those tax dollars are going.

Traffic Alert: Emergency road work on I-285 NB causing delays in DeKalb County
Commuters heading toward the top end from Briarcliff Heights or Toco Hills dealt with a massive bottleneck this week due to emergency repairs on a hole that opened up in the road on I-285. Nothing says "aging infrastructure" like a surprise hole in I-285 turning your morning commute into a parking lot.

BUSINESS

Novo Cucina — BusyBody ATL Original — Novo Cucina has just opened for takeout on Briarcliff while they wait on their liquor license to get approved. Get your orders in early and welcome the newest addition to the neighborhood.

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EVENTS

The neighborhood is shifting into high gear this week as the Historic Druid Hills Gala and Home & Garden Tour returns, offering a rare look inside some of Atlanta's most storied estates and private landscapes.

Monday, April 13
- StoryWalk® at Mason Mill Park | Avis Williams Library
- JWJI Colloquium featuring Tiffany Joseph | Emory Bookstore
- Oscar Film Festival | Avis Williams Library
- English as a Second Language (ESL) | Avis Williams Library
- Weekday Winning: Mega Mondays | Wild Heaven Toco Hills

Tuesday, April 14
- Screening Solidarity: Film Screening + Filmmaker Panel | White Hall Room 112
- Bingo | Avis Williams Library
- An Evening with Jon Lindstrom | Virginia Highland Books
- Tuesday Trivia @ Toco Hills | Wild Heaven Toco Hills
- Willie Watson w/ special guest William Matheny | Eddie's Attic

Wednesday, April 15
- Historic Druid Hills Gala | Druid Hills Civic Association
- Whiskey Bird Anniversary Luau | Virginia Highland District
- Charlemos | Casa Emory
- Drop-In Technology Support | Avis Williams Library
- Oscar Film Festival | Avis Williams Library

Thursday, April 16
- Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Discussion | Avis Williams Library
- Bioentrepreneurship Networking Founders Series | Health Sciences Research Building II
- Wild Minds with Dr. Daniel Matisoff | Wild Heaven Toco Hills
- Tenille Townes w/ special guest Corrina | Eddie's Attic
- Jane Hirshfield Lecture: Old Ponds, Leaping Frogs, and the Making of this Moment's Meaning | Atlanta Botanical Garden

Friday, April 17
- Historic Home & Garden Tour | Druid Hills Civic Association
- Adult Prom: Back to the Future | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Ascension Oratorio by the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra | Glenn Memorial UMC Church
- Friday Movies: Song Sung Blue | Avis Williams Library
- The Gently Used Plant Sale | Atlanta Botanical Garden

Saturday, April 18
- Historic Home & Garden Tour | Druid Hills Civic Association
- Artful Stories for ages 3-6: Remember by Joy Harjo | Michael C. Carlos Museum
- Legacy Community Day and Decatur Earth Day Festival | Legacy Park
- Spring Makers Market | Decatur Makers
- Atlanta Philharmonic Orchestra Presents: Flying with Friends | North Decatur Presbyterian Church

Sunday, April 19
- Historic Home & Garden Tour | Druid Hills Civic Association
- Themestock 14 | Wild Heaven Toco Hills
- Family Nature Walk | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Live Animal Encounter | Fernbank Museum of Natural History

GOVERNMENT

Note: it’s an unusually quiet week as many governing bodies take spring break; if you’re new here, you can see what this section usually looks like in prior issues

Meetings This Week
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Board of Commissioners, April 14 at 9:00 AM
This regular business meeting serves as the county's primary legislative session for voting on departmental budgets, contracts, and policy resolutions.

- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole, April 14 at 9:00 AM
This agenda-setting session allows commissioners to review upcoming legislation and receive presentations from the CEO's administration before items move to a formal vote.

CONSTRUCTION

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Permits
- 1365 Clifton Rd NE — A 1,270-square-foot renovation is underway on the first floor of the Emory University Hospital Patient Tower. Expect some internal construction dust as the hospital refreshes its patient-facing facilities.
- 1364 Clifton Rd NE — Major technical upgrades are coming to Emory's MRI Suite #2. The permit covers the removal and replacement of heavy MRI equipment and a full renovation of the adjoining anesthesia suite.
- Houston Mill Rd — $600K new home construction. A significant residential investment for the area, this project includes a new detached single-family home with an unfinished basement.
- Briarcliff Rd — $260K major residential addition. This project involves some "non-historic" demolition to make room for a new dining room, living room, guest suite, and basement bathroom.
- Dyson Dr — $145K kitchen and laundry room renovation. While it stays within the existing footprint, the price tag suggests a high-end overhaul for this neighborhood home.
- Oxford Rd — $120K for 37 linear feet of retaining walls. At that price point, expect some heavy-duty site work and grading near the street.
- W Ponce De Leon Ave — $90K residential expansion. The owners are adding a new sunroom, a bedroom with a walk-in closet, and a new two-car garage to the back of the property.

Road Work

Under Construction
- SR-236 & Shepherds Lane Signal Upgrade (DeKalb County) — Signal modernization at the intersection near the edge of Toco Hills. This project just moved to active construction this week; expect periodic lane closures as crews begin electrical work and hardware installation.
- SR-236 EB @ SR 155 Left Turn Lane Extension (DeKalb County) — Work just kicked off on the left-turn lane extension at the busy intersection of LaVista Road and Clairmont Road. This project was recently upgraded from "Awarded" to active construction. If this is your morning route through Toco Hills, watch for shifts in the eastbound lanes.
- SR-236/LaVista Road @ SR-42/Briarcliff Road Intersection Improvements (DeKalb County) — This long-running intersection reconfiguration in the heart of Druid Hills is still under construction and has recently faced timeline extensions through Summer 2027. Work includes widening for new turn lanes and bike lanes, so expect continued delays and narrowed lanes near the Whole Foods shopping center.
- I-85 @ SR-42/North Druid Hills Road Interchange Improvements (DeKalb County) — Major construction continues at the I-85 interchange to finalize the "Displaced Left Turn" configuration and associated bridge work over Peachtree Creek. While substantial completion was reached on the main ramps, crews are currently finishing the Executive Park vehicular bridge and pedestrian connections.
- Peachtree Creek Greenway Phase II (DeKalb County) — Significant nearby state-supported work is active to extend the trail from North Druid Hills Road southwest toward the Atlanta city limits. Though primarily a trail project, expect minor utility work and equipment staging along the North Druid Hills corridor as right-of-way clearance enters its final phase this month.

Pre-Construction
- SR 155 (Clairmont Rd) at North Druid Hills Rd & Azalea Cir (DeKalb County) — Pedestrian safety upgrades featuring a new shared-use path along the south side of North Druid Hills and a 6-foot-wide sidewalk on the north side.
- SR 236 (Lavista Rd) at North Druid Hills Rd (DeKalb County) — This Toco Hills intersection is slated for a new shared-use path and wider sidewalks to improve walkability around the shopping district.
- Scott Blvd Complete Streets Plan (DeKalb County) — A large-scale planning project focused on improving safety and accessibility for all modes of travel along the Scott Boulevard corridor.
- SR 8 / SR 10 (Ponce De Leon Ave) at Lullwater Creek (DeKalb County) — Upcoming structural maintenance and repairs for the bridge crossing Lullwater Creek in the heart of Druid Hills.
- SR 155 (Clairmont Rd) at SR 236 (Lavista Rd) (DeKalb County) — A restriping project to improve lane clarity and traffic flow at this high-volume Toco Hills junction.
- SR 8 (Ponce De Leon Ave) Roundabouts (DeKalb County) — Significant traffic flow changes are coming to the Ponce corridor with two proposed roundabouts: one at Eastlake and another at the intersection of North Ponce and East/West Parkwood.
- SR 8 (Ponce De Leon Ave) Drainage Improvements (DeKalb County) — Infrastructure work between South Ponce De Leon Ave and Ridgecrest Road aimed at improving drainage and preventing flooding on this primary arterial.
- North Druid Hills Road at CSX Bridge (DeKalb County) — A 2,600-foot stretch of the corridor between Spring Creek Drive and Willivee Drive is set for improvements, focusing on the bridge over the CSX tracks.

Service Requests
- Potholes — Three reports filed along Oakdale Rd NE and one on Rock Springs Cir NE.