Emory / Druid Hills: Emory Buys a Mall, and DeKalb's DA Takes the State to Court

Hey, Emory and Druid Hills neighbors! World Cup kickoff week! In other news, Emory Healthcare just acquired Northlake Mall, a move that says a lot about where the health system is headed, and DeKalb's District Attorney is taking the state to court over a law that could reshape how you vote in local elections. Plenty more below, including a $325 million water repair contract, a packed events calendar, and some serious construction activity on roads you drive every day.

- News — DeKalb's DA is suing the state over nonpartisan elections, and the school district is gearing up for a major sales tax vote that will shape facilities funding for years.
- Business — Emory Healthcare has purchased the hollowed-out Northlake Mall, and it's not hard to imagine what a health system does with a building that size. Also, the Post Office on Briarcliff is permanently closed.
- Events — It's a full week, with events at Callanwolde, Fernbank, and Emory, as well as World Cup celebrations in nearby Decatur and down in Old Fourth Ward.
- Government — A $325.5 million emergency water and sewer contract is advancing to the full commission, a data center moratorium heads to public hearing, and the school board opens millage rate hearings this week.
- Construction — A major phased gut-job is underway at 1784 N Decatur, an $850K whole-house renovation is in the works on E Clifton, and two roundabouts are proposed along the Ponce de Leon corridor.

Let's dive in.

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NEWS

DeKalb Schools prepares vote on sales tax, bonding authority
The DeKalb County School District is moving toward a public vote on extending its sales tax and securing new bonding authority — decisions that will shape how the district funds buildings, repairs, and capital projects for years to come. For families with kids in Brookhaven, Chamblee, and across the district, what happens at that vote will show up in their schools long after the ballots are counted.

Some DeKalb leaders want to double distance required between data centers, homes
If you've ever lived near one of these facilities, you know the problem: the hum never stops. DeKalb commissioners are now pushing to double the required buffer zone between new data centers and residential neighborhoods, a direct response to mounting complaints about noise and environmental strain from homeowners who didn't sign up to live next to an industrial server farm.

Emory business school sees more military veteran grads
Goizueta Business School is marking a meaningful milestone: more military veterans are crossing its graduation stage than ever before, a trend the school credits to focused recruitment and support programs. It's a quiet but genuinely good-news story from the Emory campus, where a growing cohort of vets is trading service uniforms for business degrees.

DeKalb DA files lawsuit against nonpartisan elections law
District Attorney Sherry Boston is taking the state to court over a new law that would strip party labels from local elections in several metro Atlanta counties, arguing the mandate oversteps legislative authority. The lawsuit puts a sharp question on the table — one that could determine whether DeKalb voters see a fundamentally different kind of ballot in the next election cycle.

BUSINESS

Northlake Mall - ownership change - Emory Healthcare has acquired the long-struggling Northlake Mall, which had shed its last major retail anchors — Sears, JCPenney, and Macy's — in recent years, leaving the once-bustling Tucker destination largely hollowed out. For a health system already expanding its footprint across the region, a sprawling mall property is a natural next chapter; don't be surprised if exam rooms eventually outnumber what was once a food court.

Briarcliff Rd. Post Office - closed - for regulars at this post office, you’ll know this has been a long time coming considering everything else in this strip mall is already shuttered. While a bit Northeast of the area, a heads up for anyone who may regularly use this location.

EVENTS | Presented by

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Monday, June 8
- StoryWalk® at Mason Mill Park | Avis Williams Library - DeKalb County
- TPD 03 - Figure Drawing | Callanwolde Fine Arts Center
- Books and Babies Storytime | Avis Williams Library - DeKalb County
- Story Time | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Teen Take & Make: Dinosaur Terrarium | Avis Williams Library - DeKalb County
- TCC 02 - Teen Wheel Throwing - 2-Week Intensive | Callanwolde Fine Arts Center
- TPD 04 - Teen Zine Week | Callanwolde Fine Arts Center
- English as a Second Language (ESL) | Avis Williams Library - DeKalb County

Tuesday, June 9
- Live Animal Encounter | Fernbank Museum of Natural History

Wednesday, June 10]
- Dino Talk | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Drop-In Technology Support | Avis Williams Library - DeKalb County
- Preschool Storytime | Avis Williams Library - DeKalb County

Thursday, June 11
- Cookbook Club | Avis Williams Library - DeKalb County
- Jewelry with Gin Live! | Avis Williams Library - DeKalb County
- Live Animal Encounter | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Decatur WatchFest 26 | Downtown Decatur Square

Friday, June 12
- The Modern Atlanta Dance (MAD) Festival | Emory University – Performing Arts Studio
- Fernbank After Dark: Game Changers | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Kristina Forest & Ashley Jordan- The Summer Girlfriend | Eagle Eye Book Shop
- Family Nature Walk | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Friday Movies | Avis Williams Library - DeKalb County
- Dino Talk | Fernbank Museum of Natural History

Saturday, June 13
- Summer Community Meeting- New Space, Date and Time | Medlock Area Neighborhood Association
- Explorasaurus Rex | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Family Yoga | Avis Williams Library - DeKalb County
- T. rex: The Ultimate Predator | Fernbank Museum
- Dino Talk | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Introducing O4W Soccer Program, Kickoff Festival | Historic Fourth Ward Park

Sunday, June 14
- Courtney Maum & Evan Porter- Alan Opts Out | Eagle Eye Book Shop
- Family Nature Walk | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Live Animal Encounter | Fernbank Museum of Natural History

GOVERNMENT

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 – Committee of the Whole

The committee's June 2 session was dominated by big-ticket infrastructure spending, with several major items advanced to the full Board of Commissioners for final approval. Most eye-catching was a $325.5 million multi-year emergency contract for countywide water and sewer repairs, split among six vendors to allow for rapid response — a significant commitment that signals the county is taking its aging underground infrastructure seriously. The committee also moved forward a $20.6 million contract for construction management at the Snapfinger Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility expansion, and routed a $29.8 million payment to the City of Atlanta covering joint capital improvement projects dating back to 2021. On a separate track, the committee advanced a proposal to hold a public hearing on whether to extend the county's existing moratorium on new data centers, giving residents a formal opportunity to weigh in on that debate. The committee also forwarded a proposed ordinance that would add a line-of-duty death benefit to the county pension code for first responders who die on the job on or after September 1, 2026. Smaller district-level items — including mobile veterinary services funding and a kudzu removal program — were routed to the consent agenda.

DeKalb County School District – Board of Education

The DeKalb County School Board held two separate called meetings on June 1, both focused on major upcoming financial decisions rather than finalizing any votes. In the first session, the board received a formal presentation on the E-SPLOST VII resolution — the next iteration of the education sales tax that funds school construction, technology upgrades, and facility renovations across the county — though no vote was recorded. In the second session, the board held its first public budget presentation and its first millage rate hearing, each paired with a community input opportunity, but again no budget was adopted and no millage rate was set. Both meetings were early steps in a multi-hearing process that will ultimately determine how much DeKalb residents pay in school-related taxes and where that money goes. Residents who want to shape those decisions should watch for upcoming hearing dates, as these sessions are specifically designed for public comment before any final votes are taken.

Atlanta Public Schools – Board of Education

The Atlanta Board of Education met June 1 with a packed agenda headlined by a scheduled final vote on the district's FY 2027 budget, covering everything from the General Fund to SPLOST and Nutrition funds — a decision that directly shapes how Atlanta school dollars are allocated and how property taxes are distributed. The board also considered authorizing Construction Management at Risk contracts for building and site improvements at Midtown High School and Maynard Jackson High School, two major projects that will affect students, staff, and neighbors near those campuses. On the student experience front, the board weighed purchasing Yondr cell-phone pouches — lockable pouches designed to keep phones secured during the school day — a move that would mark a meaningful shift in how APS handles device use district-wide. Fleet and safety investments were also on the table, including 22 new school buses, 13 service vehicles for Facilities and Transportation staff, and a public safety radio signal enhancement system to improve first-responder communication inside school buildings. Because minutes are posted, these items were formally before the board, though readers should verify final vote outcomes for any item of particular interest.

Meetings This Week
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole — Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at 9:00 AM
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Board of Commissioners — Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at 9:00 AM
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Board of Commissioners — Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at 6:30 PM
- DeKalb County School District — Board of Education — Thursday, June 11, 2026, J. David Williamson Board Room. The board is scheduled to hold its second public hearing on the proposed millage rate, giving residents an opportunity to weigh in on the school district's property tax rate before a final vote at a later meeting.
- DeKalb County School District — Board of Education — Monday, June 15, 2026, J. David Williamson Board Room.
- DeKalb County School District — Board of Education — Monday, June 15, 2026, J. David Williamson Board Room.

CONSTRUCTION | Presented by

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Permits

- 1784 N Decatur Rd NE — A full building renovation is underway across multiple floors (G-1, Level 2, and Levels 4–5), with separate permits filed for each level covering MEP modifications and complete interior demolition. A fourth permit for interior demo only is also in the queue. This is a significant, phased commercial gut-job — expect construction activity here for a while.
- E Clifton Rd — $850K permit for a major renovation of a 2-story house: kitchen, five bathrooms, six bedrooms, laundry, office, plus a new 1-story rear addition. One of the larger residential projects in the area right now.
- E Clifton Rd — $269K interior renovation covering the first floor — kitchen, living and dining rooms, mudroom, powder bath, and pantry. A substantial single-family refresh.
- 1300 Clifton Rd NE — Fire sprinkler additions and relocations permitted at this Emory-area address. Routine safety upgrade, but suggests interior changes are happening behind the scenes.
- 1518 Clifton Rd NE — Antenna upgrades to an existing rooftop telecom facility. Minor work, but good news if your signal in the area has been spotty.
- 855 Emory Point Dr NE — Heat pump and air handler replacement in the gym/leasing office at Emory Point. Maintenance work, but notable for residents of the complex heading into summer.
- 1540 Ave Pl NE — An occupancy permit filed with no interior modifications — a tenant moving into an already built-out space. Watch this address for a new business announcement.

Beyond these highlights, 31 additional residential and minor permits were filed across the area, mostly routine single-family work, HVAC swaps, and a couple of new business filings — totaling roughly $243K in estimated value.

Road Work

Under Construction
- SR-236 Signal Upgrade at Shepherds Lane (DeKalb County) — Signal work is underway at the SR-236 and Shepherds Lane intersection, about a mile from the neighborhood. Expect some delays at this crossing, especially during peak hours.
- SR-236 Eastbound Left Turn Lane Extension at SR-155 (DeKalb County) — Workers are extending the eastbound left turn lane where SR-236 meets SR-155 (Candler Road). If you're heading east on LaVista toward Candler, build in extra time while construction crews are active.

Pre-Construction
- SR 155 / North Druid Hills Rd Shared-Use Path (DeKalb County) — A shared-use path is planned along the south side of North Druid Hills Road, plus a 6-foot sidewalk along the north side, near the Azalea Circle intersection. Good news for pedestrians and cyclists in the area — when construction eventually kicks off, expect some disruption along this stretch.
- SR 236 @ North Druid Hills Road Pedestrian Improvements (DeKalb County) — Same treatment coming to the SR 236 / North Druid Hills Road intersection: a shared-use path on the south side and a 6-foot sidewalk on the north. Funded and in the pipeline, but no start date yet.
- Scott Blvd Complete Streets Plan (DeKalb County) — A complete streets overhaul is slated for Scott Boulevard. Details on scope are limited right now, but "complete streets" typically means reconfigured lanes, improved bike and pedestrian infrastructure, and updated crossings. Worth watching.
- SR 8 / Ponce de Leon Ave Bridge Maintenance @ Lullwater Creek (DeKalb County) — Structural maintenance is coming to the bridge carrying Ponce de Leon Avenue over Lullwater Creek. Pre-construction for now, but when work begins, expect lane impacts on a heavily traveled corridor.
- SR 155 / US 23 @ SR 236 Restriping (DeKalb County) — A restriping project is planned at the Clairmont / North Druid Hills intersection with LaVista Road. Straightforward lane marking work, but it'll mean temporary disruptions at a notoriously busy intersection.
- SR 8 / Ponce de Leon Ave Roundabouts — Eastlake & North Ponce (DeKalb County) — Two roundabouts are proposed along the Ponce de Leon corridor: one at SR 8 and Eastlake Drive, and a second at SR 8 near North Ponce, West Parkwood, and East Parkwood. Still in pre-construction, but this will be a significant change to the road layout when it moves forward.
- SR 8 / Ponce de Leon Ave Drainage Improvements (DeKalb County) — Drainage work is planned along Ponce de Leon Avenue between South Ponce de Leon Ave and Ridgecrest Road. Funded and designated as part of the Atlanta MPO network — construction timeline TBD.
- North Druid Hills Road Bridge @ CSX Rail Crossing (DeKalb County) — Bridge work is planned along a 2,600-foot corridor on North Druid Hills Road between Spring Creek Drive and Willivee Drive. The CSX crossing is included in the project limits, so commuters using this stretch should keep an eye on when this moves to active construction.

Service Requests

Traffic Signal Repairs — Five intersections have flagged signal issues: Oakdale Rd & Fairview Rd, Clifton Rd & Haygood Dr, Decatur Rd & Haygood Dr, Haygood Dr NE & N Decatur Rd, and Ponce de Leon Ave & Springdale Rd.

Downed Trees — Two reports near Rock Springs Rd, at the Rock Springs Rd intersection and along Rock Spring Circle NE.

Potholes — Saint Charles Pl & Briarcliff Rd. The report was flagged as a duplicate, suggesting this one has been in the queue for a while.

ROW Litter Removal — E Springs Rd NE.

Missed Sanitation Collection — W Parkwood Rd.