Emory / Druid Hills: Emory Sues, Buys, and Builds

Before we get into it this week: we’d love to hear from you on how we’re doing and suggestions for things you want to see more of or less of each week. If you could take 2 seconds to reply to this survey, we’d appreciate it a ton.

Hello, Emory and Druid Hills neighbors — it's been a consequential week on Clifton Road and beyond. Emory is making headlines on two fronts: faculty are suing the university over protest arrests, and the institution is moving to scoop up a bankrupt cancer center in a one-bidder auction. Meanwhile, a wave of pedestrian upgrades is headed to North Druid Hills Road — keep reading for the full picture.

- News — Three Emory faculty members are suing over Gaza protest arrests, DeKalb water customers are sitting on $288M in unpaid bills, and the Olmsted Plein Air Invitational turned our neighborhood sidewalks into an open-air gallery.
- Events — It's an exceptionally full week, from young eco-activists at Decatur Library Monday night to Bug Fest at Fernbank and the Little Shop of Stories Children's Book Festival on Saturday.
- Government — DeKalb County committees advanced a $52M sewer emergency fix and a $26.6M contract for three new fire stations — plus the school board is taking up AI policy and a new literacy plan this week.
- Construction — Emory Hospital has a chilled water expansion permit in the pipeline, and a pair of pre-construction projects will bring shared-use paths and new sidewalks to the North Druid Hills Road corridor.

Referral Contest Update: Shoutout to Kay S. with 7 referrals! A few of you are hot on her heels, though, and right now only 8 total referrals puts you in the lead for the grand prize.

As a reminder, whoever makes the most referrals by May 10th wins a $50 gift card to Fifth Group Restaurants. Even if you don’t win the contest, though, we have other rewards you can win (see below). These referrals are much appreciated, as helping us grow means a lot to us and allows us to keep this thing going.

Let’s dive in:

NEWS

Emory professors file lawsuit against university over arrests during Gaza war protest
The fallout from the 2024 campus protests is still winding its way through the legal system, with three faculty members now claiming the university violated its own free speech policies. By calling in outside police to clear the quad, the professors argue the administration prioritized optics over the very academic freedom it claims to champion. It is a messy institutional conflict that ensures the tension on Clifton Road isn't fading into the archives just yet.

Who wants to buy a bankrupted cancer treatment center? Emory does
Despite being the only provider of proton therapy in the state, the Emory Proton Therapy Center has found itself in the middle of a bankruptcy auction with exactly one bidder. Emory University is moving to buy the center outright, looking to stabilize the specialized facility and keep it firmly within its medical portfolio. For residents who rely on the North Druid Hills medical corridor, the move likely means business as usual, even if the balance sheets have been anything but.

Artists take to Atlanta streets for Olmsted Plein Air Invitational
If you noticed easels lining the sidewalks of the Olmsted Linear Park this past week, you were witnessing the world-class Plein Air Invitational in action. The event turned our historic green spaces and neighborhood dogwoods into live canvases, culminating this weekend in a showcase of the city's largest open-air art competition.

A Runway Forward: For one writer, Emory Winship Cancer Institute's fashion fundraiser strikes a personal note
Cancer treatment is rarely described as glamorous, but the Winship Cancer Institute recently traded clinical corridors for a runway to raise money for patient support. The fundraiser highlights the deeply personal connection between the institute and the families in our community who have spent terrifying hours in those waiting rooms. It's a rare moment where the heavy lifting of oncology meets a bit of much-needed light and style.

DeKalb water customers still owe $288M in unpaid bills
DeKalb County is staring down a massive $288 million hole in its water department budget, a staggering figure that should make every local homeowner take a second look at their next statement. If the county can't figure out a way to collect on these delinquent accounts, the rest of us may eventually be footing the bill through inevitable infrastructure rate hikes.

Dear Decaturish — DeKalb Schools' data credibility problem
Trust in our local school system is built on reliable numbers, and right now, those numbers are looking a bit shaky. This critique of the district's data management hits home for parents in the Medlock Park and Oak Grove areas who rely on transparent reporting for everything from redistricting to academic performance. It's a call for accountability that suggests we should be looking much closer at the "official" stats coming out of the main office.

EVENTS

-StoryWalk® at Mason Mill Park— Mon Apr 27 — Mason Mill Park
-Books and Babies Storytime— Mon Apr 27 — Avis Williams Library
-Toddler Storytime— Mon Apr 27 — Avis Williams Library
-Oscar Film Festival— Mon Apr 27 — Avis Williams Library
-English as a Second Language (ESL)— Mon Apr 27 — Avis Williams Library
-Weekday Winning: Mega Mondays— Mon Apr 27 — Wild Heaven Toco Hills
-Eco Revolution: Maya Penn in Conversation with Hannah Testa— Mon Apr 27 — Decatur Library
-Friends of the Toco Hill-Avis G. Williams Library Meeting— Tue Apr 28 — Avis Williams Library
-Tati Richardson & DH Renfroe - Struck Speechless— Tue Apr 28 — Eagle Eye Book Shop
-Weekday Winning: Toco Tuesdays— Tue Apr 28 — Wild Heaven Toco Hills
-Lunch & Learn At DeKalb History Center: Images Of America - Arabia Mountain NHA— Tue Apr 28 — DeKalb History Center
-Jordan Ifueko with Jill Tew - The Genie Game!— Tue Apr 28 — Little Shop of Stories
-Jeffrey Martin & H. Pruz— Tue Apr 28 — Eddie's Attic
-Drop-In Technology Support— Wed Apr 29 — Avis Williams Library
-Weekday Winning: Wicked Good Wednesday— Wed Apr 29 — Wild Heaven Toco Hills
-Volunteer Project— Wed Apr 29 — Woodlands Garden
-David Ryan Harris: In Residence at Eddie's Attic— Wed Apr 29 — Eddie's Attic
-Octave Cat— Wed Apr 29 — Smith's Olde Bar
-Sydney J. Shields & Rebecca Kenney - An Arcane Study of Stars— Thu Apr 30 — Eagle Eye Book Shop
-Weekday Winning: Thirsty Thursday— Thu Apr 30 — Wild Heaven Toco Hills
-Poetry Showcase— Thu Apr 30 — Charis Books & More
-Singing Workshop in the Pavilion— Thu Apr 30 — Woodlands Garden
-Library Dream Session with Commissioner Long-Spears— Thu Apr 30 — Decatur Library
-Friends of the Toco Hill-Avis G. Williams Library Book Sale— Fri May 1 — Avis Williams Library
-Shows for Seedlings: Interactive Songs and Stories with Michael Levine— Fri May 1 — Atlanta Botanical Garden
-"May Flowers" Group Exhibition + Art Crawl at Cat Eye Creative— Fri May 1 — Cat Eye Creative
-Jane's Walk— Fri May 1 — Downtown Decatur
-Bug Fest— Sat May 2 — Fernbank Museum of Natural History
-Friends of the Toco Hill-Avis G. Williams Library Book Sale— Sat May 2 — Avis Williams Library
-The Little Shop of Stories Children's Book Festival— Sat May 2 — Decatur Library
-Cinco De Mayo Run 5K/10K/13.1 ATLANTA— Sat May 2 — South Peachtree Creek Trail
-Relational Forest Therapy— Sat May 2, 8:00 AM — Woodlands Garden
-Sunday FUNday: Flower Myths— Sun May 3 — Michael C. Carlos Museum
-Live Animal Encounter— Sun May 3 — Fernbank Museum of Natural History
-Tacos and Tequila Festival— Sun May 3 — Piedmont Park
-Spring Clothing Swap— Sun May 3 — Dairy Barn at Legacy Park
-Music in the Garden— Sun May 3 — Woodlands Garden

Wharton Online's Real Estate Investing & Analysis Certificate Program starts June 8 — learn institutional-grade analysis and access a 5K+ global network. Use code SAVE300 for $300 off.

Explore the Program

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 met on April 21 and moved a substantial slate of items to the full Board of Commissioners, covering everything from emergency sewer repairs to new fire stations. The biggest-ticket infrastructure items involve the Snapfinger Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility, where the committee advanced a series of emergency contracts totaling more than $52 million — covering wet weather storage, membrane capacity upgrades, and lift station improvements designed to prevent system failures. Separately, a $26.6 million multi-year construction contract was moved forward to build three new fire stations in Tucker, Decatur, and Lithonia, which would improve emergency response times in those areas. To cover day-to-day county operating costs while awaiting property tax revenue later in the year, the committee advanced a resolution to issue $142.3 million in short-term Tax Anticipation Notes — a standard financing tool counties use annually but notable for its scale. On the planning front, a $250,000 contract was approved to update the Kensington Livable Centers Initiative master plan, which shapes future development and walkability near the Kensington MARTA station. The committee also advanced a new ordinance that would regulate how pet shops can sell dogs, cats, and rabbits, sending it to the ERPS Committee for further review. Smaller community allocations — including $100,000 toward a John Lewis memorial in Decatur — were moved to the consent agenda.

DeKalb County School District – Board of Education

The school board's April 20 meeting was an action-heavy session, with the headline item being approval of a $27.7 million mid-year budget amendment to fund salary supplements for the current fiscal year — a significant adjustment that signals the district is prioritizing staff compensation. Beyond the budget, the board greenlit more than $10 million in facility contracts: a $7 million districtwide electrical services agreement for on-demand repairs and upgrades across school buildings, plus a $2.5 million roofing contract covering major roof replacements at two elementary schools. The board also approved $4.2 million in technology infrastructure — including physical security systems, fiber cabling, and wireless networking — specifically for the new Sequoyah High School, Sequoyah Middle School, and Cross Keys High School campuses currently under development. Furniture and equipment contracts totaling $2.4 million were approved for two elementary schools undergoing renovation. Rounding out the meeting, the board signed off on multiple utility easements granted to Georgia Power and DeKalb County Watershed, allowing electric and sewer infrastructure upgrades at several school sites — often a prerequisite for installing new portable classroom and health units.

Atlanta Public Schools – Board of Education

The APS Board Development Committee met April 21 for a governance-focused session with no major policy decisions or budget actions. The primary work involved reviewing a draft update to the Board Operation Manual, which sets the internal rules for how the board conducts its business — the document remains in draft form and has not been formally adopted. Members also discussed the cadence of board retreats for the coming school year without finalizing a schedule, and had preliminary conversations about how board members engage with the public, though no new community programs or town halls were approved. The meeting also included a compliance review of state-mandated training hours for board members.

Meetings This Week
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole — April 28, 2026 at 9:00 AM, 178 Sam's Street, Decatur (Multipurpose Room A1201). No agenda is available at this time.
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Board of Commissioners — April 28, 2026 at 9:00 AM, 178 Sam's Street, Decatur (Multipurpose Room A1201). No agenda is available at this time.
- DeKalb County School District — Board of Education — April 28, 2026, J. David Williamson Board Room. The board is scheduled to take up SY27 budget development and a proposal to expand Advanced Placement and Carnegie courses in middle and high schools. A district literacy plan update and the "Disconnect to Reconnect" student wellness initiative are also on the agenda.
- DeKalb County School District — Board of Education (Policy Committee) — April 30, 2026, J. David Williamson Board Room. A new draft policy governing the use of artificial intelligence in schools will be reviewed, along with updates to the district's internet acceptable use policy and a new literacy instruction policy. A proposed "Safe Space" policy is also scheduled for early-stage discussion.

CONSTRUCTION

Permits

- 1441 Clifton Rd NE — Commercial alteration permit pending for a chilled water capacity expansion at Emory University Hospital. Infrastructure work like this typically signals larger facility upgrades ahead.
- 1364 Clifton Rd NE — Fire sprinkler work underway with 136 heads added or relocated. Tied to master permit BB-202510240 — likely part of a broader renovation on the Emory corridor.
- Arborvista Dr — A $250K, two-story home with basement, deck, and porches is permitted and closed. One of the pricier residential builds in the batch.
- Hancock Dr — $75K garage addition using an existing slab and footings. Closed and done.
- 1515 Dickey Dr NE — Fire alarm devices being reconfigured per a new tenant layout, suggesting a space is being turned over or subdivided on campus.

Beyond the highlights, the broader permit pool shows 13 single-family residential pulls and a pair of educational permits — consistent with steady, quieter activity across the neighborhood.

Road Work

Under Construction
- SR-236 Signal Upgrade at Shepherd's Lane (DeKalb County) — Signal improvements underway at this intersection along LaVista Road. Expect intermittent delays near the work zone.
- SR-236 Eastbound Left Turn Lane Extension at SR-155 (DeKalb County) — Crews are extending the left turn lane where LaVista Road meets Chamblee Tucker Road. If you're heading eastbound through that intersection, give yourself extra time — lane configurations may shift during construction.

Pre-Construction
- SR 155 / North Druid Hills Rd at Azalea Circle (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. Pedestrian and cyclist improvements coming to this busy corridor — good news for anyone walking or biking through the area.
- SR 236 at North Druid Hills Road (DeKalb County) — Same treatment planned here: a shared-use path on the south side and a 6-foot sidewalk on the north side of North Druid Hills Road. Paired with the SR 155 project above, this stretch is set for a meaningful pedestrian upgrade.
- Scott Blvd Complete Streets Plan (DeKalb County) — A complete streets overhaul is in the pipeline for Scott Boulevard. Details on scope are still limited, but complete streets projects typically involve pedestrian, cyclist, and traffic flow improvements throughout the corridor.
- SR 8 / Ponce de Leon Ave at Lullwater Creek (DeKalb County) — Bridge maintenance is planned for the Ponce de Leon Avenue bridge over Lullwater Creek. Expect potential lane impacts when this one moves to construction.
- SR 155 / US 23 at SR 236 (DeKalb County) — A restriping project is planned at this intersection. Minor in scope, but it could shift lane configurations — worth keeping an eye on once work begins.
- SR 8 / Ponce de Leon Ave — Two Roundabouts (DeKalb County) — Two roundabouts are proposed along the Ponce de Leon corridor: one at SR 8 and Eastlake, another at SR 8 at North Ponce, West Parkwood, and East Parkwood. A significant change to how traffic moves through that stretch when it eventually gets underway.
- 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, part of a broader effort on this urban arterial corridor.
- North Druid Hills Road at CSX Railroad Crossing (DeKalb County) — Bridge and corridor work is planned along a 2,600-foot stretch of North Druid Hills Road between Spring Creek Drive and Willivee Drive. This is a notable project for anyone who regularly travels this section of the road.