Emory / Druid Hills: Your Tax Bill, Two Roundabouts, and 60 World Cup Matches in Decatur

Hello, Emory and Druid Hills neighbors! It's a busy week with some real money-in-your-pocket implications. DeKalb County is advancing proposed property tax millage rates and sanitation fee hikes, so Tuesday's Board of Commissioners meeting is worth paying attention to. On a lighter note, Decatur Square is about to host 60-plus World Cup matches this summer, and there's plenty more to dig into below.

- News — DeKalb school board races head to runoffs, former district executives file a multi-million dollar lawsuit, and Emory Decatur Hospital launches a new ER nursing residency program.
- Events — David Ryan Harris plays Eddie's Attic Tuesday, a dino talk lands at Fernbank Wednesday, and the week closes with a Hans Zimmer candlelight concert and Decatur FC on the pitch Saturday.
- Government — The DeKalb BOC meets Tuesday to vote on tentative 2026 millage rates, sanitation fee increases, and two new roundabouts on Ponce De Leon and Clairmont — plus a special permit request at 2960 North Druid Hills Road hits the zoning board Thursday.
- Construction — A major floor-by-floor gut renovation is underway at 1784 N. Decatur Rd, Emory is upgrading a CT scan room on Clifton, and signal work on LaVista Road is causing delays now — with big pre-construction projects on North Druid Hills Road and Ponce de Leon worth watching.

Let's dive in.

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DeKalb County Commission and School Board Races Head to Runoffs
The May 19 primary didn't deliver clean wins across the board — several consequential DeKalb County races are now headed to runoffs, meaning voters aren't done yet. For residents, the stakes are real: the future direction of the DeKalb County School Board hangs in the balance.

Former Executives Sue DeKalb County Schools for Millions
Former top officials at the DeKalb County School District have filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against their onetime employer — and the financial fallout could ripple well beyond the courtroom. For communities that depend on the district, a costly legal defeat would mean fewer dollars in the classroom.

Emory Decatur Hospital Launches New Emergency Department Nursing Residency
Emory University is investing in the people who staff its emergency rooms, launching a dedicated nursing residency program at Emory Decatur Hospital. For residents, that translates to better-trained ER nurses at the hospital most likely to see them on their worst days.

DeKalb County Primary Elections Conclude with Smooth Turnout
Voters across the area showed up and moved through the May 19 primary without major hiccups — a small but reassuring thing. The results now set the table for a general election that will decide who's calling the shots on infrastructure, parks, and the future of the North Decatur corridor.

Decatur WatchFest '26 to show 60-plus World Cup matches on the Square
From June 11 through July 19, Decatur Square is going full football — the soccer kind. FIFA has approved Decatur WatchFest '26 to broadcast more than 60 World Cup matches on big screens downtown, turning the Square into a six-week gathering point for fans.

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Tuesday, May 26
- Weekday Winning: Toco Tuesdays | Wild Heaven Toco Hills
- Tuesday Trivia @ Toco Hills | Wild Heaven Toco Hills
- Truckin' Tuesdays | Legacy Park
- David Ryan Harris: In Residence at Eddie's Attic | Eddie’s Attic

Wednesday, May 27
- Dino Talk | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- American Red Cross Blood Drive | Avis Williams Library - DeKalb County
- Drop-In Technology Support | Avis Williams Library - DeKalb County
- Weekday Winning: Wicked Good Wednesday | Wild Heaven Toco Hills
- Volunteer Project | Woodlands Garden

Thursday, May 28
- Kennedy Ryan & Jahquel J Book Talk | Eagle Eye Bookshop
- Resistance Bands Exercise Class | Avis Williams Library - DeKalb County
- Live Animal Encounter | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Singing Workshop in the Pavilion – May | Woodlands Garden
- Sustainable Landscaping Volunteer Day | Legacy Park
- Cocktails in the Garden | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Climate Wayfinding: Healing Ourselves and the Planet We Call Home -- Katharine K. Wilkinson in conversation with Kimberly Reeves | Charis Books & More

Friday, May 29
- Friday Movies | Avis Williams Library - DeKalb County
- Toy Park Rangers | Wild Heaven Toco Hills
- Shows for Seedlings: Music of Latin America with Havana Son | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- MASON FINE ART ANNOUNCES A GROUP SHOW MAY 29TH | Mason Fine Art

Saturday, May 30
- Burbanck Park Spring Workday | Druid Hills Civic Association Events
- Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer | Performing Arts Studio
- Meet a Ranger | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Live Animal Encounter | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Waits for No Man | Wild Heaven Toco Hills
- Green Market | Piedmont Park
- Grindhouse Killer Burgers 10-Year Anniversary Party | Grindhouse Killer Burgers Decatur
- Decatur FC VS. UFA | Decatur High School

Sunday, May 31
- Family Nature Walk | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Atlanta Ragtime Band | Wild Heaven Toco Hills
- Music in the Garden | Woodlands Garden
- DIY Vehicle Maintenance Basics + Hands-On Brake Change Clinic | 184 S. Candler St.

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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

The DeKalb County Committee of the Whole met on May 21 and advanced a slate of measures that could soon hit residents' wallets: the committee accepted the county's tentative 2026 property tax millage rates — the first formal step in setting next year's tax bills — and moved forward with proposals to raise fees for residential and commercial sanitation service, landfill tipping, and public parking at county-owned facilities. On the infrastructure side, the committee greenlit official county support for two GDOT roundabout projects at major intersections on Ponce De Leon Avenue and Clairmont Road, improvements that could meaningfully change traffic patterns in the area once construction moves forward. The committee also advanced a proposal to hold a public hearing on extending the county's current moratorium on adult entertainment businesses, and approved nearly $100,000 in District 1 reserve funds for a childcare and caregiving needs assessment. Several PDK Airport projects — including a $1.86 million perimeter security fence replacement and $275,000 for the 2026 Good Neighbor Day Airshow — were cleared for the full Board of Commissioners' agenda. Because the Committee of the Whole serves primarily as a gatekeeper that advances items to the full BOC for final votes, none of the larger proposals are yet final, and residents will have additional opportunities to weigh in before decisions are locked in.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole
- Ponce De Leon Ave NE at East Lake Rd NE — The committee advanced a GDOT project to construct a roundabout at this intersection, moving it toward a full Board of Commissioners vote.

Meetings This Week
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Board of Commissioners — Tuesday, May 26, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Commissioners are scheduled to consider adopting tentative 2026 millage rates — the first formal step toward this year's property tax bills — alongside proposed fee increases for residential sanitation and stormwater utility services. Also on the agenda: new roundabouts at Ponce De Leon Ave. at East Lake Road and Clairmont Road at Rosecliff Drive, a public hearing on extending the county's moratorium on new adult entertainment businesses, a $1.86 million perimeter security contract for DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, and a proposal to combat illegal scrap tire dumping countywide.

- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole — Tuesday, May 26, 2026 at 9:00 AM
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Zoning Meeting — Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 5:30 PM
The board will hear a slate of rezoning requests and special use permits, including a D.R. Horton proposal to build 214 single-family homes on Norris Lake Way and a QuikTrip project on Memorial Drive seeking permits for a drive-through car wash, fuel pumps, and alcohol sales. County-wide text amendments covering short-term rental taxation and a new "Repeated Nuisance" property ordinance are also scheduled for consideration. A special permit request for a drive-through facility at 2960 North Druid Hills Road — within the Busybody coverage area — is on the agenda as well.

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Permits

- 1784 N. Decatur Rd — Multiple permits filed for a full floor-by-floor gut renovation of a commercial building, covering levels G-1 through 5. Each phase includes full demolition of floor areas and MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) overhaul. This is a substantial, multi-permit project — expect noise and disruption around this corridor for a while.
- 1441 Clifton Rd — Emory University Hospital is expanding its chilled water capacity. Infrastructure work, not glamorous, but it signals continued investment in the hospital's long-term buildout.
- 1364 Clifton Rd — A CT scan room and control room on the tunnel level of Emory's Building C are being renovated. Routine on the surface, but medical imaging upgrades tend to run deep on cost and complexity.
- 1599 Clifton Rd — Interior suite renovation with new switchgear, lighting, mechanical connections, and outlets. Standard fitout work on the Emory campus.
- 1300 Clifton Rd — New electrical circuits, fixtures, and switches being installed throughout a commercial space.
- 1518 Clifton Rd — Antenna upgrades to a rooftop telecom facility. No drama, just better signal.
- 569 Asbury Cir — About 1,865 sq ft of existing tech lab space at what appears to be an Emory facility is getting new flooring, doors, and classroom setup — a modest but functional refresh.

On the residential side, 15 permits were filed across the area totaling roughly $125K, mostly single-family home work. Nothing that stands out individually, but steady activity.

Road Work

Under Construction
- SR-236 Signal Upgrade at Shepherd's Lane (DeKalb County) — Signal work is underway at this intersection along LaVista Road, about a mile from the neighborhood. Expect delays and potential signal disruptions as crews complete the upgrade.
- SR-236 Eastbound Left Turn Lane Extension at SR-155 (DeKalb County) — Workers are extending the eastbound left turn lane where LaVista Road meets Candler Road. If you're heading east through that interchange, give yourself extra time — lane configurations may be shifting as construction progresses.

Pre-Construction

- SR-155 / North Druid Hills Rd at Azalea Circle — 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 infrastructure is the focus here.
- SR-236 at North Druid Hills Road — Same treatment: shared-use path on the south side, 6-foot sidewalk on the north. This and the SR-155 project together suggest a more connected walking and biking corridor is taking shape along this stretch.
- SR-155 / US-23 at SR-236 (Intersection Restriping) — A restriping project is planned at this intersection in DeKalb County. Low-disruption work, but expect brief lane adjustments when crews do move in.
- SR-8 / Ponce de Leon Ave — Roundabouts at Eastlake and North Ponce de Leon — 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. Still in pre-construction, but this would be a significant change to how traffic flows through that stretch.
- SR-8 / Ponce de Leon Ave — Bridge Maintenance at Lullwater Creek — Structural maintenance is planned for the bridge carrying Ponce de Leon Avenue over Lullwater Creek. No timeline yet, but worth watching if that's part of your daily route.
- SR-8 / Ponce de Leon Ave — Drainage Improvements (South Ponce de Leon to Ridgecrest Road) — Drainage work is slated for this segment of Ponce de Leon, designated as part of the Atlanta MPO network. Pre-construction only for now.
- North Druid Hills Road at CSX Crossing — A 2,600-foot corridor improvement is planned along North Druid Hills Road between Spring Creek Drive and Willivee Drive, including bridge work at the CSX railroad crossing. Funded but not started.
- Scott Boulevard Complete Streets Plan — A complete streets redesign is in the works for Scott Boulevard. Details on scope are limited, but "complete streets" typically means reconfiguring lanes to better accommodate pedestrians, cyclists, and transit alongside vehicle traffic.

Service Requests

Potholes — Reported on Briarcliff Rd NE, Old Briarcliff Way NE, and Old Briarcliff St NE, with crews already working on both.

Downed Trees — Two reports on Woodbridge Hollow Ln / Woodbridge Holw NE, filed after what was apparently a rough stretch for the tree canopy along that corridor.

Code Violations — A complaint has been filed for a property on Coventry Rd in Decatur.