North Decatur: A Giant Leak and Weekend Plans

PSA: Before we get into it, we are actively looking for sponsors! Getting local sponsorships vs. running generic ads is a win for readers, sponsors and Busybody ATL. The sponsors we are looking for are truly local businesses that serve the neighborhood and our readers - realtors, home services businesses, shops / restaurants / events venues, doctors, family law offices, etc.. If this sounds like you and you want to reach an engaged local audience of 2,400+ readers, please reply to this email or let us know via this form!

Happy Monday, North Decatur! If you spent the weekend hunting for bottled water or mourning your commute, we've got the lowdown on those dry pipes and the latest construction chaos. Plus, we're celebrating a major new restaurant scene and a festival-filled week ahead that'll make you forget all about those traffic cones.

- News — From a major water main break to a game of musical chairs with school redistricting, here's everything shaking up the neighborhood this week.
- Business — West African eats have arrived, a caffeine boost is coming to Sage Hill, and a community co-op is doing beautiful work in Northlake.
- Events — The Festival on Ponce is calling your name this weekend, but don't miss out on trivia nights, comedy, and a very special stuffed animal sleepover.
- Government — The local leadership is taking a well-deserved breather this week with an entirely clear meeting calendar.
- Construction — We're tracking $11 million in new projects and enough orange cones to fix every bottleneck from Lavista to Lawrenceville Highway.

Let's dive in.

NEWS

DeKalb County fixing 30-inch main break in Greater Decatur (April 03, 2026) If your water pressure felt a little "ghost town" this weekend, here is why: a 30-inch main decided to give up the ghost. Crews have been out in the mud trying to patch things up, but it's a good reminder to keep a few gallons of Publix water in the pantry just in case.

DeKalb schools Student Assignment Plan will only work by rebuilding trust (April 04, 2026) The county is trying to overhaul how students are assigned to schools, but let's just say parents aren't exactly doing a celebratory dance yet. It's a high-stakes game of musical chairs where the "music" is redistricting and the "chairs" are our kids' futures—the board has a lot of convincing left to do.

All employees at Stone Mountain Park facing layoffs come June (April 02, 2026) Big changes are coming to the big rock as the private operator prepares to exit, leaving nearly 500 employees in limbo. While a new company is stepping in, everyone currently on staff has to reapply for their jobs, which is definitely not the kind of "outdoor adventure" they signed up for.

Registration open for 37th Annual DeKalb County Senior Olympics (April 05, 2026) It is time to dust off the sneakers because the Senior Olympics are back this May for the 50-and-up crowd. Whether you're a track star or a shuffleboard legend, sign-ups are live, and yes, the competition is probably way more intense than you'd expect.

Crescent Communities Breaks Ground on Suburban Atlanta Project (March 30, 2026) The dirt is moving on the new Lulah Hills multifamily development that's set to bring even more residents into our corner of the metro. It's another sign that the North Decatur area is the place to be, though your favorite "quick" cut-through is probably about to get a lot more crowded.

BUSINESS

Le Nouveau Maquis - opening - If your palate needs a little vacation, look no further than the Tucker-Northlake border. This new West African gem just opened its doors, and the buzz about their signature Jollof rice is already making our mouths water. (April 01, 2026)

San Francisco Coffee - opening - Sage Hill just got a lot more caffeinated. This beloved local coffee staple is moving into the neighborhood later this year, and we couldn't be more thrilled to have another cozy spot for those WFH work sessions. (April 02, 2026)

Welcome Co-op - opening - Our amazing neighbors over in the Northlake area are pivoting in a big way to meet the needs of the community. They've just opened their new distribution hub to provide essentials like clothing and school supplies—a beautiful reminder of what neighborliness is all about. (April 03, 2026)

EVENTS

Dust off your walking shoes and get your canvas bags ready, because the Spring Festival on Ponce is taking over the area all weekend! This is the local favorite you've been waiting for—perfect for scoring unique art, enjoying the blooming landscape, and soaking up every bit of that gorgeous April sunshine with your neighbors.

Monday, April 06
- StoryWalk® at Mason Mill Park | Avis Williams Library
- Weekday Winning: Mega Mondays | Wild Heaven Toco Hills
- Teen Take & Make: Mini Zen Garden | Avis Williams Library
- Oscar Film Festival | Avis Williams Library
- Tai Chi/Qigong Midlevel Practice | Legacy Park

Tuesday, April 07
- Weekday Winning: Toco Tuesdays | Wild Heaven Toco Hills
- Tuesday Trivia @ Toco Hills | Wild Heaven Toco Hills
- Toco Hill-Avis G. Williams Library Book Discussion Group | Avis Williams Library
- Stuffed Animal Storytime and Sleepover | Avis Williams Library
- 2nd COMEDY NIGHT OF 2026 | Napoleon's Grill

Wednesday, April 08
- RealRoots Meetup | Wild Heaven Toco Hills
- Weekday Winning: Wicked Good Wednesday | Wild Heaven Toco Hills
- Oscar Film Festival | Avis Williams Library
- Lunch & Learn: Georgia's State Historic Sites | Historic DeKalb Courthouse
- Wednesday Night Dinner Special "Baseball" Night | First Baptist Church of Decatur

Thursday, April 09
- Weekday Winning: Thirsty Thursday | Wild Heaven Toco Hills
- Jewelry with Gin Live! | Avis Williams Library
- Cookbook Club: Spring Greens | Avis Williams Library
- Authentic 10 Showcase | Frat Pack Productions
- Candlelight: Tribute to D'Angelo | The Chapel on Sycamore

Friday, April 10
- Friday Movies: Sacramento | Avis Williams Library
- THE UNMENTIONABLES | Napoleon's Grill
- Fernbank After Dark: Booze & Botanicals | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Brookhaven Food Truck Fridays | Blackburn Park
- Candlelight: Best of Bridgerton on Strings | The Chapel on Sycamore

Saturday, April 11
- Radio Cult | Napoleon's Grill
- Spring Festival on Ponce | Olmsted Linear Park
- Spring Fling | Woodlands Garden
- Brookhaven Farmers Market | Brookhaven Farmers Market
- Emily Scott Robinson | Eddie's Attic

Sunday, April 12
- WAY BACK BAND | Napoleon's Grill
- Adopt & Shop Dog Adoption Event | Distillery of Modern Art
- Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss - The Escape Game | Decatur Library
- Children's Day - Día del Niño | Plaza Fiesta
- The Travelin' McCourys | Eddie's Attic

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

CONSTRUCTION

Permits
- 3000 N Decatur Rd — Someone is dropping $300,000 just on a new 2-inch water meter and installation. That's a lot of H2O—sounds like a major facility upgrade near the medical center.
- 2418 Wood Trail Ln — This local school is expanding! A $500,000 permit was issued for a new quad-classroom modular building. Expect some heavy machinery moving those units into place.
- 1555 Church St — A cool $109,800 is going into new HVAC units and conduit for this commercial space. Hopefully, it keeps everyone nice and chilled before the July humidity hits.
- Lauderdale Dr — $104,085 for 15 windows and 5 doors? In Sagamore Hills, we clearly value our curb appeal (and our insulation).
- Gaylemont Cir — Repairs totaling $130,000 are happening in Medlock Park following some asbestos abatement. It's a hefty price tag, but worth it to keep these classic homes healthy.
- Briarcliff Rd — A $62,500 residential project just wrapped up. Between the commuters and the construction, it's always a busy day on Briarcliff.
- North Decatur Area (General) — Heads up, neighbors: there are 7 more major projects in the pipeline totaling over $11.5 million, mostly focused on apartments and assembly spaces. The "North Decatur boom" isn't slowing down anytime soon!

Road Work

Under Construction
- SR 236 (Lavista Rd) EB @ SR 155 (Clairmont Rd) Left Turn Lane Extension — Crews are on-site at the Lavista and Clairmont intersection to stretch out that eastbound left turn lane. It's one of our local "favorite" bottlenecks, so while the orange cones are a headache now, this should help clear the backup once it's finished. Keep your wits about you during the morning rush.
- Bridge Preservation on SR 10, SR 13 & SR 410 (DeKalb County) — Bridge crews are out in force at six different spots around the county, including work along the Stone Mountain Parkway (SR 410). They're doing the heavy lifting—deck repairs, painting, and replacing joints—to keep things sturdy. Expect some "scenic" slow-downs if you're heading toward Northlake or hopping on the Parkway this week.

Construction Work Program
- SR 236/LaVista Road (DeKalb County) — This resurfacing project is set to smooth out the ride from the Fulton County line all the way to I-285. It's a significant stretch through the heart of Oak Grove and Leafmore, so keep an eye out for those paving crews.
- SR 8/US 29/Lawrenceville Highway (DeKalb County) — Heads up, Scottdale and Northlake neighbors: the long stretch of Lawrenceville Highway from the Fulton line to the Gwinnett line is slated for a total resurface and maintenance refresh.
- US 78/SR 410 Westbound Ramp at North Druid Hills Road (DeKalb County) — Big changes are coming to this bottleneck. The plan is to signalize the exit ramp and widen North Druid Hills Road to three eastbound lanes to help clear the exit-ramp backup.
- North Druid Hills Road at the CSX Bridge (DeKalb County) — This 2,600-foot corridor between Spring Creek Drive and Willivee Drive is getting significant bridge work. Since this is a primary cut-through for Medlock Park and leafier neighborhoods nearby, this will be one to watch for lane closures.
- SR 155/Clairmont Road at SR 236/LaVista Road (DeKalb County) — A quick restriping project is coming to this major intersection. It's a high-traffic spot for anyone heading toward Toco Hills or the VA, and better lane markings should help the "which lane am I in?" anxiety.
- SR 10/US 78 Sign Upgrades (DeKalb and Gwinnett Counties) — New signage is coming to nine different locations along the highway. Hopefully, this makes the split toward Stone Mountain or North Druid Hills a little clearer for everyone.
- SR 410/US 78 at North Druid Hills Road (DeKalb County) — To keep things moving near the highway, they're extending the shared through/right-turn lane on North Druid Hills by about 245 feet. Every little bit helps when you're trying to make that light!
- SR 155/Clairmont Road from Rosecliff Drive to I-85 (DeKalb County) — This 1.5-mile stretch leading up to the I-85 Northbound ramp is getting operational improvements. It's a notoriously tight squeeze, so expect some shifts in the traffic pattern once work begins.
- North Druid Hills Road at Azalea Circle & SR 155 (DeKalb County) — This is a win for the walkers: the project includes a new shared-use path along the south side of North Druid Hills and a fresh 6-foot-wide sidewalk on the north side.
- I-285 Bridge Preservation (DeKalb County) — Four different bridges along the Perimeter are getting some TLC, including polymer overlays and joint replacements. It's essentially a bridge facelift to keep the structure sound for your daily loop.