North Decatur: Costco Breaks Ground and Lulah Hills Goes Vertical

Hello, North Decatur neighbors! It's a big week for our corner of DeKalb as the long-awaited Stone Mountain Costco finally breaks ground and Lulah Hills starts reaching for the sky. From school budget scrutiny to a packed calendar of spring festivals, here's everything you need to know this week.

- News — Between the new Costco finally breaking ground and a local school travel scandal, it's a big week for both our shopping habits and our taxpayer watchdogs.
- Business — Novo Cucina is now open for takeout in a BusyBody ATL exclusive.
- Events — From Earth Day celebrations at Legacy Park to the Druid Hills Historic Home & Garden Tour, your weekend schedule is looking pleasantly full and very green.
- Government — County leaders are weighing major water infrastructure upgrades and reviewing the first-ever strategic plan for housing affordability.
- Construction — Vertical construction has officially begun at the Lulah Hills site, but make sure to keep an eye on those LaVista Road lane closures during your commute.

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Let’s dive in.

NEWS

Construction underway for Stone Mountain Costco development
Dirt is finally turning on the long-awaited development near the I-285 and Memorial Drive interchange, a move that will eventually reshape the shopping habits of our eastern neighborhoods. It's a major milestone for a project that's been in the works for years, though Scottdale residents should probably brace for the inevitable surge in traffic once those warehouse doors finally swing open.

Decide DeKalb approves strategic economic development plan
The county's development authority just finalized a strategic plan that puts a heavy emphasis on revitalizing aging commercial hubs, specifically targeting growth in Northlake and Scottdale. This isn't just bureaucratic paperwork; it's the blueprint for where new jobs and infrastructure investments will land in our corner of the county over the next five years.

DeKalb superintendent travel costs draw scrutiny after Horton's federal indictment
Travel expenses for DeKalb School District leadership are under the microscope following a federal indictment of the superintendent, raising eyebrows across the North Druid Hills and Oak Grove school clusters. In a district where classroom resources are always a hot topic, the optics of significant administrative spending are—to put it mildly—not great for taxpayer confidence.

Traffic Alert: Emergency road work on I-285 NB causing delays in DeKalb County
Northlake and Briarlake commuters got a rude awakening this week when emergency roadwork to repair a hole on I-285 northbound threw the morning rush into a tailspin. While the immediate repairs are done, it serves as a solid reminder to check Waze before pulling out of the driveway.

BUSINESS

Novo Cucina — In a BusyBody ATL exclusive, Novo Cucina is now open for takeout while they wait on their liquor license to get approved. Get your orders in early and beat the rush before the full dining room opens.

EVENTS

It's a big week for local greenspaces as Legacy Park hosts the Decatur Earth Day Festival and the Druid Hills Civic Association kicks off its annual Historic Home & Garden Tour. Whether you're hunting for sustainable gardening tips or looking to peek behind the hedges of Atlanta's most storied estates, expect a bit more foot traffic around the neighborhood this weekend.

Monday, April 13
- Weekday Winning: Mega Mondays | Wild Heaven Toco Hills
- StoryWalk® at Mason Mill Park | Avis Williams Library
- Teen Take & Make: Mini Zen Garden | Avis Williams Library
- Books and Babies Storytime | Avis Williams Library
- Oscar Film Festival | Avis Williams Library
- English as a Second Language (ESL) | Avis Williams Library

Tuesday, April 14
- GA-20 and Jontavious Willis | Wild Heaven Toco Hills
- Weekday Winning: Toco Tuesdays | Wild Heaven Toco Hills
- Tuesday Trivia @ Toco Hills | Wild Heaven Toco Hills
- Bingo | Avis Williams Library
- Hops at the History Center: Georgia's Historical Recipes with Valerie Frey | Historic DeKalb Courthouse (Decatur)

Wednesday, April 15
- Weekday Winning: Wicked Good Wednesday | Wild Heaven Toco Hills
- Preschool Storytime | Avis Williams Library
- Drop-In Technology Support | Avis Williams Library
- Oscar Film Festival | Avis Williams Library

Thursday, April 16
- Weekday Winning: Thirsty Thursday | Wild Heaven Toco Hills
- Wild Minds with Dr. Daniel Matisoff | Wild Heaven Toco Hills
- Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Discussion | Avis Williams Library
- Diane Durrett & Soul Suga' Spring Fling | Napoleon's Grill
- Oakhurst Jazz Nights | The Solarium (Oakhurst)

Friday, April 17
- Friday Movies | Avis Williams Library
- MOONLIT MIXTAPE | Napoleon's Grill
- Adult Prom: Back to the Future | Fernbank Museum of Natural History (Druid Hills)
- Ascension Oratorio by the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra | Glenn Memorial UMC Church (Druid Hills)
- Historic Home & Garden Tour (Fri 4/17 – Sun 4/19) | Druid Hills Neighborhood (Druid Hills)

Saturday, April 18
- Pinewood Derby | Wild Heaven Toco Hills
- Kolsch Service | Wild Heaven Toco Hills
- Atlanta Philharmonic Orchestra Presents: Flying with Friends | North Decatur Presbyterian Church
- FLAT ROCK SWING | Napoleon's Grill
- Brookhaven Farmers Market | Brookhaven Farmers Market (Brookhaven)
- Legacy Community Day and Decatur Earth Day Festival | Legacy Park (Decatur)
- Historic Home & Garden Tour (Fri 4/17 – Sun 4/19) | Druid Hills Neighborhood (Druid Hills)

Sunday, April 19
- Themestock 14 | Wild Heaven Toco Hills
- GREAT SE MUSIC HALL REUNION | Napoleon's Grill
- Historic Home & Garden Tour (Fri 4/17 – Sun 4/19) | Druid Hills Neighborhood (Druid Hills)
- AJ Lee & Blue Summit | Eddie's Attic (Decatur)

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, 2026 at 9:00 AM. This regular business session serves as the primary voting forum for the county's legislative branch, where commissioners take final action on ordinances and major contracts. Current priorities for the Board this spring include the 2026 Capital Improvement Program, which targets extensive water and sewer infrastructure upgrades, and the ongoing rollout of the 2050 Unified Plan.
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole, April 14, 2026 at 9:00 AM. This all-commissioner session acts as the central agenda-setting body for the county, providing a forum for deep-dive discussions on policy proposals from the CEO's administration. The Board is currently reviewing the research and analysis phase of DeKalb's first-ever Comprehensive Housing Plan, which aims to establish a blueprint for addressing affordability and housing supply county-wide.

CONSTRUCTION

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Permits
- Lulah Hills (New Publix Shopping Center) — A new retail "shell" building has been permitted. This is a major milestone for the North DeKalb Mall redevelopment as the site transitions from demolition to actual vertical construction.
- Physician's Office Building (Ground Floor) — $396,777 interior renovation. The lobby and security desk at the Emory Decatur-adjacent facility are getting a high-dollar facelift.
- Montcliff Ct — $300,000 residential addition. A massive renovation project in the leafier part of the neighborhood will see a new structure built over an existing driveway.
- 3000 N Decatur Rd — $180,000 mechanical upgrade. The mixed-use site near Medlock Park is installing five new rooftop heat pumps and a complete ductwork overhaul.
- 2701 Lulah Ave — $150,000 electrical shell work. More infrastructure is being laid for the Lulah Hills project, specifically focusing on the power systems for future retail tenants.
- 3093 Colonial Way — $150,000 demolition. Units A through H at the Georgetown of Atlanta condos are slated for teardown, signaling a significant change for that section of the complex.
- Emory Decatur Hospital — $80,000 jobsite trailer. While just a trailer, its placement next to the Behavioral Health building marks the official staging area for the next phase of the hospital's campus expansion.
- 1000 Oak Tree Rd — $55,000 for new exterior light fixtures. This retail space near North Druid Hills is getting a significant lighting upgrade, often a precursor to a new tenant or a site-wide security refresh.

Road Work

Under Construction
- SR 236 EB at SR 155 Left Turn Lane Extension (DeKalb County) — Construction is underway to extend the left turn lane at the intersection of Lavista Road and Clairmont Road. Commuters through the North Druid Hills and Oak Grove areas should watch for crews and shifting lane alignments at this major junction.
- SR 10, SR 13 & SR 410 Bridge Preservation (DeKalb County) — This project involves critical bridge maintenance at six DeKalb locations, including Stone Mountain Parkway (SR 410) near Northlake and Scottdale. Work includes polymer overlays, deck repairs, and joint replacements; plan for intermittent lane closures if your route takes you toward the Perimeter or Memorial Drive.

Pre-Construction
- SR 236/Lavista Road (Fulton County Line to I-285) — Maintenance crews are planning a full resurfacing of this stretch to fix low pavement quality scores. If this is your cross-town route between the city and the Perimeter, expect future lane closures.
- SR 8/US 29 (Scott Blvd/Lawrenceville Hwy) — Planned resurfacing from the Fulton County line all the way to the Gwinnett County line. This covers the main artery through Scottdale and Medlock Park, promising a smoother ride once work begins.
- US 78/SR 410 Westbound Exit at North Druid Hills Road — Significant upgrades are coming to this interchange, including a new signal at the exit ramp and widening North Druid Hills to three eastbound lanes to ease exit-ramp congestion.
- North Druid Hills Road Bridge (near Medlock Park) — Bridge work is slated for the 2,600-foot corridor between Spring Creek Drive and Willivee Drive. This project will impact the main thoroughfare over the CSX tracks.
- Clairmont Road @ Lavista Road (SR 155 @ SR 236) — A restriping project is in the works for this major intersection to improve lane clarity and safety at one of the area's busiest junctions.
- US 78/Stone Mountain Freeway Sign Upgrades (DeKalb & Gwinnett Counties) — Crews will be updating signage at nine different locations along the US 78 corridor spanning from DeKalb into Gwinnett.
- US 78 @ North Druid Hills Road — To help clear the bottleneck near the ramp, GDOT plans to extend the eastbound through/right-turn lane on North Druid Hills by approximately 245 feet.
- Clairmont Road (I-85 to Lavista Road) — Operational improvements are planned for this 1.5-mile stretch of SR 155. If you use this corridor to access I-85, keep an eye on upcoming changes to traffic patterns.
- North Druid Hills Road Pedestrian Improvements (at Clairmont Rd & Azalea Cir) — A major upgrade for residents who walk or bike; the project will add a shared-use path along the south side of North Druid Hills and a new 6-foot-wide sidewalk on the north side.
- I-285 Bridge Preservation (4 Locations in DeKalb County) — Essential maintenance is coming to four Perimeter bridges, involving joint replacements, painting, and polymer overlays to protect the bridge decks.