• Sembler's Town Briarcliff Project - The AJC reports Sembler will reveal its latest plans for their proposed mixed-use development at the corner of North Druid Hills and Briarcliff Roads by the end of July. With the loss of the school board property, the expected size of the project will be 60% of the original plan. Our commissioners are still pushing for the Garvin "ring road" concept, so don't be surprised at what proposals might surface.

• NEW! Williamsburg Apartments at North Druid Hills and Clairmont - The LeCraw Company is seeking to build a mixed-use development on 37 acres located behind the Book Nook on North Druid Hills and behind the Golden Buddha on Clairmont. Last week, a surprisingly large group of folks, mostly elderly residents who'll be displaced by the development, showed up for a public meeting regarding this proposed development. This will include retail, an office park, town homes and single-family homes. To recap - Kicking the elderly out of a planned retirement neighborhood with close access to the library, Mac Love Senior Center and medical facilities for more shopping and upscale housing.

• Executive Park (behind Loehmann's Plaza - NDH/I-85) - Taylor and Mathis have revealed plans for this mixed-use 70-acre spot to include realigned roadways with adjacent green walking trails, a twelve-story office building, a "commons" green space, and five-story residential buildings similar to the Gables apartments on Sheridan Road are also planned.

• North DeKalb Mall/Costco - Hendon Properties, owner of N. DeKalb Mall, revealed two different plans to its tenants, Costco and the community and both were greeted with little conflict or dissent. The biggest concern is traffic and we hope Hendon will work with the neighborhoods and local government to address this issue.

• NEW! Ashkouti Realty Corporation and Gables Residential - Currently planning a multi-family development along the south side of North Druid Hills Road near the Dunkin' Doughnuts shop. The developer initially proposed rezoning to town homes but is now proposing a high-density, mixed-use complex to include multi-family and retail. Look for public meetings in the next couple of weeks.
• Emory University is closing down employee parking decks on campus and expanding the Garage Majal on the Clairmont Campus by 1200 spaces. They are working with neighboring communities to mitigate the extra traffic and have started holding public meetings to discuss their plans.

THE BUZZ

• The DeKalb Board of Commissioners approved a long-anticipated zoning "overlay" for an approximate 1.5 square-miles around Northlake Mall on May 20. Will this mean faster approval/less oversight for development in this area?

• It seems construction on the corner of NDH and Briarcliff, next to Burger King and former home of the Lutheran church, has come to a standstill. Speculation is that Walgreen's has pulled out of the development. An 8 story condo building was proposed and already turned down by the Planning Department. Word is that yet another high-density mixed-use development is being planned, possibly in conjunction with the CHOA offices to the rear of the site.

• Emory Village - Moving forward - Reconfiguring of the main entrance to Emory University at Emory Village is well underway and construction of the much-discussed traffic circle may begin by late-summer.

• Demolition of the old Cub Foods at the corner of Scott Blvd/Lawrenceville Hwy and North Druid Hills has begun. A 5-story hotel and separate special events/conference center will be built there. Neighborhood input was solicited and included in the project plans by the developer. The developer VOLUNTARILY included sound dampening plans in his design. Too bad that isn't required for DeKalb "Nightclubs" or "Late Nite Establishments", but more on that later...

• Lou Sobh Auto Dealership on Scott - No word on potential development.
  Suburban Plaza - The Selig Company's plans to redevelop Suburban Plaza into a (tell me if you've heard this before) mixed-use development may or may not be proceeding. The tenants are on month-to-month leases but no further word on when an application will be forthcoming.

• The Path Foundation's construction of the new bike trail from Medlock Park towards Mason Mill Park nears completion.
  That's all for now. If you have development/traffic information to share, please let us know and we will publish as needed.

That's all for now. If you have development/traffic information to share, please let us know and we will publish as needed.

Let us sum up with this - the entire Central DeKalb area has become very popular with developers. There are many types of interest and several different developers. While one or two of the proposals might not affect you where you live, combined, they will greatly affect the quality of life for all residents here. StandUp DeKalb is focused on the quality of life in this area. We are not against all development or revitalization, but we expect it to be well planned and to contribute to the quality of life for all Central DeKalb residents, existing AND those the developers hope to attract.

Please share this with friends and neighbors. Encourage them to sign up for our email list.

And stay tuned for updates and meeting notices.