Holiday Lights at Brook Run to dazzle Dunwoody Dec. 1
DUNWOODY, Ga. — The Christmas season is here and so is Dunwoody’s award-winning Holiday Lights display at Brook Run Park, beginning with opening night festivities from 4-8 p.m. Dec. 1.
VISION HOSPITALITY GROUP/PROVIDED
This rendering shows the new Element Atlanta Perimeter Center hotel at Campus 244 in Dunwoody, which opened Nov. 14.
Element by Westin hotel opens within Campus 244
DUNWOODY, Ga. — A new Element by Westin hotel just north of I-285 at Campus 244 opened to the public Nov. 14.
The 145-room hotel — Element Atlanta Perimeter Center — is a flagship addition to the premier adaptivereuse development in Metro Atlanta’s Central Perimeter submarket.
Campus 244, developed by The Georgetown Company and RocaPoint Partners, has already attracted leading companies
to its state-of-the-art redevelopment with 85 percent of its office space leased.
Current tenants include Transportation Insight, a leading transportation logistics firm; Insight Global, a top technology-focused staffing agency; and CT Cantina & Taqueria, a casual Mexican eatery.
The Element by Westin brand provides short- and longterm stay options for
See ELEMENT, Page 12
Mayor Lynn Deutsch and the Dunwoody City Council will flip the switch on 100,000 lights around 6 p.m.
“The holiday light display brings so much joy to our community,” Deutsch said. “The walk-through light displays in and around the playground makes this a unique experience for residents and visitors, [and] I am thrilled that we can continue to brighten the holiday season in Dunwoody.”
The city says Holiday Lights is free and open to all to enjoy.
This year’s display will feature 100,000 lights that will shine nightly in the park through Dec. 31. Reflecting the theme of Arctic Safari, the 2024 display will feature a pop-top vehicle and train, the Mega Tree, illuminated faux igloo geodomes, animal ice shapes and a penguin glow.
The annual holiday display has become a holiday tradition in the community since it began in 2020 as an effort to bring the community together during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The city says the display has grown, bringing around 27,000 visitors to Brook Run Park during December.
Last year, the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association gave the Holiday Lights program its Outstanding Special Event award.
Opening night festivities will include free hot cocoa, donuts from DonutNV Atlanta and character photo-ops beginning at 4 p.m. Top
A look at the
Run Park during Dunwoody’s 2023 Holiday Lights during the month of December shows a fraction of the 100,000 lights on display.
Job Beverages and Cub Scout Pack 575 are also selling concessions.
In addition to lights, the Dunwoody Parks and Recreation Department will also mark the
CITY OF DUNWOODY/PROVIDED
entrance to Brook
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POLICE BLOTTER
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Ruger .38 special, Glock 23 and Glock 43.
Officers transported the suspect to DeKalb County Jail. His charges include obstruction, terroristic threats, aggravated assault on a police officer, aggravated assault for family violence and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
her.
Officers said the suspect denied hitting the victim and showed them fingernail scratches on his face.
Because physical evidence indicated the man was the dominant aggressor and his wounds appeared defensive, officers secured a warrant for battery.
police standoff
Armed man arrested after
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody Police arrested a 32-year-old man from Wrens, Georgia, Nov. 8 after he allegedly threatened to shoot his parents and officers at Perimeter Center East condominiums.
Dispatch told officers around 9:30 p.m. that a suspect was aiming a firearm at himself and family members.
Earlier in the evening, a security guard at Cowboy and Caviar off Ashford Dunwoody Road got into an altercation with the same suspect. The security guard told police the man said he had a gun and would shoot him.
When officers arrived at the condominium, they said the suspect allowed his parents, who are residents, to leave.
Officers said they tried to connect with the suspect to de-escalate the situation, but the suspect would not cooperate.
Officers said the man continued to act erratically, throwing items inside the condominium and pointing his firearm toward officers.
Police said he continued to make statements about shooting one of the officers and taking one of them out.
Eventually, police came up with a plan for one group to distract the suspect while another approached the doorframe from the side.
Officer said they grabbed the suspect’s right arm, separated him from the firearm and put him into custody. They said it took five officers and a brief struggle to get the man secured in a patrol car.
During a search of the property, officers said they found three pistols, a
Hayden Sumlin
Officers investigate I-285 driver’s battery
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Police secured a warrant for a 31-year-old Lithonia man after he allegedly struck a woman in the face Nov. 13 while he was driving on I-285 through Dunwoody.
Officers said they met with the victim, a 23-year-old Smyrna woman, at Perimeter Mall.
The victim said she got into an argument with her ex-boyfriend while he was driving eastbound on I-285 after the Ashford Dunwoody Road exit.
She said they were supposed to go on a week-long vacation scheduled before their split and the incident started with them discussing it.
When the victim asked her exboyfriend to pull over, she said he began to yell and strike her in the face with his fists. She said she got her exboyfriend to stop by hitting him with an air freshener can.
Officers said the victim had superficial wounds to her temple, forehead and lip.
Eventually, the suspect exited the interstate and pulled over at the Chevron off Chamblee Dunwoody Road, where he exited and walked northbound.
Officers said the victim then got in her car and drove to the Dunwoody Police Department.
Shortly after getting the victim’s statements, officer said they spoke with her ex-boyfriend.
He said his ex-girlfriend initiated the violence in the car after he said he wanted to go home and not be with
Hayden Sumlin
Wanted man arrested in shoplifting incident
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Police arrested a 29-year-old Atlanta man at Perimeter Mall Nov. 14 after officers discovered during a shoplifting investigation that he had three active warrants.
A loss prevention employee at Nordstrom Rack said security cameras captured the suspect concealing home goods and clothing inside his pants and exiting the store without paying.
By the time officers arrived at the mall, the employee had stopped the suspect near the exit and reported that the man had admitted to shoplifting the merchandise, totaling more than $400.
Officers said they watched security footage and confirmed loss prevention’s account of the incident.
A check through regional crime databases revealed the suspect had three active warrants for his arrest: failure to appear for property damage out of the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office; misdemeanor larceny out of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office; and probation violation out of the Chamblee Police Department.
Officers arrested the suspect for misdemeanor shoplifting, less than $500, and transported him to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office.
They said dispatch confirmed that all three agencies wished to extradite for the outstanding warrants.
The suspect was released after he signed to appear in court.
Haim Haviv Owner
Hayden Sumlin
ASHLEY GALLAGHER/PROVIDED
State Attorney General Chris Carr, center, gathers with the members of the Young Republicans Club at Dunwoody High School Nov. 4. Carr is a Dunwoody resident.
Young Republicans host Georgia Attorney General
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, a Dunwoody resident, visited Dunwoody High School’s Young Republicans Club Nov. 4, the day before Election Day. Carr spoke about state government and shared insights on how to keep informed and engaged in public policy.
PET OF THE WEEK
Jude
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His talk was followed by a lively Q&A with the students.
— Amber Perry
Tell the Crier: Send your photos, announcements and letters to newsroom@appenmedia.com.
Come visit Jude and hundreds of other adoptable pets at DeKalb County Animal Services today -- no appointment needed. Our address is 3280 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Chamblee, GA 30340. We look forward to helping you find your new best friend.
If you can’t adopt, please consider fostering temporarily or come take one of our pups for a fun day out with our Dog for the Day program. This program is a great way to borrow a canine companion for a hike, a trip to the park, or a lazy day at home. Email foster@ dekalbanimalservices.com for more information about Dog for the Day. Your love and kindness can make all the difference.
Ready for those weekend getaways?
CITY OF DUNWOODY/PROVIDED A rendering of planned improvements to the Dunwoody Nature Center shows the wetlands and boardwalk surrounding Wildcat Creek. The city says construction will last about six months.
Major Improvements begin at Dunwoody Nature Center
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Improvements are now underway at the Dunwoody Nature Center, including stabilization of Wildcat Creek, wetland restoration and construction of a new boardwalk.
The city released a statement Nov. 18 saying construction is expected to last around six months. Until the project wraps up, the existing boardwalk and east side of Wildcat Creek will be offlimits to the public.
Nancy Longacre, executive director of the Dunwoody Nature Center, said the city’s project is a massive improvement to the existing boardwalk and natural ecosystem.
“We are excited about how this project will provide controlled areas for exploration for all of our visitors and program participants,” Longacre said.
The redesign and expansion of the exiting boardwalk includes ramps for disabled people to access the nature center’s playgrounds, outdoor classrooms with seating, observation decks and stream access.
Most importantly, the boardwalk will be 8-feet-wide and raised slightly to avoid flooding.
The stream stabilization and wetlands restoration portion of the project will begin at the southern property line and end at the historic stone masonry weir.
The Dunwoody Nature Center says the project provides environmental benefits like increased wildlife habitat and improved water quality, while aligning with its 2016 Master Plan.
The $1.72 million upgrade is funded through the city’s stormwater fund reserve with $600,000 from a state environmental grant. Steel and Associates is the city’s contractor.
Cody Dallas, stormwater engineer in the city’s Public Works Department, went over specifics.
“We’ll stabilize the banks of Wildcat Creek by adding rock along the water’s edge, installing a log vane to channel water toward the center of the stream and improving grading,” Dallas said.
“We’ll also remove invasive plant species from existing wetlands and plant native vegetation to restore the native forested wetland habitat.”
— Hayden Sumlin
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Georgia cities ask Supreme Court to reverse $35 million judgement in Milton wrongful death lawsuit
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
MILTON, Ga. — Georgia municipalities are throwing their weight behind Milton after the state Court of Appeals affirmed a September wrongful death verdict against the city.
The court verdict saddles the City of Milton with $35 million in damages.
Sister cities Sandy Springs and Alpharetta petitioned the Georgia Supreme Court to reverse the decision in the lawsuit the week of Nov. 18.
The Dunwoody City Council was set to approve a request Nov. 25 for the Georgia Supreme Court to take up and overturn the appellate ruling. More cities across the state are expected to submit amicus briefs, or letters of support, in the coming weeks.
The Georgia Court of Appeals affirmed the Sept. 16 Fulton County jury verdict citing Milton’s role in the death of a 21-year-old college student in November 2016.
Joshua Chang, a senior with a fullride scholarship to Yale University, died after hitting a concrete planter along Batesville Road on his way home during Thanksgiving break.
Milton is ordered to pay the victim’s family $35 million with $10,000 in postjudgement interest accruing each day.
Following the appellate judgement, Milton officials said they were seeking reconsideration of the ruling or review from the Georgia Supreme Court.
According to court documents, the victim’s family made seven offers to settle the case, ranging from $1.75 million to $10 million just before the trial. Insurance attorneys rejected the offers.
Meanwhile, residents expressed their frustration at the city and its legal representation in September for failing to protect them from the outstanding liability.
City questions insurance fund
Milton officials say the Georgia Interlocal Risk Management Agency was solely responsible for the decision whether to settle the claims.
The Georgia Municipal Association created the agency as a property and liability insurance fund for Georgia cities. The agency has 370 municipal members.
“Neither the city nor its legal team were given a role in settlement negotiations,” the city said in a
CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS/PROVIDED Sandy Springs City Attorney Dan Lee says the Court of Appeals decision upholding a judgment against Milton has the potential to harm the city’s taxpayers if it stands.
statement. “What happened to Mr. Chang was certainly a tragedy, but we firmly believe the City of Milton should not be held liable … we will continue to pursue a reasonable outcome to protect the city and taxpayers from this unjust financial burden.”
Invoices obtained by Appen Media through the Open Records Act show Mayor Peyton Jamison, City Manager Krokoff and City Attorney Ken Jarrard discussed the case several times.
Speaking to Appen Media Nov. 19, Jamison said many Georgia cities have expressed solidarity with Milton, and he reiterated that the city was not consulted on whether to approve or deny settlement offers.
Based on the feedback received thus far, Jamison said he expects several cities to file amicus briefs to the Supreme Court, requesting reversal of the decision.
Adam Hollingworth, president of Milton Families First, raised questions about the Georgia Interlocal Risk Management Agency’s role as the city’s insurer at the Nov. 18 City Council meeting.
He questioned the efficacy of the insurance fund’s policy agreement with the city, saying “by no measure did GIRMA exercise its duty in ways that best protected Milton taxpayers.”
“The decisions made — from selecting underqualified legal counsel to rejecting reasonable settlement offers — have left the City of Milton and its citizens bearing an unconscionable financial burden,” Hollingworth wrote. “This case not only raises serious doubts about GIRMA’s ability to serve its members effectively but
See REVERSE, Page 12
Owner John Hogan & Designer Bobbie Kohm
OPINION
P.L. Moss made his mark on Dunwoody business hub
The home of P.L. (Perry Lee) Moss was across the road from the P.L. Moss store in the 1920s and ’30s. The store was in the triangle which is today formed by Nandina Lane, Mt. Vernon Road and Chamblee Dunwoody Road. The house was on the west side of the triangle.
The area near the Dunwoody Depot along Chamblee Dunwoody Road developed into a small village of homes and businesses during the era of the Roswell Railroad, from 1881 until 1921.
The triangle was as full then as it is today. In the 1920s, the triangle was also the location of the Dunwoody public well, a blacksmith shop and another store which may have been the Cheek Nash Store. Cephas Spruill operated the blacksmith shop. (“Story of Dunwoody,1821-1975, Elizabeth L. Davis and Ethel W. Spruill)
Different people have shared different memories of where the Cheek Nash store was located. It may have been inside the triangle, or it may have also been just west of the triangle.
According to the recollections of Ken Anderson, the Moss home stood across from the triangle, where a small office building was built in the 1970s. His Aunt Kathryne Carpenter drew a map out for the family to show the location of homes and businesses. This is the location of Moondog Growlers, Ernie’s Barber Shop and other businesses today. It is also the former location of the
Dunwoody Crier offices.
P.L. Moss was born in Cobb County in 1862 and married Leana Dean in 1888. Dean was born in 1868 in Atlanta. By 1898, the couple were living in Dunwoody and running their store. (Receipt from Anderson family collection)
Farther north on the west side of Chamblee Dunwoody Road was Dr. Puckett’s home and pharmacy. He also owned a livery stable and fertilizer store in this same stretch of the road.
When the railroad was discontinued, followed by the Great Depression, the vibrant business district began to falter.
Sue Kirby Jameson, born in 1910, writes in her memoir, “As I Recall, Volume 2,” of July 4th celebrations taking place, “…right in the heart of town between Burnham’s Store and the old post office, in front of the public well, near Dr. Puckett’s store and Spruill’s blacksmith shop. Dr. Nathan Strickland later took over Puckett’s medical practice.
Andrew Needham Burnham lived in this same area and worked as a merchant, according to the 1930 census. He may have taken over the P.L. Moss store.
Later in their lives, P.L. and Leana Moss moved to Old Powers Ferry Road in Sandy Springs. Both were members of Crossroads Primitive Baptist Church and are buried in the church cemetery.
Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Atlanta. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.
The first 100 guests who bring a new unwrapped gift item for Solidarity Sandy Spring’s Santa Shop will receive a Free Bundtlets for a Year card. Please see their website for needs.
KIDS’ SHOPPING DAY
Donate new, small gifts children can select to give to their family members - think coffee mugs for dad, perfume for mom, pajama pants for siblings, or treats for pets.
These can be dropped off at Santa’s Workshop Dec. 4th-13th between 10am - 3pm, Parkside Shops, 5920 Roswell Road C-208, Sandy Springs, GA 30328 or contact Ilana Talk, ilanajt@gmail.com.
TO ADOPT A FAMILY THIS HOLIDAY, VISIT solidaritysandysprings.org/events Or Scan
Solidarity Sandy Springs is a pantry that was started to help food-insecure families during the COVID shutdowns and has grown into a community movement to help overlooked families. Sandy Springs 5975 Roswell Road, Suite A-103 • Sandy Springs, GA 30328 (404) 236-2114
PHOTO FROM THE ANDERSON FAMILY COLLECTION
The P. L. Moss home stood on the west side of Nandina Lane in Dunwoody across from the family owned store.
VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Columnist
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We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all our patients and friends for voting us the My Dunwoody Best Eye Care for the second year in a row! As a family-owned business proudly serving the Dunwoody community for nearly 40 years, we are honored to be your trusted choice for comprehensive family eye care.
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Wishing you and your family a joyful and healthy holiday season. Stay safe, happy, and well! Please visit us at mountvernoneyecare. com or call us at 770.393.0003.
Big John’s Christmas Trees celebrate 75 years
Family-run business spans 3 generations
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
METRO ATLANTA — With December on the horizon, Metro Atlanta is buzzing as shoppers hit malls and Christmas tree lots to prepare for the holidays.
When Sir Elton John wanted a tree delivered to his Midtown Atlanta apartment, he called Big John’s Christmas Trees and the Livaditis family.
Christmas trees start arriving at Big John’s lots throughout Metro Atlanta Nov. 18 as the family-owned business celebrates 75 years of providing bestin-class products.
The five-time Grammy Award winner was not the first and won’t be the last international celebrity with a Big John’s Christmas tree in their living room.
Big John’s Christmas Trees sports the largest selection of the highest quality evergreens in the region with lots in Ansley Park, Buckhead, Dunwoody, Johns Creek, Roswell and Vinings.
To guarantee the quality that keeps customers coming back for generations, Big John’s growers harvest trees as late in the season as possible, and the family ensures each is handled and maintained to preserve freshness and structure.
Each year, the Livaditis family visits its growing partners across North America to hand-pick and inspect Christmas trees.
They have more than just the classic Fraser Fir. Other varieties include Douglas, Balsam, Concolor, Blue Spruce, White Pine, Scotch Pine, Korean, Nordmann and Noble Firs.
Big John Livaditis (1918-1995) was an Iowa native and the son of Greek immigrants. The entrepreneur eventually made his way to Atlanta after serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, spending time as a Golden Glove boxer and driver for Gen. Mark Clark.
John Livaditis got the nickname “Big” for his hulking frame and largerthan life personality.
Planting the seed for success
A little more than 75 years ago, a grower approached Big John at his first Zesto’s restaurant off Peachtree Road with an opportunity to sell Christmas trees on his property.
In 1949, Zesto was just an ice cream shop. Big John had yet to expand the business across Metro Atlanta to include a drive-through and menu with hotdogs, burgers and fries.
Both businesses took off.
By the mid-1990s, Big John’s Christmas Trees was standard-bearer of Christmas trees in Metro Atlanta with 22 lots across the region.
Big John’s two sons, Jimbo and Lee, ran the business together for years.
After Lee passed away in 2016, Jimbo Livaditis kept things running with wife Leigh Ann and their three children John II, Lucas and Anastasia.
Leigh Ann Livaditis, Jimbo’s wife and vice president of Big John’s Christmas Trees and Zestos, said she wants customers to know how rare it’s becoming to have career growers as partners.
“Every year, we are blown away by how lucky we are to access the fields our grower friends allow us to enter,”
John II Livaditis measures a stunning Fraser Fir and decides which loyal customer will get to take it home for the holidays. Big John’s Christmas Trees, named after John II’s grandfather, is celebrating 75 years of its family-owned and -operated business in Metro Atlanta.
Leigh Ann said. “Some of these farmers are the grandkids of the grower that Big John initially did business with.”
Tagging the best
The Livaditis family took two trips leading up to this year’s season, one through North Carolina and Michigan and the other to Prince Edwards Island, Canada.
The 2,400-mile tagging excursion to
Big John Livaditis (1918-1995) takes a stroll through a Canadian Christmas tree farm in 1982.
PHOTOS BY: BIG JOHN’S CHRISTMAS TREES/PROVIDED
A crew at Big John’s Christmas Trees is all smiles after unloading hundreds of evergreens at its Buckhead lot in 2017. The family-owned and -operated business is celebrating 75 years of selling Metro Atlanta’s finest Christmas trees.
Clockwise from top left, John II, Anastasia, Lucas, Jimbo and Leigh Ann Livaditis take their 2018 Christmas card photo at Big John’s Christmas Trees Buckhead lot. Big John Livaditis’ family is celebrating 75 years of creating memorable experiences for Metro Atlantans looking for the perfect tree.
Grandson talks business
Continued from Page 10
Michigan in mid-October came with just under a month until the first truckload arrives at Big John’s main lot off West Paces Ferry Road across from the Atlanta History Center.
Jimbo brings along his children, now in their 20s, for the same trips he took with his brother and father decades ago.
Big John’s sells more than its staggering collection of Christmas trees. Other products and services include wreaths, garland and roping, commercial grade stands, lights and “Just in the Time of Nick” delivery and installation.
Jimbo’s eldest John II, who works for Dunwoody-based DASH Hospitality, has pitched in since he was 6.
Today, he manages and handles the building of each lot, designs custom equipment and knows all of the specialorder customers and exactly what they want.
“John has been attuned to all the evolutionary changes of the lots and their set up,” Leigh Ann said. “Jimbo and now all of the kids will travel together and tag trees in the growers’ fields and mountains, sometimes with a customer’s name.”
Back in Buckhead, the youngest Livaditis, Anastasia, sets up the retail front, orders merchandise, handles inventory and ordering. As an assistant manager at the main lot, she runs a tight ship cashiering, helping customers and scheduling employees and deliveries.
Jimbo’s second oldest Lucas Livaditis, works full-time as a mergers and acquisition analyst at SENTA Partners. Still, the holiday season means one thing for his family.
“Lucas is very involved in the business behind the scenes and also with tree pricing, sales, delivery and wherever he can fit some time in with his full-time job,” Leigh Ann said. “He is an invaluable financial adviser.”
Lucas said the fourth quarter of each year in the Livaditis family is dedicated to running his grandfather’s business. Quality over quantity. People before profit. Most importantly, good old manual labor.
It’s a lot of work and long nights.
“We definitely feel we have a responsibility to the city and the people we’ve been serving for so long who knew my grandfather,” he said. “It’s definitely a relationship thing.”
When customers who bought trees from his grandfather bring their families to the lot and shower compliments, it makes it all worth it for the family.
Big John’s Christmas Trees is a community institution because of the relationships the Livaditis family has maintained for three generations. They invite prospective customers looking to join the tradition.
“We are grateful for all of the people that come out each year ... whether it’s a regular bringing their grandkids or a new customer who has never had a real tree,” Leigh Ann said. “When they post a photo and tag us, we are thrilled to see where the trees found a home.”
For information about locations, hours of operations and all things tree care, visit www.bigjohnstrees.com or call 678-6720398.
BIG JOHN’S CHRISTMAS TREES/PROVIDED
Reverse:
also highlights systemic issues that jeopardize public trust.”
GMA comments on case
Wrongful death lawsuit timeline
•Nov. 2016: 21-year-old Joshua Chang dies after hitting a concrete planter off Batesville Road. His parents sue the city for alleged negligence.
•June 2023: A Fulton County jury rules in favor of Chang’s parents, awarding them more than $30 million in damages. The city appeals.
•Nov. 2024: Sandy Springs and Alpharetta join Milton to request the Georgia Supreme Court to overturn the ruling against Milton. Milton Families First criticizes the Georgia Interlocal Risk Management Agency’s handling of the case. Continued from Page 6
months ago, the law in Georgia was clear that a person leaving the paved part of the roadway striking an object was at fault,” Lee said. “Period, end of story.”
The Georgia Municipal Association refused to comment specifically on Milton’s claim that it was not consulted during settlement discussions.
Latisha Gray, communications director at the GMA, said it would not be appropriate to provide details of case strategy publicly as the litigation is ongoing.
“It should be noted that the judgment in this current litigation is unprecedented in Georgia’s history for similar situations,” Gray wrote.
Gray pointed to a 2021 Court of Appeals judgement which affirmed that the City of Roswell had immunity in a case in which a car left the road and struck mailboxes within the rightof-way resulting in the deaths of two people in the vehicle.
“[The Milton] decision went the opposite way, and if upheld, sets a new precedent for cities across the state, and the potential consequences for other municipalities is real and is significant,” she said. “Legal precedent has been an accepted standard for many years, and it is common for litigation counsel to take into
Element:
Continued from Page 1
travelers, helping guests maintain their daily routines away from home.
The hotel features eco-friendly amenities like electric car charging stations and advanced water filtration systems, reflecting the Element brand’s focus on sustainable, outdoor-inspired environments.
In addition to wellness-focused
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
•Sept. 2024: The state Court of Appeals affirms the jury ruling. Milton residents want the city to pay the restitution, now around $35 million due to interest, instead of pursuing a second appeal with the Supreme Court.
consideration and even rely upon recent decisions of a very similar nature in analyzing potential settlement offers and litigation strategy.”
In terms of what’s stopping this from happening in other Georgia cities, Gray said the court’s decision treats residents of municipalities differently than those in unincorporated areas.
She said when the courts decide to change course on immunity, municipal taxpayers have a significantly larger risk under the state’s tort law structure.
“These added burdens on municipalities absolutely can harm business and growth in municipalities across the state,” Gray said. “This is another example of why tort reform is needed in Georgia in order for the state to maintain its standing as the best place to do business.”
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has pledged to make tort reform a top
amenities at the hotel, the Element Atlanta Perimeter Center offers two unique food and beverage venues.
Stäge Kitchen & Bar, the first in Metro Atlanta, is an upscale eatery.
Spruce Social House, a lobby bar, provides a warm atmosphere for guests to unwind with crafted drinks and light bites.
Mitch Patel, founder and CEO of Vision Hospitality Group, said his team is proud to continue its longstanding partnership with Marriot International and broaden its
The City of Dunwoody Zoning Board of Appeals will meet on Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council of Chambers of Dunwoody City Hall, located at 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, Georgia 30338, for the purpose of due process of the following:
ZBA 24-20, 5264 Forest Springs Drive: Variance from Sec. 16-78 to allow a porch and deck to encroach into the 75-foot stream buffer.
ZBA 24-21, 5626 Bunky Way: Variance from Sec. 16-78 to allow a patio to encroach into the 75-foot stream buffer.
Should you have any questions or comments, or would like to view the application and supporting materials, please contact the City of Dunwoody Community Development Department at 678-382-6800. Members of the public are encouraged to call or schedule a meeting with the staff in advance of the Public Hearing if they have questions or are unfamiliar with the process. The staff is available to answer questions, discuss the decision-making process, and receive comments and concerns.
priority during the 2025 legislative session.
While calls for tort reform typically come from business groups and conservative lawmakers, the issue is now expanding to include each city in the state.
Sister city steps up
The Sandy Springs resolution, asking the Georgia Supreme Court to hear and reverse the Court of Appeals’ September ruling, calls the decision “inconsistent with existing legal precedent.”
City Attorney Dan Lee, speaking during a Nov. 19 City Council meeting, said the appellate decision expands the definition of what a roadway is to include an area that would allow a driver to safely exit the paved road onto the right-of-way and return.
“Up until approximately four
Metro Atlanta presence.
“Our collaboration with The Georgetown Company and RocaPoint Partners has brought a new level of sophistication and sustainability to the Atlanta Perimeter market,” Patel said. “This hotel is a fantastic addition to Vision’s portfolio and a perfect complement to the energy of the Campus 244 mixed-use development.”
The Element hotel will further complement Vision Hospitality Group’s portfolio in the
Lights:
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season with two letter campaigns:
• Letters to Seniors: Send a little holiday cheer to those in isolation or just needing extra love this season. Letters will be collected at Dunwoody City Hall at 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Road and the Spruill Arts Center at 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody and then distributed to Dunwoody’s assisted living communities for their residents to open and enjoy. Look
Mayor Rusty Paul asked Lee to explain how the decision can come into play for Sandy Springs residents or any Georgians living in incorporated areas.
Lee said Milton did not place the planter there. It was constructed in 1992, when the land was a part of unincorporated Fulton County.
“The decision, if allowed to stand, would be very troublesome to the taxpayers of Sandy Springs and many cities around Georgia,” Lee said. “Sandy Springs’ interest are in the overturning of this case and bringing the law back into order for good operation of municipal government.”
For Sandy Springs, which has issued 589 permits in the past two years to place items in the rights-ofway across the city, the decision could spell trouble.
“This law, as it stands now from the Court of Appeals, if the city has knowledge of the placement of the object … the city could be held liable for it,” Lee said. “The city had no authority to deny the permits.”
Lee turned his focus to the Milton case.
“In Milton, the city did not know of any nuisance value to this object, Lee said. “That and the expansion of the roadway is the part that scares us.”
area, including the nearby AC Hotel by Marriott – Atlanta Perimeter, which opened in 2021, providing guests with a range of modern accommodations in the Perimeter area.
Jonathan Schmerin, managing principal of The Georgetown Company, said the hotel perfectly fits with the vision for a best-in-class creative campus that combines office with dining and hospitality amenities.
— Hayden Sumlin
for the festive mailbox starting Dec. 1. Letters will be accepted until noon on Dec. 20.
• Letters to Santa: Children can send messages and pictures to Santa by emailing Santa.Claus@ dunwoodyga.gov. Santa will respond with a personalized, mailed letter all the way from the North Pole. Please include the child’s name, return mailing address and any special instructions in the email. Messages will be accepted from Dec. 1 until Dec. 20. Letters will be responses only. No gifts will be sent.
— Hayden Sumlin
