Decatur Book Festival, Dragon Con go virtual By Collin Kelley Two of Intown’s biggest end-of-summer events are going virtual due to the ongoing pandemic. Both Dragon Con and the Decatur Book Festival will become online events over Labor Day weekend. Details were still being ironed out at press time, but Dragon Con, which usually takes over Downtown hotels and hosts an annual cosplay parade down Peachtree, is planning online panels, workshops, contests, and a chance to virtually meet scifi/fantasy actors, authors, and artists. Some of the special guests lined up for 2020 include “Dresden Files” author Joshilyn Jackson Jim Butcher; “Star Wars” books author Timothy Zahn; “Steven Universe” voice actors Estelle, Zach Callison, Jennifer Paz, Grace Rolek and Deedee Magno Hall; “Star Trek: Enterprise” and “Resident Evil” actor DC Douglas; and actor Gil Gerard from “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.” More guests and events will be added, so be sure to visit DragonCon.org for the lineup. Book lovers who usually flock to Decatur will also be watching their favorite authors online, as the annual Decatur Book Festival goes virtual. “In the interest of public health, we have determined that holding a large-scale physical festival this Labor Day weekend is not feasible,” said Joy Pope, the festival’s Interim Executive Director. “Instead, we are planning a virtual festival that will celebrate the DBF’s 15th anniversary in a way that is unique to our community. We want to bring content, candor, and civic engagement into our lives in meaningful ways – something that the events of the past week have made more urgent than ever before. Beginning on the Friday of Labor Day weekend and continuing through September, the festival will present 15 virtual events that will represent the best of what the DBF does: ignite conversations inspired by diverse books and authors that engage our hearts and minds.” The DBF has already begun virtual programming with its popular Joshilyn Jackson Reads series. With the help of Georgia Center for the Book and metro Atlanta libraries, the festival is featuring a total of eleven talks between New York Times-bestselling author Joshilyn Jackson and 18 writers of her choosing whose works span genres and topics. Visit decaturbookfestival.com to see the full lineup of events for the virtual festival. reporternewspapers.net JULY 2019 • VOL.
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between tending a lease agreement P10 but officials district, city and the school about their discusare being tight-lipped
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Middle at Peachtree Charter festival, Corrine Ovellette, eighth-graders of the Lemonade Days Layla Smith, left, and money during the 20th edition School, ride the swings Brook Run Park. The festival this year raised Farm. at ster which ran April 24-28 Trust and the Donaldson-Banni for the Dunwoody Preservation
2018 reporternewspaper MAY 2019 • VOL. 13 — NO. 5 DeKalb CEO touts in Dunwoody unity Section Two y’ addressWall to Wall Art A new website ‘State of Count murals,
million. P10 building the new DeKalb Schools is on the site of the school on Roberts Drive and adjacent to the former baseball fields less than a halfDunwoody Nature Center, AES. The city has mile from the current the to do An art fanit wants Check outwith what maps street our podcasts and not finalized murals in Atlanta is vacated, but and beyond once it Facebook Live Streams old school property focused on creating talks have generally Austin Elementary a park space. The new The Brookhavenlousing 2011 special Reporter School is being built is mail delivered to cal option sales tax funding. homes city theon selected carrier As part of the 2016 agreement,routes in ZIP 30319 DeKalb to school old agreed to lease the See OLD on page 22
Dunwoody
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leaders business metro maps the event – Adding to the symbolism, of Comto wall wallhosted by the DeKalb Chamber and lobby group merce and the policy Aboutfor Quality Growth – was Outthe& Council very in Dunwoody, but in not only held Camps Summer Ravinia hotel ball-
Michael ThurDeKalb County CEO ► as the force behind mond touted unity cited his “odd cou► local resurgence, and Dunwoody Mayor ple” partnership with bridge-building, in Denis Shortal as key County” address to a special “State of the
April 25.
same Crowne Plaza own annual “state room where the city’s See DEKALB on page 10 BY DOUG
The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners is expected next month to consider countywide transit master plan designed a improve current to rail and bus service termine where to build new transit and denext 30 years. over the As part of that consideration, sioners will also commishave to decide if they believe voters are motivated enough The proposed to vote for a sales tax increase to pay for the full-penny DeKalb proposed improvements, County transit which include light rapid transit master plan and arterial rapid rail, bus transit in north and south scenario would DeKalb. include four light DeKalb County, the Atlanta rapid transit Commission and Regional routes; four bus rapid MARTA worked transit routes including cal municipalit with loies and gathered and eight arterial along the top end of I-285; public input over the past year expansions wouldrapid transit routes. These on a proposed cover 180 project transit master plan with miles. three broad goals: address the county’s mobility challenges, foster ic developmen economt and improve quality of life. Consultants with VHB recently DeKalb cities toured and in June made reportern presentations on proposed ewspaper s.net and conceptual master plans transit to the Brookhaven and Dunwoody City Councils. Both presentations spotlighted two Perim ► scenarios: a 1 eter cent sales tax increaseBusin Spring would 2019 The30PCID thatess raise | Where $3.65 brick-and-mort years over s mark and sfund 16 projects,ar retailbillion of shapi still works 20 years and a halfpennyng Perimeter increase that would Children’s over 30 years and Center raise $1.85 billion ► Healthcare of fund 15 projects. Atlanta for the massive developme Increasing the nt of its North sales tax requires Druid Hill Campus DeKalb’s current a vote. that will include sales tax a new $1.5 Going to a referendumis 8 percent. billion hospital slated to open is a major decision, in 2025. Grady The deal does Smith, VHB project not put the city manager, told the Brookhaven on the council at its June 10 See DEVELOPME NT on page 30 See DEKALB on page 31
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It took a — and everything A tribute harmonic IMAGE COURTESY to the former changed for cial media, convergence Limelight ART RUDICK in Buckhead, “It was an an engineer’s Rudick. of sodisco behind painted by an unmet recalls. “This eye-opening experience,” Binder’s Art maps covering Dr. Dax and need to launch retirement and was Supplies The Loss he 14 neighborhoods ping more a website On the same amazing stuff.” outlying Prevention. than 500 cities as Dunwoody, and such trip, Rudick’s street murals mapro Atlanta. duced him and Sandy walking tour. niece introin metto Instagram, Brookhaven Springs. The Fittingly, home to six self-guided site also provides a guy named “It’s partially his Old Fourth and he returned to locate all hood full Art was the and includes walking tours of Ward neighboring that cartoon,”because I grew of the art. of curiosity. one street art bios of 16 “I’ve always photos of He wanted Rudick says, up watchmuralists. Rudick, an the attraction. Atlanta’s had an interest explaining engineer Rudick says, street murals to take on his new end of 2016 who in art,” Art He says his “but I’ve never Instagram to post after a 32-year retired at the myself. I were the been ca-Cola, finds once did ro, who uses favorite artists are murals? How account, but where woodworking an artist most of his career with CoYoyo Ferby, making a technique could he find Necessity ing local artists content by contour custom furniture.” as a hobknown as them? drawing, followThe design tion when became the mother blind contact page on Instagram. He and five of a collective of a new Rudick realized of invenwho are also for Rudick, hobby took map of the part times reach on his site, and artists has a Club, which known as the Lotus that a decent 61, about shape city’s street him three years somehe and his does “a lot Eaters with no art didn’t Twice a year, that way. amazing ago when wife visited of interesting previous exist. So, work.” He City. While experience family in he says, website, he and to check on also admires of Donna New there, the in doing took it upon every mural, he drives around Howells, a a guided Atlanta couple York a an online sure that himself to Cabbagetownthe work tour as part her seventies guide took the site is class Bushwickof street art in the and the artists to Atlanta’s street create current. He’ll of making new work only recently. who began creating artist in workingneighborhood murals while often who put them murals The result of Brooklyn Rudick says making the rounds. spot Rudick keeps is the Atlanta up. his favorite at StreetArtMap.org, his eyes open the artist Street in suburban SIGN UP TO mural is one known as for murals cities, too. which has Art Map by RECEIVE DAILY Jerkface, Tom and pears on interactive based Jerry cartoon Brookhaven’s Ferro’s work ap& WEEKLY ral is the characters. on the School, and Cross Keys EMAILS WITH first stop The muthe on the Little High LOCAL NEWS such locations website notes Five Points @ REPORTERNEWSPAPERS as the parking artwork in garage of .NET/SIGNUP CONTINUED
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The Brookhave n Developme nt Authority in June approved issuing billion in tax $1.1 exempt revenue bonds to
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s on Crime concerns focu em changing bail syst BY JOHN RUCH AND EVELYN ANDREWS have reached a Local crime concerns and a mayoral town hall boil – dominating from of recommendations resulting in a list s– of Neighborhood the Buckhead Council around heat is gathering and most of the County to the way Fulton possible changes
decisions. judges make bail ofdistrict attorney’s But judges and the say back on what they fice are also pushing claims and misunderare some incorrect of its BCN altered one standings, and the after hearing from bail-related proposals City Council members. FulC. I. McBurney of Robert Chief Judge posCourt says he sees ton County Superior See LOCAL on page
pics. P19 exhibThe original Olympicsafter the 10 years it, which opened celebratory and Games, was largely and memorapacked with artifacts – set to open Check out our podcasts bilia. The new version with the next at ReporterNews in July 2020 to coincide papers.net in Tokyo – will Summer Olympics In part, curators take a wider view. highlighting lasting means say, thatThe Sandy Springs Park Olympic Reporter is legacies like Centennial It also mail delivered reputation. tounhomes on and the city’s global selected to previously carrier routes in means giving space of transabout ZIPslack 30327, 30328, derplayed protests and a time when parency and equity, 30342 and 30350 14 on page information: See RETHINKINGFor delivery@rep
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Homeowners criticize roundabout threatening 1927 building
Main photo, the diverging at Ashford-Dunwoody diamond SPECIAL looked Road and interchange shortly after opening I-285 as Inset, the in 2012. it Hammond Ga. 400 shortly Drive interchange FILE after it with opened in 2011.
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Joe Card, the owner of EVELYN ANDREWS roads intersection this carriage house at the Mount Paran and Powers is calling for the city to stop a plan Ferry to build a roundabout.
City Springs thea prepares for anotter group season of packed her houses
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As the City Springs Theatre Company prepares the final shows season, it’s also prepping of its inaugural for what it expects to be another season of packed shows as it tries to keep up with the enthusiasm and demand from the community. The theater company survived major
leadership changes at City succeeded in implementingSprings and has one of the complex’s key initiatives – educational programming.
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Residents near the intersection of Mount Paran and Powers Ferry roads have rallied against a roundabout expected to be built early next year. They argue the roundabout will mostly help commuters while negatively affecting their properties, including requiring demolition of a nearly century-old building once used as a country store. “We’d like Sandy Springs to make a priority of residential neighborhoods and not make it a bypass for commuters,” said Aaron Gill, a homeowner at the intersection. The start of the project is quickly approaching, with utility relocation expected to begin in the fall and construction by spring 2020. The city is currently working on securing right of way for the roundabout. The $2.5 million project is expected to cost $1.2 million for construction, $800,000 for right of way and $300,000 for design. The city did not respond to a request for comment, but has said the roundabout would improve safety by reducing side-impact crashes and installing pedestrian improvement s. It’s also expected to reduce congestion, according to the city. See HOMEOWNERS
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After 20 increasingly years of a jammed population boom, scraper-sprouting highways it may and skymega-developments, sound quaint about Perimeter that people 1999. Mall traffic worried way back But the in provement Perimeter Community of business Districts, the Imself-taxing out of those property owners groups concerns, that formed sons the are why the local boom has among the reatraffic to Perimeter isn’t even happened and worse. Center get there If you today, via one you may go PCIDs of the well pushed – like the big projects ramps on Ga. Hammond the 400 or woody Drive the Ashford-DunRoad diverging change at I-285 diamond touches – and interyou’ll they’re scaping responsible see smaller and rush-hour for, like “They landtraffic had a one, cleaning reputation cops. for, those cosmeticthings up, providing number amenities used to,” some of we’ve all the CIDs said Ann Hanlon, become resident form as a longtimewho watched and now Dunwoody director. serves as “At lutionary, the time, that their executive to pay for that a private was pretty revogroup was those amenities.” willing Back in day cover 1999, the three Perimeter cities that en, Dunwoody Center toand Sandy – Brookhavnot yet exist. As its next the PCIDs Springs – did 20 years, looks ahead sion on it has refocused to transportation, proposals leaving its missuch as ies. Transportation park-building previous erything these days to the citfrom helping means trail networks evto to shaping build multiuse toll lanes the future That’s in and transit on of Ga. 400 addition PCIDs and I-285. currently to some of the like sidewalks basics the provides or coordinates, and crosswalks, shuttles, traffic commuter rimeter signal timing Connects vice. commuter and the Peadvice An increasingly serpart of Perimeter residential sector Center’s is future, CONTINUED with
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COMMENTARY
ROBIN’S NEST a major exFresh from debuting the Cyclorama hibit reinterpreting War battle, the Atpainting of a Civil is hard at work lanta History Center of the dison a similar “reinvention” city cultural play about another Summer Olymtouchstone: the 1996
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Dan Rooney and Exhibitions Directorstand in the future curator Sarah Dylla History Center’s home of the Atlanta Olympics exhibit. remade 1996 Summer the original exhibit Rooney curated on the remake. and Dylla is working
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GDOT chief: ‘Bene fits Elementary Dunwoody’s old Austin of to close oncess School, which was expected expre debuts next year, a new, 900-seat version as DeKalb lanes are may remain open temporarily alleviate ways to Schools searches for prove exn’ the so would mean overcrowding. Doing
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An increasingly residential sector is part of Perimeter Center’s future, with
Celebrate Congratulations Memorial Day and to all the 2019 graduates! Let us feed your family &
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ARTS AND ENTERTAI NMENT
Main photo, the diverging SPECIAL diamond interchange at Ashford-Dunwoody Road and I-285 as it looked shortly after opening in 2012. Inset, the Hammond FILE Drive interchange with Ga. 400 shortly after it opened in 2011.
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BY JOHN RUCH
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After 20 years of a population boom, increasingly jammed highways and skyscraper-sprouting mega-developments, it may sound quaint that people worried about Perimeter Mall traffic way back in 1999.
But the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts, the self-taxing groups of business property owners that formed out of those concerns, are among the reasons the local boom has happened and why the traffic isn’t even worse. If you go to Perimeter Center today, you may well get there via one of the big projects the PCIDs pushed – like the Hammond Drive ramps on Ga. 400 or the Ashford-Dunwoody Road diverging diamond interchange at I-285 – and you’ll touches they’re responsible see smaller for, like landscaping and rush-hour traffic cops. “They had a reputation for, number one, cleaning things up, providing some of those cosmetic amenities we’ve all become used to,” said Ann Hanlon, who watched the CIDs form as a longtime Dunwoody resident and now serves as their executive director. “At the time, that was pretty revolutionary, that a private group was willing to pay for those amenities.” Back in 1999, the three cities that today cover Perimeter Center – Brookhaven, Dunwoody and Sandy Springs – did not yet exist. As the PCIDs looks ahead to its next 20 years, it has refocused its mission on transportation, leaving proposals such as park-building previous to the cities. Transportation these days means everything from helping to build multiuse trail networks to shaping the future of toll lanes and transit on Ga. 400 and I-285. That’s in addition to some of PCIDs currently provides the basics the or like sidewalks and crosswalks,coordinates, commuter shuttles, traffic signal timing rimeter Connects commuter and the Peadvice service.
Old Austin PBS Elementary to air School may local singer’s remain open to relievedocumentary overcrowding
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Spring 2019 | Where brick-and-mortar retail
The PCIDs marks 20 years of shaping Perimeter Center
[ So do we! ]
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