HUD grant to address living conditions

By Logan C. Ritchie

Brookhaven is planning to use a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to address living conditions, infrastructure, safety, and childcare.

The five-year grant awarded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) tackles issues in low to moderate-income areas.

Brookhaven expects to receive $1.5 million over the span of the grant from 2021-2025, based on a HUD formula and congressional allocations. This year’s allocation is $324,527.

Patty Hansen, director of strategic partnerships, said 19 organizations have been identified for outreach. City council members asked to add Jewish Kids Groups, Grady Healthcare, and Brookhaven Farmers Market.

The city is proposing to spend:

• $210,988 for neighborhood and public facility improvements including sidewalk repairs, suitable living improvements in a target area, ADA improvements, and stormwater infrastructure.

• $5,000 for outreach neighborhood safety programs.

• $43,679 for family stability to develop or improve access to childcare through new or existing providers.

• $64,905 for administration of the grant.

“Family stability has always been the highest priority for city council,” said Hansen.

The city council is expected to vote on the matter in June.

By Logan C. Ritchie

Brookhaven City Council approved spending $4.3 million to repave Johnson Ferry Road from the Sandy Springs city limits to Chamblee.

The last repaving of the road was “botched,” according to council member Linley Jones, when DeKalb County approved the redevelopment of a corner of Ashford Dunwoody and Johnson Ferry Road.

“They didn’t do it right, and ever since then, it has been producing potholes. It is the worst, most complained about road in all of District 1,” she said at the April 11 city council meeting.

The stretch of road will get a full-depth reclamation and repaving – hence the big price tag. Jones called it a big price tag for a big fix. One bid for the job came in at $18 million in 2022, three times the budget, causing the city to postpone the work to 2023 in hopes costs would drop.

“This has been a long time coming,” said Jones.

The council unanimously approved a contract with CW Matthews in the amount of $3.9 million plus a contingency for $389,000.