District 6 Information
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I wanted to take a moment to share some recent happenings and future events in District 6 and DeKalb County.Community-Based Planning Alliance Conference
I organized a first-of-its-kind discussion in DeKalb County with the neighborhood alliances that have created Livable Centers and zoning overlays. Representatives from Greater Hidden Hills Overly District, Brookhaven Peachtree Community Alliance, Wesley Chapel Community Overlay Coalition, Alliance to Improve Emory Village, Scottdale Community Alliance, Tucker Main Street Alliance, Southwest DeKalb Collaborative Group, Northlake Community Alliance and Lindbergh-LaVista Corridor Coalition participated in the meeting. Each of these organizations and neighborhood leaders has been working to improve the quality of life in their neighborhood, but before this meeting they had never met to discuss their common problems and opportunities.They shared their experiences in forming effective neighborhood organizations, redevelopment activities and developing overlay zoning districts. They also informed officials from the Planning and Economic Development Departments on how the County could better support their efforts. Representatives from Pride Rings in Stone Mountain (PRISM), the East Lake Terrace Association, North Druid Hills Corridor and Shallowford Corridor also attended to learn about forming a community alliance and developing formal redevelopment plans. Attendees at the meeting agreed to meet again to continue sharing resources and ideas.
New Livable Center Initiative for Central DeKalb
I am collaborating with Commissioner Rader on an application for a Livable Centers Initiative planning grant from the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) for the mostly commercial district between the Medlock/Scott Boulevard intersections and North DeKalb Mall. Also included in the study area, are portions of Church Street where many automobile dealerships have closed. With close proximity to Emory Medical School, Yerkes Center, CDC, Winship Cancer Institute, and DeKalb Medical Hospital, there is an opportunity to locate start-up bio-technology companies and health information companies. There is also an opportunity to create a more walkable and bikeable community that could support mixed use development. You may view a map of the proposed area here.
Local businesses and property owners are contributing matching funds if the planning grant is awarded to DeKalb County. The ARC Livable Centers Initiative is a nationally recognized program that helps reduce traffic congestion by concentrating development in compact, mixed-use and walkable communities that are more easily served by transit and other alternatives to automobiles.
Green Expo
In October, DeKalb County held its third Neighborhood Summit and Green Expo. My office and the Green
Commission organized the Green Expo. More than 20 local, green vendors showcased and sold their products and services. It was a great opportunity to help local, small environmentally friendly businesses and a great opportunity for DeKalb residents to become a little greener.
Some of the vendors included were:
Some of the vendors included were:
- Ecotransitions sells dual-flush toilets to conserve water.
- Gift N' Green which makes jewelry and small gifts from recycled materials.
- Change a Community makes environmentally friendly cleaning products.
- Georgia Interfaith Power and Light promotes the use of “green energy” that comes from solar and renewable resources.
- Fashionable Notes makes and sells reusable market bags from recycled materials.
Sunday Sales
My office has received numerous inquires on when unincorporated DeKalb would have Sunday Sales on a ballot. Since the November 2011 election did not include any county wide elections for unincorporated county residents, the county would have had to pay to add this to the ballot. The Board of Commissioners recently approved a resolution to place this referendum on the next ballot. So, the Presidential Preference Primary election on March 6, 2012 will included the question to allow Sunday Sales of malt beverages, wine and distilled spirits between the hours of 12:30pm and 11:30pm.ONE DeKalb Works
The CEO recently announced the start up of ONE DeKalb Works, this is a public service initiative to provide employment opportunities for DeKalb residents. This jobs initiative will stem from the $1.35 billion in water and sewer infrastructure improvements.The DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management, DeKalb County Department of Purchasing and Contracting, and DeKalb Workforce Development are implementing this local stimulus program in collaboration with national partner, the National Urban League, and local partners including Goodwill Industries and Georgia Piedmont Technical College. I, along with Representative Hank Johnson and Charlie Flemming, President of Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council, was on hand to support this jobs creating endeavor. As a result of these ground-breaking partnerships, ONE DeKalb Works will create up to 4,000 direct jobs per year at peak production between 2013 and 2017. For more information on this program please visit the ONE DeKalb Works website.
Celebrating DeKalb's older citizens Keeping DeKalb Beautiful during a Memorial
with a proclamation during Older Drive clean up with many volunteers.
American's month
Enjoying DeKalb outdoors at the ribbon
cutting for the new PATH connection
at Gresham Park
I look forward to seeing you out and about DeKalb County in the New Year.
Happy Holidays,
Kathie