Community Zoom Meeting on New Rental Townhomes near Indian Creek Marta
Kaplan Residential plans to ask for a rezoning that would allow the firm to build 230 rental townhomes just south of the Indian Creek Marta station, and north of Redan Road.
The firm invites the community to a zoom meeting so that you can learn more about the proposal and provide input. The meeting is:
Tuesday, August, 18, 2020, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Zoom Meeting Information:
https://dentons.zoom.us/j/99411238473?pwd=S25rYkQ5eWJMNVdRQ2lKZUFZLzJKdz09
Meeting ID: 994 1123 8473
Passcode: 953218
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,99411238473#,,,,,,0#,,953218#
The firm sent a draft site plan. Click the link to review it.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1R5qqLQDgSkehI-CqC1zCMxLOJvmEbqkI/view?usp=sharing
Our Wells Fargo Branch is Closing
The Wells Fargo branch on Redan Road near Hairston will close on Sept. 30. The company alluded to the “rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation” as the reason for the change. That seems like a convenient cover for the 4th largest bank in the U.S. based on total assets. You may recall that Wells Fargo agreed to pay $3 billion to settle criminal and civil complaints stemming from its mistreatment of customers over the last 14 years. The bank opened more than 2 million fake accounts without the customers’ knowledge and manipulated other accounts.
The Redan branch never upgraded its property or invested in decent landscaping the entire time it occupied the spot, despite frequent requests to do so. I am sorry to lose a bank in the area. But, this bank made little effort to be part of the community, and it was extremely difficult to build any kind of relationship with the bank because branch managers rarely stayed at that branch longer than a year or two.
Slaughterhouse Kill Report – Numbers set record
This year’s slaughtering at Bradford Homes & Grounds, 1676 Rice Road, Lithonia, GA 30058, surpasses the 2019 total, and we have five months to go.
So far this year, Rudolf Bradford has slaughtered 895 animals on the residential property. Last year, the total was 819.
In his years of operation, between January 2016 and July 2020, he slaughtered 3,678 cows, pigs, goats, and sheep.
The company received a state license April 22, 2014, but the owner, Rudolf Bradford, never received a license from the county. DeKalb County issued a cease-and-desist order March 1, 2019. Since that time, he has slaughtered 1,504 animals.
The County has taken him to court, but there have been many delays due to Rudolf’s own delaying tactics and the virus. Thomas Kemp, II, DeKalb County senior assistant solicitor-general, has conscientiously kept us in the loop the whole time. We will keep you updated.
Hairston Park – Update on Volunteer Efforts and the Community Center
Keep your fingers crossed for Hairston Park. Gwendolyn Stegall, the energetic and persistent leader of Friends of Hairston Park, is working with volunteers on a grant. The project is to increase enjoyment of the natural areas. The grant will ask for shaded benches to be placed near the lake, a small picnic area under the trees near the pavilion (eventually, it will be built!), and a winding natural path through a serenity garden. The application work is underway. The first step is to present a detailed plan to Park Pride and the Parks Department at the end of the month and, hopefully, get support to apply for the grant.
The Community Center that is to be built on the north end of Hairston Park near Elam Road is not forgotten. The Department of Community Affairs says construction bids are going out “soon.” The hope is to break ground by the end of the year.
In my last newsletter, I gave Gwen the wrong last name. I definitely have lost some gray matter between the ears. My apologies, Gwen!
What is Going on in Stonecrest?
What happened to the spirit that formed the new City of Stonecrest? Why did Stonecrest allow a recycling center to be built at 2450 Miller Road, near hundreds of homes, without so much as one public hearing? The Metro Green Recycling plant will recycle concrete. How will the noise, dust, and traffic affect the community? Let us hope we never find out.
DeKalb Commission Mereda Davis-Johnson has asked the Georgia Environmental Protection Division to answer questions about the permit process. The company says it is in compliance with all state and local ordinances.
After the neighbors got wind of the recycling plant and protested, Mayor Jason Lary issued a stop work order. But, he rescinded it, and the work continues on the site. On July 9, the Stonecrest City Council decided to investigate the permitting process.
On another matter, what is going on with the parks Stonecrest “received” from DeKalb County? Southeast Athletic Complex near Covington Highway & DeKalb Medical Center Parkway has been closed since mid-March. Every park in the state and in unincorporated DeKalb County is open. Even if citizens cannot play organized sports in this time of Covid-19, they could at least use the 97-acre park for walks. Come on. Open the park or give it back! 
If you would like to speak out on this matter, contact:
City Hall: 770 224-0200
Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary
jlary@stonecrestga.gov
Other places to raise your concerns are:
Stonecrest Parks & Recreation Department
Brandon J. Riley Sr.
Parks & Recreation Director
briley@stonecrestga.gov
Sheldon Fleming
Parks & Recreation Operation Manager
sfleming@stonecrestga.gov
This page has more contact info for the City of Stonecrest: https://www.stonecrestga.gov/ContactUs.aspx
Background: The intergovernmental agreement between DeKalb County and Stonecrest gave the City of Stonecrest eight parks for a total of $34,950 in July 2019. The eight parks are Gregory Moseley, Southeast Athletic Complex, Fairington Park, Salem Park, Browns Mill Park, Chestnut Lakes, Miners Creek, Everett Property, and Browns Mill Aquatic Center.
Until next time, may everybody be healthy.
Jan Costello
President, Greater Hidden Hills Communi
Greater Hidden Hills 
Hmm..that is rather weird far as what Stonecrest is doing.
Seemingly Stonerest..and the South DeKalb area..the people of these place area getting shafted. I’m not a resident of Stonerest but I’m from the South DeKalb area. I admit,when I first heard of Stonecrest becoming a city,I had mixed feelings about it..but mostly positive. Just like most of the constituents that put these people in office…they looked forward to some positivity in their city. Me,I thought that Stonecrest would be South Fulton’s rival.
A couple of years later,there is very microscopic and/ or positive development in the area and no unity with the city government. I was especially disappointed with Mayor Lary’s decision to let Metro Green to build their plant near people’s homes. At one point,I wanted to move out there but I changed my mind. If this is the kind of businesses the mayor wants for his community, his city and government can have it. I wouldn’t want to move to a city where my health will be threatened.
I’ve been living in South DeKalb for a long time. I’ve seen it went from up to down and still struggles to keep it’s head up from the waters . There are supposed to be eateries that were supposed to open and a amphitheatre that was supposed to be built near South DeKalb Mall and Wesley Chapel. I would like to blame Covid 19 on this but I won’t. All of this was problematic before the disease became popular.
I admit ,just looking at some portions of South DeKalb is discouraging and I believe that some of the counties / cities elected officials are taking their people for granted..then they wonder why they won’t support for the creation of the city of Greenhaven?
I’m still wishing for better for Stonecrest and as a whole DeKalb County but they will also have to meet their constituents at least halfway,if they want to seem credible.