I have lived in Hidden Hills since 1991. I was here when you could go to the Redan/Hairston intersection and find a Pike’s Nursery, sit-down/full service restaurants, home furnishings, a lovely card and gift shop, a florist, and many other fine businesses. We know these are gone. We have a few business owners who are working hard to serve the community well. However, we also know about the murders and criminal activity at the Chevron gas station. When the police aren’t there, illicit behavior flagrantly continues. We see the semitrucks parked illegally at Redan Village and the homeless encampments. (The homeless were offered County assistance, but they refused help.) We know that the new owners of Crowe’s Shopping Center have no interest in doing anything beyond the bare minimum.
So, it is with stunned relief that I have noticed the improvements at Hairston Square, now owned by Hale Retail Group. There’s a new roof, the façade is painted, new paving and stripes, new landscaping, and much less trash. Soon, there will be new signs. It is incredible and very welcome. Steve Maxey, the property manager, has expressed to me that the company knows that a clean, attractive shopping center attracts high-quality tenants and customers. Hale Retail is working on turning Hairston Square around. Hairston Square, the southwest corner of Redan/Hairston, sets a great example of what shopping centers can do if the owners only care enough.
But, we have seen that the other three quadrants are sadly lacking in business sense and community concern. People are fed up. There is a protest April 30, 9 – 11 a.m. organized by the Rockbridge Coalition to ask the County and business owners to step up and solve the problems of crime and decay in our business district. Please meet at the Kroger parking lot. Read more at www.therockbridgecoalition.org
No Slaughterhouses in Our Backyard
APEX Advocacy has joined our efforts to insist that DeKalb County take action and shut down the slaughterhouse that is operating in a residential neighborhood near Redan Elementary. The business was issued a cease-and-desist order three years ago, to no avail. Rudolf Bradford has slaughtered 4,088 animals in his backyard since the order was issued (March 1, 2019 – March 31, 2021).
Thanks to APEX Advocacy, led by Christopher Eubanks, for staging a protest April 4 that received coverage in the Tucker Observer .
The group is also using social media and has generated 800 unique emails to key County officials. There are simple ways you can get involved to make DeKalb County enforce its laws. Please click the link below to take action.
The criminal and civil cases are still stalled in court. However, we learned through Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson that Bradford lost a recent appeal on March 4, but he is bound to appeal again. Chief Operating Officer Zach Williams says there is nothing more that can be done until the Court moves. We disagree.
Please view the photos and read more in the Tucker Observer:
Join Us May 14
The next GHHCDC meeting is May 14, 10 a.m., and we’re meeting in person! Please wear a mask.
Join us at Mainstreet Community Center, 5001 Mainstreet Park, Stone Mountain, 30088. You can listen by Zoom at the following link.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87819930081?pwd=S2NXaWhBWkdQd080V0R5NFFTVTBwdz09
Phone: 1-301-715-8592
Meeting ID: 878 1993 0081
Passcode: 767205
We always appreciate your support. Membership is $20 for individuals and $100 for neighborhood associations and businesses.
or go directly to PayPal:
Thank you for reading. We encourage you to do what you can today to make improvements in our community.
Jan Costello
President
Greater Hidden Hills 