Our community is dealing with an increasing number of people living in tents, under eaves, and completely unsheltered. Recently, one neighbor saw a man bathing at the Family Dollar at Redan Village. The clerk said he had been given permission to use the spigot. We notified Family Dollar of our concerns that such practice was misplaced charity. Such scenes harm efforts to encourage decent businesses and more customers in the area. We asked the shopping center owner to get in touch with Family Dollar. We reported it to DeKalb Police and Code Enforcement. Sadly, little has come of our efforts, but we are not giving up.
On a brighter note, the person who set up a homestead on the MARTA bench near King’s Southern Delite on Redan Road is no longer there. MARTA was extremely responsive to our concerns that customers could not use the bench. They cleaned up the area and even pressure washed it. Then, they installed a divider on the bench to discourage anyone from laying across it to sleep.
I wish every government department that we deal with was as responsive as MARTA.
The MARTA Police Department urged us to remind you that they want to hear directly from us about any concerns. Use the MARTA See and Say App. It’s easy to download on your phone, and they are quick to respond to it.
Fight the Junk Yard on Union Grove
Our neighbors need our help in fighting a zoning request near Turner Hill and Union Grove. The applicant wants to take a 16-acre residential property and turn it into a junk car lot. Most of the land is either next to residences or Antioch Lithonia Baptist Church. The proposed change would devastate this neighborhood. Please sign the petition urging the Board of Commissioners to reject the zoning change by clicking on this link:
The change would turn this pastoral setting into light industrial, which allows many uses that are anathema to the neighborhood. The applicant has a junk car/wrecker service business, but once he gets the zoning change, he could use it for a variety of auto and truck sales&service businesses, adult entertainment, a pawn shop, a liquor store, and other activities that people don’t want in their backyards. There is plenty of land already zoned light industrial in DeKalb County. The applicant needs to look at those options and leave this neighborhood alone.
Slaughterhouse on Trial
Rudolph Bradford went to trial June 22, and asked for a change of venue. It was denied. Bradford is accused of running an illegal slaughterhouse at 1676 Rice Road. He was told to “cease and desist” on March 1, 2019, but he did not. In fact, since that date, he has slaughtered 4,441 cows, pigs, goats, and sheep in his backyard, and the slaughtering continues.
The State Court has not set the date for jury selection to begin. The case will have a six-member jury. Assistant Solicitor General Karen Scott has been keeping us in the loop. We’ll publish the date and link to the proceedings when we get it.
The next GHHCDC meeting is Aug. 13, 10 a.m.
We’re meeting in person! Please wear a mask.
Join us at Mainstreet Community Center, 5001 Mainstreet Park, Stone Mountain, 30088.
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 