After more than two decades of uncertainty—and more than six years of work on the current proposal—the future of the former Hidden Hills golf course is coming into focus. There will be new housing in the center of the course and permanent protection of 130 acres of greenspace for future generations.
On June 24, the proposal to build 230 homes on 55 acres in the center of the closed Hidden Hills golf course passed its final public hearing. The remaining step is for McKinley Homes to receive a Land Development Permit, a process expected to take approximately two to three months. Once that permit is granted, the contract on the land can be finalized.
This is a major milestone for Hidden Hills.
In exchange for developing the core of the golf course, the remaining 130 acres—the “figure eight” of the former course—will remain undeveloped and be used for walking trails and passive recreation. The owner intends for that land to be transferred to DeKalb County and a Hidden Hills nonprofit for use as a public park. Some portions of the land may be used for passive recreation, while the wetlands must remain undisturbed.
The residential development will include:
- 131 attached homes for seniors
- 55 attached single-family homes
- 44 detached single-family homes
The plan also includes pocket parks for residents and a publicly accessible walking trail beside the lake. Click here to see the site layout. McKinley Homes has agreed to allow the Hidden Hills Civic Association to use the clubhouse for its monthly meetings.
The Hidden Hills golf course has been closed since 2005. In 2011, the Hidden Hills Overlay Code established protections for the 130 acres of greenspace in exchange for allowing higher-density development in the center of the course. Since then, the community has seen several development proposals come and go.
We first met about the McKinley proposal in January 2020. After so many years of work, patience, and advocacy, this moment is truly significant. We are now remarkably close to protecting this greenspace for walking trails, wildlife, wetlands, and future generations.
June 27, 10 am – 2 pm: Mark your calendar for The Great American Campout and Environmental Day.
It’s a day of outdoor fun, learning and adventure. There will be camping demonstrations, nature activities, birding, wildlife exploration, and environmental exhibits. It’s free and open to all. (Click here to download the flyer and share with friends!)
For more info, write to FriendsofHairstonPark@gmail.com
Please volunteer to help set up or tear down. Click here to sign up.
Community advocacy is making a difference
District 5 Community Council unanimously recommended denial of the proposed liquor store at the closed Walgreens at Covington and Hairston, 5395 Covington Highway, Stone Mountain, Ga.
Thank you to everyone who has signed the petition, sent emails, attended the public meeting, or joined the community protests. Your voices are being heard.
The application for a Special Land Use Permit—required for the proposed liquor store—will next go before the Planning Commission on July 7 at 6 p.m. Please continue to speak up for responsible development that better serves our community.
The liquor store would be a blight on our community’s vision of economic diversity and prosperity. We have too many liquor stores, beauty shops, dollar stores, and auto-related businesses. We deserve a variety of businesses that cater to a wide array of interests and necessities. Please note the following important dates:
- July 7, 6 pm, the Planning Commission hears the case via Zoom.
https://dekalbcountyga.zoom.us/s/87468073122
or Telephone Dial: USA 888-270-9936 (US Toll Free) Conference code: 691303
- Aug. 13, 5:30 pm The Board of Commissioners hears the case, in person, at 178 Sams Street, Decatur.
You can also make your opinion matter in this way:
Sign this petition to say “No” to another liquor store and “Yes” to a more diverse and vibrant future. Together, we can influence the change we want to see.
Send an email to:
the Dekalb County Planning Commission at plansustain@dekalbcountyga.gov
Commissioner Mereda Davis-Johnson, District 5, mdjohnson@dekalbcountyga.gov
Commissioner LaDena Bolton, District 7, labolton@dekalbcountyga.gov
The entire DeKalb County Board of Commissioners at:
publichearing@dekalbcountyga.gov
Background:
There are 22 liquor stores within five miles of this location, shown below. (Data from ESRI Business Analyst, May 2026) Click here for a list that names each one, with addresses.
A study commissioned by DeKalb County and conducted by the Georgia State University Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, shows ” ….after controlling for population, race, and poverty, each additional liquor store in a census tract was associated with:
- 61.3% more total reported crime
- 50.5% more violent crime
- 68.5% more property crime
- 57% more public-order crime
This study was the foundation for passage of an ordinance that passed May 23, 2017 that set strict spacing requirements, zoning distance buffers, and temporary development moratoria on businesses such as liquor stores, pawn shops, check-cashing establishments, convenience stores/gas stations, fast-food restaurants, and auto-repair shops. These businesses were associated with associated with an average $13,519 reduction in median assessed residential property value, according to the study.
This isn’t a fight against existing businesses, but a plea for balance. We welcome many types of new businesses. In the spring, the community responded to a Planning Department survey and overwhelmingly asked for more cafes and restaurants (no fast food), high quality grocery stores, a variety of retail options, entertainment venues, and professional services. We encourage developers to consider the demand for higher-end businesses in our area. They could capture the dollars we spend in Decatur, Avondale Estates, Tucker, and north DeKalb.
The Hidden Hills Overlay is Being Updated
Both District 4 and District 5 Community Councils voted unanimously to recommend passage of the revised Hidden Hills Overlay Code. The Planning Commission will hear the case July 7.
The original code was approved in 2011. The original code was approved in 2011. It covers a four-square-mile area around Hidden Hills, from Covington to Redan, Hairston to Young Road/Panola. Click here to see the map. It did not bring about the redevelopment and businesses we had hoped for. Areas like the underused shopping centers at Hairston/Redan are ripe for redevelopment. The changes are designed to attract mixed-use development along the main commercial corridors as well as bring it up-to-date with County zoning code changes.
The main change is to allow 80% residential in the mixed-use projects rather than the current 70%. Additional density will be given for including restaurants or cafes, grocery stores, medical offices, retail, and/or more public space (all things the public asked for in the spring survey).
Keep up with all planning and zoning projects at
Engage DeKalb. This site has valuable information and links to dig deeper if desired.
Thank you to those who have contributed to the Greater Hidden Hills CDC.
Membership is $25 for individuals and $125 for neighborhood associations and businesses each year.
Support the effort by clicking here.
Or donate directly through PayPal
Thank you for reading. Let’s keep working together to leave our community better than we found it!
Written and prepared by Jan Costello.
Comments? Questions? Our email is GHHCDC@gmail.com
We are updating the Hidden Hills overlay to attract mixed-use development along the main commercial corridors as well as bring it up-to-date with County zoning code changes. 
June 27, 10 am – 2 pm: for The Great American Campout and Environmental Day. It’s a day of outdoor fun, learning and adventure. There will be camping demonstrations, nature activities, birding, wildlife exploration, and environmental exhibits. It’s free and open to all. 
Greater Hidden Hills 