Aug. 4, 6 p.m. ― Mainstreet National Night Out

The public is welcome to attend National Night Out at Mainstreet. This annual event promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live.

Tuesday, Aug. 4, 6:30 pm
Mainstreet Clubhouse
5001 Mainstreet, Stone Mountain

Aug. 10, 6 p.m. ― Public Meeting about Sikh Spirtual Center Expansion

Aug. 10, 6 p.m.

1821 S. Hairston Road

Stone Mountain, Georgia 30088

The Gurdwara Sahib Sikh Spirtual Center Campus at 1821 South Hairston (next door to Antioch Manor Estates at Woodway/S. Hairston) wants to expand into an adjacent neighborhood. To do so requires a rezoning and a special land use permit. The applicant invites you to hear about the proposal on Aug. 10, 6 p.m., at the Center and to provide your input.

Registration would be appreciated:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdK_CEJi37Y7H5ha1vUv5UmnX_UNr0umyd5RLnzh0mdNDHhvw/viewform

 

Aug. 13 ― Last chance!  Speak Out Against Liquor Store

Attracting Desirable Businesses and Park Supporters

Community advocacy is making a difference

The application for a Special Land Use Permit—required for the proposed liquor store—goes before the Board of Commissioners Aug. 13, 5:30 pm. The meeting is in person at 178 Sams Street, Decatur.

The overwhelming opposition to a liquor store led to unanimous recommendations for denial at both the Community Council and the Planning Commission.

We ask for responsible development that better serves our community. A 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.

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.  T

Click here to read 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.

Aug. 13, 5:30 ― An Updated Hidden Hills Overlay Code is Designed to Attract High-Quality Businesses

The Board of Commissioners will vote on the proposed updated Hidden Hills Overlay Code at the Aug. 13 meeting. We fully support this update.

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). 

Planning staff Tricia Prevost and Aarya More have created a story map explaining the Hidden Hills Overlay and the proposed changes.  We encourage you to review it at this link.

Great Progress on Hairston Park Lake

The work on the Hairston Park lake is expected to be finished by the end of September. It will significantly improve long-term environmental conditions within the lake.

Bayne Development Group and the Parks Department gave the community a tour July 30 and saw the amazing progress made since the lake was closed in May.  The dam has been completely rebuilt, and a new siphon system was added to allow circulation. An additional run-off relief channel was created in case of enormous inundation. There will be a bridge connecting the lake path to the park property in the neighborhood on the west side, which will soon be a lovely greenspace. Sod will line the sides of the dam.  At a safe distance, dozens of hardwoods will be planted.

Water fowl have loved the lower lake levels because it made fishing so much easier!  Turtles and other aquatic animals sought refuge in the large shallow pools that were left after draining. 

The water quality of the lake has been poor for years. Parks Department Assistant Director Paige Singer says that these improvements “will enhance water quality, circulation, and overall ecological health. These upgrades are expected to create a more sustainable and supportive environment for fish, turtles, aquatic vegetation, and other wildlife, ultimately improving habitat conditions throughout the park for years to come.”

The rehabilitation project is designed to significantly improve long-term environmental conditions within the lake. It is the Parks Department’s third large dam rehabilitation project.

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