Hairston Park News and May 20 Elections

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Hairston Park Friends Achieve Key Recommendation

Hairston Park, a 33-acre park in the Greater Hidden Hills community, is one step closer to getting an upgrade. The GHHCDC recommended specific improvements to District 4 Commissioner Steve Bradshaw – in particular, a pavilion, new playground facilities, additional seating and picnic tables, a water fountain, and landscaping.

The DeKalb County Parks and Recreation Department supports the plan and so does Commissioner Bradshaw! He told the Friends of Hairston Park, a group reinvigorated by GHHCDC treasure Gwendolyn Stegall, that he will ask the Board of Commissioners to use park funds for the improvements. The vote will occur May 23.  We will keep you posted.

The recommendation is to complete much of the project in Fall 2017.

 

Public Meeting & Elections May 20, 10 am

Please join us for the next Greater Hidden Hills CDC meeting on May 20, 10 a.m. , at Mainstreet Community Center, 5001 Mainstreet Park.

We will elect members to the Board of Directors. We will also discuss:

  • Streetscape improvements on Redan Road
  • The Waffle House development
  • The Music on Main fundraiser
  • Hairston Park
  • Code Enforcement

 

 

 

Update on GHHCDC Efforts

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April-26-2017 (2c)
The trees and shrubs on the S.Hairston median (just south of Redan)  are doing well! It’s a pleasure to see what the community is able to accomplish.
Our regular meeting is April 29, 10 a.m., at the Mainstreet Community Center, 5001 Mainstreet Park, Stone Mountain. You are welcome to attend!  We will discuss Phase 2 — beautification efforts on Redan, just west of Hairston. Also- we’ll hear about new developments in the area, code enforcement, and our summer fundraiser Music on Main.

We Have a New Logo

GHHCDC

We have a new logo, one that is dynamic and expresses our vision of a welcoming, safe, progressive, attractive, and green community.

The graphic designer is Courtney Coprich, who donated her professional services to us. She is a wonderful artist and a joy to work with. She knows the Hidden Hills area well, for her grandparents bought a home here in 1988.  Click here to see more of her work.

She gave us two versions, for use on the web and on letterhead. We appreciate Courtney’s service to the Greater Hidden Hills community!

HIDDENHillsfinal

HIDDENHillsfinal

Volunteers Spread the Mulch!

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We had a great turnout Saturday morning. In just under two hours, we distributed a huge load of mulch around the plants on the S. Hairston median. Thank you Keep DeKalb Beautiful for the mulch.

3-fp-mulch-2-11_-12croppedThe plants are doing fine. The burning bush is beginning to bud. Can’t wait for spring!

Click below to see a few scenes from the morning.

Spread the Love

 

 

Spread the love! Spread the Mulch

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Our median plants need a thicker blanket. Fortunately, DeKalb County is providing mulch.  Would you help us spread the mulch on Feb. 11, 10:30 a.m.?  We’re meeting at the median on S. Hairston. Please bring a rake and a shovel.  Many hands will make light work! We could be finished in an hour.   Contact GHHCDC@gmail.com for information and to volunteer.img_0737-crop

Happy New Year! Award! and Lidl Grocery Meeting

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We accomplished a lot in 2016. We staged a storefront improvement contest, the second annual Battle and festival, and a beautiful installation of trees and shrubs in the median near S. Hairston and Redan. All of these things were made possible by the volunteer efforts and contributions of many residents and business owners.

The year ended on a particularly happy note for me when I received a Community Hero award, given by CEO Burrell Ellis.  Thank you Nadiaward-edit-bne Rivers-Johnson and Pauline Dailey for nominating me.  Several friends attended the Dec. 27 awards ceremony, and it was a pleasure to be there with them.

We wilaward-nadine-edit-bl continue working to make this area one that attracts high quality businesses. I look forward to 2017, and I encourage readers to get involved with our community.

The next meeting of the Greater Hidden Hills Community Development Corporation is Jan. 21, 10 a.m., at Mainstreet Community Center, 5001 Mainstreet Park, Stone Mountain, 30088. Join us to discuss our next streetscape beautification plans and zoning requests in the area.

Public Meeting on a New Lidl Grocery Store

A grocery store called Lidl is asking for a zoning change on 5.4 acres at 6038 Covington Highway (near LA Fitness; currently Wings of a Dove Christian Academy). The developers are holding a public meeting January 4, 6:30 p.m., at the Redan-Trotti Library (1569 Wellborn, Lithonia), to discuss the proposal.  Please join us for this public meeting.

The developer provided the following information:

“Lidl US regarding its proposal to develop a grocery store on property located at 6038 Covington Highway in DeKalb County.   Lidl currently operates nearly 10,000 stores in 26 countries throughout Europe. It is part of the Schwarz Group, which is the largest retailer in Europe and one of the largest in the world. Lidl has a simple philosophy – focusing on offering customers top quality fresh goods and grocery products at the most competitive pricing in convenient locations. While customers receive amazing savings by choosing Lidl’s own great quality brands, they can still shop for their favorite branded goods, available at competitive prices.”

Right now, the property is zoned commercial and mixed use. The developers want to change it to commercial.

State Farm is helping plant the way to better business!

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statefarmgift Dorcelin Bazil, State Farm Insurance Agent, gave Greater Hidden Hills Community Development Corporation the first installment of a $3,000 grant for the beautification efforts. Board Member Nadine Rivers-Johnson accepted the check in early November.

We will use State Farm’s grant on Phase II. We just completed planting the median on S. Hairston, near Redan Road. It looks terrific! We’re working closely with Keep DeKalb Beautiful.  Our private-public partnership is an effective and gratifying way to promote investment in our community.

Our goal is to beautify all quadrants of this key intersection in our community.  Improving the streetscape will encourage people to take a second look at local businesses and will attract new development. Our efforts so far – and recognition by prestigious companies like State Farm – are already building community pride.

We did it! S.Hairston Median Beautification a Success!

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Dozens of people contributed money and time. Keep DeKalb Beautiful provided expert assistance, heavy equipment, and volunteers. Local business donated money and in-kind support. We worked together and beautified the median on S.Hairston, just south of Redan.

It is planted with 10 crepe myrtle and 58 bushes — burning bush, ornamental grass, and gold mop cypress.

Our volunteers also picked up trash for close to one mile in each direction of the intersection.  DeKalb County Commissioner Mereda Davis-Johnson came, and she helped pick up trash and dig!  Steve Bradshaw, Democratic nominee for Commissioner District 4 also attended and helped. Keep DeKalb Beautiful Director Gordon Burkette and his crew (all volunteering their time on Saturday) pitched in all day long.

Thank you, everybody, for the wonderful community spirit.  This project demonstrates our commitment to each other, high standards, and revitalized business districts.

I’ve put some pictures below.  We’ll put a slide show together soon and share it.

After the Planting-S.Hairston median
After the Planting-S.Hairston median
Before Shot S.Hairston median
Some of our many volunteers.
Jan Costello, Commissioner Johnson, and Keep DeKalb Beautiful Director Gordon Burkette
Herb Love organizes the workers.
Nadine Rivers-Johnson cheers on the crowd.
Jan plants with Steve Bradshaw, Democratic nominee for District 4 County Commission
Commissioner Mereda Davis-Johnson pitches in!
GHHCDC volunteers made and served lunch to all
GHHCDC volunteers made and served lunch to all

Median Beautification is Underway

GHHCDC

Keep DeKalb Beautiful is helping prep the median for planting. We’ll be ready to plant 10 trees and 71 bushes Saturday morning, Oct. 29.

Please join us from 9 – 1.

median-clearing-oct25-2016-2We have “digging in the dirt” volunteer jobs AND we need people to help with the fundraising and refreshments. We will gather near the Wendy’s at 1235 S. Hairston. Please park in the shopping center parking lots on either side of the median. (Remember to lock your cars.)