Call To Order/Start Meeting Recording – 7:00pm.
July 9, 2024 Meeting Minutes approved without dissent. July 2024 Treasurer Report approved without dissent.
Elected Officials’ Reports
Ken Zeff, Atlanta School Board District 3: The new superintendent started last week and has just toured the Jackson cluster. He has a son in 7th grade in APS. School budget passed, they cut some jobs and raised teacher pay. (Note: Public Safety speakers came before the council update.)
Council Member Bakhtiari’s Office, Patrick Husbands: Neighborhood small business impact business loan legislation passed, as well as the blight tax. The hoarding house on Van Epps has been taken over by a new owner and cleanup has begun. The city had agreed to fund our Intown Cares program for another year. (Ishita later said the city will take care of 100% of funding this year. Last year East Atlanta raised $20K.) Q: Any updates on crosswalks on Glenwood near Haas and at Branan Towers? A: They are working on this but he doesn’t have an update. Q: Can a streetlight be added by Georgia Power at Haas and Metropolitan Place? A: Police cameras should be coming to that corner, and he will check with Georgia Power. Q: Does the blight tax cover business properties? A: No, it just applies to homes. Q: Does the blight tax apply to houses that generate crime? Also, could the path from Gresham to Brownwood Park be cleared? A: They have asked for that area to be cleared. The blight tax is another tool that can be used by code enforcement. Q: Are you aware of the DeKalb Parks Dept. green way master plan? Should the city be teaming up with them? A: Patrick will look into this.
Public Safety Update
Zone 6 Update – Lt. Robert Godwin, There was a recent bust at a drug house, but new dealers tend to appear on the scene whenever others are arrested. More drug arrests have been made this year than last year. Q: Metropolitan Place and Haas Avenue seems to be a common spot for car break ins. Can anything be done? A: They can try to put more cameras in the area. They’ve been emphasizing for years that nothing should be left in parked cars.
Liquor License Request – Kevin Shands, East Atlanta Treehouse. 485 Flat Shoals Avenue. This has been an event space in the past but they intend to turn it into a juice and smoothie bar with an emphasis on healthy food during the day and at dinner, with more bar-like events at night. Tagline is, “We’re kinda healthy.” The owner himself doesn’t drink and wants to make sure to serve those who don’t drink as well as those who do. Q: Did they have a business license when they were running it as a private event space, seeing as the business license seems to have been recently been acquired. A: The owner was misled by previous advisors and has been learning the rules on his feet. Q: Will the facade be remodeled and will they have security? A: They do plan some changes and will have private security and off-duty APD on some nights. Q: Will there be live music at night? A: Yes, poetry, comedy and live music, and the kitchen will be open late. EACA votes 38 yes, 1 no, 5 abstain to pass contingent on approval by the NPU Public Safety committee.
East Atlanta Parents Network – Carleen Hinesley-Sutton: Wet & Wild. August 25, 3-5 pm in Brownwood Park. Join our EAPN community for a cool-down in Brownwood Park, one of our most anticipated events of the year. We’ll have Red’s Beer Garden selling hot dogs and free Kona Ice. There will also be sprinklers, small pools, water balloons and blasters, and water tables. Come join the fun! If you’d like to help us make it more amazing, please check out our volunteer sign-up. Looking to get involved? We need some community members to help us get the word out about our fun events. If you’d like to support with social media, communications, or helping us take notes at our meetings and keep track of things, please reach out to eapn@eaca.net.
Outreach Update – Ishita Chordia: Update on the progress of our Intown Cares partnership which aims to provide support to our unhoused neighbors with the goal of getting them into the housing queue and supported through the process to longer-term housing, Nearing the one-year mark. This year they have housed 10 people, with 20 people ready as soon as housing is available. The Atlanta Motel and 111 Moreland should be open by the end of the year, and people in our program are expected to get housing there.
Transportation Update – Zach Kosub (vicepresident@eaca.net): Update on the I-20/Moreland Interchange project (See slides in meeting recording.) – GDOT is attempting to make this intersection safer for cyclists, but the committee shared many concerns about the current plan. GDOT didn’t want to make major changes, but may make some minor ones. Zach is hoping to improve contact with GDOT so input can be given before the plans are set in stone. Paul Denard, pdenard@dot.ga.gov, is a person who is open to feedback about how to protect pedestrians in future work at Moreland and I-20.
Parks Update – Matt Day: Trees Atlanta Street Tree Workday Saturday, August 31. 9:00am-12:00pm. Trees Atlanta will be helping to maintain the trees that have been planted throughout East Atlanta. Volunteers are needed to help; tasks include mulching, watering, weeding, and some pruning. Sign up here to volunteer. You can contact parks@eaca.net if you know of specific Trees Atlanta-planted street trees that need some attention.
Park Pavilion Update: We are currently working with members of the community and Parks & Recreation to finalize plans for the Pavilion. Construction of the new pavilion will likely begin in late November. Currently collaborating with Parks & Recreation and ArtInThePark to add pickleball lines to one of the tennis courts. Meeting this week with Park Design. Starting a collaboration with the EACA Arts and Culture Committee to plan a mural for the fence behind the new playground area and will begin this fall.
We are exploring options for containing the invasive species in the south end of the park, including the option of having a herd of goats help manage. Other parks have had success with this approach. We’re meeting with Taryn Heidel, senior Arborist, week of 8/26 to put together a plan of action. Working with the City to chart out next steps for Ormewood Forest. If you’re interested in being a part of this task force, please reach out to parks@eaca.net.
Land Use and Zoning Update – Jenny Murray: Non-voting items (awareness only). 740 Moreland Avenue A business license was issued for a tire shop in spite of this business type not being allowed due to the zoning code. The adjacent neighbors filed an appeal to challenge the City’s granting of that business license. The hearing was held July 11. The BZA appeal hearing resulted in a nearly split vote but failed in having the appeal sustained. Jennifer Murray spoke on behalf of the neighborhood. Unless this is appealed to the DeKalb Superior Court, which is not looking likely, the Tire Shop will remain.
659 Stokeswood Avenue: A lot owner is hoping to build in a stream buffer. The city is still deciding. 1560 Flat Shoals Road: This project is still awaiting approval. (Please see slides from meeting recording for update on Atlanta zoning plans and changes.)
Announcements/Community Updates
East Atlanta Strut – Saturday, September 28 Save the date The East Atlanta Strut needs volunteers to help make the day a success. They are also seeking donations for the raffle. Email eavstrut@gmail.com to get involved.
Margaret Spalding – Updates on Skyhaven and the prison farm lease referendum
Neighbors are working with DeKalb School District to keep 14 acres of greenspace where the Skyhaven school once was. Go to www.southriverga.org/skyhaven to sign up for emailed updates and to find out how to assist in this effort. The referendum to get the lease of the Atlanta Prison Farm on the ballot happened about a year ago. The city has so far refused to process the petitions on the referendum. Those in support of the referendum are still fighting for it, and they will gather at City Hall on August 27 to note the anniversary of the petition.
EACA Call for Volunteers – We’re excited for our role in shaping East Atlanta to be the community we envision for the future. But we won’t get there without engaged members of the community to help make it happen. Please reach out to president@eaca.net or any member of the EACA Executive Committee to find out how and where you can support.
