Call to order, start meeting recording (https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/5noZPfDvv9gUTEQ83bJeFSih5yOVsAM4_YUX2k3D-4REUiqC_70yGLQeTg_PiR6BKldPSGV03FnBfJw.Wqs0gGcWGh3SCLne): 7:00pm.
April 8, 2025 meeting minutes approved. April 2025 Treasurer’s report approved.
Elected Officials’ Reports
Council Member Bakhtiar’s Office – Patrick Husbands: Highlights – $500K for eviction defense cases, backed a motion to curtail Georgia State Patrol chases in city limits, MARTA has posted penultimate draft of changes to the bus network. Slight changes in East Atlanta may affect low-income residents who live in apartments on or near Memorial Drive. Tree ordinance update: The Mayor’s office and some others filed a new version overnight before the vote on the previous proposal was supposed to take place. The fight continues. Q: Is neighborhood commercial zoning going away with Zoning 2.0? A: Patrick hasn’t heard anything about that.
Public Safety/Zone 6 Update – Sgt. Clanton: In general, crime is down across the city. Q: Specific report on East Atlanta? Such as regarding drug dealing and burglaries of businesses. A: Businesses can request security advice from the precinct. PAD initiative has increased hours. Q: Do police officials talk about strategies and policies the police and communities can institute to prevent crime? A: There is a tactical crime unit that works on that sort of assessment. Q: Are there trends in times for break-ins? A: Not really for houses, but late at night for businesses, roughly 10:00pm – 6:00am.
Public Safety Committee Update – Myron Polster: Alcohol Permit, Kevin Leff and Michael Lennox: alcohol permit from Eastside Swim and Social (872 Cavanaugh Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30316). Seeking beer/liquor/wine restaurant license. This is different from an event space license. That also requires a special use permit. There has been controversy surrounding this business under a previous owner with noise and drunken behavior affecting neighbors. Meeting discussion focused on new owners noting they want to change that, but neighbors wonder how that can be guaranteed. The new owner is open to signing an agreement with neighbors laying out the conditions of operations. Patrons parking on Cavenaugh also is a concern. Owners are exploring shared parking agreements with nearby lot owners. EACA votes on motion to approve license contingent on a good neighbor agreement – 20 for, 8 against, 3 abstain.
Business Highlight – Screenfixing, Nate Minor: Wholesale electronics repair that started as fixing screens, but now work on phones plus computers, game consoles, etc. He noted the importance of leaving good Google reviews for your local business favorites. Those reviews bring in customers from outside the area who then patronize other local
businesses.
East Atlanta Parents Network – Chiara Girardi, Caitlin Mullins, Lexi Burdette-Martin: Past events: Easter egg hunt and Spring Fling. When you donate to their events or help the events by volunteering, which helps EAPN give back: by creating Blessing Bags for unhoused, donating to Kids Club scholarships for summer camp and to feed folks at Branan Towers at their annual picnic.
Parks & Greenspace – Alex Levy, Tim Cook, Bill Gould: Pavilion Update – Everything is going as planned. Demolition has finished and construction will begin soon. Friends of Ormewood Forest – The Friends of Ormewood Forest is in the process of being formally recognized by the City of Atlanta Parks & Rec Dept and by supportive institutions such as Park Pride and Trees Atlanta. All neighbors interested in supporting and joining the Friends of Ormewood Forest, please reach out to ormewoodforest@eaca.net to request being included in updates on scheduled meetings and volunteer opportunities.
Land Use and Zoning Update – Jenny Murray and Holly Sasnett: For slides and presentation details, please see the meeting recording.
Tree Protection Ordinance: Update on Atlanta’s new Tree Protection Ordinance and pushback from developers.
EACA/Tree of Life Dojo Self Defense Class – Michelle Rice: EACA has partnered with Tree of Life Dojo to offer a 90-minute basics of self-defense class at Brownwood Park on Sunday, June 1, at 2:00pm. Learn more and register at https://givebutter.com/EACAselfdefense HYPERLINK “https://givebutter.com/EACAselfdefense” HYPERLINK “https://givebutter.com/EACAselfdefense” HYPERLINK “https://givebutter.com/EACAselfdefense”.
Atlanta Fringe Festival – Matt Day: The Atlanta Fringe Festival returns May 28-June 8 for its 13th year, showcasing over 400 live, multidisciplinary performances across 12 days. This year, East Atlanta Village gets in on the action with “Party on the Fringe,” a two-day celebration featuring street performers in the Village, live chalk artists, and exclusive discounts for Fringe badge holders at select local bars and restaurants on May 30 and 31 from 5:00pm-9:00pm. On May 31, the festivities expand with Kids Fringe at Brownwood Recreation Center from 9:00am-2:00pm, offering free family-friendly performances and activities and the Art Market at Argosy from 2:00pm-9:00pm (interested artists can sign up at artsculture@eaca.net).
Announcements / Community Updates
Branan Towers Picnic – The community advisory board for Branan Towers is in charge of holding a BBQ for 130 residents on June 10. (Branan is that tall building on Glenwood Avenue that provides subsidized housing for East Atlanta seniors.) We need help gathering picnic supplies. Please sign up at HYPERLINK “https://signup.com/go/xcwPTYd” HYPERLINK “https://signup.com/go/xcwPTYd” HYPERLINK “https://signup.com/go/xcwPTYd”https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/333034100064/false#/invitation before June 5 HYPERLINK “https://signup.com/go/xcwPTYd” HYPERLINK “https://signup.com/go/xcwPTYd” HYPERLINK “https://signup.com/go/xcwPTYd” so we know what’s coming.
East Atlanta Farmers Market – Stop by every Thursday from 4:00pm-8:00pm now until November. Peaches are now in season.
Whispers of History Tour is coming. It may help you win the East Atlanta Trivia at The Pub @ EAV.
EACA Call for Volunteers: We’re excited about 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. You can also check out our Volunteer page at eaca.net/volunteer.
