The Pot O' Gold
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April 22-24, 2016 Volume 30 | Number 1 History Happens Here • April 22-24, 2016 Tour Edition, page 16 The Olmsted Streetscape in the 21st Century Druid Hills Faces Transportation Challenges By Judi Borgo During the past few years, transportation has become one of the Among changes currently under discussion are lights and lanes on most debated topics among Druid Hills residents. Serious issues Ponce de Leon Avenue, the route of MARTA’s light rail through demand immediate attention: planning for light rail in the Clifton Emory Grove, and a walking and biking path along Lullwater Road. Corridor and pedestrian safety; traffic congestion on one hand and “Sitting down with people, listening to them and working with speeding cars on the other. them,” is Biesel’s approach to long-range planning for a neighbor- As always, the Druid Hills neighborhood confronts new challeng- hood experiencing unprecedented growth and development. More es in the context of its designation as an historic district. Increased of the same is projected by experts who study metro area growth automobile traffic, perhaps more than any other problem, has driven patterns. neighborhood initiatives related to transportation. In attempting Emory University and the Centers for Disease Control bring in to find solutions, most residents agree that the preservation of the thousands of commuters during the week, most in cars. The two Olmsted streetscape remains paramount. institutions – among the largest employers in the City of Atlanta – As the newly elected chairman of the Transportation Committee are working with MARTA and the community on a plan for light of Druid Hills Civic Association (DHCA), Van Biesel often hears rail. residents’ opinions about safety, congestion, speed bumps that have In the meantime, neighbors deal with rush hour on streets that turned into potholes, and whether local roads need modifications. were never intended to be commuter routes. Drivers routinely speed Continued on page 10 Emily Stewart Harrison: Winding Down a Life in Pursuit of a Dream By Claudia Keenan Returning to Atlanta in 1940, Emily continued to promote her idea of a progressive school in the Fernbank Forest. But now she linked it to conservation. She wrote several brochures with imagina- tive titles: Primeval Forest Five Miles from Five Points, Atlanta’s Unique Boast: Primeval Forest in Metro Area, and Rare Sylvan Beauty Must be Preserved. These were widely distributed and noted by local newspa- pers. Emily’s papers also include multiple drafts of “A Plan for a Forest Conservation Project and the Establishment of a Progressive School,” written during the early 1940s. Sunlit meadow in Fernbank Forest, 1930s Continued on page 6 April 2016 THE DRUID HILLS NEWS 3 President’s Column Druid Hills Civic Association By Anne Wallace President: Anne Wallace Treasurer: Kelli Taylor Dear Friends and Neighbors, Unfortunately, we lose a few of our great old oaks ([email protected]) ([email protected]) First Vice President: Assistant Treasurer: It is my honor to serve as President of the Druid every year. Happily, once again this fall, the DHCA Phil Moise Tom McGuigan (fi [email protected]) Hills Civic Association in 2016. When I moved here will partner with Trees Atlanta to replenish our tree Communications Vice President: Admin. Vice President: Claudia Keenan 20 years ago, I fell in love with my house and our canopy. In November, the residents of Divisions 1 ([email protected]) ([email protected]) neighborhood. It was not immediately apparent to and 4 will have the opportunity to benefit from the Secretary: Ken Gibson me how much effort it takes by so many people to financial support of Trees Atlanta and the DHCA to ([email protected]) ensure that Druid Hills remains the special place that acquire trees available to our members at a great price DHCA Board of Directors I call “home.” . and the bargain includes planting! Class of 2016 Class of 2017 Class of 2018 I want to take a moment to pay tribute to the natu- Transportation remains at center stage as the Amy Howell Robert H. Benfi eld Allan Ballard Jon Markham Kit Eisterhold Bill Clark ralists and historians, the activists and the politicians, DHCA, Emory University, MARTA, and Department Angela Orkin Dan Frymire Becky Evans the legal minds and medical professionals, the students of Transportation officials study options including a Mike St. Louis Honora Handley Wendy Heaps Bill Stiefel Christopher Liggett Robert Hughes and educators, and most of all the families who love possible MARTA line along the Clifton Corridor and Elise Riley Perry Mitchell Larissa Teunis this place enough to participate in a multitude of ways some revisions to the Ponce Corridor to improve safety Ryan Watstein Jim Morawetz Cynthia Waterbury in our historic neighborhood. and traffic flow. Dave Winston Clinton Tankersley Leon Von Gelderen Our residents come from all over the world to live I also hope that the DHCA will increase its partici- DHCA Standing Committees in a neighborhood that has retained much of its char- pation in CAN [Civic Association Network], which Membership & acter and design as envisioned by the landscape archi- meets monthly to discuss community issues in DeKalb Community Committee: Liaison, DeKalb County HPC: ([email protected])* Leon Von Gelderen tect, Frederick Law Olmsted, Sr., during the late 19th County. We have long been a member of CAN, but ([email protected]) Finance Committee: century. Atlanta has communities to appeal to many regular attendance is a good way to meet representa- Kelli Taylor, treasurer; Tom Liaison, Atlanta Landmark McGuigan, assistant treasurer District: proclivities. But Druid Hills’ mix of parks, gardens, tives of other neighborhoods and work together on ([email protected]) Dan Frymire ([email protected]) and woodlands, museums, educational and research some of the issues that affect us all. Nominating Committee: Amy Howell, chair Atlanta NPU: Jim Heerin institutions, and recreational facilities is clearly at the We are looking forward to some wonderful spring Tour of Homes & Gardens: top of the list! days to enjoy our 48th annual Tour of Homes & Communications Committee: Ryan Graham Claudia Keenan* ([email protected]) Let me detail several initiatives that are in full Gardens during the last weekend of April. The Tour ([email protected]) Transportation Committee: swing. welcomes visitors to our neighborhood each year. Land Use, Planning, Van Biesel & Mike St. Louis, Zoning & Historic co-chairs This year, the DHCA hopes to acquire certifi- Among the highlights are a Makers Market and live Preservation Committee: ([email protected]) Kit Eisterhold & Bruce cation as a National Wildlife Community. Cathy music in Emory Village, and cooking demonstrations. MacGregor, co-chairs McCabe, Pam Woodley, Rebecca Anderson, Julie It will be a fun weekend for the whole family. We ([email protected]) Abston, Honora Handley, and several Division Chairs encourage you to invite your friends! DHCA Special Committees & Task Forces are restoring Heaton Park (Division 9), planting native Please feel free to contact me if you would like to Schools: National Wildlife Community Amy Howell & Angela Orkin Certifi cation: grasses in Parkwood Park (Division 2), and signing get involved or let us know about an issue or concern. ([email protected]) ([email protected]) up 100+ homes to be individually certified by NWF. I look forward to meeting many more neighbors this Parents Network: State, County & Local Elise Riley Governance: Please plan to lend a hand! year and making lots of new friends! ([email protected])** Becky Evans** ([email protected]) Public Safety: THE DRUID HILLS NEWS - Newspaper of the Druid Hills Civic Association Honora Handley & Jon Druid Hills News Editor: Markham Jennifer J. Richardson P. O Box 363, Decatur, GA 30031-0363 ([email protected]) ([email protected]) Published by Volunteers DHCA Division Chairs Editor: Jennifer J. Richardson, Managing Editor: Claudia Keenan Division 1 (City of Atlanta) Division 6 Chair (W. of Briarcliff , Co-Chairs: Justin Critz N. of University & S. of Peachtree Writers: Brandi Berry, Judi Borgo, Sarina Chalmers, Druid Hills Tour of Homes & & Honora Handley Creek): Danielle Parrington ([email protected]) ([email protected])** Gardens Committee, Kathryn Kolb, Sarah Kruse, M. Catherine McCabe, Paula Refi , Division 2 Chair (Ponce corridor Division 7 Chair (“University” Alida Silverman, Lynn Speno, Ingrid Wilkerson. in DeKalb): Eric Kilfeather Streets west of Emory University): ([email protected])** Sandra Th ornton Share your talents and thoughts. Write for the DHCA news! Send us your articles and photos. Submit to [email protected] ([email protected])** Division 3 Chair (W. of Briarcliff Your letters are welcome! & S. of University in DeKalb): Division 8 Co-Chairs (Emory Robert Vicevich University, N. Decatur Rd to S. ([email protected])** Peachtree Creek): Ron Foust & Van Biesel The Druid Hills News is a publication of KDA Communications. Subject matter published is the opinion of the author Division 4 Chair (Between ([email protected]) and does not necessarily re ect the opinion of the publisher of this newsletter. Professional advice should be obtained Briarcliff , N Decatur & Lullwater Creek): Mike St. Louis Division 9 Chair (DH Golf before making any decision in which a professional is readily available. Advertisers