NOVEMBER, 2014 Volume 28 | Number 2 CONTENTS President’s Column Pg 3 Hopes, Dreams & Plans Pg 4 Back In Time Pg 5 Remembering Emory Village Pg 11 Tour on the Way Pg 16“Miss Emily” Pg 19 Big Decision Ahead – It’s About the Future of Druid Hills; Residential Survey is Important Tool in Process By Judi B. Borgo ith Georgia’s General Assembly set to convene in January, to our north and Druid Hills remains in unincorporated DeKalb Wthe Druid Hills Civic Association (DHCA) has undertaken County,” he added. due diligence on the cityhood and annexation issue. It has not adopted Atlanta City Councilman Alex Wan, who represents District 6, has an official position. For many months, however, statements by its been involved from the beginning of the annexation/cityhood discus- president, Justin Critz, have held a sense of urgency for residents: “act sions. “People see positive things happening in Atlanta and want to be or be acted upon.” The community can have a say, he has emphasized, part of its turnaround,” he noted. or be told what to do. Longtime resident and DHCA board member Barbara Vogel, whose For much of this year the question on the table for Druid Hills home is within the city limits near the Olmsted Linear Park, echoes residents encompassed three options: annexing to the City of Atlanta, the spirit of Wan’s comments. “I enjoy living in Atlanta,” she said, “and joining the proposed City of Briarcliff, and remaining in unincorpo- I like saying I live in Atlanta.” She added that creating a new city is “an rated DeKalb County. The decisions made now, prior to January 2015, indescribable amount of work.” will dramatically affect the future of the historic neighborhood. A Former DeKalb Commissioner Gale Walldorff, who served the survey by the DHCA, to be mailed to 3,700 neighborhood residents, county for 14 years, believes annexation would be a mistake for Druid will play a critical part. Hills. “What are we running from and to?” she asked in the tone of “I don’t know that the survey results will be binding,” Critz ex- someone who has invested much of her life and energy in the opera- plained, “insofar as I don’t know that we will receive a clear mandate. tion of the county. “What is driving this movement to leave the We will certainly use the results to help guide our continuing efforts to county? If it’s the corruption, then we should stay and fight it. We work for the good of the community.” should not walk away from it.” She advised residents to understand all Recent efforts to educate neighborhood residents have included a aspects of the issue – city vs. county – and differences between services comprehensive, five-page letter, “Cityhood & Annexation Options and how they are delivered. This should include, for example, ques- and Their Effects on Taxes and Schools,” now posted on the DHCA tions about HOST (Homestead Option Sales Tax) and waste collec- website. Community meetings have been plentiful, including those tion. Even if the neighborhood joins Atlanta, “the county will not go with city and county officials. City of Briarcliff representatives made a away,” Walldorff noted. presentation at the DHCA’s September board meeting. DeKalb’s Interim CEO Lee May agreed. “It’s a tough space we’re The biggest issues are schools and taxes, Critz commented. “The in,” he said at a September town hall meeting. “Public confidence has schools issue is still not completely settled but at least we have some been affected, and people are unhappy with the direction of govern- idea of the direction it could go. Taxes are a little more definitively ment.” To some this would sound like an understatement, but May settled. City of Atlanta taxes and current unincorporated DeKalb taxes has received mostly high marks for owning up to residents’ complaints are not that different. We don’t know what taxes would be in any new about inefficiency, mismanagement, and ethical lapses among DeKalb city, but leaders of those initiatives have pledged to not raise taxes. The elected officials and paid staff. real unknown on taxes is what would happen if a new city is formed May has countered these kinds of charges with a multi-point plan to significantly advance the county’s economy and image. The plan boasts more immediate and long-range fiscal responsibility, such as making major changes in the county’s purchasing division; hiring an ethics of- ficer whose office will include a full-time investigator; addressing issues with schools; creating an economic development strategy that empha- sizes being more business-friendly and creating more job opportunities for people who live in DeKalb and would also like to work there. “We must be competitive,” May stressed, adding that the county eventually plans to create a new economic development agency. Continued on page 10 We’re More Than Just A Hardware Store. — Serving Druid Hills Since 1985 — Just In Time For The Holidays We have a fantastic gift department with a full line of Paddywax candles, the Natural Life collection and fashion accessories. For that large gift, check out the most extensive selection of Weber grills and Big Green Eggs in Atlanta. Something small from our assortment of grilling rubs, sauces and tools is sure to please your ‘grill master’. COOLEST ACE ON THE PLANET 1404 Scott Blvd, Decatur, GA 30030 | (404) 378-6006 | intownhardware.net November 2014 T D H N 3 President’s Column Boards & Committees By Justin Critz must do so again. Th e movement to incorporate Druid Hills Civic Association Offi cers northern and central DeKalb County is inten- President: Justin Critz - ([email protected]) Greetings to all my Druid Hills neighbors. First Vice President: Chris Hamilton - (fi [email protected]) sifying and will aff ect Druid Hills profoundly. Admin. Vice President: Cathy Vandenberg - ([email protected]) I hope you notice and appreciate the new By the time you read this, the DHCA’s second Communications Vice President: Claudia Keenan - ([email protected]) Treasurer: Scott Storbeck - ([email protected]) format we are using for the Druid Hills News. informational piece about our options should Secretary: Ken Gibson - ([email protected]) After the passing of our long-time editor, Mary have reached you. It contains new information DHCA Board of Directors Angela White, we contemplated going electronic about taxes and schools, and we will continue Class of 2014 Class of 2015 only. However, after consideration the board to post additional information to the www.dru- Lee Barnes Becky Evans Hugh Gallagher Frances Finegan determined that the newsletter’s reach was just idhills.org website. Please check the Cityhood Claire Gotham Tommy Gambrell too important. Th ank you to Jennie Richardson & Annexation link regularly. We are also in the Tommy Greene Sally Montgomery Evan Lindsay Elise Riley and Claudia Keenan for enabling this institution process of preparing a survey of our residents Lindsey Sones Joanna Stroud to continue. which will, we hope, give us guidance on what Tysie Whitman Cynthia Waterbury Most of you know something about the situ- direction you want the neighborhood to go. Class of 2016 Jim Boone ation known as Clifton Ridge. Th e question of Please be on the lookout for that and respond Jon Hart whether or not a Certifi cate of Appropriateness promptly. Amy Howell Jon Markham from the DeKalb Historic Preservation Com- Th is is my last column as president of the Kathy Oglesby mission is required before parcels in an historic DHCA. Our organization has a long and storied Kelli Taylor district can be subdivided is a legal question that tradition of advocating for the quality of life Th omas Winn David Winston will be decided by the courts. What is not a legal of its residents, and I am honored that people Ex Offi cio & Standing Committees question is the disgraceful vandalism that has thought me qualifi ed to lead it. I am grateful for Cityhood & Annexation Committee: been perpetrated at the property. Such wanton, the opportunities this position has given me to Anne Wallace - ([email protected]) criminal acts have no place in our beautiful meet and get to know so many of my neigh- DeKalb Civic Coalition (DCC): Judy Yates - ([email protected]) neighborhood and are, frankly, an embarrass- bors. You are an interesting, varied, and forceful Druid Hills News Editor: ment to us all. It angers me to have to take time bunch, and I look forward to returning to just Jennifer J. Richardson - ([email protected]) to address these ridiculous acts, particularly as it being your neighbor and no longer a cat herder. HP Liaison for Historic District: is a distraction from the truly momentous issue I wish you all a safe and pleasant autumn and Chris Leeth - ([email protected]) HP Liaison for Atl Landmark District: that we face – cityhood and annexation. look forward to seeing you around the neighbor- Joanna Stroud - ([email protected]) You have heard me address this before, but I hood. Land Use, Planning, Zoning & Historic Preservation Committee: Jim Morawetz Membership/Community & Lifestyle Committee Chair: T D H N Mike St. Louis - ([email protected]) Neighborhood Planning Unit: Newspaper of the Druid Hills Civic Association Barbara Vogel; Alternate: Jim Heerin - ([email protected]) P. O Box 363, Decatur, GA 30031-0363; Voicemail: 404-523-DHCA Parents Network: Elise Riley & Elizabeth Semancik White - ([email protected]) Transportation Committee: Published by Volunteers Kathy Oglesby - ([email protected]) Editor: Jennifer J. Richardson Communications Administrator: Jenny McGuigan - ([email protected]) Managing Editor: Claudia Keenan Druid Hills Civic Association Division Chairs Writers: Judi Borgo, Paula Refi , Perry Mitchell, Kim Storbeck, Sharon Day, Division 1 (City of Atlanta) Co-Chairs: Ingrid Wilkerson, Dewey W.