What's News In & Around Clairmont Heights!

CHCA news & updates

Mid-February 2022 |

Neighborhood News

Hello Clairmont Heights Neighbors!

You may have heard that North DeKalb Mall has a new owner, EDENS, a national real estate developer and operator (https://edens.com). EDENS are the owners of the Publix side of Toco Hills and have been responsible for the updating and redevelopment of that property over the past few years.

EDENS plans to convert the North Dekalb Mall property into a mixed-use development that includes restaurants, townhouses, apartments, and smaller retail spaces. Long-time tenants AMC Movie Theater and Marshalls would remain, while the bulk of the existing structure would be torn down and redeveloped.

EDENS filed plans with the County for their proposed redevelopment in late January 2022, and they have announced an initial community information virtual meeting on Tuesday, February 22, 2022. PLEASE NOTE that this is a NEW meeting date, different from one provided in an earlier EDENS letter.

Your Clairmont Heights Civic Association encourages you to attend the 2/22/22 virtual meeting to learn more about the plans for North Dekalb Mall. The meeting is virtual and here is the information:

Revised Meeting Date/Time: February 22, 2022 at 7:00 pm

Meeting Location: https://sgrlaw.zoom.us/join

Webinar ID: 984 3418 0720 / Passcode: 642663

Or join by phone: 646.558.8656 or 301.715.8592

If you cannot attend, or if you wish to share your opinions with us in advance of the meeting, we have created this Google Form.

We will compile all comments received by Monday, February 21^stto make sure that we can accurately represent everything the neighborhood shares via the form.The form will remain open beyond the EDENS information meeting so that as we all digest the information shared we can continue to share our thoughts.Your CHCA Zoning Committee will continue to compile and represent your thoughts at subsequent meetings on this topic. We ask that respondents to the form live in Clairmont Heights, although they need not to be a CHCA member.

Your CHCA regularly shares neighbors’ input about zoning, traffic, and civic issues through communicating with local officials. We also cooperate with neighboring civic associations, both informally and formally as a member of the DeKalb Cross-Neighborhoods Council (DCNC). DCNC is a volunteer group working to inform developers about community concerns and priorities while projects are still in the planning stages, and it operates under the auspices of County Commissioners Jeff Rader and Ted Terry, providing them with suggestions.

CHCA Spring Get-Together

We are planning to host an in-person get-together for the whole neighborhood on Saturday, April 30th. Stay tuned to CHCA news and hold that date in your calendar for some great neighborhoodiness!

Schools Updates

Did you know that Druid Hills High School has an Enrichment Fund that anyone can contribute to?

The DHHS Enrichment Fund, along with PTO membership dues, Auction proceeds, and other fundraising efforts, helps support activities and items which benefit students, teachers, and the school at large. For instance:

Enabling the Counseling Office to provide school supplies to students in need

Funding teacher treats and celebrations to show our educators we LOVE them, not only during our traditional Teacher Appreciation Week, but throughout the year

Endowing a modest Principal’s Fund that enables Mr. Joyner to meet special needs as they arise without having to ask the County for help

Recognizing and rewarding the Teacher of the Year

Supplementing parent donations of food and supplies for hospitality needs at the school’s many events and gatherings

Funding teacher grant requests for supplies, software, equipment, books, subscriptions, field trip travel, etc. Teacher grants are, in fact, the largest budget item by far. The PTO’s goal with these grants is to support teachers’ ability to function, to teach, to engage, and to help their students achieve.

Supplementing personal protective equipment (PPE) for faculty and staff and the schoolhouse in general during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the 2020-2021 schoolyear alone, the PTO distributed over $10,000 to DHHS teachers for such classroom needs as:

Electronic equipment for remote instruction (webcams, microphones, ring lights, media carts, etc.)
School-wide digital tools for design and organization of class content
Lab kits for science classes
Subscriptions to online learning platforms and enrichment games for the Math, Science, World Languages, Social Studies, and Food Sciences Departments
Support for the Board Game Club's purchase of games
Support for the School Nurse to send immunization reminder postcards to students
Support in securing PPE and hand sanitizer for the entire school

This 2021-22 school year, we are on pace to meet or surpass this giving pace for DHHS classrooms.

CLICK HERE TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION

TO THE DHHS ENRICHMENT FUND

IT'S TIME TO DESIGN THE 2022 CHCA HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES BANNER!

PLEASE SUBMIT THE NAME OF YOUR 2022 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE(S) TO [email protected] BY MARCH 12TH.

Community Updates

Traffic Updates

Did you know there is a Facebook Group dedicated to tracking incidents and advocating for a safer intersection of North Decatur Road and North Superior Avenue??

Check out Fix the Intersection if you're interested in joining.

Parks Updates

A group of dedicated environmentalists here in DeKalb County are launching a field trip and lecture program with diversity and inclusion as a core value. On February 19, the DeKalb Beloved Naturalists (DBN) will kick off its inaugural class and you are invited to be part of it!

For nine months the DBN will take adventures into natural spaces, taught by veteran scientists, giving the initial members new ways to see DeKalb County's forests, birds, geology and watersheds. This program will introduce sound scientific information in a hands-on, interactive manner and will increase awareness of the disproportionate environmental risks faced by various communities in DeKalb County and beyond.

Ranger Jonah is on the founding committee and DBN was created in partnership with DeKalb County, the Amphibian Foundation, Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance, Awali Agricultural Center, Chattahoochee Nature Center, Georgia Audubon, South Fork Conservancy, Emory University, and the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance.

You are invited to register for this program HERE.

Tuition for the 9-month program is $500 and scholarships are available. Check out the curriculum below and please help us spread the word!

Check out the fantastic

NEW map of Mason Mill Park's trails!

Mason Mill Educational Programs

with Ranger Jonah

April 26, 2022 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Frederick Law Olmsted, founder of American landscape architecture and designer of the Druid Hills neighborhood, including ther gorgeous Olmsted Linear Park. The National Association for Olmsted Parks is coordinating a celebration of his life and legacy. In Atlanta, the Druid Hills Olmsted 200 Celebration Committee has representatives from 9 local organizations who are planning several exciting events the week of his birthday.

Get Your Home Certified as a Wildlife Habitat!

Anyone can create a welcoming haven for local wildlife. Turning your yard, balcony container garden, schoolyard, work landscape, or roadside greenspace into a Certified Wildlife Habitat® is fun, easy, and can make a lasting difference for wildlife.

Visit The National Wildlife Federation HERE to learn more about the program.

Before applying, download the checklist to ensure you have met all the requirements for your wildlife garden.

When you certify, your $20 application fee supports the National Wildlife Federation's programs to inspire others to make a difference and address the issues leading to declining habitat for wildlife nationwide. A portion of your fee also supports work for local wildlife in select affiliate partner states.

Is Your Membership in Our Neighborhood Association Current?

Membership in Clairmont Heights Civic Association (CHCA) is open to anyone 18 years of age or older who own or reside within the CHCA boundaries. Membership is on a household basis and dues are $25. Our membership year runs from June 1 - May 31.

How we use your Membership dues:

Neighborhood Improvements: We buy plants for neighborhood entrances and help fund additions to Melton Park. We provide grants for things like our annual Graduation Banners. We mow common areas when necessary.

Social gatherings: CHCA sponsors our neighborhood’s annual Halloween potluck and occasionally other cookouts and Family Movie Nights. We try to provide opportunities to meet your neighbors and have a good time.

Communications: The Association website, this monthly eNewsletter, and the neighborhood Facebook group are all mechanisms that we employ to share information about the community. With separate committees addressing traffic issues, zoning and development concerns, and schools, our Board learns about a wide variety of things that we share throughout the year.