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JUNE 2021 • VOL. 12 — NO. 6
Dunwoody Reporter
1 TOP STUDENTS OF THE CLASS OF 2021 P13
HEAD FOR THE HILLS 20- 28
Art in the Park
WORTH KNOWING
The saviors of senior pets P18
FOOD & DRINK
A seafood market comes to Brookhaven
BY SAMMIE PURCELL
P8
PHIL MOSIER
COMMENTARY
A local school advocates for affordable housing P16
AUTHOR INTERVIEW
A reporter recalls KKK’s downfall P7
Development Authority offers $160K loan to restaurant complex
Local art collector Jody Yanovich, left, talks with folk artist Jessica Holt while buying two of her works at the Dunwoody Art Festival at Brook Run Park May 8.”I am so excited to have found Jessica here today at the art festival. I love her style and already own seven pieces of her art,” said Yanovich. The first edition of the festival since last year’s pandemic shutdowns drew many attendees, including Mayor Lynn Deutsch.
‘Facility condition’ assessments available for six Dunwoody schools BY SAMMIE PURCELL As part of its master plan to improve school facilities and alleviate overcrowding, the DeKalb County School District has released preliminary reports showing the “facility conditions” of schools throughout the district, including six that serve the Dunwoody community.
The facility condition reports indicated that most of the schools serving Dunwoody are in “average” or “below average” condition. Many of the schools need ADA updates, need new fire alarms and need to fix cracked sidewalks. The school district began working toward the creation of its “Comprehensive Master See FACILITY on page 15
When Atlanta gets hot, hot, hot, how do you cool off?
The Development Authority agreed to issue a $160,000 forgivable loan to a new entertainment complex in the Dunwoody Village at its May 20 meeting. The entertainment complex – which would include five new restaurants and a concert stage area – would be located at an empty courtyard in Dunwoody Village, a shopping and retail center at 1317 Dunwoody Village Parkway. The courtyard in question is next to a Fresh Market at 5515 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road. The Development Authority is a government body that usually issues tax abatements for real estate projects, so this agreement is a little unique. According to Economic Development Director Michael Starling, the $160,000 goes towards furniture and equipment for the space. The authority’s attorney, Dan McRae, said that DASH Hospitality Group – the company receiving the loan – would only be responsible for paying back the loan at the end of 2023 if the complex does not produce a provable “public benefit.” That public benefit could include job creation or revenues from the new restaurants and commerce in the complex, according to the agreement. “It’s set up so if the company perSee DEVELOPMENT on page 29
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