Houqua Tea Room Offers the World’s Most Popular Drink and More
Tucked away in a cozy spot on Oxford Road is Houqua Tea Room, where owner Andrew Freni individually brews more than 50 teas from around the world. For tea lovers, it’s the place to go to sip exotic brews, iced or hot, use the internet, study, chat with a friend, or purchase bulk tea from a selection that Andrew says is unmatched in Atlanta. He advises customers how to brew tea to bring out its best flavors and offers pastries from Alons Bakery to sweeten the experience.
To Andrew, tea is art. A former drummer for the rock band Adom, Andrew developed his passion for tea while touring in England for two years. He made the switch from coffee to tea after discovering its calming affects. A history major in college, today he is a student of the long traditions, varieties, and yore surrounding tea from around the world--and tea’s role in the creation of this country (remember the Boston Tea party?).
As he travelled the Mediterranean, Europe and South America, his appreciation grew for the world's most popular drink. “Tea is emerging as a new (only 5,000 years old!) alternative to mass-produced beverages and the high caffeine content and toxicity of common soft drinks and coffee,” says Andrew. “Tea is much lower in caffeine content, yet very high in vitamins and anti-oxidants. Tea drinking fits harmoniously into a lifestyle of healthy eating, exercise, awareness, and general well-being.”
You won’t find tea bags at Houqua Tea Room. All teas—from Moroccan Mint to Yerba Matte from South America with its malty rich taste and a strong caffeine kick, rose-flavored green and black teas, and Chai—are brewed from tea leaves grown in the finest estates and gardens.
Houqua Tea Room is located at 1445 Oxford Rd. (below SABA) 678.927.9363. Hours are Monday - Thursday 10am - 7pm, Friday and Saturday, noon - 10pm. Read more about Houqua Tea Room.
AIEV Receives PEDS Golden Shoe Award for Emory Village Project
(Nov. 4, 2011) The Alliance to Improve Emory Village (AIEV) and DeKalb County received a PEDS Golden Shoe Award this week for the Emory Village roundabout and “road diet” project As part of the project, a section of North Decatur Road through the Village was reduced from 
four lanes to three, and new bike lanes and improved sidewalks were added.
PEDS – the region’s leading advocate for pedestrians – presented its 12th annual Golden Shoe Awards at a celebration to honor the people, projects, and places that have contributed significantly this year to making metro Atlanta communities more walkable. DeKalb County Commissioner Kathy Gannon introduced the Golden Shoe winners, and PEDS President Sally Flocks highlighted their innovative design solutions that create walkable places.
As an all-volunteer, nonprofit community organization, AIEV has worked for more than a decade to create a safe, pedestrian friendly, economically viable Village. Over the past decade, the alliance of local neighbors, Emory Village businesses and property owners, and representatives from Emory University developed and championed a revitalization plan, which resulted in the Village being designated as a “Livable Center” by the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) and helped attract a $2.1 million grant to fund public improvements, such as the streetscape enhancements. The plan also attracted 
nearly $1 million in matching funds from DeKalb County for traffic, street, and pedestrian improvements – including the new roundabout, which has replaced the Village’s formerly congested main intersection.
Construction is expected to be completed early next year on additional sidewalks and a new garden park next to the roundabout which will include a water feature, kiosk, and a well to provide water for the landscaping in the park including the more than 40 trees 
to be planted in the Village. AIEV is currently raising funds to finish the park and other greening efforts on the edges of the Village.
In accepting the award, AIEV Chair Lois Berthaume (second from right) thanked DeKalb County, ARC, the LCI and the neighborhood for “bringing the village back to be the center of the community and believing that it could once again provide a safe environment for pedestrians.” Also pictured from left are DeKalb County Commissioner Jeff Rader, PEDS Director Sally Flocks, and DeKalb Commmissioner Kathy Gannon.
Before and after photos courtesy of PEDS.
Tips for Navigating a Roundabout
(Courtesy of PEDS, an Atlanta-based pedestrian advocacy organization at www.peds.org)
Pedestrians:
1. Never walk through a roundabout or cross through the center island (motorists expect you will use the crosswalks and will look for you there).
2. As pedestrians approach the crosswalk, look LEFT to make sure cars stop for you.
3. Cross to the next pedestrian island, and look RIGHT to make sure cars stop for you. Finish crossing to the opposite crosswalk.
Cyclists:
1. Cyclists should walk their bicycles across the pedestrian crosswalk.
2. If riding in the roundabout, navigate it like motorists.
3. Do not hug the curb. Ride in the middle of the lane to prevent vehicles from passing you.
4. Stop for pedestrians in crosswalks. Signal when making turns out of the roundabout. For more information on safe cycling, visit www. bike.emory.edu.
Motorists:
1. When approaching the roundabout, slow down to the posted speed. Stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk; they have the right-of-way.
2. As drivers enter the roundabout, yield to approaching vehicles. Wait for a gap in traffic, and merge RIGHT into the roundabout.
3. When in the roundabout, continue until you reach your street. Never stop for other cars while in the roundabout.
4. To exit the roundabout, signal, then bear right to exit the roundabout. Stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk while exiting.
Prepare for Detour on Wednesday as Paving Continues This Week
(June 29, 2011) Rain last week delayed paving of North Decatur and Oxford roads through the Village, but paving resumed Monday evening and will continue this week. This work will require shutting down sections of the road and detouring traffic from 12:00 AM until 5:00 AM on Thursday. This schedule is weather dependent and could change in the event of rain.
The curb framework of the roundabout emerged earlier this month, several brick pedestrian walkways opened, and roundabout signage directing traffic and pedestrians appeared. The center island has been installed along with street lights on North Decatur Road. Work continues on the park adjacent to the Chevron gas station.
Traffic is flowing well around the roundabout, with many neighbors observing that they don’t miss the long waits that characterized the intersection when it was controlled by traffic lights. “This is a good indicator that the roundabout is going to work well,” says Lois Berthaume, chair of the Alliance to Improve Emory Village.
During earlier phases, old water mains were replaced, many utilities buried, North Decatur Road narrowed to two lanes, and new sidewalks were installed on North Decatur and Oxford roads.
Work is expected to be substantially completed on the long-awaited project by late this summer, and more than 50 trees will be planted this fall. In addition 19 streetlights and 33 pedestrian scale lights will be installed in the coming months, along with benches and other street furniture.
The Emory Village Garden Park, adjacent to the roundabout, 
will also be under construction during the coming months, but will require additional resources for completion as it was not budgeted originally in the village redevelopment project. AIEV is currently raising funds to finish the park and other greening efforts on the edges of the village. The new garden park, envisioned as a community gathering place, will include a water feature, kiosk, and a well to provide water for the landscaping in the park and the trees throughout the village.
Find out how to help support the park's completion through donations or the purchase of coupon books with discounts to Emory Village restaurants and other busineses
Bad Dog Taqueria is Good News for the Village
The new Bad Dog Taqueria – located in the old Sprouts Café space – is bringing fresh, unique offerings and an international flair to Emory Village.
It’s the first restaurant for owners Tracy Mitchell and Bardo Arroyave, who are neighbors and friends in Ormewood Park. Tracy said, “I’ve been an accountant and I’ve built new homes, but I’m a foodie at heart. I’ve done a lot of international travel and love trying local specialties. I’d been thinking about doing a restaurant, so when I saw this space I went for it.”
Bardo was in tech sales, but also grew up with a special interest in food, recalling, “My dad was a chef for Pan Am.”
Why open an internationally-flavored taqueria? Tracy realized there wasn’t a locally-owned one in Atlanta. "Emory is so multi-cultural – it seemed like a great fit,” she said.
Not only are Bad Dog’s soft tacos made locally – virtually all of the fillings are also obtained from local and organic sources. Plus, they’re also priced at just $2.99. For example, the Tastes Like Chicken taco features plantain-encrusted chicken breast, creamy cilantro sauce, lettuce and tomatoes. And the vegetarian Bollywood is made with traditional Indian samosa with curried potatoes, peas, plus tamarind coriander chutney.
As you can see, Bad Dog’s primary goal to have a menu filled with delicious offerings you won’t find anywhere else. In addition, there are burrito versions of the nine core tacos, as well as salad versions. And for a uniquely cool dessert? Try Bad Dog’s coconut jalapeño paleta – a traditional Mexican popsicle, sourced fresh right here in Atlanta.
The alcohol license should be in place by August 1; in the mean time, you’re welcome to bring your own wine or beer. Bad Dog’s hours: Lunch, Mon.- Sun., 11:30-2:30; Dinner, Sun.-Thurs., 5-9; Fri.-Sat., 5-10. 404-370-8822; www.facebook.com/BadDogTaqueria.
Construction Starts on South Side of North Decatur and Roundabout
Nov. 18, 2010 - The first phase of construction in Emory Village is nearly complete!
The first phase (1A) of construction involved improvements to the sidewalks, curbs and garden areas between Supercuts and Panera Bread along the south side of North Decatur Road. This phase also included the addition of new outdoor spaces that can accommodate café-style seating and the addition of parallel parking spaces in front of several businesses. Landscaping and over 50 trees will be added in the Village later in the construction timeline.
The entire DeKalb County project is scheduled to be complete in June 2011. The next phase of construction (1B) is similar to the first, but across the street on the north side of North Decatur Road between Dave’s Cosmic Subs and the Chevron station. This phase of work will last approximately one month and should be completed in December. As with the prior phase, construction will occur during the day and when feasible, at night.
Also, during the week of November 21, construction will begin on the actual roundabout near North Oxford Road and the Emory University gate at Dowman Drive. During this phase of construction (1C), Dowman Drive will be closed to vehicles beginning Sunday, November 21. North Oxford Road will remain open to traffic. This phase of construction should be complete by the first week of January, and possibly earlier.
Pedestrian access will continue across North Decatur and North Oxford roads. MARTA and Emory’s shuttle system will not be affected. Following this phase of streetscape construction along North Decatur Road, the construction will begin around the intersection of Oxford and North Decatur Roads. This future phase of construction will likely occur early in 2011 and will necessitate the temporary closure of South Oxford Road by Everybody’s Pizza for approximately two months.
Please look for future email updates on Emory Village construction from the Alliance to Improve Emory Village (AIEV) and at www.emoryvillage.org . As always, we encourage the patronage of Emory Village businesses during this period of construction.
County Breaks Ground for Emory Village Roundabout
Oct. 6, 2010 - Emory Village neighbors, business owners, and university faculty and staff joined county officials and AIEV representatives on Wednesday to turn symbolic shovels of dirt to signal the start of a transformational roundabout and streetscape project at the intersection of North Decatur and Oxford roads near the Emory entrance.
The $2.1 million project, which has already involved extensive utility burial and water main replacement, is a major step in a long-anticipated effort to revitalize the village through traffic calming measures and other improvements that will encourage future redevelopment. When complete next June, the new roundabout will carry more traffic than any built to date in metro Atlanta and help promote safer pedestrian access in the Village.
CEO Burrell Ellis praised the collaboration between government, both county and federal, and the community, and said the roundabout promises to improve safety and the quality of life in and around the village. Commissioner Kathy Gannon, who was one of the founders of AIEV, reminded the onlookers how the loss of the Village Kroger in1999 ignited an effort to revitalize the Village. In 2000, respected traffic engineer Dan Burton told the community that "what they needed was a roundabout." While elated over the fact that this day had finally dawned a decade later, she noted that the next nine months of construction will be a tough time for Emory village merchants and urged the community to patronize the village and support the merchants there.
The construction project is "evidence of the continuity and persistence of effort to make a safer and more livable Emory Village," Commissioner Jeff Rader said, calling the Village project a model for Atlanta --a village center where people can walk and shop and bike. Speaking for AIEV, former AIEV chair Davis Fox thanked the many people who had been involved in getting to this day, including architect Peter Drey who was key in developing plans; Emory University which has provided financial support, technical expertise and arranged a swap of land with Georgia Power in exchange for utility line burial in the village; the Druid Hills Civic Association which provided financial assistance early on; the county commissioners; and the members of the AIEV Board. DeKalb is providing a 20% match to the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Livable Center Initiative. "But we still need more help to complete the park in the village," he concluded.
"But we still need more help to complete the park in the village," he concluded. Read more about the park. and the roundabout and streetscape project. Watch the news about the groundbreaking.
Update on Emory Village Roadwork-September 28, 2010
Sept. 28, 2010-While Emory Village construction has experienced some delays due to unexpected utility conflicts, the contractor is still on schedule to complete construction of the streetscapes along the south side of North Decatur Road between Peavine Creek and Supercut by mid-October, according to Taylor Wright of the construction management firm PBS&J.
ConstructionSchedule: Lewallen Construction started night work the last week of September to facilitate access while the drive to the back parking lot for the shops is under construction. Lewallen plans to utilize a second crew during the first week to October to perform both day and night work.
Work underway: Storm drainage construction is almost complete. Construction of granite curb, drive and sidewalks continues from Peavine Creek going to the east. The wall in front of the shops is taking shape and we are getting a lot of positive feedback.
Work over the next week: Major construction will be on the drive between Supercuts and the drycleaners. This is the only access to the back parking lot, so Lewallen will be doing much of the work at night. In addition, Lewallen is demolishing the walk in front of the shops. Pedestrians will have to walk on compacted stone until that area can be constructed. Construction of this walk will need to take place primarily at night as well.
Challenges: The contractor continues to encounter unexpected (and unmarked) utilities. They have hit three separate gas lines. Water lines have been an on-going challenge. This week, maintaining access to shops and drives will be the largest challenge.
Traffic: Congestion is heavy, but with some delays. The county is also discussing a temporary left turn from N. Decatur to Clifton and a decision is expected by November.
Lemon Turnout Makes Lemonade
By Sally Sears
Friday, October 1, 2010--So, what if you throw a river cleanup and nobody shows?
First you blame yourself for saying yes to scheduling on a crowded weekend competing for volunteers with yard sales and soccer games. Then you try to make lemonade out of the lemon-sized turnout.
Last Saturday two volunteers, just two, joined me at Peavine Creek by the CVS parking lot in Emory Village for the Rivers Alive! Cleanup. Most efforts like this concentrate on picking litter out of the creek. We wanted to try something different.
The Alliance to Improve Emory Village has permission from the county, the landowner and CVS to build a bio-swale* out of the corner of the lot. Done right, it should feel like a small park, with a plant-filled ditch collecting & filtering polluted rainwater. The hope is the new, expanded Peavine Park will offer a view, improve the creek water, and remind us of nature now trapped under a blanket of kudzu and privet.
But what can only three people do? We had three hours to see if we’d make a difference. Norm Slawsky took one end of a defunct silt fence, and excavated it from the silt. Norm is a mild-mannered labor lawyer most of the time, but unsightly public spaces do get his temper up. Davis Fox took the loppers to kudzu draping a tall box elder tree. He’s a member of the Atlanta Regional Commission, usually working on macro-level issues facing the region. Invasive kudzu? Pretty micro-level. I took pruners to the privet and carefully daubed fast-working weed control chemicals on the stems.
Within an hour I was drenched, and not from the creek. The stubborn invasives were making us pay to remove them. But the pile of green litter grew as we worked our way down the bank to the water. Pulling hanging vines yielded a view of Peavine from the edge of the parking lot. It became the view worth protecting that we expected to reveal.
Three hours, three people, and we turned that corner inside out. The view down into Peavine is compelling. Instead of facing cars and traffic, we turned around and faced a clear green creek with minnows and rocks.
What’s next? We need folks who like to climb trees to get the top layer of dead vines out of the view. We need volunteers to make it easier to get down to the water’s edge, and expand our efforts along the parking lot. Another volunteer day, a Peavine Green Cleanup, is planned for later this fall. Mostly we need Druid Hills neighbors to join us in appreciating the view. Our victory then will be over kudzu and privet. Those non-native invasives are the true enemies of Peavine Creek, because they hide our jewel from ourselves.
Oh, the bio-swale? It will be just a fancy version of the ditches you see all over Georgia, usually red clay lined with volunteer day lilies.
AIEV Endorses Temporary Left Turn at Clifton
Sept. 22, 2010 - The Alliance to Improve Emory Village Board at its September 13, 2010 meeting unanimously agreed that left turns should be allowed from North Decatur Road onto Clifton Road during the Village roundabout and streetscape construction in order to facilitate access for businesses and neighbors. However, the decision regarding the permanent restoration of the left turn is beyond AIEV’s purview as an organization and should be left to the larger community of homeowners and businesses.
Here is the background and reasoning for the endorsement of the temporary restoration:
• During the construction period the traffic backups on North Decatur Road are sometimes lengthy and can easily reach Lullwater and Clifton roads.
• Emergency vehicles, particularly ambulances need to be able to traverse this route. The center turn lane is currently available, but using this lane is problematic and longer back-ups will make this option increasingly difficult.
• The only report received to date regarding the car pool lines at Glenn Church preschool indicates that it is functioning, but not as well as before construction began. In order for cars to exit, they must rely upon breaks in traffic when the pedestrian crossing light in front of the school is activated.
• During an upcoming phase in construction scheduled over a 60-day period in December and January and overlapping the winter break at Emory, traffic will be blocked from entering or exiting south Oxford near Everybody’s Pizza. For drivers to access the Everybody’s parking lot, Saba’s, Domino Pizza and the computer repair business, they must enter Oxford from Clifton Road. Drivers will no longer have a direct connection between Clifton and North Decatur Road using south Oxford during this phase.
• During this construction phase, the traffic light will be removed and a three-way stop will be temporarily installed. AIEV believes the three-way stop will cause longer back-ups and more congestion.
For all of the above reasons, AIEV believes it is necessary to temporarily permit left turns onto Clifton to relieve traffic congestion while the roundabout is under construction.
It may be helpful to review a few other facts regarding this project and AIEV’s role. AIEV does not control the contract, the funds, or the contractor. DeKalb County is the project sponsor and received LCI funds to design and construct the project. DeKalb used its contracting and bidding process to select a qualified contractor. The county wrote the request for proposals, qualified the bidders, wrote the contract, and awarded the bid. The request for proposals developed by the county allowed the bidding companies to determine how they would organize and phase the project. The county reviewed the phasing plan for construction; AIEV had no say in its review since that was part of the bidding process. The county hired PBS&J to manage the contract and supervise the construction. AIEV is in frequent contact with PBS&J, but in no way formally directs the project. AIEV has and will continue to offer advice, but PBS&J, the county, and contractor are not obligated to follow it. The limits of the construction project extend to Clifton and North Decatur Road. The only changes/improvements affecting this intersection that are in the design documents are re-striping North Decatur Road to accommodate the road diet.
The installation of this left-turn lane on a temporary or permanent basis is not something AIEV planned, programmed, or requested. “Over the long term our organization is neutral about the restoration of the left-turn onto Clifton,” says AIEV board member Davis Fox. “We are happy to help the larger community in any way we can. We hope that everyone has an opportunity to weigh into the decision including the business owners in Emory Village, the residents on Clifton, and other effected streets and Emory University. Ultimately it will be up to the DeKalb Board of Commissioners to decide whether to permanently re-establish the left-turn signal.
“We know that the construction of the roundabout and streetscapes are an inconvenience to many people,” says Fox. “We appreciate everyone’s patience during the disruption; fortunately it won’t last too long. In the end AIEV believes the project will be a success for our community, the county, and the region.”
To learn more about the Village construction, see construction FAQs on the AIEV website.
Update on Emory Village Roadwork
Sept. 10, 2010 - Phase One of the Emory Village road project continues. The first phase includes the renovation of sidewalks, curbs, and other streetscape features on the southwest side of North Decatur Road (between Peavine Creek/Panera Bread and Supercuts). Access to the business parking lots along this side of North Decatur Road will remain open. This work began in earnest in late August and included reducing North Decatur Road to one lane in each direction and adding a turn lane between Clifton Road and the Lullwater Roundabout. Below is an update from the project managers at PBS&J.
Schedule: The project remains close to schedule (mid-October completion of the first phase of construction). There have been a few delays due to unexpected utilities and delays on delivery of pipe material. Otherwise the roadwork is moving along as planned.
Work underway: Construction signage and erosion control were installed. Most of the demolition for the initial phase (the south side of North Decatur Road between Panera Bread and Supercuts) has been completed. The majority of recent effort relates to the installation of storm drain pipe along the southern side of North Decatur Road. The contractor has also begun work on the footer for the wall near Supercuts.
What’s next: Work will continue on the storm drain construction and on the retaining wall. Installation of granite curbs and driveways will begin between Panera Bread and Supercuts. View the four stages of the construction project,. During this DeKalb County construction project, drivers should be mindful of pedestrians and bicyclists in the area. Please continue to patronize Emory Village businesses during this project.
Yogli-Mogli Frozen Yogurt is the Village’s Newest Cool Spot
August 31, 2010 - As Emory Village streetscape improvements get underway, everyone from construction workers to Emory students to neighbors now have a fun, delicious place to enjoy a cool treat. Yogli-Mogli is a new metro-Atlanta franchise, with several locations – the latest being at 1403 Oxford Rd., in part of the old Druid Hills Bookstore space. They’ve dressed it up with a new brick facing, an outdoor patio, and a room in the back that can be rented for special events.
The décor is bright and colorful, which fits right in with Yogli-Mogli’s 16 varieties of nutritious, low-fat frozen yogurt, plus over 40 diverse toppings, including lots of healthy, fresh-cut fruit selections. Everything is self-serve, so you can mix and match your favorite flavors and toppings – plus, it’s sold by the ounce, which means “you can get exactly how much of a treat you want at the price you want,” according to manager Twyla Miranda.
During streetscape and roundabout construction, it’s more important than ever to support all the businesses in the Village – so come give yourself a cool treat at the new Yogli-Mogli!
Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 10 – 10; Fri.-Sat., 10 – 11; Sun., 11 – 11. Phone: 404-377-2108
Phase One of Emory Village Construction Began the Week of August 23
August 24, 2010 - Construction work began on the new Emory Village roundabout and streetscapes on Monday, August 23. The first phase, part of which will occur at night, includes the renovation of sidewalks, curbs and other streetscape features on the southwest side of North Decatur Road (between Peavine Creek/Panera Bread and Supercuts). Access to the business parking lots along this side of North Decatur Road will remain open.
North Decatur Road from Clifton Road to the Lullwater Roundabout has been restriped and is now one lane in each direction with a middle turn lane.
This first phase of construction will run approximately six to eight weeks into October, at which point, the second phase (similar work on the other side of North Decatur Road) will begin.
During this DeKalb County construction project, drivers should prepare for traffic congestion through Emory Village and be mindful of pedestrians and bicyclists in the area.
Please continue to patronize Emory Village businesses during this project.
Stage one will include three phases of roadwork and streetscape work:
- Phase 1A-Southwest side of North Decatur Road from Peavine Creek to the former Park Bench
- Phase 1B - Northwest side of North Decatur Rd from
Peavine Creek to Chevron Gas Station
- Phase 1 C - Northeast side of N. Oxford Rd and North
Decatur Rd - Adjacent to Emory University, Dowman
Drive
To view more stages of the construction, click here.
Volunteers Needed for Annual Rivers Alive Peavine Creek Clean-up in Village
Saturday, September 25, 2010
9 am – Noon
Gather at the CVS parking lot
• Prepare to build a bio-swale to catch and hold the street pollution (look at the Emory Psychology building’s example)
•Get rid of broken silt fences
• Remove non-native in invasives.(bring out your inner Tarzan by yanking down Kudzu vines)
• Get the T-Shirt. DeKalb County Watershed Management and Adopt a Stream say thanks and mean it.
Volunteers should bring gloves, hand pruners and a smile. Of course we will remove litter up and down Peavine. But let’s begin some longer-term clean up the creek by working on the banks to hold storm water before it goes into the creek.
AIEV Adds Five New Members to Board
The Alliance to Improve Emory Village has added five new members to its Board of Directors. They will help guide the all-volunteer organization as it enters a critical stage of its efforts to make the Village a more economically viable, walkable, and mixed-use community, The board is made up of stakeholders in the Village: Druid Hills residents, representatives from Emory University, and business owners in the Village.
New members include Emory Village business owners Shane Mixon, owner of Saba; Stephanie Panek, owner of rise ‘n dine; and Tony Riffel, owner of Octane. Also new on the board are Druid Hills residents Becky Evans and Todd Hill. At its May meeting, the board approved a change in its bylaws to expand the board from 18 members to a maximum of 21 members. With the new additions, the board now numbers 18.
“So much is starting to happen in the Village now,” notes AIEV president Lois Berthaume. Emory’s new bookstore opened this month on Oxford along with a Starbucks and two new businesses—Yogli Mogli and Twisted Taco—are slated to open on Oxford Road in the former bookstore location.Construction is expected to start soon and continue over the next year of a roundabout and streetscapes on North Decatur Road and Oxford, as well as a mini-park.
“We are grateful that most of AIEV’s long-time directors have agreed to continue to serve on the board to provide continuity as we move into the construction phase of our efforts to improve the village. These directors have volunteered countless hours over the past 10 years successfully creating and advocating for design guidelines and the zoning overlay, securing grants, and working closely with county and state officials and the community,” she says. “At the same time, we are encouraged by the interest of business owners in the village. They have the most at stake as we enter this critical time of redevelopment. The construction will be disruptive, and their involvement will help the village weather this time of change.”
Straight Talk about Our Neighborhood's Roundabouts
By Lois Berthaume, AIEV Chair
DeKalb County expects work on the Emory Village roundabout and associated streetscape improvements to begin this summer. We’ve been close to announcing construction before, but now AIEV is convinced we’re closer than ever to an actual start date. All preliminary pieces are in place:
Emory fulfilled its commitment – long ago – by changing its main entrance and readying its frontage along North Oxford Rd. for the slight road shift the roundabout will necessitate. The water and sewer lines have been updated. The power and cable lines have been routed underground. And, finally, the construction bid has been awarded by DeKalb County.
As of early June, the last piece of the puzzle was waiting to be placed: the Georgia Department of Transportation must sign off on the project, because North Decatur Rd. is classified as a state thoroughfare. As soon as GDOT gives its approval, construction can begin.
Traffic Delays Expected, But No Pain, No Gain
The overall project will also include street improvements to N. Decatur Road, notably a “road diet” from the existing Lullwater roundabout to the Clifton Road intersection … bike lanes on both sides of N. Decatur … parallel parking spaces to replace the existing “angle-in” slots … and shifting North Oxford 40 feet toward Emory’s new entrance wall, which will create space for an innovative Village mini-park.
The roundabout and all the related streetscape improvements are estimated to take 18 months. The intersection will stay open during construction, although non-rush-hour drivers may have a short wait before proceeding.
|
Some Basic Roundabout Rules
Neighbors Debbie Sinix and David Martin say there was a learning curve for drivers navigating the Lullwater Roundabout. “People just had to get used to a few basic roundabout rules,” Debbie remembers. “First, don’t come to a stop before entering – you just have to slow down —and you yield only if a car already in the circle is approaching you. Second, once you’re in the roundabout, you have the right of way. Everyone else has to pay attention to what you’re doing before they enter. That’s really all there is to it.” “The whole idea is that a roundabout keeps traffic flowing, while also acting as a traffic calming device. I heard an engineer put it a smart way: a roundabout not only decreases top speed, it also increases mean speed.”
In other words, everyone keeps moving at a safer, slower pace – even during rush hour. And speaking of safety, both Debbie and David are totally impressed with one statistic: in the nearly six years the Lullwater roundabout has been operating, there has not been a single accident. That rates as an unqualified success to Debbie, David, and the entire neighborhood. |
|
A Bigger Version of Lullwater Roundbout
The new roundabout will certainly be more of a neighborhood focal point than the Lullwater one, and it will be bigger – but other than that,
it will work just the same.
Vehicles will only need to slow down when entering it, unless another vehicle already inside is approaching – then they yield. Once in the roundabout, vehicles have the right of way – everyone wanting to enter must yield to them.
Another major plus: The Village roundabout will provide much safer pedestrian access. Crosswalks will be brick, and thus clearly differentiated from the roadways, and the distance between safe pedestrian “islands”
will be much shorter than present distances to cross the intersection’s streets. The new roundabout will also be beautifully landscaped and lighted; it will create a welcome, highly distinctive focal point to the Village for years
to come.
The roundabout will be the first obvious Village improvement, which will hopefully encourage much-needed private development to get underway. Please be prepared for some diruption in the Village as well as traffic delays. But it will all be worth it, because on the other side will be a much more functional, attractive, pedestrian-friendly, long-term solution to our Village’s most pressing traffic problems.
The Record of Our Other Roundabout
As the Village roundabout begins to take shape, we can all learn from the experience of DeKalb County’s first true roundabout, at the intersection of North Decatur and Lullwater. It’s been open almost six years, and recently two neighbors who live closest to it – Debbie Sinex and David Martin – shared their views.
“My family has lived on North Decatur at the ‘corner’ of Lullwater for 20 years,” said David, “and before the roundabout, I can’t tell you how many times I called 911 to report accidents. About 10 years ago, a young man was tragically killed there. That’s what really got the neighborhood’s attention.” David and Debbie (she later became chair of the Druid Hills Civic Association’s transportation committee) started working with several other neighbors to come up with a better solution. They proposed three alternatives: a stop light, three-way stop signs and a roundabout. “ After lots of neighborhood input,” says Debbie, “we decided on the roundabout – which was actually a cheaper solution than a traffic light.
Construction of the Lullwater Roundabout took about four months and was done over the summer, when Emory traffic quiets down. Debbie gives high marks to DeKalb County. “The county really got behind the project and stayed on top of the construction, which was complicated by the terrain and necessitated taking a little land from Jerusalem House, as well as others.” “My whole driveway had to be shifted,“ David adds, “and we had to redesign the front yard – but it’s been worth it.”
To view the new roundabout plans, click here.
Coming Soon to Our Neighborhood
Emory Village Park: Small Space, Big Goals
By Perry Mitchell
It will only encompass about 8,300 square feet, but the planned Emory Village mini-park has importance – and ambitions – far beyond its small size. 
The park will be prominently located just off the new roundabout on what is the existing North Oxford roadway. To accommodate the roundabout, North Oxford will shift approximately 40 feet toward Emory’s new entrance and wall. The resulting freed-up space, plus the area back to the sidewalk along the existing Chevron station, will create the park’s land area.
Keep This in Mind …
Emory Village Park committee members include AIEV board members, a DHCA representative, Emory’s landscape architect, and other neighbors. The park committee was fortunate to recruit Druid Hills' resident and internationally known landscape architect Todd Hill to produce the conceptual design, carrying out the committee’s objectives and the expressed desires of neighborhood residents. In early 2011 the county commissioned McGee Partners in association with jB+a to refine and detail the design.
While planning for the park began more than four years, actual construction of the park commenced late last year with completion estimated to be summer 2012. Nonetheless the committee is eager to share its overall goals for the park, as well as the conceptual design, says former park committee chair Mark Goldman. ”Because creating the park is a once-in-the-Village’s-lifetime opportunity, the committee has put a great deal of thought into how to make it truly outstanding.”
First and foremost, he says, visually the park should reflect Druid Hills’ welcoming spirit. It will be a people-oriented, focal point of the Village, and as such, an Emory Village sign – part of a low stone wall – is planned. Benches and seating spaces will accommodate 40 or so people. Ample shade will be provided (over time). In fact, of the some 40new trees that will be planted in the Village, approximately eight will be in the park, including a “landmark” Golden Globe Ginko at the center, which will be surrounded by a circular bench. This signage will meet our neighborhood’s historic-designation guidelines. The park’s landscaping will be in sync with the streetscape and landscaping already approved and funded by DeKalb County, and it will be compatible with Emory’s handsome new pedestrian and vehicular entry
Big Ambitions
Park committee members initially envisioned several prominent water features. Then they realized they had the opportunity to create a unique, total water management demonstration project as a key component of the park. One of these, a large cistern, had to be “value engineered” out of the project in order to contain costs. Still, the goals of providing adequate water during droughts in an environmentally friendly way will be achieved by a well, water storage tank, and pump. Most water features remain, including a miniature creek, where on warm summer days, park visitors sitting on stone pads could cool their feet.
Reality Check: Funding
Funding for the park is coming from the generosity of DeKalb County; a portion of an Atlanta Regional Commission’s Livable Communities grant; property owners, and residents; and proceeds from fundraising activities, including donations and sales in 2011 of an Emory Village Coupon book which offered savings at village businesses.
The current estimate for the park is just under $300,000. This excludes the land and other costs that are part of the overall budget for Emory Village’s streetscape. Approximately $20,000 to $30,000 needs to be raised this spring to complete the primary scope of work; some items, such as signage, may need to be installed as additional funds become available.
“Emory Village Park will happen,” says AIEV chair Lois Berthaume, “but the extent to which it is beautiful, cutting edge and extra-friendly is up to all of the Village’s stakeholders. It is AIEV’s conviction that our community possesses the creativity, the foresight and the determination to make the crucial new Emory Village Park a marquee gathering spot we can all be proud of for decades to come.”
Interested in supporting the greening of Emory Village? Donate online.
BP Site Readied for Sale
The BP station at the corner of Oxford and North Decatur Road was leveled summer 2009 and the site planted with trees. The DeKalb Historic Preservation Planning Commission in July 2009 approved BP's request to demolish the gas station which closed earlier that month, remove underground tanks, and plant trees.
Spring Cleaning at Burbanck Park
Burbanck Park, on the edge of Emory Village at the corner of Clifton and Oxford roads, continues to flourish. Another round of landscaping improvements was added at a community work day on March 27 at the park. Thanks to the Druid Hills Civic Association for funding this spring cleanup, and Emory for providing the landscape expertise. Burbanck Park is owned by Emory and provides a recreational area for the community, and acts as a "green buffer" between the residences of Druid Hills and the commercial district of Emory Village.
Changes at Site of Former Recycling Center at Emory Village CVS
The banks of Peavine Creek in Emory Village may soon get an upgrade. For
decades, the land edging the creek has suffered from harsh storm water
runoff eroding the bank. Now, landowner Jan Saperstein and CVS manager Susan Duranlow are supporting changes to the parking lot which won't alter the amount of parking, but will slow down the storm water and clean it before it enters the creek.
In March, the DeKalb County Historic Preservation Commission approved a certificate of appropriateness for the project. Following receipt of the COA and a stream buffer permit, the work can begin.
AIEV is sponsoring a redesign of the parking lot corner where Emory's recycling bins once stood. In place of the bins, a bio-retention swale will give storm water a healthy place to pause and drop the silt and pavement debris it usually carries. Some of the existing surface will be replaced with storm-friendly permeable pavers. AIEV is exploring partnership opportunities to fund the improvements.
"A brilliant design by landscape designer Judy Kasperovich, with AIEV board
member Tom Walsh of Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh and Associates, is giving us an
exciting opportunity to improve the water quality in the creek. We think the
bank will look better, will draw people to the green space nearby, and turn
that corner of the Village into a showpiece for beginning to repair urban
creek damage," says Lois Berthaume, chair of the Alliance to Improve Emory
Village.
DeKalb Approves Emory Village Construction
The long awaited redevelopment of Emory Village has moved closer to reality with the DeKalb 
County Commission’s approval of the low bid of Lewallen Construction of Marietta to construct a roundabout, implement a road diet, and install streetscapes in the Village. The $2.1 million bid came in some $200,000 below budget. The county must now clear one final hurdle—approval by the Georgia Department of Transportation—before construction can begin. Pending G-DOT approval, the expected start date for construction is this summer.
When the project is complete by summer 2011, Emory Village will have new sidewalks, benches, bike lanes, a small piazza park, and 56 trees, says Lois Berthaume, chair of the Alliance to Improve Emory Village. A road diet is expected to move traffic more consistently through the Village and improve pedestrian safety.
Work has been underway in the Village for the past year preparing the way for the roundabout and street construction work. The county replaced century-old water mains, and Georgia Power buried utility wires (excluding high voltage transmission lines) in a new duct bank under the street through which AT&T and Comcast are also running their cables. Emory University, which provided land to Georgia Power for a power station in exchange for burying the utilities, has transformed its entrance to the campus facing the Village and turned Dowman Drive into a one-way street. The university is also building a new bookstore which will anchor the Village on Oxford Drive.
The redevelopment of the streets, sidewalks and other infrastructure of the Village is expected to encourage private developers to invest there, says Berthaume. The streetscape and roundabout construction contract will be managed by DeKalb County. She reiterates that AIEV will not develop any businesses in the Village.
AIEV is a small, all-volunteer, non-profit community organization with one goal: to help revitalize the historic, commercial heart of Druid Hills in Emory Village. As an alliance of various stakeholders including local neighbors, Emory Village businesses and property owners, and representatives from Emory University, AIEV’s mission is to create a safe, economically viable, walkable and compact mixed-use
community that is compatible with and a resource to the historic
Druid Hills neighborhoods and Emory University.
For the past decade, AIEV has completed the groundwork for the Village to be transformed into a pedestrian-oriented, live-work-play community. The county approved a master plan and zoning overlay for the Village in 2007. The masterplan encourages redevelopment while protecting the Village's existing historic structures and seeks to reclaim the waterways and green spaces that help give character to the Village environment. AIEV has embraced other goals as well, including creating new public gathering spaces and ground-floor retail with residences above; calmer traffic; rational parking; safer pedestrian crossings, and a commercially successful sidewalk-shopping environment. View the guidelines and zoning overlay for the Village.
Rise-n-Dine is Now Also Rise-n-Dinner
The Village’s popular breakfast-all-day spot is surely going to get even more popular – because Rise-n-Dine has expanded its hours until 8 p.m., Monday–Friday.
According to owner Stephanie Panek, “We’ve gotten lots of requests for longer hours, and we want to appeal to an even broader range of Emory students and neighborhood folks – so now we’re open for dinner during weekdays. Right now the menu is the same, but we’ve added a new kitchen manager, and he’ll be introducing some great dinner specials soon.”
Rise-n-Dine is offering several afternoon and evening specials – snacks customers can enjoy after a busy day in class or right after work. “Come by and enjoy our new hours and specials,” says Stephanie, “Consider this your personal invitation from the owner!” The new hours: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m., Mon.-Fri.; 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sat.-Sun.
Saba Plans to Reopen
Saba Restaurant, a local favorite in Emory Village, burned after hours late Sunday evening, Sept. 23 in an electrical fire. No one was injured. The fire destroyed part of the restaurant but owner Shane Mixon hopes to rebuild and reopen by Jan. 1. Saba, which continues to operate from its Oakhurst location, will deliver lunch and dinner to its customers in the Emory/Druid Hills area. Catering is also available. Call 404-377-9266 to order, and check for updates on rebuilding Saba at its website.
Rise-n-Dine is Now Also Rise-n-Dinner
Updated Sept. 16, 2010 - The Village’s popular breakfast-all-day spot is surely going to get even more popular – because Rise-n-Dine has expanded its hours until 10 p.m., Monday–Friday beginning Sept. 16, 2010. According to owner Stephanie Panek, “We’ve gotten lots of requests for longer hours, and we want to appeal to an even broader range of Emory students and neighborhood folks – so now we’re open for dinner during weekdays. Right now the menu is the same, but we’ve added a new kitchen manager, and he’ll be introducing some great dinner specials soon.” Rise-n-Dine is offering several afternoon and evening specials – snacks customers can enjoy after a busy day in class or right after work. “Come by and enjoy our new hours and specials,” says Stephanie, “Consider this your personal invitation from the owner!”
First New Druid Hills Park in 50 Years Opens (Nov. 1, 2009)
The rainy Halloween morning weather may have played a soggy trick on a hearty band of Druid Hills neighbors, but it couldn’t dampen spirits during the grand opening of Burbanck Park: the historic neighborhood’s first new park in 50 years. Read more.
The park, at the intersection of S. Oxford and Clifton roads, is on the outskirts of Emory Village, and showcases the natural beauty of the area. It’s also a prime example of effective community partnership: Emory University purchased the land and turned it over to the neighborhood – on the condition that it always be used as a park, and that the neighborhood raise the funds for development and maintenance. The neighborhood enthusiastically accepted Emory’s generosity, and raised more than $50,000 to turn the heavily-wooded, former home site into a gorgeous “pocket park.”
Dignitaries at the grand opening included DeKalb County Commissioner Jeff Rader; Emory General Counsel Robert Rodriguez; Emory’s head of Environmental Sustainability, Ciannat Howett; Druid Hills Civic Association President Dick Shuey; and Alliance to Improve Emory Village President Lois Berthaume. Commissioner Rader planted a native Silverbell tree, and despite the waterlogged terrain, many attendees joined in planting nearly 40 shrubs – a great step toward enhancing Burbanck Park’s natural beauty.
Everyone is invited to come sit on one of the granite benches and enjoy picturesque Peavine Creek, which runs the length of the park.
Octane Boost for the Village (October 4, 2009)
Octane Coffee Bar is doing more than just taking over the old Method Coffee space – it’s creating a totally new look inside and delivering single-origin coffees. For owner Tony Riffel, this is his second Octane location; the first is near Georgia Tech.
With this new site, Tony said, “We wanted to open things up, so the bar is shorter, the seating areas – both inside and out – have more tables, and it all has a more European feel.”
Tony also explained single-origin coffees brewed in a Chemex: “Most of our coffees come from a specific farm or co-op, and we buy from the roasters who actually help farmers at that site learn how to produce richer, more distinctive beans. It’s beyond fair trade – it’s direct trade.” Farms might be in Africa, Central America, Indonesia or other countries, and Octane will feature five such coffees every day.
All Octane baristas must earn special certification, so they’ll be able to explain each coffee’s nuanced flavors and hand craft quality drinks on the espresso machine. Plus, every cup is brewed individually, but if several customers all want coffee at the same time, Octane can brew up to five cups at once – which speeds up the process.
There’s an espresso machine, as well as fresh, local pastries and European-style desserts later in the day. Octane is open Mon.-Fri., 6 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 8 a.m.-8 p.m. The website is www.octanecoffee.com. For all Village business listings, visit our Dine/Shop/Play page.
A 'Wonderful' Dining Alternative for the Village (Sept. 11, 2009)
Wonderful World Burgers & More, one of the Village’s newest eating spots, offers more than all-fresh food choices – it also features a refreshing marketing concept. Owner Steven Chan explains, “I believe our society has been saturated with over-branding, so I’m going to keep everything very simple: no Wonderful World t-shirts for employees, no logos in the restaurant, no fancy website.”
Furthermore, Steven says his restaurant’s name is meant to connote comfort, both in food and atmosphere. He’s worked in a number of different restaurants, and he notes that before and after hours, employees cook up their favorite dishes for themselves. With Wonderful World, he’s bringing those kind of simple but delicious selections out front for his customers.
In addition to an eclectic mix of burgers and sandwiches, there’s a special every night of the week. And for Steven, every item not only represents comfort food – it’s also totally fresh. “We never use any item that’s been frozen. We make all burger patties by hand, we bake our buns, and each night’s special is made from scratch.”
Asked why his burgers and sandwiches are priced so low – from $2.75 to $2.95 – Steven says they’re small enough (the burgers are one-quarter pound) that a customer can come in with a friend, have a burger, talk awhile, and then sample a Teri-Mayo Hotdog. It’s all meant to be comfortable, simple – and wonderful.
Wonderful World Burgers & More is in the former STA Travel location at 1561 North Decatur Road in Emory Village. www.wwburger.com. To see all Emory Village business listings, visit our Dine/Shop/Play page.
New Rules for Alcohol approved (July 2009)
The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved July 14 new rules for serving alcohol in mixed use communities, including Emory Village. The change is expected to encourage more fine restaurants to locate in Emory Village.The commission increased the buffer for a restaurant serving alcohol from the current 7-foot setback from abutting residential homes to a 50-foot setback. It also requires a 12:30 a.m. closing time for establishments serving mixed drinks.
Phase 2 Utility Work Starts in Emory Village (June 22, 2009)
In preparation for Emory Village streetscape improvements, Georgia Power started work on Monday, June 22, to bury existing overhead utilities (excluding the high voltage transmission lines). The projected completion date is mid October.
The joint trench will contain Georgia Power distribution lines, AT&T cables, and Comcast cables currently on poles in the Village. Utilities will be buried on Oxford Road from the pole between the entrances to the former BP Station to the pole immediately before 1403 Oxford Road (Emory’s former academic bookstore) and on North Decatur Road from the first pole past the entrance to the former BP Station west to the pole between CVS and Dave’s Cosmic Subs.
According to Georgia Power, much of the trenching will be done at night and early morning,
8 pm to 5 am, during which time one lane of traffic in each direction will be closed. Open trenches will have road plates installed before lanes are opened to traffic. Some amount of work will have to occur during the day at the Emory entrance area due to specialized engineering required for AT&T.
“This is an important next step toward implementing long-term plans to improve the village,” says Lois Berthaume, chair of the Alliance to Improve Emory Village, noting that DeKalb County replaced water lines in the Village this spring. “Unfortunately, there will be some inconvenience during this construction period, but we ask for your patience and your continued support of village businesses.
Update from Emory on Recycling at Emory Village CVS (June 11, 2009)
On August 3, Emory will discontinue the recycling drop off space it has sponsored for several years at the CVS in Emory Village. This recycling drop off site was originally started when DeKalb had no recycling program. In order to support DeKalb County's voluntary residential recycling program started by Commissioner Kathie Gannon, Emory has decided to redeploy its staffing from the CVS program.
Recycled materials can be dropped off at the Whole Foods on Briarcliff Road, DeKalb County fire stations and libraries, and the DeKalb Farmers Market.
DeKalb County residents are encouraged to sign up for the Residential Subscription Curbside Recycling Program, which picks up newspapers, plastic, glass, tin and aluminum containers once a week. County residents have found the program to be convenient and easy to use. For more information on all residential recycling programs in DeKalb, call 404-294-2900 or visit DeKalb County's website at www.co.dekalb.ga.us.
Green-Style Dining Sprouts in the Village (May 25, 2009)
With the opening of a new eatery – Sprouts Green Café – Emory Village is getting a welcome burst of energy, from both its owner and its offerings.
Keith Gross is just 25, but he’s already bought and sold a chocolate company in San Francisco, as well as a restaurant in Washington, D.C. His latest venture is clearly a healthy addition to our neighborhood: Sprouts Green Café features a full selection of meat and vegan dishes, including rice bowls, sandwiches/wraps/paninis, soups, salads, and smoothies made with fresh – not puréed – fruits.
“Our focus is on natural foods, minimal processing, and sourcing as many ingredients as possible from local and organic sources,” states Keith. “There are no nitrates, phosphates, antibiotics, and nearly everything is made in-house from fresh, high-quality ingredients.” In fact, there’s a small greenhouse growing menu items right in the restaurant! Sprouts also offers a variety of freshly squeezed juices, including wheatgrass (grown on-site in that greenhouse), as well as vegetable and fruit juices.
The relaxed, open ambiance features bright, eco-green chairs complemented with earth tones throughout – and a recycled tree slab serves as the main counter. “Sprouts stems from my passion and desire to provide healthy, tasty meals at a low price,” says Keith. “Plus, we’ll soon be installing a solar awning out front, which can generate as much as 20% of our power – I’m into being as eco-friendly as possible everywhere in the restaurant.”
Sprouts is next to Evolve Boutique, and it’s open for breakfast lunch and dinner every day. So let’s get out and support our newest Emory Village business – it promises to be fresh and delicious relationship!
A major step forward…(March 28, 2009)
Emory’s elegant new gateway not only marks the entrance to one of the nation’s top universities. It’s also the first in a series of highly visible steps that will totally transform the Village and the streets that pass through it.
The Board of Directors of the Alliance to Improve Emory Village recently passed a resolution commending Emory University for “ its beautiful new entrance and for significantly enhancing the ambience of Emory Village. The entrance is a welcome addition to both the university and the community.
"For decades to come, visitors to Emory and the Village will appreciate the tasteful elegance of the new gateway’s walks and drives. 
The entrance provides an outstanding sense of place that befits Emory’s status as one of the nation’s top universities and an invaluable asset to our community. :Emory has set an outstanding standard for future improvements in Emory Village.
"The AIEV Board thanks Emory University for aligning the entrance to complement the new roundabout and for Emory’s ongoing collaboration to improve the Village. AIEV is inspired to seek the same level of excellence in its efforts to create a live, dine, shop, and play community in Emory Village. We look forward to future partnerships with Emory and appreciate the university’s forward-thinking contributions toward a better Emory Village.”
Construction Update
After DeKalb County replaced the old water lines on North Decatur Road, Georgia Power began work to bury utilities. Then work on the roundabout and streetscapes will begin.
Construction equipment and workers, drivers, and pedestrians will share the busy intersection of North Decatur Road and Oxford Road over the coming months.
See Village plans
home
| contact us |
news & events |
faqs |
village plans
©2008 Alliance to Improve Emory Village
