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 late spring.
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.
Saba Plans to Reopen by January
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.
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.
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
Village Events
Trivia at Saba every first Thursday of the month.
home
| contact us |
news & events |
faqs |
village plans
©2008 Alliance to Improve Emory Village
