Partnering for a Better Village
The Emory Village Alliance (founded as the Alliance to Improve Emory Village) is a small, all-volunteer, non-profit community organization with one goal: to continue revitalizing the historic, commercial heart of Druid Hills in Emory Village. Our stakeholders including local neighbors, Emory Village businesses and property owners, and representatives from Emory University. We recognize that revitalization can only be accomplished if the Village becomes a community gathering spot that is popular with patrons and profitable for its businesses and property owners. We also recognize Druid Hills residents and Emory University must be supportive of revitalization efforts.
EVA is committed to achieving the best possible balance between historic preservation and commercial success, as well as between public safety, traffic enhancements, and creating a pedestrian-friendly Village.
EVA (AIEV) is a 501(c)(3) organization, and donations are tax deductible.
In Emory Village you can meet friends, dine in or grab a quick sandwich, shop, do pilates or get a massage, have a picnic on Peavine Creek or listen to music in the plaza. You can paint pottery or satisfy your sweet tooth. It’s a gathering place where you can walk, talk, and reconnect with your neighbors.
The centerpiece of the Emory Village Plaza is the fountain sculpture, fashioned from the old trolley rails that once ran to Emory.
People
EVA Board of Directors
Officers
Anne Wallace, Chair (Druid Hills))
Cathy Vandenberg, Vice Chair (Druid Hills)
David Waterbury, Treasurer (Druid Hills)
David Payne, Past Chair (Emory)
Other Board Members
Sarah Banick (Druid Hills)
Rich Brasher (Druid Hills)
Mary Eccard (Druid Hills),
David Evans (Druid Hills)
Matthew Edelman(Emory)
Neil Fried (Druid Hills)
Mark Goldman (Druid Hills)
Marlene Goldman (Druid Hills)
Nichole Griffin (Candler Park)
Peggy Hibbert (Druid Hills)
Todd Hlll, past chair (Druid Hills)
Raleigh Maxwell (Emory)
Sally Sears Belcher (Druid Hills)
Mark Soss (Druid Hills)
Cynthia Tauxe (Druid Hills)
Don Walter, past chair (Druid Hills)
Clarke Weeks (Druid Hills)
Advisory Board Members
Mark Herold (Druid Hills
Heather LeFleur (Business)
Stuart Meddin, past chair (Business)
Jimmy Powell (Emory)
Committees
All committees need and welcome volunteer participation.
Executive Committee
Chair: Anne Wallace
Communications/Events/Sponsors
Chair, Fall Festival: Cathy Vandenberg
Co-Chairs, Communications: Peggy Hibbert, Nicole Griffin
Neighborhood & Government Relations
Chair: David Payne
Emory Village Property Owners & Business Owners
Chair: Anne Wallace
Fundraising & Development
Chair: Don Walter
Greenspace Committee
(Southfork projects and Village Landscaping)
Chair: David Evans
Meetings
EVA Board of Directors
Meetings held on the second Monday of every month from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., unless indicated otherwise, either by Zoom or in the Glenn Church School.
Partners
Arborguard
http://arborguard.com
Atlanta Regional Commission
http://www.atlantaregional.com
Clifton Community Partnership
www.cliftoncommunitypartnership.org
DeKalb County
http://www.dekalbcountyga.gov
Druid Hills Civic Association
www.druidhills.org
Emory University
www.emory.edu
Olmsted Linear Park Association
www.altantaolmstedpark.org
Southfork Conservancy
http://southforkconservancy.org
Honoring the Past, Moving Forward
How We Began:
In 1999, concern over the declining state of Emory Village, prompted a small group of Druid Hills neighbors, Emory Village businesses/property owners and representatives from Emory University got together to develop ideas on how to improve the Village’s future.
Today that committee has become a unique alliance representing these different stakeholders.
In 2001, the Alliance to Improve Emory Village (today Emory Village Alliance) became a non-profit organization, and was fortunate to receive expertise in urban design funded by Emory, DeKalb County and nominal seed money from DHCA.
Concepts Coalesce:
Over the ensuing years, our proposals coalesced into a detailed plan that addressed every facet of the Village’s revitalization — from street and traffic improvements to business and residential redevelopment — all of which will lead toward the Village’s ongoing commercial success. What we envisioned, and the community endorsed, was a live-work-play concept with new apartment/condo housing above retail and office spaces.
In fact, our original mission statement still holds true today, after more than two decades of work. Our goal 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.
In 2003, the Emory Village Revitalization Plan achieved designation as a “Livable Center” by the Atlanta Regional Commission and received a $2.1 million grant for use primarily 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 a roundabout to replace the Village’s congested main intersection.
In 2006, AIEV submitted zoning overlay and design guidelines to the DeKalb County Historic Preservation Commission, which unanimously approved them.
An Historic Decision:
In early 2007, AIEV submitted the zoning overlay and guidelines to the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners. Over the next several months, the commissioners listened to extensive community input regarding new building heights, density and setbacks, all of which were necessitated by redevelopment costs.
In May 2007, the commissioners unanimously approved AIEV’s zoning overlay and design guidelines, thus setting a new direction for Emory Village — one, that would create a community commercial center that is economically viable and in the best long-term interests of Druid Hills residents, Emory Village and Emory University.. They approved a new version in 2025, updated to encourage redevelopment in the Village.
Now the Emory Village Alliance, as well as thousands of residents and Emory personnel, are enjoying DeKalb County streetscape improvements and are safely navigating the new roundabout. More than 40 trees have been planted thoughout the Village, and a fountain and sculpture now grace the new Emory Village Plaza, which has become the welcoming centerpiece of the village.
In 2014, the Board of Directors voted to change the name to Emory Village Alliance. EVA continues to explore opportunities to improve public spaces including expanding the boundaries of the revitalization area. We also aim to nurture and support private sector development, support community events in the Village, and encourage strong community and business engagement.
