Dunwoody The Year of Our Lord Eighteen Hundred and Eighty

 In 1983 the DHA started to investigate having the former Eidson Academy designated as an historical monument.  By this time the lot held a different school called Dunwoody Elementary School.  This site hosts the Dunwoody library and the Spruill Center for the Arts.

Dunwoody News July 1983

 The July 1983 DHA newsletter has a few interesting pieces of information.  There is mention of Players Video Arcade going out of business in 1983.  1983 was the death of many arcades due to home video systems gaining popularity.  Dunwoody's arcade was where the BP gas station is located (5400 Chamblee Dunwoody Road at Mt Vernon, across from Dunkin Donuts).  Tilt arcade was in Perimeter Mall.

There is also a mention of researching to classify the then Dunwoody Elementary School as a historical monument.  I'll post those documents soon.  Also mentioned for historical classification for the Spruell (sic) farm house and that Mr. Spruill wasn't a fan of the DHA.

Dunwoody DHA 1983

Let's take a peak at the newsletter for the DHA annual meeting in January 1983.  In the 80', 90's and up to about 2010, the DHA annual meeting would have hundreds of people in attendance.

On page 2, in the President's letter, Bernie Marino mentions a few projects in the works in Dunwoody. One is referred to as The Triangle.  Up until 1983, the triangle of land resembling an inverted scalene as viewed headed north, was a wooded lot.  A few old Crier articles mention the unkept nature of the triangle.  Later named Fairfield neighborhood, this area was the first townhouse community built in north Dunwoody.  It was a cause for concern at the time as it was not the traditional single-family home housing.  This is one of many projects by Jim Cowart.  During this time period Cowart was one of the top developers in the area.  He had many battles with the DHA.

Dunwoody Homeowners Association Early History

 The Dunwoody Homeowner's Association has been around for fifty-five years. It started with a large parcel of land behind the Dunwoody library (formerly a school).  Jim Cowart, a name synonymous with land, development, and money in Dunwoody, wanted to build high-density condominiums .  Local homeowners did not like this plan and organized against it. 

Above is what would be in place if the DHA did not fight these battles

The Cowart name should be familiar to those members of the Georgetown Rec Club/Pool.

Some early documents on Cowart and zoning in Dunwoody:

The Farmhouse Tea Shoppe

 The Farmhouse Tea Shoppe operated briefly out of the farmhouse at 5455 Chamblee Dunwoody Road in Dunwoody.

Dunwoody Staff Out for Blood

LifeSouth, a non-profit, has a nice building and lot on Ashford Dunwoody Road, nearly across the road from city hall. Apparently they want to sell the building/lot to a developer. Non-profits need funding to operate.  (Sort of like when Spruill sold out and did a 99-year lease of their land for a hotel and restaurant because a condition of the land donation for Spruill Gallery prohibited a sale of the property. The true Spruill story blogpost is still in the works.)

The Developer seeking to buy the LifeSouth land is not really into hematology, but apparently into building low-income housing, using Federal financing. The developer needs a zoning change (to allow multi-story low income housing) to seal the deal on the 3+ acre property in Dunwoody's Ashford district. 

Last night the issue of the zoning change was brought to the city's Planning Commission. The Planning Commission is made up of Dunwoody residents (not Dunwoody bureaucrats).The members of the Planning Commission listened to 12 public speakers and heard the sales pitch from the applicant. The Planning Commission voted to defer (not deny) the change, keeping the issue alive until next month. But deferrals from this committee is akin to a polite way of saying no.  See application here: 

The city's Development Review Committee (can someone show me where this committee/minutes/agendas is listed on the city website?) voted to approve the zoning change.

According to RoughDraft's Cathy Cobbs (see HERE) informative article, the Development Review Committee (non-elected city staff) gave a thumbs-up on the project and ordered the ribbon and extra-large scissors for the ceremony.

The Developer  (Dominion) is most likely stunned at not getting the rubber stamp of approval.  How dare a committee of homeowners deny a company from building 220 subsidized Section 8 low-income housing units. LifeSouth is taken aback by this vote, for sure.  Did someone at city hall promise LS the zoning change?

What is odd is that the Development Review Committee approved this prior to the issue going to the Planning Commission.  Perhaps someone can fill us in on the role of the DRC.  City staff loves to make deals and promises.  Let's follow the money and see who makes the move to approve this project, despite overwhelming opposition from residents and the PC.

This timing of this zoning change request dovetails with the upcoming vote on the Dunwoody 2045 Comp Plan and a new UDO.  If the Comp plan and UDO is approved by city council, there will be little to no need for a meeting like the Planning Commission last night.  Under the new plan the Developer would be razing the LifeSouth building by now.

The LifeSouth lot is in the Ashford District of the Comp plan.  This is the area bridging high-density/high-crime Perimeter to the neighborhoods.  Let's see what the new Comp plan says about Ashford.

The plan makes it clear that a multi-story housing project with four floors is an approved use for this district.  End of story.  No need for approval.  No taxpayer committee review.  No city council approval.  The 2045 Comp Plan takes all decisions away from residents. 

This is not the first time city staff gives its approval for things taxpayers do not want.  Nor will it be the last.  Let's see which member(s) of city council pushes hard to suck the blood out of Dunwoody.

Agenda 2045 - the Destruction of Dunwoody?

The New World  Dunwoody Order is underway. First we had UN Agenda 21, a global initiative for cities like Dunwoody to condemn private property and homeownership, forcing everyone living in rural areas and suburban neighborhoods into a controlled urban setting.  Seemed unlikely to gain strength and make its way to Dunwoody, GA.  Then comes along The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 2030 Agenda.

A whole urban system perspective A cities-based approach to sustainable development requires working in a relational manner, where each city plays an integral part in transitioning towards sustainability. If the 2030 Agenda requests leaving no one behind, it is only logical to request leaving no city behind. This means that all cities need to have capabilities and resources to offer their residents the opportunity to enjoy a meaningful, creative and prosperous life. The “every city matters” principle requires redistribution, sharing and discussion to favor the vulnerable parts in the urban system. While national political regimes vary greatly in their approaches, all governments can find the means to implement inclusive and just sustainability transitions across the whole urban system. National governments need to delegate to urban governments competence and enabling capacities, such as revenue generation authority and regulatory mandates, in order for them to be actively involved in a response to sustainability, unlock their potential and boost quality of life for citizens. Strengthened municipal finance and fiscal systems make cities more conducive to innovation and more attractive to people and businesses.

Dunwoody council and staff actually considering ruining our great neighborhoods?  Yes. Although the 2045 plan is draft only, there's a purpose for everything in that plan.

But before we dive into the Plan to Destroy Dunwoody, lets take a look at what is coming to the entire Dunwoody Village area.  Here's a post from a few years ago about the Shops of Dunwoody and Dunwoody West neighborhood.  Fast forward to news that an ASANA Partners, an apartment builder,  has acquired a huge chunk of land in Dunwoody.  

This strategic expansion underscores Asana Partners’ ongoing investment in high-traffic, mixed-use properties within growing urban neighborhoods.

Back in 2020 our city council quietly approved the Dunwoody Village Overlay District, opening the door for every parcel in Dunwoody Village to become high-density housing. The majority of parcels in the Village were never zoned for Residential use, but the 2020 changes gave a path for every parcel owner in that area to build high-density housing. In this rezoning our city staff used terms such as DV-1 (Village Commercial) and DV-2 (Village Office), but residential units are permitted in all areas of the Village, despite the district names. You believe traffic is bad now?  Wait until the Shops of Dunwoody becomes four-stories of housing, anchored at the bottom by empty commercial spaces.  Homeowners in Dunwoody West were royally screwed by the city's ZBA, allowing a loud dog business.  Dunwoody West homeowners will soon have more noise and more neighbors.  And if this 2045 Comp Plan passes, so will you.

Let's take a look at the Dunwoody 2045 Comprehensive Plan, a plan put forth by our own bureaucrats (elected and not elected) to add thousands of people, increase density, increase traffic, and destroy our neighborhoods.

UDO takes power away from residents and elected officials

Despite a lack of concern by residents for entry-level (aka Workforce Housing), the 2045 plan is opening the door to high-density infill across the city.

Here is where things really go awry for homeowners, starting at Section 3.2 (Page 67)

Us pesky homeowners and our "wariness of change" will be discarded, making room for row-houses replacing single family homes across the city - inside existing neighborhoods.

The infill of condos/townhomes/duplexes (now called 'house-scale plexes') will not be limited to main corridors.  It will permit two neighbors to sell their combined lots to a developer, allowing for high-density, entry-level housing, in every neighborhood.  

Throughout the Comp2045 plan is the term 'neighborhood transition'. That translates to 'building stuff that is not legal now, but we will make it legal'.  The neighborhood maps mean nothing once the bureaucrats added the term 'transition' area. The Comp plan talks about protecting neighborhoods, but the fine print says otherwise.

Look at the list of minor/collector  roads.  This is nearly the entire city. These roads are the boarders for nearly every major neighborhood in Dunwoody. This new plan will have a huge impact (negative) on your home values.  Developers are being given the weapon to destroy Dunwoody neighborhoods.

If passed as is, by 2045, expect thousands of apartments (and cars) throughout Dunwoody Village, and row houses (aka house-scale plexes) lining the streets like Chamblee Dunwoody (running from Redfield to Wynterhall) Dunwoody Club (Mill Glen to DCF).