The $1 billion project, encompassing approximately 100 acres, which Sembler Co. has proposed for the intersection of North Druid Hills and Briarcliff Roads, will have an impact on the daily lives of thousands of Atlantans, and many residents understandably feel they have a personal stake in the consequences of the development, good or bad.
In meeting after meeting, Sembler has listened to residents make suggestions, share ideas, criticize, and vent their frustrations. “Because of the size and complexity of it, there have been a long list of meetings,” said Sembler spokesman Angelo Fuster. According to Angelo, a plan like this goes through 80 or 90 major changes between the time it’s introduced and the final layout.
Many fear that congestion and traffic gridlock will only be made worse by bringing a “mini-city” to one of DeKalb’s busiest intersections, and feel the impact on the quality of life for those living in this relatively low-key residential area will be more negative than positive. Others are concerned about selling school property, even though the school board’s decision to close the schools involved had already been made before the Sembler deal was put together. But some think the economic impact on the area will prove to be worth the “growing pains.”
Finding common ground has been difficult, but one thing most people do agree on is that Atlanta is getting bigger, not smaller, and will continue to do so. The roads are already crowded and will become even more congested with the passage of time. Growth and development must occur somewhere, but hopefully not “in my backyard.”
Fortunately, many in the area, even those with reservations about some aspects of the development, recognize the need for this location to finally live up to its potential, and are willing to listen to the development plans.
“The whole area needs to be revitalized, before it dies all the way,” says Ronnie Mayer, president of a nearby homeowner’s association. “It’s the best thing that could happen to the county. They’re not steamrolling everybody. They’re meeting with the community.”
“There has been no renovation of anything there in years,” Angelo says. Angelo is himself a DeKalb resident. “The principle element is traffic. How do we manage additional traffic? We’re studying over 20 intersections, at our expense, all around that area.”
“They are doing it methodically and looking at it carefully. It will be a bitter pill but will be better in the long run,” says Anne Williams, administrator/director of the Highlands Montessori School, which has been located for the last seven years at the corner of Briarcliff Road and North Druid Hills Road. “The city is looking 50 years ahead – and that’s what they have to do.”
A final report is being prepared by Alex Garvin, an independent consultant, recommending better traffic grids and improvements to the overall “public realm” even beyond the surrounding area, and there are still months to wait for rezoning agreements to be reached.
Is Sembler’s development the best thing for the city in the long run? Only time will tell, but for now, many residents feel that it is.
– Elizabeth Rice