Cityhood discussed for Brookhaven (Atlanta, Dunwoody: neighborhoods, schools, universities)

[BringBackCobain]

"State Rep. Mike Jacobs says he will hold off pushing an annexation bill for Brookhaven, and will instead look at whether the affluent area neighboring Atlanta’s Buchkead community should become a city, according to the Dunwoody Reporter.

Jacobs said he plans to hold a community meeting at Chamblee First United Methodist Church on March 29 to discuss incorporation.

Jacobs, and Rep. Tom Taylor, kicked up controversy when they introduced a bill in the state Legislature that would allow the area to be annexed into Dunwoody or, in a revised second draft of the legislation, Chamblee."

Read more: Cityhood discussed for Brookhaven | Atlanta Business Chronicle

The main push behind the incorporation is the area around Murphey Candler Park, south of I-285 and Dunwoody/Perimeter Center.

[arjay57]

How many people would be involved, I wonder?

[aries4118]

I think Brookhaven should be annexed by the City of Atlanta.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by aries4118

I think Brookhaven should be annexed by the City of Atlanta.

Now that would be a trip.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Now that would be a trip.

It would be...and totally awesome!

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by aries4118

It would be...and totally awesome!

I agree, although you have to wonder how long it would take for the residents of Brookhaven to recover from PTSD.

You know, a pretty good chuck of Historic Brookhaven has actually been in the city limits since the 1952 annexation. At this point, however, the city would face some serious uphill battles in convincing any of the neighborhoods in that area to join in. I'm just not sure how the city would sell itself these days -- William B. Hartsfield is long gone, and his tactics wouldn't fly in today's world anyway.

[BringBackCobain]

I can't believe how fast this is all moving. Jacobs is going to introduce a bill in this legislative session with a city charter. I am anxious to see what the boundaries will be and if they stretch to I-85.

The Dunwoody Crier - Front

A new telephone poll conducted by State Rep. Mike Jacobs (R-North DeKalb) found that a large majority of those polled would favor leaving unincorporated DeKalb to be part of an existing city or even forming a new one. In fact, forming a new city of Brookhaven was the favorite over joining the existing city of Dunwoody or Chamblee.

Jacobs said he wasn’t surprised that the creation of a new city of Brookhaven was the most popular outcome of his poll.

"The Brookhaven brand has a nice ring it," Jacobs told the Crier. “Our area which is not in Dunwoody, Chamblee or Brookhaven has historically been referred to as North Brookhaven.” Jacobs added that the advantage of a new city of Brookhaven is that “it’s completely a blank slate. We can set it up in whatever way citizens are interested in setting up a city.”

The poll results have prompted Jacobs to draft legislation for a city charter for a city of Brookhaven, to be introduced before the end of this year’s session.

Also, looks like the dirt-slinging has already started, with two competing feasibility studies in the works. A city of Brookhaven is definitely going to be a controversial issue, just as Dunwoody was:

Brookhaven Annexation and Incorporation to be Studied by Local Universities - Brookhaven, GA Patch

The president of a local homeowners and business association announced last night it paid The Georgia Institute of Technology and Clark Atlanta University a total of $25,000 for a six-month study to determine the financial and social benefits of annexation and/or incorporation of Brookhaven.


Kevin Hughley, who heads the the Brookhaven Chamblee Homeowners and Neighborhood Business Alliance (BCHNBA), said the study will prove what the alliance already knows - that the idea of incorporation is too costly, he said. "We're trying to create another city? When you create a city, you've got to pay for it," Hughley said.


Hughley was critical of Jacobs, saying he was motivated by the idea of maintaining a Republican stronghold in his district.


Jacobs told Patch Wednesday morning that a group of citizens are organizing to lead fund-raising efforts on a separate feasibility study. This separate study, Jacobs said, would be conducted by the Carl Vincent Institute of Government at the University of Georgia.

[BringBackCobain]

Originally Posted by aries4118

I think Brookhaven should be annexed by the City of Atlanta.

Although that would be cool, I have given up on that and would now prefer a city of Brookhaven. I think the only hope for Atlanta getting a chunk of DeKalb is to go for the unincorporated "island" that will be created in between Decatur/Avondale on the south and Brookhaven/Chamblee/Doraville on the north.

[MathmanMathman]

Seems like the Atlanta region is slowly Balkanizing. Can't wait for Milton County.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by BringBackCobain

Although that would be cool, I have given up on that and would now prefer a city of Brookhaven. I think the only hope for Atlanta getting a chunk of DeKalb is to go for the unincorporated "island" that will be created in between Decatur/Avondale on the south and Brookhaven/Chamblee/Doraville on the north.

Wouldn't those folks would be more inclined to ally with Brookhaven/Chamblee/Doraville? What would they gain by agreeing to be annexed by Atlanta? Their taxes would go up, they'd become responsible for Atlanta's crushing pension obligations, they'd have to turn their excellent schools over to APS and they'd become subject to the powers that be in downtown Atlanta, who are not exactly known for extending a friendly ear or a helping hand to residents on the northside.

On the surface it doesn't sound like a particularly attractive package.