NEWS
Homeowners group tries to revitalize ► PAGE 5 October 30, 2025 | AppenMedia.com | An Appen Media Group Publication | Ser ving the community since 1976
City leaders talk housing, economic development By ZOE SEILER zoe@appenmedia.com
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
DECATUR, Ga. — Municipal leaders in DeKalb County gathered for a City Summit on Oct. 21 to discuss affordable housing, economic development, and placemaking. The DeKalb Chamber of Commerce hosts the event each year, which brings together city leaders in the county to network and host panel discussions on a variety
of topics. This year, the event was held at the Courtyard Marriott in Decatur. Decaturish was a sponsor. Decatur Mayor Patti Garrett participated in a panel discussion about affordable housing and the initiatives cities are implementing to address rising housing costs. Decatur is about 4.5 square miles, and the cost of land is prohibitive at times, Garrett said.
See CHAMBER, Page 11
City Councilman Tom Lambert, at right, reintroduces himself to the crowd at Stage Door Theatre for the Dunwoody Homeowner Association’s Oct. 22 Candidate Forum at Stage Door Theatre. Lambert is running for reelection to the Post 3 seat against challenger Wendi Taylor, sitting to his left.
Council candidates pitch ideas to voters By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com DUNWOODY, Ga. — There are two contested City Council races in Dunwoody this November, and residents got a chance to hear from the incumbents and challengers Oct. 22 at Stage Door Theatre. Candidate forum questions revolved around the failure of
the city’s 2023 bond referendum, city finances and property taxes, housing and development. For the most part candidates agreed with one another on key issues like zoning and density, public safety and working with the Central Perimeter business community. None of the candidates endorsed raising the city’s millage rate cap, which would
increase property tax bills, or putting another bond referendum on ballots. While the incumbents expressed more of an interest in missing middle housing, a special tax district and path projects, the challengers advocated for a reprioritization of city spending.
See FORUM, Page 10
ZOE SEILER/APPEN MEDIA
Doraville Mayor Joseph Geierman, Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch and Clarkston Mayor Beverly Burks discuss economic development during the DeKalb City Summit on Oct. 21 at the Courtyard Marriott Conference Center in Decatur.