Jimmy's Chamblee Recap - Week of July 14, 2025

Jimmy Furst
Jul 15
5 min read

Catch up on all things Chamblee!

The Locomotive - One Big Thing:

From Training to Action: Preparing to Serve Our Communities

Serving as an elected official means being a jack-of-all-trades. From budgets and public safety to regional growth and disaster resilience, our role demands constant learning. That’s why ongoing training is essential. It starts with newly elected official orientation and continues through regular professional development. Recently, I attended sessions through the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) and the ARC Regional Assembly, where the topics ranged from human trafficking prevention and municipal financial planning to disaster preparedness and economic development. These gatherings are not just about education, they’re about collaboration and networking. The opportunity to connect and network with fellow leaders ensures we’re not only informed but also united in service.

Left the Station - This Past Week's Events:

July 9: Midyear Town Hall Meeting

Thank you to everyone who took the time to attend my recent town hall. I truly appreciate you joining me to hear about all that Chamblee has accomplished in the first half of the year, as well as our plans for the months ahead. Your thoughtful questions and engaged participation made for a meaningful and productive conversation. It’s an honor to serve a community that cares so deeply about our city’s future.

July 10: City Council Public Hearing and Work Session

I'll have my recap up next week, and you can find the agenda and livestream by clicking HERE.

At the Station - Ongoing Events in Chamblee:

Dresden Park Updates

Dresden Park construction continues, and it's expected to reopen in October. Note: The rain pushed the project from September. The revitalized park will feature artificially turfed-rectangular fields and a multi-use field, tennis courts, a dog park, a large playground, a walking trail, a new concessions building, restrooms, a community center, a pavilion, a parking lot, lighting, and terraced seating. This project was made possible through $ 10.8 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, as well as SPLOST dollars, to provide for the community building.

Latest updates:

• Base layer surfacing for the practice field is being installed.

• Tennis Court fencing and lighting have been installed.

• The trail was being poured on the north side of the fields.

• Sod was being installed around the tennis courts and near the dog park.

• Building was being prepped for brick install, metal roofing had been started, and straps for HVAC piping were going up.

• Additional playground pieces were installed.

• Over the next two weeks, landscaping (sod, plants, bushes, and trees) will be installed, roofing will continue to go up, and brick will begin on the building. Concrete trails and staircases will continue to be built, and work on the tennis courts and practice field will continue to move forward!

Note: The rain pushed the project from September.

July/August Signal

The July/August Signal is here! Check out the latest edition with lots of news, accomplishments, and events! You can read it HERE.

Peachtree Boulevard Water Transmission Main Replacement Project

Efforts to improve water service capacity throughout DeKalb County will continue in July with the launch of the Peachtree Boulevard Water Transmission Main Replacement Project. Crews will replace approximately 11,000 linear feet of an existing 30-inch carbon steel main with a 36-inch Ductile Iron main. Crews will also remove the 8-inch and 6-inch pipes running alongside the 30-inch and replace them with a 12-inch pipe.

The project timeline is three years, and the work is slated to start on July 21. Work will begin on Malone Drive, the southern end of the project. Crews will then move to the northbound lane of Peachtree Boulevard and continue north until completion at Carver Drive.

For more information, click here.

New Rail Trail Segment

The Keswick Park Trail Spur, which will extend from the Keswick softball field to Sexton Woods Drive, is expected to be completed by August. The photo below was taken on July 14, and I’ll be sharing weekly updates so residents can track progress. Please note that weather conditions may affect the timeline.

Arriving Soon - Upcoming Events in Chamblee:

July 15: City Council Regular Meeting.

You can find the agenda and livestream by clicking HERE.

July 18: Jimmy's Office Hours

Council will be holding our strategic retreat this week, so I won’t have office hours. Office hours will resume next Friday!

July 19: Monthly Electronic and Metal Recycling

July 21: Peachtree Road Storm Line Replacement project

The Peachtree Road Storm Line Replacement project is scheduled to begin Monday, July 21. Work is scheduled on Peachtree Road west of the intersection with Broad Street.

The project is estimated to take approximately 2 weeks and end by August 4th. Access to local businesses and City Hall is not expected to be impacted.

All lanes will be closed on Peachtree Road for the duration of this project while City contractors replace a damaged storm sewer underneath Peachtree Road. Follow the detour for more information. MARTA Bus Route 132 will be detoured for the project, and you can find the route here: https://itsmarta.com/bus-reroutes.aspx

July 24: Public Arts Commission Meeting

The PAC will hold its July meeting at City Hall at 6 PM.

August 1: Chamblee Summer Concert Series Finale

Our season finale is on Friday, August 1. Join us for a high-energy show by Uptown Funk: A Tribute to Bruno Mars! Enjoy an evening of dancing and community spirit as we say goodbye to summer in style.

Don’t miss out on the hottest free summer concert series in town! The concerts start at 6:30 p.m. on the greenspace of Chamblee City Hall, 3518 Broad Street, Chamblee, GA 30341. Join family, friends, and neighbors for an unforgettable summer of music, laughter, food, and fun! VIP tables and sponsorships are available by contacting Katie Sears at ksears@chambleega.gov or by visiting www.chambleerocks.net

August 5: National Night Out

August 5: Household Hazardous Waste Drive

October 12: Atlanta Pride Parade

Join us as we participate in the 55th anniversary of the Atlanta Pride Parade on Sunday, October 12, 2025!

If you'd like to march with your elected officials, city staff, and the Chamblee community, please complete the form. The sign-up deadline is September 12th, and space is limited to the first 100 participants. https://bit.ly/chambleepride2025

We're happy to announce that we will be adding a FLOAT to our parade group!

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Josh Duarte at jduarte@chambleega.gov or 470-568-5578.

November 4: Chamblee Municipal Elections

In case you missed it, I announced my candidacy for re-election to the Chamblee City Council At-Large Seat! Serving our vibrant community since January 2022 has been an honor, and I am eager to continue working together to build a sustainable and prosperous future for Chamblee. My commitment to these core issues remains steadfast. I will continue to:

Advocate for sustainable development along with right-sized growth that aligns with our community's values.
Implement innovative environmental policies to combat climate change locally.
Enhance the quality of life by focusing on infrastructure, parks, and community engagement.

I will continue to work hard for you, and I hope I have earned your support!

The Passenger Car

Introducing the Passenger Car, which will highlight Chamblee in the media.

From Asian Food Atlanta: Emory APIDA 2nd Annual Buford Highway Eats: Dumpling Edition
From 11 Alive: Traffic Alert: Storm line replacement project to close all lanes on Peachtree Road in Chamblee

The Caboose

I would love to hear your questions, comments, or concerns.

Email: Jfurst@chambleega.gov

Mobile: 770-901-1121 The legal stuff: The views expressed represent the views of the author and may not reflect the views of the Chamblee City Council. Comments posted in response to a Councilmember-initiated communication may be subject to public disclosure under the Open Records Act. If you are a resident of Chamblee and would like to discuss city business, please go to chambleega.gov or contact me at the email above.