Jimmy's Chamblee Recap - Week of September 8, 2025

Jimmy Furst
Sep 9
7 min read

Updated: Sep 16

Catch up on all things Chamblee!

The Locomotive - One Big Thing:

🌳 BIG NEWS FOR CHAMBLEE PARKS! 🌳

Back in November 2024, Chamblee residents showed just how much we value our parks, trails, and green spaces—over 81% of voters approved a $30 million Parks Bond.

Fast forward to today, September 4, 2025: the bonds are officially closed, which means the funds are ready to go to work!

Here’s what’s on the way thanks to your support:

1️⃣ Savoy/Nancy Creek Trail – construction of a model trail from our Trails Master Plan (Savoy Dr. from North Peachtree to Chamblee Dunwoody). 2️⃣ Woodacres Park – a brand-new park coming to 2335 Woodacres NE. 3️⃣ Huntley Hills Park & FEMA Parcels – upgrades and revitalization for this beloved park and surrounding greenspace. 4️⃣ Keswick Park – improvements to the soccer field and construction of the upper area master plan.

Your vote is turning into real projects that will make Chamblee greener, better connected, and more enjoyable for everyone.

Stay tuned for more updates as we bring these projects to life!

Left the Station - This Past Week's Events:

Aug 23: Household Hazardous Waste Drive

The numbers are in from the 2025 Household Hazardous Waste Drive hosted by the cities of Chamblee, Doraville, and Brookhaven. 217 people dropped off their household hazardous waste items at Plaza Fiesta.

Styrofoam: 415 pounds
Plastic Film: 305 pounds
Electronics: 9657 pounds
Books: 1205 pounds
Textiles: 997 pounds
Paint: 12,775 pounds
Household Chemicals: 19,324 pounds

Total Weight: 44,680 pounds diverted from the water system and landfill!

September 4: Coffee With the City Manager

Thanks to all who came out to dicuss our city with Kristen!

Sep 5: Freddo Ribbion Cutting

NEW BUSINESS ALERT!

Sweet news, Chamblee, there’s a new spot in town! Freddo just opened its doors at 5070 Peachtree Blvd, Suite 130, serving up gelato, empanadas, and coffee. Founded in Argentina, this brand brings an international flavor to our community, and I’m excited to welcome them to Chamblee. Stop by and treat yourself, you’ll be glad you did!

Having a bit of fun. Maybe it was the sugar after all the samples.

Sep 5: National Recovery Month

The City of Chamblee is on board for National Recovery Month. The Georgia Recovers Bus Tour made a pit stop in Chamblee today to celebrate this year’s Recovery Month Theme, “Georgia Recovers in Communities.” During the stop, Chamblee’s Mayor & Council presented a proclamation in recognition of National Recovery Month. The City of Chamblee is one of 75 stops across the state highlighting local peers in recovery, families impacted by addiction, and allies who support recovery.

Sep 5: Chamblee Dunwoody Rd Infill Sidewalk Project Ribbion Cutting

This project, completed in just 45 days, is more than just new infrastructure—it’s a physical bridge between communities. Brookhaven’s Public Works Department partnered with Chamblee to use their right-of-way, and the result is a win for both cities. Community members who joined us shared their appreciation for the collaboration, and I couldn’t agree more. It was a pleasure working with Councilman Diaz to bring this project to fruition, and I’m proud of the strong partnerships we’ve built with our neighbors.

Sep 7: Kewsick Forest Workday

Keep Chamblee Beautiful hosted their Keswick Forest Workday this past Sunday! We removed invasive species - Japanese Stilt Grass - and tires from the green space.

Tires are stubborn things when buried in the dirt! I'm using a pickaxe to loosen the clay.

Lori Conway shows the volunteers what Japanese Stilt Grass looks like.

At the Station - Ongoing Events in Chamblee:

All Fall Long

Come see nature up close! Monarch caterpillars are on display in our aquarium at Chamblee City Hall! They are from our pollinator garden behind Old City Hall.

You can watch them grow and prepare for their incredible transformation into butterflies!

All of Sep: Milkweed Giveaway

Chamblee Public Works is hosting a swamp milkweed giveaway for September! September is a great time to plant pollinator gardens. Contact Lori Conway (Grounds and Greenspace Manager) at lconway@chambleega.gov to collect your milkweed.

September E-Signal

Read this month's E-Signal HERE.

September/October Signal

A Taste of Chamblee, Chamblee Chalk Walk, Leaf Collection Season, and more are featured in the September/October Signal newsletter! Check it out here: https://www.chambleega.com/communications/signal.php

Dresden Park Update

There’s been a lot of exciting progress at Dresden Park! Here’s the latest:

The entrance sign is complete
Concrete on the playground hillside is finished
Field netting is complete
Tennis courts are complete
Brickwork on the exterior of the building is done
Landscaping in the ponds and around the fields is underway
Practice field base layer is complete
Seat wall concrete is being poured
The large playground structure is under construction
The concession stand awning is being built

Dresden Park is really taking shape, and we’re getting closer each week to seeing the community enjoy these new amenities.

Planning and Development FAQ

Want answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding permitting, inspections, and planning & zoning? We've designed an FAQ webpage with everything you need to know! Click HERE to read the FAQ.

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. 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 questions about the project, call the DeKalb Watershed Project Information line at 1-800-986-1108 or email projectinfo@dekalbcountyga.gov. For 24-hour emergencies, please call: 770.270.6243

For more information, click here.

New Rail Trail Segment

Construction is underway on the new Keswick Park Trail Spur, which connects the softball field to Sexton Woods Drive. The project is expected to be completed this August, though the weather may impact the schedule.

The video below was taken on August 12.

Arriving Soon - Upcoming Events in Chamblee

September 11: Chamblee City Council Public Hearing and Work Session

September 16: Chamblee City Council Regular Session

You can find the agenda HERE.

Sept 12: Jimmy's Office Hours

I'm traveling this Friday and won't be holding office hours. They will resume on Sept 19.

September 20: Chamblee Chalk Walk Join us for our annual Chalk Walk & Artist Market - a fun, family-friendly event where sidewalks become masterpieces and creativity knows no bounds! Whether you're a seasoned artist or just love doodling, there's space for everyone to show off their chalk art skills. Interested in becoming a vendor, volunteer, or attending our annual Chalk Walk & Artist Market? Click here for more information.

September 27: Third Spot Gameday!

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.

October 18: Taste of Chamblee Returns!

November 4: Chamblee Municipal Elections

Sustainability in Chamblee: Past, Present, and Future

I originally ran on a sustainability platform, and while we’ve made meaningful progress, there’s still more work to do.

When I took office, Chamblee had recently adopted its first-ever Sustainability Plan in September 2020. That plan was tactical—meant to check a box—and had already run its course by the time I was sworn in.

One of my first actions was to successfully lobby for “A Sustainable Community” to be added to the city’s strategic priorities. I then pushed for funding in the next budget cycle and secured the dollars to develop a new, comprehensive Sustainability Plan with McKinstry. That plan has now been adopted, and importantly, it weaves sustainability directly into city operations.

Key Sustainability Goals:

Reduce total carbon emissions by 30% by 2030
Generate 50% of city electricity from onsite solar by 2028
Electrify all non-patrol passenger vehicles and install full charging infrastructure by 2030
Maintain a fiscally responsible net lifecycle cost

Roadmap Initiatives:

Decarbonization Strategy

Upgrade buildings for energy efficiency (LED lighting, air sealing, retro-commissioning)
Electrify the city’s vehicle fleet and install EV chargers
Install solar energy systems
Transition HVAC systems to heat pumps as older systems phase out

.Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) . IaaS is a delivery model where a provider designs, finances, installs, operates, and maintains infrastructure. The city pays through a fixed or prorated contract over time. Benefits include:

Accelerated progress toward sustainability goals
Budget stability with predictable payments
Cost savings through comprehensive system design
Maximized access to current federal incentives
No need for additional city staff to manage infrastructure

In addition to climate-focused initiatives, I’ve also prioritized creating green spaces and improving connectivity across the city. I helped create three new parks: Arrow Creek Park, Wood Acres Park, and Fish Bolt Park. I also served on the Steering Committee for the Chamblee Trails Master Plan, a bold vision to reconnect neighborhoods and connect to regional trail systems through a network of greenways. The first project—a trail along a Nancy Creek tributary—is already in motion.

To help fund these projects, I led the GO Bond Ballot Campaign (aka. Parks and Trails Bond), which passed with 81% of the vote, clear evidence that Chamblee residents support a greener, more connected future. Thank you to all who voted in favor of helping fund the future projects, and more info is coming shortly on what those projects will be.

I’ve also worked to expand our city’s recycling capabilities. We’ve added electronics, metal, and glass recycling to our regular curbside program, making it easier for residents to divert more waste from landfills. I’m currently working to bring composting to Chamblee as our next step.

I continue to stay active with Keep Chamblee Beautiful and served on the board when we earned certification from Keep America Beautiful.

I’m running for re-election because this work isn’t done. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished, and I’m committed to seeing it through, building a more sustainable, connected, and forward-looking Chamblee.

The Passenger Car

Chamblee highlights in the media.

WSB-TV: No ‘playground’: Police shut down stunt drivers
- Chamblee is mentioned

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.