Brookhaven, Georgia

This article is about the unincorporated community in DeKalb County, Georgia. For the portion of the historic neighborhood that lies in Atlanta, see Historic Brookhaven (Atlanta).

Brookhaven
Unincorporated community
Brookhaven Village, located on Dresden Drive east of Peachtree
Nickname:  Cross Keys
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	DeKalb
Population  (2008 estimate)
• Total	52,000
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	30319

Brookhaven is an unincorporated community located on the western edge of DeKalb County, Georgia, United States, directly northeast of Atlanta. Brookhaven was formerly incorporated known as a residential community within the city of North Atlanta, which disincorporated during the 1960s. The North Atlanta name has been largely forgotten and replaced by "Brookhaven", a term used both locally and regionally to refer to the area. The community of roughly 52,000 recently began an incorporation movement, which, if successful, would make it, as the City of Ashford, Georgia, the largest city in DeKalb County.

History

Brookhaven's first permanent European settler was John Evans, who started a plantation around 1810. Harris and Solomon Goodwin, who moved to Georgia from South Carolina, become owners of the land in the 1830s. The Goodwin's original log cabin was later expanded into a larger home. It still remains in the family as a private residence, and is periodically open to the public. In addition to the antebellum home, the family graveyard still remains at the 3900 block of Peachtree Road near Dresden Drive.

"Goodwin's" (also "Goodwin Station") was a station on the Atlanta and Richmond (later Atlanta and Charlotte) railway from the line's opening in 1873. The settlement of Cross Keys, pop. 250 in 1876, was located one mile further north along the rail line from Goodwin's.

Atlanta residents began constructing summer cottages in the community around 1900. Circa 1910, 150 acres (61 ha) on the north side of Peachtree Road was purchased for development as a planned community surrounding a golf course. The golf course was designed by Herbert Barker, a golf pro from Garden City, Long Island, with nine holes opening in 1912. The residential development was developed in three phases, with Brookhaven Estates designed in 1910, followed by Country Club Estates in 1929 and the Carleton Operating Company in 1936. Construction of the historic neighborhood was largely complete by the end of World War II. One of Atlanta's most exclusive private clubs, the country club became part of the downtown Capital City Club circa 1911 and became known as the Capital City Country Club. The golf course expanded from nine to eighteen holes in 1915. The clubhouse was designed by Preston Stevens in the French Provencial style, and completed in 1928. The Capital City Club is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Capital City Club Golf Course

Brookhaven's Oglethorpe University was founded in 1835, but moved to its present location along Peachtree Road in 1915. It officially changed from a college to a university in 1965, and the campus is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

From the 1950s to the 1970s, major residential development took place in Brookhaven, including the buildout of the Ashford Park, Drew Valley, The Brookhaven MARTA Station opened in 1984. In 1986, the Capital City Club and its surrounding estate homes were placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The wealth of Brookhaven has increased in recent decades, and with a median household income of $236,393, Brookhaven has become one of metropolitan Atlanta's most affluent communities.

In 2011, the community began an incorporation movement.

Geography

Brookhaven is east of Sandy Springs and Buckhead, south and west of Chamblee, north of Buford Highway and south of the community of Lynwood Park. Brookhaven is located at 33°52′47″N 84°21′6″W (33.879722, -84.351667)Template:GR.

The definition of what area "Brookhaven" covers has varied as either:

• Historic Brookhaven, a core group of neighborhoods around the Capital City Country Club
• Historic Brookhaven plus the stretch of Peachtree Road in between Kendrick Drive and Club Drive

Demographics

North Atlanta, Georgia
CDP
Location in DeKalb County and the state of Georgia
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	DeKalb
Area
• Total	7.8 sq mi (19.9 km2)
• Land	7.7 sq mi (19.8 km2)
• Water	0.1 sq mi (0.1 km2)
Elevation	1,004 ft (306 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	40,456
• Density	5,187/sq mi (2,033/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	30319
Area code	404
FIPS code	13-56000Template:GR
GNIS feature ID	0332512Template:GR

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1980	30,521		—
1990	27,812		−8.9%
2000	38,579		38.7%
2010	40,456		4.9%
source:

Ther 2010 census counted 40,456 residents in the North Atlanta CDP.

The 2000 census counted 38,579 people, 15,886 households, and 7,402 families residing in the North Atlanta CDP. The population density was 5,040.6 people per square mile (1,947.1/km²). There were 16,636 housing units at an average density of 2,173.6/sq mi (839.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 61.52% White, 17.56% African American, 0.41% Native American, 4.88% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 12.64% from other races, and 2.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 27.41% of the population.

There were 15,886 households out of which 18.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.3% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 53.4% were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 15.6% under the age of 18, 15.2% from 18 to 24, 47.2% from 25 to 44, 15.7% from 45 to 64, and 6.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 121.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 124.2 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $52,333, and the median income for a family was $52,679. Males had a median income of $35,742 versus $37,043 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $32,087. About 7.6% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.1% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.

Incorporation movement

The idea of incorporating Brookhaven as a city was first brought up in 2007, with the purpose of securing local community control over planning, zoning, and land use, rather than having these issues decided from downtown Decatur, and to gain local control over services such as police, fire protection, and parks and recreation. However, the idea failed to gain momentum. The proposed city would include 53,000 people.

In 2011, the incorporation of Brookhaven was revived when state Rep. Mike Jacobs announced plans to introduce legislation allowing the creation of a city of Brookhaven. Jacobs said he decided to introduce the proposal after a poll he commissioned found more residents of Brookhaven wanted to be a new city rather than seek annexation into the existing cities. The proposed city would be bounded by:

• the Fulton County line on the west
• I-85 on the south
• Clairmont Road, the city of Chamblee at Chamblee Dunwoody Road and Buford Highway on the east, and
• the city of Dunwoody at I-285 on the north

Map of Boundaries

In October 2011, Citizens for North DeKalb (C4ND) announced the final geographic boundaries of the proposed city that the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia will study. In January 2012 the proposed boundries were revised.

Groups in favor of cityhood include Brookhaven Yes and those against cityhood include AshfordNeighbors.org.

Lindsey proposal to change name to Ashford

In February 2012, a Georgia House committee agreed that residents should be able to vote on incorporation during Summer 2012, but that the proposed city name would be Ashford, not Brookhaven. Georgia House majority whip Ed Lindsey is a resident of Historic Brookhaven; Lindsey stated that many residents in that area wanted to retain exclusive use of the name "Brookhaven".

Lindsey stated that the new name was his own personal idea and not the result of citizen input. He stated that he had also considered Oglethorpe, but that it was already taken by another town in Georgia. He then decided on Ashford because it also had historical significance to residents in the area. The choice of city name will not be presented to voters on the ballot; the committee changed the name to Ashford on Lindsey's proposal.

Prior to this, there is no evidence of the Historic Brookhaven Neighbors Association's (HBNA) objection to the use of the name Brookhaven, either for the proposed city, or for the multiple commercial and government establishments and facilities that fall outside what the HBNA defines as Historic Brookhaven. These include Brookhaven Park (which the HBNA promotes at its own website), the Brookhaven MARTA Station, the Brookhaven Station shops, the Brookhaven Library, Town Brookhaven (also promoted on the Neighborhood Association's Newsletter), Brookhaven Village, and the Brookhaven Arts Alliance, a group that organizes the Brookhaven Arts Festival and Taste of Brookhaven every year, both outside the Historic Brookhaven area. The Fall 2011 HBNA Newsletter reported on the proposed City of Brookhaven and shared information on how members could contribute funds towards the feasibility study for the proposed City.

Education

Oglethorpe University, located on Peachtree Road

Colleges and universities

• Oglethorpe University, 4484 Peachtree Rd., +1 404 261-1441.
• Georgia State University, 4362 Peachtree Road. GSU has a satellite campus in Brookhaven for their Robinson College of Business MBA program.

Elementary and secondary schools

DeKalb County School System operates public schools. DeKalb County public elementary schools serving the community include Dresden Elementary, Ashford Park Elementary, and Woodward Elementary.

The public secondary school is Cross Keys High School.

Private elementary and secondary schools include Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School, St. Martin in the Fields Episcopal School.

Churches include Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic, Brookhaven Baptist, St. Martins in the Field Epsicopal, Oglethorpe Presbyterian and other mainline Protestant churches.

From its opening in 1990 until 2003, the Seigakuin Atlanta International School was located on the property of Oglethorpe University.

Public libraries

DeKalb County Public Library operates the Brookhaven Library.

Neighborhoods

• Historic Brookhaven: Historic Brookhaven is the historic residential neighborhood from which the area derives its name. It has homes surrounding the Capital City Club ranging from $800,000 to $4,000,000, many designed by a number of well-known Atlanta architects of the pre-war period. The neighborhood boundaries are well defined, and it stretches from Peachtree Dunwoody Road on the west, Windsor Parkway to the north, Mabry Drive to the east, and Peachtree Road to the south. A majority of the neighborhood technically lies within Buckhead and the extreme northeastern tip of the city of Atlanta. The Capatal City Club entrance is located in the City of Atlanta.

• Brookhaven Village: Brookhaven Village is the name given to the village-like town center that has emerged on Dresden Drive, just south of the Brookhaven MARTA station, anchored by the Village Place and Village Park Place mixed-use developments. The village is bordered by the residential neighborhoods of Ashford Park to the north and Drew Valley to the south, both offering single family homes within walking distance of the village. The village is home to a unique array of commercial establishments, including a pub, a coffeehouse, and an art gallery. The village also provides loft-style and urban residential options, as well as offices.

• Lynwood Park: Lynwood Park was historically an African-American neighborhood of wood and cinderblock homes in the small area north of Windsor Parkway, west of Osborne Road, and east of the Sandy Springs city limit. In the last decade, newer residents have built crafstman-style homes and have contributed to the overall improvement of the area's infrastructure. The neighborhood is very desirable to those seeking a new home in a close-in location. The community is also home to a large park, DeKalb County's Lynwood Park, which features basketball courts, tennis courts, a swimming pool, a recreation center, a playground and picnic area.

• Peachtree Road: Peachtree Road connects Brookhaven to Buckhead and travels northeast through the area, becoming Peachtree Boulevard at the Chamblee city limits. Much of Brookhaven's commercial developments are situated along Peachtree, including Town Brookhaven (see below), Brookhaven MARTA Station, Brookhaven Station shopping center, the historic Goodwin House, and Brookhaven Park. Situated along Peachtree is Town Brookhaven, a 600,000 square feet (56,000 m²) mixed-use district. It was developed by the Sembler Company, who also developed Lindbergh and Edgewood shopping centers, Perimeter Place in Dunwoody, and the Prado in Sandy Springs. It is located at Peachtree Road and Town Boulevard (formerly Cross Keys Drive), adjacent to Oglethorpe University. In addition to major commercial tenants, there are more than 1500 residential units and 150,000 square feet (14,000 m²) of office space.

• Buford Highway: The Buford Highway corridor forms the southern portion of Brookhaven. The corridor is characterized by apartment complex with a large Hispanic residential population. Buford Highway itself is famous throughout Metro Atlanta for its ethnic restaurants and businesses catering to a variety of ethnic groups, including Hispanic, Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean.

• Lenox Park: Lenox Park is a former country club re-purposed for residential and office space, in the southwest corner of Brookhaven, located between Roxboro Road and North Druid Hills Road, just north of Buford Highway. It is home to the headquarters of AT&T Mobility.

Parks

• Ashford Park, 2980 Redding Rd. 3-acre (1.2 ha) DeKalb County park with basketball & tennis courts, as well as a playground.
• Brookhaven Park, 4158 Peachtree Rd. 9-acre (3.6 ha) DeKalb County park with multi-use courts, playground, picnic area and trails.
• Lynwood Park, 3360 Osborne Rd NE, (17 acres) DeKalb County park with basketball & tennis courts, as well as a playground.

Transportation

• Brookhaven MARTA station, 4047 Peachtree Rd. The MARTA rail station located in the heart of Brookhaven.
• Peachtree Road. The main east-west road, providing access from Atlanta and Chamblee. The road was historically known as "Peachtree Road" in Fulton County, and "Peachtree Industrial Boulevard" in DeKalb County. However, the City of Chamblee, Georgia, (in DeKalb County) dropped "Industrial" from the name, so the road is now known as Peachtree Blvd. in the portion of DeKalb County that is inside I-285.
• North Druid Hills Road. The main north-south access to Brookhaven from Interstate 85.

Bibliography

• "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form", December, 1985. Historic Preservation Section, Georgia Department of Natural Resources and with the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C.
• Brannen, Bettie. "Brookhaven History." 1991. Published in the "Neighborhood Directory," Brookhaven-Club Neighborhood Association, 1995.
• Maddox, Robert F. "History." published in "Governing Board; Constitution and Rules; Membership," Capital City Club, March 1992, p. 4.

External links

• Brookhaven Directory
• Buckhead Website: Brookhaven
• Brookhaven Neighborhood Association
• Brookhaven Fields Civic Association
• HillsDale Neighborhood
• Citizens for North DeKalb (C4ND) - citizens' group exploring formation of new City of Brookhaven or annexation into either Chamblee or Dunwoody