May 2025

​I hope you all are having a great holiday weekend.

In the last 2-week period (May 3 – 16), 32 incidents were reported in Beat 204.  Of those, none occurred in the area we patrol.  A summary of activity reported in the surrounding area:

Significant Incidents:

On May 6, 2025, a woman reported being assaulted by multiple women (acquaintances) at a restaurant at 1715 Howell Mill Road.  She said the incident involved a firearm; however, the firearm was not discharged.  The incident is under investigation by the Aggravated Assault Unit.

On May 8, 2025, a woman reported being assaulted by two men on Howell Mill Road who she says also tried to force her into a vehicle.  The incident wasn’t reported until the next day.  The circumstances are under investigation.

On May 9, 2025, a man was arrested for Aggravated Assault on Noble Creek Drive following a domestic violence assault.

Best,

Det. Kevin Leonpacher
Atlanta PD / Underwood Hills Patrol

NPU-D Meets Every Fourth Tuesday at 7:30pm. Here’s a Link to details, agenda etc and on our Calendar.
This month there are a few items of interest to Underwood Hills Residents;

1. Z-25-25 and CDP 25-013: This is the proposed rezoning of 1280 Chattahoochee Ave in Hills park (the Heely Brown site) from I-2 to MR-4A to permit a residential development with both town-house and a multifamily residential components discussed at last UHNA GM. Concerns were raised over traffic impact.
2. V-25-83: A set of residential setback variances for an addition to a single-family home at 1802 Springer St in Underwood Hills. This was unanimously approved at last UHNA GM.
3. A set of LRB change of agent applications for Top Golf (they have 4 separate licenses) in Blandtown. 
4. A change of agent LRB application for Ultimate Distributors at 1376 Hills Place in Underwood Hills. UHNA NPU-D Rep Evan Nason has visited the site and can provide more info.
5. A change of ownership LRB application for “1201 Mix and Dine” at 1201 Collier Rd. This is in NPU-C next to NPU-D. It is the area where we have had lots of noise complaints related to nightclub operations. It not clear if the new owners intend to remedy that or if the application is an attempt to cover it up. This would be a great opportunity for residents to reinforce the complaints and seek solutions.
6. The adoption of the CDP plan A amendment that we have been hearing about for a while now.
7. The resolution calling on the city not to extend the life of the Beltline TAD that we discussed at our meeting last month.

A Note from UHNA NPU-D Evan Nason; “I visited 1201 Collier recently and spoke with the new owner, Michael Taylor, who has been at 1201 for 4 years and says he is taking over from the long-time owner of 1201 and the former DePalma’s. He also says his restaurant, 1201, is not the source of the noise and any street problems but attributed these problems to Pero Bistro two-doors away. He says he closes his “family-friendly” restaurant before or by midnight whereas, later, I was told Pero Bistro doesn’t close until 2 a.m.

I shall relay all this at the NPU-D meeting, even though this is officially an NPU-C matter.  “
For questions contact UHNA NPU-D Rep Eva Nason email.

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEucu2upzgvGNRkuGmiYcE2akuYMkFc1av-

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Zoom Meeting ID: 953 5469 3520 
Dial-In: 301-715-8592
Passcode: 9535 4693 520#

There’ll be a Special Play Group End of School Party on Thursday May 29 (last day of the APS school year), starting at 4pm.

​We’ll have pizza, a Kona Ice truck (first 50 treats free courtesy of UHNA), and a water ball battle!

In the last 2-week period (April 19 – May 2), 42 incidents were reported in Beat 204.  Of those, one occurred in the area we patrol.  On April 27, 2025, a vehicle collision involving a driver that was suspected of being impaired resulted in an arrest.

A summary of other activity reported in the surrounding area:

Significant Incidents:

On April 19, 2025, a domestic incident on Commerce Drive led to a woman stabbing a man.  The woman was arrested at the scene.  The man’s injuries were non-life-threatening.

On April 20, 2025, a domestic incident on Defoors Ferry Road led to one individual pointing a firearm at others.  The incident is under investigation by the Special Victims Unit.

Best,

Det. Kevin Leonpacher
Atlanta PD / Underwood Hills Patrol

Alcohol Beverage Licensing Update

Courtney Smith, Director of Governmental Affairs with the Midtown Neighborhood Association, will give us an update on the ATAG’s work on the Alcohol Beverage Licensing Process to rein in problem bars and clubs. 
New Buckhead Resource

Come and meet Councilman Alex Wan. District 6 is expanding north to Pharr Road and will include Garden Hills and Peachtree Hills. We hope the Commissioner will become another excellent resource for Buckhead Council.
Pot Holes and Road Hazards Update

Officials from Atlanta DOT and Watershed have been invited to join us to discuss the huge list of Potholes and Road Hazards we have accumulated.
Details on the Calendar

Just across from The Works and adjacent Top Golf, a proposal to Rezone from I-2 to MR-4A and Redevelop the site with 350 multifamily units and 105 town-homes.
Although not in Underwood Hills, the developers have offered to present their proposal at the next GM, answer questions and receive community feedback. Interested eligible parties can vote on it at the NPU-D meeting.
When presented at the UHNA Steering Committee meeting, concerns raised included increased traffic and access impacts, and potential impact on the new Woodall Trail.
Elizabeth Hollister, Executive Director of the upper westside improvement district (UWCID) explains-
“Our CID has a permanent easement in place for the section of trail that goes across that property to Topgolf, so the trail cannot be removed. It may be closed temporarily for construction though. The developer is required to “use commercially reasonable efforts to keep the trail publicly accessible during its development or redevelopment of the property and shall only close the trail during ongoing periods of construction of the Property that would impact the Trail or the Trail Easement Area.” The easement also allows for relocation of the trail, as long as it still connects to Topgolf and the Southland Circle/Chattahoochee Ave intersection. 

It would definitely still be helpful if y’all could impress upon them the importance of keeping the trail open during construction as much as possible. Other requests that we would love UHNA’s help making to Jessica Hill and the development team:

• No additional driveways added on Southland Circle (we want to minimize conflicts between vehicles and trail users)
• Pedestrian scale lighting along the section of trail they touch–Southland Circle and the part that goes across their property to Topgolf
• Vehicular access between the multifamily and the townhomes so there are two points of access for the parking deck. 
• No variations from the standard streetscape required by Upper Westside Overlay zoning for Chattahoochee Ave (5 foot landscape strip, 10 foot sidewalk area, and 5 foot supplemental zone) It’s important for them to hear that the community supports the zoning code and is not willing to see it varied for any reason.” “

If you’d like to be part of the discussions please attend the UHNA GM Monday May 12. Details in the calendar