The City of Doraville’s quest to create its own distinctive multifaceted downtown district has spanned more than 20 years that project’s development is all systems go City leaders relay this week a groundbreaking ceremony is planned for June to kick off construction of Doraville City Center an effort to establish a new identity and gathering spot for the ITP city like Sandy Springs and so many other metro Atlanta places before it.  Doraville officials have inked contracts with Choate Construction Company and McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture to help lead development of what's been in planning phases since 2005 The 13-acre city center will reflect “our city’s bold vision for the future and the values of our diverse growing community,” reads this week’s announcement.  Conceptual plans for how the centralized downtown could look and function for Doraville—claiming municipal buildings and other underused or undeveloped parcels—first came to light in the fall of 2023.  The site in question involves 13 acres the city owns and has been exploring how to better activate. The properties are bound by New Peachtree Road and Central Avenue, just north of Buford Highway and northwest of Spaghetti Junction near Assembly Atlanta.  MARTA’s Doraville station is located across New Peachtree Road from the site Plans call for a new City Services building all “designed with sustainability and community in mind,” per the city.  The development team previously selected by Doraville also includes developer Kaufman Capital According to plans presented by HGOR planners and architects in 2023 the heart of the project would be comprised of two components: a central greenspace spanning roughly 10,000 to 12,000 square feet (similar to the size of Alpharetta City Center’s green) and dotted with low-rise retail buildings likely topped with restaurant patios.  Another key facet would be the three-story community building with city offices and chambers Elsewhere will be hundreds of multifamily units and a 15-foot-wide public trail to help tie it all together City plans have indicated a boutique hotel could also eventually be built.  According to documents issued by the city in December the initial $32-million phase of development—the green square and municipal building with a new City Hall and library among other uses—will be built first as a “driver” for private development and other commercial uses will be poised to move forward find a rundown of where Doraville’s made-from-scratch city center will materialize Twitter / Facebook/and now: Instagram   • Doraville news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)  Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInDORAVILLE (Atlanta News First) - A DeKalb County liquor store is destroyed and a gas station is badly damaged by an overnight fire The two-alarm fire happened at the Doraville Package store in the 6400 block of Peachtree Industrial Boulevard in Doraville When firefighters arrived around 11:00 p.m they saw heavy flames coming from the building Crews spent several hours overnight into Monday morning working to put the fire out Officials say the wind made the fire even more dangerous since it was spreading flames to a gas station attached to the building “We’ve had quite a few of them lately when we’re dealing with these heavy wind-driven fires They become a whole other issue on their own because you’re talking about exposure to the other places So you got to try to protect everything around it as well,” said Chief Steven Vickery battalion chief with DeKalb County Fire Rescue Vickery said crews took their time with the fire so flames would not reach the gas pumps on the property but there was no danger of them catching fire Check back with Atlanta News First for updates leaders in Doraville recently released a state of the city video highlighting the city’s progress over the past year and plans for the future “Doraville is thriving,” said Mayor Joseph Geierman and made our city an even better place to call home This year’s state of the city reflects the energy and innovation that defines Doraville today.” Doraville successfully welcomed new residents through an annexation referendum The city also approved new housing policies saw 100 new affordable senior apartments opened and has more than 1,000 new residential units coming soon The city also invested in parks and public spaces reconstructed tennis and pickleball courts and partnered with the Atlanta United Community to build new soccer mini pitches at Halpern Park and Assembly Atlanta is booming with recently hosted productions for CBS Four local restaurants remain in the Atlanta’s Michelin Guide and Java Saga’s ABC sandwich was named Georgia’s best sandwich by Yelp solidifying Doraville as a top food destination Doraville also launched a multi-jurisdictional safety action plan for Buford Highway introduced new pedestrian and transportation projects and invested in advanced public safety technology including gunshot detection systems and park security cameras Doraville is preparing for its most ambitious project yet: a new city center that will serve as a hub for living construction for the new complex will begin this summer with Doraville’s city hall transitioning to a temporary location on Van Fleet Circle there’s never been a better time to be a part of Doraville’s story.” and website in this browser for the next time I comment Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInATLANTA (Atlanta News First) - A man is being treated for injuries after he was shot in the neck while changing a car tire in Doraville DeKalb County police say officers responded to the shooting at an apartment complex along the 800 block of Wood Terrace Court at around 4:30 a.m Sunday they learned that a 34-year-old man was changing a tire in the parking lot when someone shot him in the neck and stole the car Police say the man was taken to the hospital and is expected to survive DeKalb police they are still searching for the suspect Anyone with information about the case can send an anonymous tip to DKPD using the free Tip411 app or by texting “DKPD” to 847411 vacant Buford Highway site vowed to finally get the wheels of development moving in the new year Six days into 2025, signs appear to be pointing in a positive direction for nearby residents who’ve grown tired of the “eyesore” property in Doraville Atlanta-based real estate investment firm Insignia filed plans with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs on Dec 30 to have its Lotus Grove project assessed at the state level as a potential Development of Regional Impact The state agency concluded today the Doraville project does indeed warrant a review by the Atlanta Regional Commission which applies to projects large enough to effect multiple jurisdictions is meant to streamline the development process and help gather local input.  Insignia’s project description for Lotus Grove predicts it will bring urbanization to Buford Highway and help revitalize the popular foodie destination Situated just outside the Interstate 285 loop a Kmart Big K long operated on the 13-acre Doraville property at 5597 Buford Highway until it shuttered in 2010 The shopping center’s remains were fully cleared more than two years ago That appeared to set the stage for Lotus Grove—and the continuation of development trends in nearby cities such as Chamblee and Dunwoody that are leaning into urban-style told Urbanize Atlanta in November initial Lotus Grove phases were on pace to see vertical construction in summer 2025 with an expected total cost north of $300 million Alongside low-rise retail and restaurants (to include a food hall) Lotus Grove’s initial phase calls for a 12-story building—the tallest in Doraville per project officials—that would include 456 apartments and perks such as a pool and fitness center Lazarian said construction schedules call for delivering Lotus Grove’s retail and residential components by sometime in 2027.  the full project would see 780 multifamily units and just shy of 67,000 square feet of retail and restaurant development The schedule calls for completing it in 2028 Miami-based developer Resia, the company behind a five-building residential project on Memorial Drive and another in Douglasville is gearing up to build the first phase of residential Infrastructure work on the residential tower has begun and full development is on pace to start this year According to Insignia’s website Lotus Grove will eventually see two 12-story residential towers as part of roughly 1 million square feet of new construction Other facets would include a public park designed to be activated for events Doraville’s Downtown Development Authority issued roughly $120 million worth of revenue bonds that Insignia will have to pay back plus a tax abatement in the ballpark of $40 million Find more Lotus Grove context and the latest available imagery in the gallery above Twitter / Facebook/and now: Instagram   • Doraville news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)  The long-planned “urban lifestyle” replacement for a demolished and cleared Kmart in Doraville is gearing up to finally move forward—at least partially Miami-based developer Resia, the company behind a five-building residential project on Memorial Drive and another in Douglasville is gearing up to build the first phase of a sizable multifamily project at 5593 Buford Highway Resia Lotus Grove’s initial phase calls for a 12-story building—the tallest in Doraville per project officials—with 456 apartments and perks that include a pool and fitness center recently told Urbanize infrastructure work on the residential tower has begun and full development is on pace to start next year Project renderings “are still being massaged” and aren’t available for public release The scope of Resia’s work will include shared infrastructure for what’s planned to be a much larger situated just beyond Interstate 285 along the foodie mecca that is Buford Highway Real estate investment firm Insignia is putting together the larger project A Kmart Big K operated on the 13-acre Doraville property until 2010 ostensibly setting the stage for a complex called Lotus Grove that promised to continue the development trend of urban-style mixed-use nodes along Atlanta's near-northside in cities such as Chamblee and Dunwoody.  Where the full Lotus Grove project stands today remains a question mark Inquiries to Insignia officials in recent weeks haven’t been returned According to the developer’s website Lotus Grove will eventually see two 12-story residential towers (with 780 units total) as part of roughly 1 million square feet of new construction Other facets would include a national hotel and a public park designed to be activated for events “Lotus Grove will bring more urbanization to the City of Doraville and its surrounding neighborhoods,” reads Insignia’s description The Lotus Grove site is less than a mile from the initial phase of Doraville’s Assembly Atlanta TV and film studio and greenspace complex which has risen from the ashes of a razed General Motors plant Find more context and the latest available imagery in the gallery above Sign up to receive GPB Event announcements via Email Department of Housing and Urban Development came together with DeKalb County leaders to formally open more affordable housing for seniors in Doraville Department of Housing and Urban Development joined DeKalb County leaders at a ribbon cutting ceremony for an affordable senior housing complex The Veranda at Assembly is a100-unit apartment complex in Doraville Residents in 80 of the units will have their rent capped at 30% of their salary This affordability is made possible by the public-private partnership between the DeKalb County Housing Authority and real estate developers the Integral Group DeKalb Housing Authority CEO Pete Walker said the agency tries to create or improve 1,000 units of affordable housing a year and HUD supports them “I have to give a special thanks to Secretary Todman for coming in,” he said “I want to personally thank you for sending that $50 million to DeKalb County every year for our housing choice voucher program Construction on the four-story building began in January 2023 HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman said the agencies are removing restrictive barriers to build housing that won’t sit empty who may have lost a loved one,” Todman said They can't afford where they are — for our seniors to have some place to live with dignity and with affordability.” Residents will be able to apply and move in immediately This senior housing development is one of many additions planned in Doraville. City council recently approved a plan to redevelop the downtown corridor to add greenspace a library and a new park near Buford Highway Amanda Andrews is a general assignment reporter for GPB News. She previously worked at KUNC as a Morning Edition producer and backup host GPB is committed to bringing you comprehensive news coverage from Georgia across the country and around the world.  Your support makes this possible.  Please consider making a gift today to support this vital public service This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page No more crying in H Mart with this guide of what to order from bibimbap and dumplings to mochi doughnuts and noodles If you buy something from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy As the largest Asian supermarket chain in the U.S. with over 97 locations in the country going to an H Mart for international groceries is a no-brainer It’s a treasure trove for specific ingredients and brands that are hard to get at conventional markets like Chinese chives for dumplings or Twin Marquis Shanghai wonton wrappers making it worth the drive across the city to Doraville’s Super H Mart While it wasn’t the first in the metro area (Duluth was the Doraville location has been Atlanta’s darling since 2009 Its impressive food court sets it apart — a feature that’s been part of select H Marts for 30 years But to know one H Mart food court is far from knowing them all Most H Marts around the country have food courts that offer different independently owned and operated stalls which means there are exciting new discoveries to be made at every location and flatware usually need to be returned to their specific stalls after your meal is finished Here’s everything you need to know to avoid confusion and indecision in Doraville’s H Mart food court and even find some inspiration for your newly acquired groceries There can often be an overlap between Asian cuisines: take the tanghulu (originally Chinese, now beloved by Koreans), gimbap (confused with Japanese sushi, especially with its increased popularity due to outlets like Trader Joe’s) and tteokboki (similar to Chinese stir-fried rice cakes) This shop offers this mix of regional cuisines and throws in lots of American Chinese classics for good measure: sesame chicken You’ll also find some more versions of “traditional” dishes like mapo tofu and Singapore noodles on the picture menu displayed above the counter with descriptions — some of which are more helpful than others a “spicy beef brisket with noodles or rice,” as opposed to “king dumplings” or “mixed seafood,” which are more vague All individual entrees come with white rice and Korean combo menus are also available if you look at the “specials” wall That’s where snacks like Korean popcorn chicken which are assembled hot and fresh throughout the day and save you from waiting or making any tough decisions A post shared by Aya Eats (@ayaeats_) Numbered pictures are tremendously helpful at this booth for those who prefer to first eat with their eyes it makes it easy to order without any familiarity with the language and meat and rice plates are displayed overhead which are mandu or Korean savory stuffed dumplings) are all considered entrees and come with white rice The rest are side dish options or appetizers and other types of gimbap (often romanized as kimbap) Don’t be fooled by its name — this “everyday” (tous le jours) bakery franchise founded in South Korea is as Asian as it is French and is now hitting its 20th year in the States Everything is baked fresh daily and those ovens turn out unexpected flavors in appealing shapes and textures that make it extremely hard to resist touching the treats there are signs asking customers to please refrain from squeezing the Squishmallow-soft and reminders to use tongs and a tray even for individually wrapped items (Handling them freehand is a cultural faux pas at Asian bakeries.) Magic Mocha Cream and the Chestnut Mammoth Bread are a must-try Look for red bean paste in everything from baked buns to filled doughnuts Get loaves of cream breads or tall-pan sliced milk bread for slightly sweet sandwiches The cakes are cream-based on light and fluffy sponge with a more Parisian look than the fruit-and-whipped-cream cakes of Chinese bakeries try the garlic cheese croissants and kimchi croquettes The 2021 grand opening of the first Mochibees in Duluth sent Atlanta’s food community into a tizzy it’s opened franchised locations in Alpharetta and you can scope out the entire selection up close before you buy as they’re all individually packaged at this location in clear to-go single containers for $3.05 each The price for the doughnuts decreases with larger quantities; a dozen is $32 here Come to this Malaysian-Cantonese family-owned storefront with an appetite Look for made-in-store thin-skinned Hong Kong-style wontons and order them in the noodle soup but only if you can resist the call of roast duck in savory broth with springy egg noodles The other must is their stir-fried ho fun/chow fun which they make with fresh wide-cut rice noodles — a rarity in this city since Thai and even Chinese restaurants typically use dry Non-Cantonese dishes include dishes from Thailand like pad thai The use of fresh ho fun also makes a strong argument for the pad see ew at this stall The secret to the flavor here is that much of the menu is cooked in pork fat a happy and natural meeting point between Southern American and Southern Chinese culture but an important consideration for vegetarians and those whose diets restrict pork consumption Pelicana Chicken is one of the leading names in Korean fried chicken, and this stall is one of 3,000 locations worldwide. It’s all about the chicken here (now serving halal chicken) All sauces cost extra (pro tip: they’ll let you get half and half since there are around eight types available.) The chicken can be coated in a Camembert white cheese powder Try the cups of chicken bites or “‘Ugly’ Fried Chicken Sandwiches” dressed with spicy ranch but salads feature grilled chicken or shrimp Sides are similar to Western fast-food offerings: topped fries But try something different like tempura shrimp or fried chicken gizzards you can wash down with lemonade in a pouch or their own Peliade fruit fountain drinks which is shaved ice typically topped with chopped fruit which are arepa-looking patties of glutinous rice flour stuffed with bulgogi and cheese Despite the fact this location doesn’t sell its titular egg toast, this stall is one of the most popular in the food court for its Instagrammable and low-cost treat Each fried hot dog on a stick starts at $5 (the minimum purchase amount required to pay with a credit card) and the tanghulu — juicy candied fruit on a skewer a northern Chinese snack that’s become popular among Koreans — is even less you can have diced white or sweet potatoes mixed into the batter for a starch-studded snack The $1.50 Hot Cheetos crumb coating is a popular one you can consider yourself prepared to feast on some of the best eats of the East as you prepare to throw away the world’s oldest grocery shopping advice You’ll definitely want to shop on an empty stomach for the rewards just beyond the registers (Atlanta News First) - An early morning double shooting in DeKalb County has turned deadly at The Landing at Pleasantdale apartments in Doraville DeKalb police say the responded to a person shot call at the complex and found a woman with two gunshot wounds She was transported to the hospital in critical condition Police said the suspect was found dead and at this time “it appears that the suspect shot the victim and then turned the weapon on himself.” If you have any information, contact the DeKalb County Police Department. To remain anonymous, tipsters should contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or visit www.stopcrimeATL.com Crime Stoppers tipsters can receive a cash reward for information leading to an arrest and indictment in this case a Doraville project that aims to revitalize and enliven a section of Buford Highway while creating a new northside destination is on track to move forward next year general operations director for real estate investment firm Insignia says initial phases of the proposed Lotus Grove district are on pace to see vertical construction in summer 2025 situated just outside the Interstate 285 loop Alongside low-rise retail and restaurants (fresh renderings provided this week show a food hall in the works) “We’re proud of the underlying community sensibility and HERO aspects of the project,” Lazarian wrote via email the project will bring a more ‘city center’-type feel to the area “With it being the tallest building in the area,” Lazarian added “it will also serve as a visible landmark to draw people in.” though no project renderings are available and the shopping center’s remains were fully cleared two years ago Lazarian said this week the project’s full scope has not changed The company didn’t comment when asked about development challenges that have delayed Lotus Grove Elsewhere in the city, plans are percolating for a made-from-scratch downtown district that would help lend Doraville identity, while an infill residential project called Camino is under construction on a previously vacant lot The Lotus Grove site is less than a mile from the initial phase of Doraville’s Assembly Atlanta TV and film studio and greenspace complex city of Doraville officials will hold three annexation community meetings in addition to their regularly scheduled city council meetings annexation is the legal process of adding land to a city’s boundaries or territory and making it a part of the city Doraville states that annexation helps cities ensure that residents and businesses in their areas have fair and reliable access to services provided by the city Doraville’s city council met and approved a referendum to put annexation on the ballot for some Doraville residents the annexation would add 640 residential parcels and five commercial parcels to the city’s limits The two areas of unincorporated DeKalb that are part of the proposed annexation are both inside and outside of I-285 One of the areas to be annexed is south of Oakcliff Road and ends at Oakcliff Elementary School The second area being annexed will be east of Chestnut Drive and will end at the I-285 junction According to Doraville’s Comprehensive Plan combined with planned redevelopment in the city’s core and other key nodes will promote a balanced tax base while creating a more livable and vibrant community City of Doraville officials encouraged residents to attend these meetings at which the proposed annexation will be discussed Agendas and videos of the meetings can be found at a later date on Doraville’s website times and locations for the meetings include: at Honeysuckle Park (3037 Pleasant Valley Drive at Sequoyah Middle School (3456 Aztec Road Construction is completed at Veranda at Assembly, a 100-unit affordable senior living community in Doraville, Georgia, for adults 55 and older. McShane Construction Company built the residence on behalf of repeat client The Integral Group “Veranda at Assembly offers modern apartments for seniors in a convenient location off Interstate 285 and Peachtree Boulevard,” commented Brian Wood “We’re grateful for the opportunity to work with The Integral Group again and are confident that this building will serve the Doraville community well.” Located on the northeast side of Atlanta, the development includes a four-story wood frame building with a masonry and siding exterior designed by architecture firm Dynamik Design “The completion of Veranda at Assembly is a significant milestone for The Integral Group and the City of Doraville,” said Vicki Lundy Wilbon President of Real Estate at The Integral Group amenity-rich community of 100 upscale residential units Each unit features contemporary design elements and premium finishes The Integral Group selected SK Collaborative as a consultant to finalize plans and review associated materials and installation to obtain Energy Star and EarthCraft Certifications McShane Construction is a national award-winning general contractor that provides design-build and build-to-suit construction services for the multi-family The second Atlanta Michelin Guide recently dropped and with this year’s list celebrating all things culinary one restaurant in Doraville was added to the “recommended restaurant” section while one Decatur restauranter received an award for his cocktail concoctions which serves Korean cuisine such as kimchi pancakes was one of only 12 restaurants in the metro-Atlanta area that was added to this year’s Atlanta Michelin Guide Woo Nam Jeong’s signature dish—called stone bowl bibimbap—is a not-to-miss dish according to one of Michelin Guide’s officials “Take a peek at the neighboring tables and nearly everyone is tucking into one of these signature dishes,” states the guide and it arrives in the stone bowl sizzling long after it is set atop the table Rice that has been crisped sits at the base and a sunny side up egg on top for a delicious one-pot dish that will make you a regular in no time.” Described as “anchoring the corner of a shopping center along Buford Highway with an expansive Korean menu,” Michelin officials also recommended trying Woo Nam Jeong’s seafood or kimchi pancake and their seared “mandu,” also known as dumplings along with the other 11 restaurants added this year brings the total of restaurants featured in the Atlanta Michelin Guide to 57 when Michelin published its first ever restaurant guide for Atlanta 45 restaurants were selected for the guide with 13 – from Decatur to Buford Highway and in between – being in DeKalb County Also spotlighted in this year’s Atlanta Michelin Guide is Miles Macquarrie partner and beverage director of Kimball House in Decatur who received the 2024 Michelin Guide Atlanta Exceptional Cocktails Award “The cocktail program at Kimball House has its own takes on the classics in a way that is impressive thanks to Miles Macquarrie,” a Michelin spokesperson stated making the toughest choice of each visit narrowing down your selection.” Macquarrie recommends trying one of Kimball House’s versions of a classic martini when stopping in for a drink or a bite “Our house cocktail is a simple variation on a martini,” said Macquarrie We have many different variations on martinis that we keep on our menu because we think it’s a great aperitif and it’s an American icon in liquid form.” Woo Nam Jeong is located at 5953 Buford Highway Northeast in Doraville Kimball House is located at 303 E Howard Avenue in Decatur To see a full list of 2024 winners and read the entire guide visit https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/georgia/atlanta_2884144/restaurants (Atlanta News First) - Police said a woman claiming to have a gun barricaded herself in a Doraville home for hours after breaking into it Monday Doraville police said they got a call from the owner of a home on Bonnie Avenue around 11 a.m “reporting there was a person in their house without authorization.” Police entered the home after getting permission from the homeowner Officers said they found a woman inside who locked herself in a room and claimed to have a gun Doraville police said they spent hours trying to get the woman to surrender “We have a partnership with the City of Dunwoody to have a mental health professional that rides with our officers He was out here earlier trying to work with the woman,” Emily Heenan “We have a crisis communications-certified officer who has been working with the woman to try and talk her down work with her to try to get her to leave the home.” police said they’d taken the woman into custody They said the woman will be evaluated by mental health professionals before they proceed with arrest warrants on charges of criminal trespassing and terroristic threats Police said the woman allegedly said she wanted to kill officers during the standoff that no one was injured during the incident Police have not said whether the woman was armed