Brookhaven adds 2,000 with annexation
The city of Brookhaven grew by 2,000 residents after Brookhaven City Council voted to annex the LaVista Park neighborhood into the city Dec. 10.
Brookhaven officials say they believe the annexation to be the largest in Georgia history using the 60 percent method, with 676 properties. LaVista Park previously was part of unincorporated DeKalb County.
The 60 percent method involves having 60 percent of registered voters agree to be annexed, avoiding a ballot vote.
“All of you should be commended for your Herculean effort,” Brookhaven Mayor John Ernst said. “We are really excited about having this dynamic community come into the Brookhaven fold. I hope our new residents will remain active with the city, and perhaps take leadership roles on some of our boards and committees.”
The neighborhood will be included in Brookahven’s District 4, which Brookhaven City Council Member Joe Gebbia will represent.
“This is exciting, as the 60 percent method demonstrates an overwhelming, citizen-led effort that bypasses the need for a referendum,” said Gebbia.
According to Brookhaven City Manager Christian Sigman, Brookhaven “immediately” began assessing the neighborhood’s parks, paving and stormwater infrastructure to determine needed resources to make LaVista Park match Brookhaven standards.
Brookhaven Public Works Department deployed street sweeping in the community Dec. 11 and Dec. 12. Within the same week of the annexation, 18 potholes in LaVista Park were identified and filled.
After the city council’s vote, the city welcomed the neighborhood with lighted welcome signs at the intersection of Briarcliff and LaVista Roads that read “Welcome to Brookhaven.”
