Author: On Common Ground News

The former East Mountain Studios, 2030 East Park Drive, Conyers, is now Eastside Stageworks. John Raulet, part owner in Mailing Avenue Stageworks and Westside Stageworks, assembled a group of local investors to purchase the property. The group pre-leased the studios to a major company already filming in the area and renamed the building. “When we were presented with an opportunity to add a Conyers facility into the Stageworks family, we jumped at the chance,” said Raulet. “There were two key factors that made this decision very easy: One, a very healthy industrial real estate market, and two, a…

The City of Lithonia will soon get two roadway markers so tourists and others will know of its role in the Civil War. And State Rep. Doreen Carter says she’s happy she’ll be able to walk about a block from her house and see one of the signs that designate Lithonia as part of the Georgia Civil War Heritage Trails. “This is really exciting for me. We’ve heard stories that Sherman’s troops camped in my backyard,” said Carter.  “It will provide a great economic boost to the areas with the increase in history tours throughout the state. It puts Lithonia…

DeKalb County has launched its Keep DeKalb Beautiful Beautification Unit, a one-stop shop that will include code enforcement, the county’s Foreclosure/Vacant Property Registry, and mowing and herbicide crews. Its mission: to give DeKalb a beautiful new image. The county officially opened the unit on May 12 at 1807 Candler Road in Decatur. The building, which had been vacant for years, formerly served as DeKalb’s office for Community Development. Marcus Kellum, the county’s former code enforcement administrator, was announced as the new director of the beautification unit. “We will have 190 people in this unit. That’s a lot. Not only is…

James Burnett is redeveloping the long-neglected Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts in DeKalb County. The Stone Mountain businessman purchased the Memorial Drive property last December and now he has embarked on a project to pay homage to the late rapper icon and his mother, Afeni Shakur, who died of a suspected heart attack on May 2. She was 69. “Since Afeni’s death, we have had so many people stop by to visit, including media who want to know what will happen to the property,” Burnett said. “They are excited to see the work that is going on. The…