Pine Hills: 'Keep Our Neighborhood Intact'

Two Buckhead neighborhood associations urged Atlanta City Council members on Thursday night to avoid splitting their neighborhoods as the city develops new maps based on 2010 Census numbers.

“We have common interests with our Buckhead neighbors,” said George Mirgorod, president of the Pine Hills Neighborhood Association, during an Atlanta City Hall public hearing in which four proposed maps were unveiled. “Most of the scenarios being presented split our neighborhood in half. We’re trying to make our neighborhoods safer and more cohesive.”

Pine Hills currently lies in District 7, represented by Councilman Howard Shook.

“We prefer to remain in District 8,” said Ron Grunwald, president of the , whose community is currently represented by Yolanda Adrean. “Some of these scenarios stretch our neighborhood westward, and we have more common interests with our south Buckhead and Midtown neighbors. Northside Drive is more of a natural buffer for us.”

Buckhead’s two major city council districts —7 and 8 — will likely shrink as Atlanta . In order to account for 2010 census data, each of the city’s 12 districts must have a population of 35,000. Both Buckhead districts have more than 35,000 people each.

Mirgorod said his organization prefers map 2B, which he said is the only one of all four scenarios that keep Pine Hills intact. But District 9 Councilwoman Felicia Moore, who chaired the public hearing, said that particular map may face legal hurdles.

“I’m sure there’s going to be some more tweaking to all of these proposed maps,” said Moore, who also represents a section of Buckhead. “And there will probably be some more scenarios coming out of the council.”

“I know Councilman Shook shares your concerns,” Aldrean said. “There are a lot of pieces still in play.”

The second redistricting public hearing will be held Thursday, Nov. 17, at 6 p.m., in the Atlanta City Council chambers. The maps are scheduled for final approval by the City Council on Monday, Dec. 5. If approved, the maps will then be reviewed by Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, who will decide whether to forward them on to the U.S. Department of Justice for final review.