The Historic Brookhaven Neighborhood Association’s (HBNA’s) semiannual meeting returned to Capital City Club in April, after a hiatus due to club renovations. Neighbors enjoyed appetizers and drinks during the first hour, which was intended as a new neighbor welcome party.

 

At 7 p.m., HBNA members moved into the ballroom to hear from Major Benjamin Vayens, commander of the Atlanta Police Department’s Zone 2 precinct. Major Vayens discussed crime, homelessness, and police recruitment with residents.

 

“My mission has been to be a crime fighter since I started with the police,” said Major Vayens, who transferred to Zone 2 in 2021 and was promoted to commander earlier this year. He noted violent crimes in Zone 2 are down 32% year-to-date, and street racing is down based on call volume. The precinct saw a 14% overall reduction in crime in 2022 and 3% decline in 2023.

 

The zone’s highest area of crime (53%) centers around vehicles – either stolen cars or theft from a vehicle. In 2022, over 2,100 fire arms were stolen from vehicles in Atlanta and almost 1,900 in 2023. “Do not leave your fire arm in your vehicle,” Vayens said. “Safe storage is not in your vehicle.”

 

He discussed the clearing of homeless encampments along I-85 and Buford Highway and other areas of Zone 2. Major Vayens noted APD is partnering with other entities to specifically curb the homeless issue in the zone.

 

Officer recruitment is still a challenge, within the zone and the entire department. “We are doing a better job with retention,” Vayens said, noting a 3% pay raise for officers in 2024.

 

He praised the Flock camera system used in Historic Brookhaven to read license plates. Major Vayens also noted the zone has “phenomenal” cooperation with the Sandy Springs and City of Brookhaven police departments.

 

Next neighbors heard from Atlanta’s Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU)-B Chair Rebecca King. The City of Atlanta side of Historic Brookhaven is part of NPU-B.

 

Rebecca explained the purpose and mission of the NPU system, particularly related to zoning. When a zoning variance is required for a project, the request first goes before the HBNA’s zoning committee. The NPU zoning committee then hears the issue before sending it onto the city’s Zoning Review Board. “We try not to set precedence,” King noted in relation to variance requests.

 

Historic Brookhaven representatives on NPU-B are Bob Connelly (business) and Anne Culberson (neighborhood).