DeKalb tearing down apartments, building park

DeKalb County is buying a vacant derelict apartment complex in an effort to turn the site, near the DeKalb County schools headquarters, into a park.

The County Commission recently agreed to pay $247,000 in back taxes to acquire the 7.5-acre Brookside Apartments site on North Decatur Road, just outside I-285.

The county plans to use federal grant money to demolish and buildings. The county’s parks department plans to meet with nearby residents to plan recreation activities at what will be included in the land as it becomes a park.