The Walmart shopping center was removed from Avondale Estates’ annexation resolution — approved earlier this week — after a phone call from State Representative Karla Drenner (D-Avondale Estates) to Acting Mayor Terry Giager.

Drenner said the center was also on a map drawn by the proposed city of South DeKalb.

“I’m glad it’s removed,” said Commissioner Randy Beebe. ”It would’ve been a lot of trouble.”

It was estimated the center could generate $100,000 annually in property taxes. But Giager said that during a 12-month stretch in 2013-14 Walmart had 850 crime calls, which would require the city to hire two full-time police officers, essentially wiping out the tax revenue.

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Savannah Chrisley, daughter of former reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, speaks outside the Federal Prison Camp on May 28, 2025, in Pensacola, Fla. President Donald Trump pardoned Todd and Julie Chrisley, who were found guilty of defrauding banks out of $36 million and hiding millions in earnings to avoid paying taxes. (Dan Anderson/AP)

Credit: Dan Anderson/AP