Tuxedo Park Civic Association

2025 Spring Newsletter

The dogwoods are in bloom, suggesting the beginning of the Tuxedo Park Civic Association (TPCA) membership drive. The strength and engagement of our membership enhances our sense of community. We would be delighted for you to join or renew your membership for the coming year (June 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026).

TPCA is a nonprofit organization that works on behalf of our neighborhood residents to protect the character, integrity, quality of life, and security of our neighborhood. TPCA’s activities include 24/7 security patrol; concierge mail, package and trash services; transportation and safety improvements; monitor filming activity, as permitted by the City of Atlanta; and broad efforts to reduce neighborhood flooding.

We stay abreast of proposed legislation and zoning matters, including land use and development activities by the City of Atlanta, developers and other entities affecting our neighborhood. The City’s total rewrite of Atlanta’s zoning code and its update of the comprehensive development plan are top priorities to us.

Included within the following pages are TPCA’s recent initiatives and successes. We have a wonderful Board of Directors, who dedicate their time and talents in making our neighborhood a better place for our families. Our President-Elect, Melissa Buckner, will be affirmed at our annual meeting. Melissa is thoughtful and engaging, and will do a wonderful job leading our organization over the next year.

Please join us for our annual meeting held at the Atlanta History Center on May 19^th. We will begin the evening at 6:30 with an open bar, and will then proceed to our business promptly at 7:00 p.m. We hope our annual meeting will be an opportunity for you to visit and meet neighbors, while learning the ongoings of the neighborhood.

Thank you,

Andrew Tritt

TPCA President 2024-25

TPCA Board of Directors:   Andrew Tritt (President), Gigi Rouland (Immediate Past President), Melissa Buckner (Incoming President), Peter Wright (Past President, Treasurer and Chair – Parks and Conservation), Gloria Cheatham (Past President and Senior Vice President), Susan Reisner (VP – Transportation), Stacy Shailendra (VP - Membership), George Calfo (Assistant VP – Membership), Walter Cheatham (Co VP – Historic Preservation), Michael Golden (Co VP – Historic Preservation), Kim Shorter (Chair - Wolf Creek Task Force), Brennan Spry (VP – Security),  Harrison Parker (Assistant VP – Security), Dorothy Snowden (Past President, Chair – Filming), Mercy Sandberg-Wright (Past President, Co-chair – Parks and Conservation), Jen Alewine (Chair – Community Events), Dr. Grady Clinkscales, Carolyn Hewes, Lem Hewes, Mark Kozinn, Craig Heiser (Assistant Treasurer), Dr. Louis Prevosti (Chair of Zoning), and Erica Cummings

2024-25: OUR YEAR IN REVIEW

HISTORIC PRESERVATION

TPCA is thrilled to report Tuxedo Park has been listed as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places (effective February 24, 2025). The listing includes the Tuxedo Park properties in the seven contiguous subdivisions of the West Paces Ferry summer estates, originally forming the Tuxedo Park neighborhood. The designation brings national recognition to Tuxedo Park’s significance in Atlanta’s history.

TPCA has been working for many years to secure this national recognition. Our efforts were spurred on several years ago by a developer's attempt to subdivide a Tuxedo Road lot in a manner that would have negatively affected the historic park-like setting of our neighborhood.  We were able to defeat the subdivision attempt by successfully demonstrating to the City of Atlanta that the historic character of Tuxedo Park fell within the protective guidelines of its city ordinance. The ordinance protects neighborhoods which are either listed on the National Register or eligible for such listing. Upon the City’s acknowledgement of Tuxedo Park being eligible for such listing, TPCA began pursuit for an actual listing—not just to ensure the subdivision protection under city code, but to recognize the very real historic significance of Tuxedo Park. More information about this designation, including the protective footprint, can be found on our website.

MEMBERSHIP & FINANCE

We are excited to report record membership levels during 2024-2025. Our record membership translated to a stronger financial position, allowing us to offset a variety of inflationary operating expenses, without increasing our dues for the coming year.

SOCIAL

In June, we held a Kona-Ice Truck event at our very own Little Wolf Creek Park, for all TPCA residents. (If you don’t know, TPCA controls a small park at the corner of Tuxedo Road and Knollwood Drive.) Attendees were able to cool-off and enjoy lawn activities. The adults enjoyed snow cones, just as much as the kids.

TPCA held our Member Fall Party at the Uppalapati residence. We benefited from fantastic weather and a casual atmosphere, enhanced by a solo violinist. Tables and chairs were organized outside in the motor court, with drink service and a food truck. There was a wonderful mix of adults and families. The outdoor concept was intended to be a nostalgic nod to our outdoor party held on Valley Road, many years ago.

Our Member Spring Party was recently held at the Shailendra residence. The evening was a more formal gathering for our adult members. Attending members enjoyed a variety of heavy hors d’ oeuvres, served poolside. Everyone enjoyed catching up with old friends and meeting new neighbors. Both member parties exceeded 100 people in attendance.

SECURITY

TPCA continues to be the ONLY neighborhood in Buckhead providing 24/7 security patrol. Our night-time patrol consists of armed, off-duty Atlanta police officers (ODP). Our day-time patrol is staffed by private security officers from Allied Universal Security. The Allied officers also manage TPCA's concierge services, such as picking up mail and packages, and curbing your trash bins and returning them, when members are out of town (upon request).

Between June 1, 2024 – March 30, 2025, our ODP officers received approximately 345 direct calls from Members for property checks, 74 residential alarm calls, 36 responses to suspicious people/vehicles and 15 noise complaint calls.  During the same period, our Allied Security Officers received even more direct calls from Members, including 12 suspicious person calls, 5 health emergency calls, 20 residential alarm calls, 4 unwanted solicitor calls, 6 traffic-assist/accident calls, and 3 intruder/trespassing callings.

In addition to each security officer’s hourly wage, TPCA provides a platform for all residents of Tuxedo Park, members and non-members alike, to gift holiday donations to these officers. The 2024 holiday donations surpassed last year’s record donations. Thank you for the generosity of those that donated.

Our residents will begin noticing new TPCA security signs around the neighborhood. The signs are designed to serve as a crime deterrent, enhancing the awareness of our security patrol. Only a few of our existing TPCA security signs remain. We hope the new signs will serve our neighborhood for many years to come.

TRANSPORTATION

Six years ago, in response to excessive cut-through traffic and concerns about pedestrian safety, TPCA, with the help of concerned neighborhood champions, commissioned Jacobs, a highly regarded worldwide engineering firm, to create a comprehensive Tuxedo Park Transportation Plan (the “Plan”).

The Plan reflects extensive research, data collection, analysis, public feedback and TPCA board input. Heavy traffic, speeding and pedestrian safety were the top three concerns of respondents. The traffic issues in Tuxedo Park were shocking.  For example, Habersham Road has 15,000 vehicles per day, 85% of which are non-resident cut-through traffic, and over 50% are speeding.  Blackland Road handles 7,000 vehicles per day, 90% of which are cut through traffic.  On Valley Road, 70% of the vehicles speed well over 30 MPH.  No street in Tuxedo Park is spared the heavy volume of traffic.  The 117-page transportation plan can be viewed on our website: tuxedoparkatlanta.com.

The neighborhood resoundingly supported speed tables in the plan, and our city councilmember Mary Norwood was recently able to get this speed table project moving forward on our behalf.

TPCA has reviewed ATLDOT’s recommendation for speed tables and made reductions in the number of speed tables (consistent with speed table spacing we already have in Tuxedo Park) to ensure spacing that is effective, without being excessive. It is important to have all streets participate in speed tables; otherwise, traffic will redirect onto the streets that do not have them. At the time of printing this newsletter, ATLDOT is marking the location of the tables based on traffic engineering principles. The Plan and related updates can be found on our website, by clicking on the transportation tab. You can also send questions or concerns to transportation@tuxedoparkatlanta.com.

ZONING, LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT

Every five years the City of Atlanta goes through a state required process called a comprehensive development plan (CDP), which maps out the growth and development pattern. The City calls their version of the CDP “Plan A.” The process is in its late stages. Happily, Tuxedo Park remains designated as an in-town “rural” residential neighborhood, as the vast majority of which are single family residences. You can find more information at Atlantaforall.com.

The City of Atlanta is also in the late stages of a complete overhaul of its zoning code. The current zoning code was written 40 years ago. The new zoning code is called “Zoning 2.0” and is a true top-to-bottom rewrite. There have been significant changes in nomenclature, definitions and categorization. We were successful in preserving the existence of single-family residential lots and in preventing accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on single family R1-R3 lots, which could have been used for long term rentals. Guest houses and pool houses for non-rental use remain in the code. You can find more information at atlzoning.com.

The City’s desire with both Plan A and Zoning 2.0 is to increase density. We have tried our best to prevent increased density zoning in single family residential neighborhoods like ours. Representatives from TPCA and the Peachtree Heights West Civic Association formed a small working group to represent the interests of our neighborhoods.

FILMING

Filming in neighborhoods is permitted and regulated by the City of Atlanta. In 2024, Tuxedo Park hosted three film productions. We ask any resident who is hosting filming or considering to host a film production, to contact us, so that we minimize the impact on Tuxedo Park. Tuxedo Park’s film liaison is Dorothy Snowden (film@tuxedoparkatlanta.com).

Dear Tuxedo Park Residents,

We are pleased to let you know that an important and long-awaited public safety and traffic calming transportation measure is coming to Tuxedo Park: completion of speed tables in the neighborhood.  

Six years ago, in response to excessive cut-through traffic and concerns about pedestrian safety, the Tuxedo Park Civic Association (TPCA), with the help of concerned neighborhood champions, commissioned Jacobs (a highly regarded worldwide engineering firm) to create a comprehensive Tuxedo Park Transportation Plan. 

The transportation plan reflects extensive research, data collection, analysis, public feedback and TPCA board input. Heavy traffic, speeding and pedestrian safety were the top three concerns of respondents.  The traffic issues in Tuxedo Park were shocking.  For example, Habersham Road has 15,000 vehicles per day, 85% of which are non-resident cut-through traffic, and over 50% are speeding.  Blackland Road handles 7,000 vehicles per day, 90% of which are cut through traffic.  On Valley Road, 70% of the vehicles speed well over 30 MPH.  No street in Tuxedo Park is spared the heavy volume of traffic.  The 117-page transportation plan can be viewed on our website: tuxedoparkatlanta.com. 

The neighborhood resoundingly supported speed tables in the plan, and our city councilmember Mary Norwood was recently able to get this speed table project moving forward on our behalf.

TPCA has reviewed ATLDOT’s recommendation for speed tables and made reductions in the number of speed tables (consistent with speed table spacing we already have in Tuxedo Park) to ensure spacing that is effective without being excessive.  It is important to have all streets participate in speed tables; otherwise, traffic will redirect onto the streets that do not have them.   ATLDOT is now marking the location of the tables based on traffic engineering principles.

Construction could begin in the next few weeks.  If you have any questions or concerns, please direct them to transportation@tuxedoparkatlanta.com.

Sincerely,

TPCA Board of Directors

At long last, TPCA’s Transportation Plan has been approved by the Atlanta Department of Transportation, and it is in the process of being adopted into the City of Atlanta Transportation Plan.  The complete plan is attached below, but here are some highlights:

• Speed humps on Valley, Putnam, Woodhaven, Knollwood and the segments of Tuxedo that didn’t already have them. 
• Two more all-way stops on Blackland, along with traffic-calming chicanes at one end of the street and lane-narrowing at the other.
• Morning rush hour turn restrictions from Northside onto Blackland.
• Afternoon rush hour turn restrictions from Habersham onto both Chatham and West Andrews.
• Roundabout at Habersham and Valley.
• Intersection improvements at Habersham/West Paces, Tuxedo/ Powers Ferry and several others.

And the even better news is that Atlanta’s Transportation Commissioner Josh Rowan has already figured out creative ways to fund and implement many of our plan’s projects—so look for some changes relatively soon.

Click Here to view the Tuxedo Park Transportation Plan

Including speed humps within a year!

            Thanks to our wonderful City Councilman J.P. Matzigkeit, ALL of our speed humps are in process of being fully funded.  He and Commissioner Rowan put their heads together found enough RENEW money—some $150,000—to do the entire job.  And Commissioner Rowan is including our speed humps on an omnibus speed-hump contact already in progress, so they should actually be completed by the end of next summer!

Silver Lining to all that filming inconvenience!

            SIX movies have been filmed in Tuxedo Park since the first of the year.  And we know we do not have to tell you what an imposition that has been on our neighborhood—between lane closures, truck parking and night shooting.  But there is a silver lining to all that inconvenience.  TPCA Film Liaisons Dorothy Snowden and Cynthia Davison have been assessing film companies a daily “neighborhood imposition fee” for every day they’re here “from prep to wrap”—and we’ve now built up a fat little kitty we can use for special projects for the good of the neighborhood.

Including a new security camera for Northside at West Paces Ferry!

            Security has always been a top priority for TPCA, so the first thing we are doing with our “movie money” is to buy a new pan/tilt/zoom security camera for the corner of Northside and West Paces Ferry.  Even with police foundation discounts those cameras are expensive—a whopping $11,200—but our great City Councilman J.P. Matzigkeit is kicking in $5K and thanks to our movie imposition fees TPCA was able to make up the $6200 balance.   Look for the new camera in about 90 days.

Come one, come all!  And bring the kids!

            It’s been way too long since we’ve had a party, so TPCA is throwing one for the ENTIRE neighborhood, not just for members, next Sunday afternoon from 4:00 until 6:00.    TPCA Board Member Jen Alewine is not only hosting it in the Alewine’s big backyard at 3417 Tuxedo, but has put together a fabulous “do” with a Kona Ice Truck for the kids (grownups can have some, too) and a Fizzy Truck for the grownups!  So come reconnect with your neighbors and maybe meet some new ones as well.  And be sure to bring the kids!