DeKalb breaks ground on Candler Crossing, a Publix‑anchored project aimed at easing local food access

Officials and developers gathered at the Candler Crossing groundbreaking in DeKalb County on Friday to mark the start of construction on a 7‑acre, Publix‑anchored development that county leaders say will help address local food access and drive investment in South DeKalb.

Terara Washington, vice president of marketing and communications at Decide DeKalb Development Authority, opened the ceremony by thanking residents and elected officials and introducing the project team. "We are absolutely thrilled to have you this morning," she said, calling the development "transformative" for the community.

The project will include a 50,000‑square‑foot supermarket as its anchor, an 11,000‑square‑foot multi‑tenant retail building, a community plaza, a walking trail and a renovated MARTA bus stop. Developer representatives said they are targeting first occupancy in October 2027. "When they commit to a neighborhood, they commit fully and for the long term," one developer said of Publix.

Why it matters: County leaders framed the development as a catalytic example of public‑private partnership in a corridor that has experienced disinvestment. DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran Johnson said officials secured a tax allocation district (TAD) for the corridor to capture a portion of future tax revenue and reinvest it locally, and announced the county’s first chief of economic development, Jacob Valow, as part of a broader push to attract investment.

County and developer figures emphasized economic benefits and community input. Commissioner Nicole Messiah (District 3) said the project will create about 100 construction jobs and "nearly 200" permanent positions; Dorian Debbar, CEO of the Decide DeKalb Development Authority, cited a figure of 183 permanent jobs and noted the project includes approximately 2,000 square feet of affordable commercial space for small businesses. Debbar said Decide DeKalb helped assemble the land and secure a $3.8 million TAD award for the project.

School partnerships and public art: The DeKalb County School District will participate in a student‑led mural for the corner of Candler and Glennwood as part of the development. "This mural will reflect the voices, creativity, and pride of our students and the community they call home," Bianca Hamilton, K‑12 visual and performing arts representative, said.

Direct quotes: DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran Johnson framed the investment as a dignity issue, saying, "Food is dignity. Access to healthy food options is necessary." Dorian Debbar described the development as the product of "intentional civic‑minded leadership" and thanked community members and partners for their role in advancing the site from rubble to a grocery‑anchored center.

Next steps: Speakers participated in a ceremonial shovel turn to mark the start of construction. Developers and county staff said they will continue community engagement through design and outreach, and reiterated the target first occupancy of October 2027.

Notes on claims and figures: Job counts and the TAD award were reported by speakers at the ceremony. Where speakers gave a range or approximate count, the article uses the speaker’s language (for example, "nearly 200" or "about 100").