News … Past News … April 2004

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Reaching the Tipping Point
By Ken Wright, President, Dunwoody Homeowners Association, Inc.

Malcolm Gladwell, in his acclaimed book "The Tipping Point," talks about how little things make a big difference. He gives many examples of how small changes can accumulate causing a tipping point to be reached. When this occurs, the pace of change accelerates and picks up momentum resulting in big differences taking hold. What does this have to do with Dunwoody?

Two years ago in the late summer of 2002, DHA was instrumental in getting the Dunwoody Overlay Zoning District passed into law. Many hours of DHA chaired meetings and discussions that involved developers, residents, business owners, and DHA representatives, and aided by the Atlanta planning firm Urban Collage, resulted in publication of the Dunwoody Commercial Core Design Guidelines. This document was the precursor of the new Ordinance. The preamble to the new ordinance reads as follows: "due to a need to protect the unique identity of the commercial area around the Dunwoody Village, to improve the quality of new development and to improve visual appearance and provide open spaces, there is a desire to provide regulations which will lead to secure these goals.” The regulations provide for architectural controls, wide sidewalks and safe pedestrian crossings, signage, landscaping, lighting, parking and improved design and adequacy of public areas.

Even with the new law in place, nothing happened overnight. But as new developments took place in the village area and had to conform to the new ordinance, small changes started to appear. Whether it was Williamsburg style architecture, new signs, new walkways, tree plantings or new paint colors, they had to conform to established design guidelines required by the new ordinance. Three new developments on Mt. Vernon just west of the Chamblee Dunwoody intersection will bring new street lights and sidewalk furniture for the first time. Together with new tree plantings and wider sidewalks, it will create a more pedestrian friendly shopping and meeting place for Dunwoody residents.

Have we reached the tipping point? Not yet. But when non-conforming existing businesses voluntarily adopt the new standards, we will. Who knows? Maybe Dunwoody will be featured in Gladwell's next book to show how little things ended up making a big difference.