[NEW] Express Car Wash Proposed on Clairmont Road Near PDK

An Athens-based developer is proposing building a new "express car wash" on Clairmont Road not far from Peachtree DeKalb Airport.  The new car wash would open in place of two existing structures, one a vacant gas station and convenience store, the other a nightlife establishment.  Oliver Pryor of TOP Capital, LLC is behind the proposal.  According to his LinkedIn profile, Pryor's current job [TOP Capital], which he's been at since May 2013, is  "Investments, Express Car Washes, Real Estate Development."

The proposed roughly 3,400 square foot car wash would occupy a nearly one acre prime parcel at the corner of Clairmont Road and Dresden Drive.  The car wash, as planned, would redevelop the former Hess turned Citgo gas station (3631 Clairmont Road) and the current Cephora Lounge (3649 Clairmont Road).  It's unclear which address the new business will adopt.  

The property is already zoned CC (Commercial Corridor District) but the developer is seeking eight (8) variances and one (1) waiver from the City of Chamblee.   

Among the variances being sought are:

1) Variance to not treat each architectural façade facing a street as a primary façade.

2) Variance to allow a service entrance (carwash exit) to be oriented towards a public street.

3)  Variance to not provide a primary pedestrian entrance along Dresden Drive.

4) Variance to not provide a primary pedestrian entrance along Dresden Drive that is directly accessible and visible from the sidewalk of Dresden Drive.

A complete list of all requested variances and the waiver can be found here. 

A Chamblee City Council work session (public hearing) is due to hear the requests October 15, followed by the City Council meeting on October 20.  

There is seemingly a renewed interest in car wash development with several either new or upcoming car wash developments across metro Atlanta.  Caliber Car Wash for instance, in June opened their first Atlanta area facility in Mableton and has three more planned for metro Atlanta in the months to come.  Among the known upcoming locations is one under construction at 2764 Chamblee Tucker Road, adjacent to a former QuikTrip turned McDonald's.  

If the TOP Capital car wash is approved, it would mark the third significant redevelopment in the area following Stein Development's Space Shop Self Storage at 3693 Clairmont Road which opened in 2018, and RaceTrac's new fuel center and convenience store at 3630 Clairmont Road which opened in 2017. 

The new car wash would also open alongside what is likely to be the new home of the DeKalb County tag office.  The Chamblee City Council in July approved [with conditions] plans for the tag office to relocate from 1358 Dresden Drive to 3653 Clairmont Road.  The new site, formerly home of Norman's Electronics, would be transferred to the county in a "land swap" whereby Connolly Development would get the Dresden site to complete their planned "Dresden Village" mixed-use development.  

Are you a local resident in favor of this redevelopment?  If not, what would you like to see built on these parcels?  What other types of businesses would you like to see open in the area?

Please share your thoughts below.