Leslie Robson moved to Chamblee about 30 years ago. Since then she's invested 17 years serving the community as a Chamblee City Councilmember.
Leslie says it was during the planning of Chamblee’s 100th birthday celebration when she decided to volunteer. “I looked at what was happening in Chamblee, and I could tell there was a lot of potential here that wasn’t being used,” she says.
She also says there was something missing. In looking for where people gather to get to know each other, she realized Chamblee didn’t have that because there wasn't an infrastructure for it. "That's when I decided to get on city council," she says.
Leslie says it was like-minded people under the leadership of the previous mayor, Eric Clarkson, looking into what Chamblee needed to become a “livable city,” defined as a community that offers a high quality of life for its residents. “I had an idea in my head about what it was going to look like and how it was going to manifest itself,” Leslie says.
She says that vision started with an initial master plan designed by a friend who was an architect, and while that plan changed over time, Leslie says it sparked them into realizing they needed a common goal. “The whole 17 years I’ve been on council we’ve pulled together for a common goal,” she says. “It gives me chills to think about it.”
Over time the city has experienced a lot of growth. City officials have made great progress with initiatives such as walkability, economic development, and more, and Leslie says there’s still more to come, such as green space and improving the connectivity of the different areas of Chamblee. But like Leslie, area residents are proud of the community.
“I get a lot of joy out of how proud people are,” Leslie says. “The people who live here are proud of Chamblee.”
I get a lot of joy out of how proud people are. Leslie Robson, Chamblee City Councilmember