“If you don’t fight something like this, it gets a foothold
and multiplies”, one person wrote on the Henderson
Hills Nextdoor website in June. Over 200 comments have been posted about
what goes on at a residence near Mercer University Drive on once sleepy
Henderson Mill Road. The tone bears on neighborhood vigilance now that a
notorious housing project—some say “mansion”, became a pay-for-party palace.
Many people now regret not trying to do something about the county construction
permit in the first place, in 1999.
In an area that some people would recognize as the heart of the Lakeside City effort, the Nextdoor website has become the web presence for real time reports of comings and goings at 3016 Henderson Mill Road. Other questions about the players who own and use the property for parties-for-pay. The on-line discussion also alludes to the strange background of the house itself, complete with a murder mystery about the original owner. The house has figuratively been the “gift” that keeps giving after zoning officials permitted an odd “mother-in-law” addition to a 1500 square foot ranch house.
The manipulation of zoning laws represents a Post-2000 era
where “inner ring” suburbs may be subject to significant cultural changes. In
this case, one Mikhail Mallayev, the President of the Bukharian Jewish
Community of Atlanta, having just moved to Atlanta in 1999, bought a 1500
square foot ranch house at 3016 Henderson Mill Road. Another Bukharian held church services across
the road, but those were disbanded by police. Mallayev “added” 7,500 square
feet (sextupled) to the ranch by swallowing the existing home—according to a
neighbor, to accommodate religious gatherings and help immigrating youth settle
into schooling here. According to the current Chairperson for the Board of
Zoning Appeals, such uses are now illegal under current law, unless a special
use permit (SLUP) is granted—and SLUPS consider neighborhood testimony.
The house appeared to be built at as slow a pace that
Mallayev’s finances would allow, as it remained under construction for seven
years. Curious onlookers had plenty of time to study the project, which was
seen to include dormitory-like accommodations, tiny upstairs bedrooms
accompanied by a communal bathroom.
Though the project officially was awarded zoning and construction permits by public officials, at least one DeKalb agency recognizes it as poorly constructed. The DeKalb Board of Equalization has rated it “functionally obsolescent”, lowering its taxable value. A retaining wall remains collapsed into a next door neighbor's back yard and its sewer line is backed up.
Though the project officially was awarded zoning and construction permits by public officials, at least one DeKalb agency recognizes it as poorly constructed. The DeKalb Board of Equalization has rated it “functionally obsolescent”, lowering its taxable value. A retaining wall remains collapsed into a next door neighbor's back yard and its sewer line is backed up.
Curiously, this
Mikhail Mallayev is also presumed to be the same man that became very public in
late 2007, when New York’s media blanketed coverage of a Chamblee, Georgia man
of the same name, described as owner and builder of a “gaudy McMansion” being
tried for murder in Queens. He is currently in jail, reported to be contesting
extradition to Georgia. The murder charges and reports of local investigations for fraud in Georgia are described in these reports:
Church becomes Party
House
“3016” was then bought by a Lawrenceville investor, Humaira
Kahn in 2010 after two years being on the market. DeKalb tax records show that
Khan got a discount price under bankruptcy for just over $430,000 after being
valued at $1.2 million in “better times”. However, as if to carry on Mallayev’s
legacy, it was marketed and purchased as meeting space, not a home. One local
real estate broker, protective of the integrity of the area had confronted the
listing realtor about selling the “home” for purposes other than single family
use. After the building was sold, there wasn’t much evidence that anyone
occupied it.
Apparently, by 2013, Kahn and her husband had found a way to
use the Henderson Mill space. Parties were advertised for “Taj Mahal Mansion”
on at least one entertainment website, Eventbrite.com.
An operator leasing the space charged $40 for an event in December, 2013 for
“meeting the beautiful women of Atlanta” and $20 for an April, 2013 party
billed as “Steppin’ Around Atlanta”. Mr. Kahn confided to me that he had
disagreements with the tenant (over back pay, according to a neighbor) and
threw him out. There then entered a curious party management company called Hut
Nation in January of this year.
Hut Nation and a web of similarly named operations under the
“Hut” name are owned by an Olan Oshiyemi. Hut Spot, Hut Villa and Hut Up registered
with the Georgia Secretary of State on September 11, 2013. Hut Nation is
chartered in Delaware and operates from Portland, Maine. Hut Nation’s website
shows party locations in several states including Georgia. The company offers
“memberships” to homeowners who want to hold revenue generating parties (“Home
Spots”) and commercial establishments (“Hut Spots”). From the Hut Villa
facebook page you can surmise that the venues are available by unique names
such as Hut Mansion, the Henderson Mill house, which has a Chamblee 30341
address.
The larger parties that raised the ire of local residents
recently as events became more obvious, including shuttled parking from Embry
Hills Shopping Center.
One, on June 1 (Facebook link below) spilled
outdoors with cars on neighboring lots was shut down by police. The operator
promised to have no more similar gatherings in the future. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.824905447527392.1073741960.184647814886495&type=3
So, like with Mallayev, “3016” is again at the center of controversy,
by Henderson Mill standards anyway. The police department has confirmed that an
investigation was ongoing as of mid-July (the case was referred to the vice
unit) and DeKalb’s code enforcement department was asked to visit the premises by
zoning officials. It’s difficult to pinpoint who officials would “find” against
in either a nuisance or criminal case due to the separation of responsibility:
owner Khan; the lessee (Hut Spot agent) or Hut Nation Owner Oshyemi.
