‘This is our alarm clock’: Neighbors frustrated by construction blasting

Homeowners say the blasting sometimes started as early as 7 a.m. and, at one point, was even happening on Sundays.

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By Ashli Lincoln

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Residents in a DeKalb County neighborhood say powerful explosions tied to a massive warehouse development have been rattling their homes for weeks and leaving them worried about potential damage.

Homeowners living near a construction site along Stonecrest Industrial Parkway told Channel 2 investigative reporter Ashli Lincoln that they can hear and feel blasts from the project almost every day.

“It’s not thunder,” residents say.

“We’ve got explosive detonation right here in our backyard,” homeowner Montoya Turner said.

Neighbors say the blasting has been ongoing for nearly a month as crews clear land for the proposed Swift Creek Logistics Center, a 1.9-million-square-foot warehouse development by IDI Logistics.

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“You’ll hear the glasses and windows shake,” Turner said.

Residents on the unincorporated DeKalb County side of the development say they had no warning the blasting would become part of their daily lives.

“We had no knowledge,” said homeowner Kim James.

The project was approved by the City of Stonecrest, but nearby residents say they didn’t learn about the development until after approvals had already been granted.

“We saw surveyors a few years ago, and we actually tried to ask them, ‘Hey, what’s going on?’ Silence,” James said.

Now some homeowners say they’re seeing signs they believe could be linked to the blasting, including cracks in walls and uneven floors.

“All of a sudden, you feel the lumps,” James said.

Residents also worry about what the project could mean for their property values.

“What are they doing to protect us?” Turner asked.

The Deshong Estates HOA says there is little it can do to stop the project, but wants local leaders and the developer to create a home-protection plan for nearby residents.

“Can we get some government officials to help protect us and our homes and determine how much damage is being done?” Turner said.

The City of Stonecrest says it has not received any official complaints related to property damage.

The developer has not responded to requests for comment.

Residents say the land-clearing effort has also displaced wildlife, leading to an increase in raccoons and opossums in their neighborhood.