Sourced fromĀ Busybody ATL's free "Week in Review" email newsletterĀ that's a summary of its 11 neighborhood editions. Can't post the link per mod rules but Busybody ATL is findable by Googling. Hope you enjoy!
Big Stories
Virginia-Highland Porchfest taking hiatus in 2027, plans 2028 return
Organizers said Porchfest has grown since it started in 2021 and now needs more structure and support to run smoothly and safely. They made the decision after talking with event partners, neighbors, attendees, and participants.
Atlanta City Council votes 8-7 to sell the city detention center to Fulton County for $68 million
The vote came Oct. 19 after an hours-long debate and a procedural dispute over a motion to delay. The target closing date is Dec. 2, and if talks run past that date the city pays $150 per detainee daily.
MARTA's Five Points renovation is delayed and costlier than planned
General Manager and CEO Jonathan Hunt gave council members an "off the top of my head" estimate of a $100 million budget increase. He told the MARTA board that committing to a specific date or price would be premature.
Chamblee office tower comes down in a controlled implosion
The 18-story tower at 1800 Century Boulevard fell at 7:45 a.m. Saturday. It emptied in 2025 when the Georgia Department of Revenue moved its headquarters, and a plan to convert it to apartments was later dropped.
Brookhaven moves ahead with a fire station at Blackburn Park
Council voted 3 to 1 to proceed on a 1.35-acre site. DeKalb County will pay for, build and operate the station under a 50-year, $1-a-year lease, with groundbreaking expected in late 2027.
Georgia Tech and Emory announce a $1.1 billion AI investment
Georgia Tech is contributing $575 million and Emory $600 million. Georgia Tech's Nexus supercomputer in Tech Square will open 90 percent of its capacity to researchers nationwide.
DeKalb voters will decide on the E-SPLOST renewal in November
Approval would create E-SPLOST VII, following E-SPLOST VI, which passed with 81 percent in 2021. The one-cent tax supports DeKalb County School District, Atlanta Public Schools and City Schools of Decatur.
Northlake voters decide on Tucker annexation Nov. 3
The vote on Senate Bill 622 covers the area between Northlake Parkway and LaVista Road, including Avana City North and Providence of Northlake. Early voting ends Oct. 30.
Morehouse and Spelman student housing breaks ground at $147 million
The Den at Eight50 West at 850 West End Ave. will have 305 units and 793 beds, opening for fall 2028. Develop Fulton approved up to $144.5 million in bond funding.
Decatur holds an Oct. 27 meeting on 25 mph speed limits
The meeting runs 6 to 7 p.m. at the Public Works Community Room, 2635 Talley St. The city approved a $150,000 contract with Toole Design Group in April for the study.
Virginia-Highland's So. Fox earns a Michelin star
The restaurant, from the owners of Kinship Butcher & Sundry, was honored in the 2026 Guide to the American South.
Business openings, closings, and "watch this space" items
Moondog Pub & Grub closes after Oct. 30
Owners Tommy and Felicia Burda cited financial challenges. The pub is at 5077 Peachtree Road.
CHOPT closes at Brookhaven Station
The salad chain's restaurant at 4058 Peachtree Road closed Oct. 25 after opening in February 2024. No official reason was given, and six metro locations remain.
Brasiliana Pizza heads to The Beacon in Grant Park
Construction began this month on a 2,500-square-foot restaurant at 1039 Grant St SE #100. The owners hope to open in February 2027.
JuNi opens for omakase at The Juniper
Circle Sushi founder Yukihiko "Yuki" Tanaka's restaurant is at 12th and Juniper streets, with a downstairs donburi menu due at the end of October. Mister O1 Extraordinary Pizza signed a 2,043-square-foot lease at the same building for spring 2027.
Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall opens at Star Metals
The second location at 690 11th Street opened Oct. 21 with 8,000 square feet of outdoor space, free validated parking and a Westside-only menu.
Milk & Maple Coffeehouse opens Nov. 1
The coffeehouse at 730 Ponce de Leon Place NE, inside Chabad Intown, opens at 7 a.m. with a menu certified kosher by the Atlanta Kashruth Commission. It is billed as the BeltLine's first certified kosher cafe.
Little Tart Bakeshop and Midi near debut in Candler Park
Buildouts are nearing completion in the 1600 block of McLendon Avenue for the fourth Little Tart location and its Paris-inspired sister concept, Midi. No date is set, but owner Sarah O'Brien predicts a fall opening.
Krog District owners buy 116 Krog St.
26th Street Partners closed on the nearly 5,400-square-foot building, which fronts the Eastside Trail. The price wasn't disclosed, and no plans have been announced.
Hawks fans get new concourse food and a Centennial Yards store
Bocado Pizza (Section 109) and Irie Mon Caribbean Cafe (Section 219) join State Farm Arena. A year-round Hawks and Fanatics store is planned at Centennial Yards for 2027.
Goodwill opens a GoodBIZ Market in Doraville
The 43,000-square-foot store at 5600 Buford Highway NE opened Oct. 16 as Goodwill of North Georgia's 72nd. The market lets micro-entrepreneurs sell as rotating consigned vendors.
Mariah Carey's Holiday Bar pop-up lands at Pullman Yards
The 21-and-over pop-up launches Nov. 19 at 225 Rogers Street as the Atlanta stop of an eight-city rollout.
Alston & Bird renews at One Atlantic Center
The lease renewal comes as the tower's owner secured new long-term financing.
Other permit-watch items: A coffee shop is under review at 572 Edgewood Ave NE. Interior demolition is issued for a future restaurant at 1010 Spring St NW, and a former Checkers food court space at 231 Peachtree St NE has a cosmetic renovation permit. A 121-unit apartment building is in review at 1280 Chattahoochee Ave NW. EdgeConneX filed to add Data Hall 4 at 1101 Donnelly Ave SW. Three Atlanta Botanical Garden expansion permits at 1425 Piedmont Ave NE await materials.
Upcoming events
Buena Vista Social Club (Oct. 27āNov. 1)
The run is at the Fox Theatre.
Downtown Day 2026
It's Wednesday, Oct. 28, run by Downtown Atlanta Inc.
Invesco QQQ Atlanta Gridiron Classic: Georgia vs. Florida
Kickoff is Saturday, Oct. 31, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Midtown Halloween Block Party (Oct. 30ā31)
It's at Politan Row at Colony Square. The Midtown Halloween Bash follows Saturday.
Glow Chastain
It starts Friday, Oct. 30, at Chastain Park. Phipps Plaza's inaugural Boo Bash is Wednesday, Oct. 28.
Fright Night at Fernbank Museum
It's Friday, Oct. 30.
Fifty Ways to Die at Oakland Cemetery
The tour is Saturday, Oct. 31. DĆa de Muertos follows Sunday, Nov. 1.
Howl-O-Ween Pup Parade & Beltline Crawl
It's Saturday, Oct. 31, on the Eastside Trail.
Doctor Faustus (Oct. 29āNov. 1)
Performances are at Pythagoras Masonic Temple in Decatur.
Halloween in the Highlands
It's Saturday, Oct. 31, in Virginia-Highland. The Candy Crawl runs Wednesday, Oct. 28.
Haunted Heist 2026 (Oct. 30āNov. 1)
It's at The Escape Game at The Interlock.
Miles For Bethany 5K
The race is Saturday, Oct. 31, at Assembly Studios in Chamblee.
Other notable events: Atlanta Hawks vs. Miami Heat is Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 7 p.m. at State Farm Arena, and the Hawks host the Cleveland Cavaliers there Thursday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m. Steve Lacy plays Friday, Oct. 30. Iron and Wine plays The Eastern Wednesday, Oct. 28. Sammy Rae and The Friends play The Eastern Friday, Oct. 30. Scream On The Square is Friday, Oct. 30. Disney's Hocus Pocus in Concert is Friday, Oct. 30. Atlanta United FC vs. Toronto FC is Sunday, Nov. 1. Murder Mystery @ Petit Violette (Oct. 30ā31) runs two nights. Halloween Trap and Paint Party (Oct. 31āNov. 1) runs through Sunday. We Are ILLās Wellness Week(end) (Oct. 30āNov. 1) is at the JW Marriott Atlanta Buckhead. Midnight release party for ACOTAR 6 (Oct. 26ā27) is at Eagle Eye Book Shop. Trick-or-Treat at Ponce City Market is Saturday, Oct. 31. GWAR plays Wednesday, Oct. 28. Southwest Study Group: Murphy Infill Station Kick-Off is Thursday, Oct. 29.
Government
Atlanta City Council committees meet Oct. 26 to 28
Topics include a self-storage moratorium extension, BeltLine rezonings, a commercial septic tank ban and a Habersham and Valley roads roundabout. The Finance/Executive Committee takes up the Glynn Drive annexation hearing on Oct. 28.
Atlanta City Council's Oct. 19 agenda
Beyond the jail sale, it listed a $2 million federal grant for Centennial Yards street design, a data center closed-loop cooling requirement, and protections for sudden water bill spikes. Minutes aren't posted, so outcomes beyond the jail vote aren't confirmed.
Fulton commissioners vote 6-0 to join the North Point Mall TAD
They cut language that would have allowed the money to buy real estate. They also approved a three-month, $1.06 million bridge contract with Common Courtesy for senior rides through March 31, 2027, in place of a $9.59 million Transdev extension.
DeKalb Committee of the Whole moves more than $110 million in contracts
Two multiyear deals worth about $55 million each went to standing committees. Commissioners pulled a $153,800 election-equipment moving contract.
DeKalb Board of Commissioners meets Oct. 27
The 9 a.m. agenda includes acquiring the Snapfinger Road YMCA, rezonings on Gresham and Old Briarcliff roads, and street drifting and public camping rules.
DeKalb non-discrimination ordinance amendment deferred to Nov. 5
The amendment would extend the 2023 ordinance to non-county employment and housing. Committee discussion is set for 9 a.m.
Atlanta Public Schools reviews a draft AI policy
The Policy Review Committee discussed the AI policy and draft 2027 legislative priorities on Oct. 21 without voting. Both must go to the full board.
Chamblee council takes up rezonings and massage ordinance changes
The Oct. 20 agenda covered rezonings along North Shallowford Road and East Johnson Circle and at 5800 Peachtree Rd. It also included a first reading of massage ordinance amendments, though minutes aren't published.
Brookhaven council meets Oct. 27
The 6:30 p.m. agenda includes a Dresden Drive culvert replacement and trail study and Duke Road emergency streambank stabilization.
Permits, construction, and road work
Brookhaven / Chamblee: A $1.68M amenity renovation at 1105 Town Blvd has closed out. SR 13 resurfacing from the Fulton line to Chamblee Tucker Road is under construction, and signal upgrades on Peachtree Industrial Boulevard from Peachtree to New Peachtree are underway.
Buckhead: Five alteration permits are in review at 3193 Howell Mill Rd NW for a five-phase medical office expansion. A 12th-floor build-out is in review at 3560 Lenox Rd NE. SR 400 tunnel rehab is under construction, and a new signal and pedestrian crossings on Piedmont Road at Lindbergh are going in. Crews are also repaving Peachtree Road from SR 3 to north of Paces Ferry Road and lengthening Mt. Paran Road's westbound left-turn lane. The Moores Mill Road bridge over Peachtree Creek closed October 20th after a heavy vehicle strike.
Downtown and Midtown: Permits include a hotel refresh at 210 Peachtree St NW and rooftop solar with battery storage at 229 Auburn Ave NE. Several office build-outs are pending along Peachtree. LED tunnel lighting work is under construction on I-75, and LED lighting on I-85 from I-75 to north of Lenox Road is underway too. Crews are also repaving the Downtown Connector north to the Brookwood Interchange and Ponce de Leon Avenue between Northside Drive and Moreland Avenue.
Decatur, Druid Hills and North Decatur: A tree removal permit at 308 Clairmont Ave requires a red oak replacement. Fire sprinkler permits are issued near Emory at 1365 Clifton Rd NE and 1784 N Decatur Rd NE. SR 236/LaVista Road resurfacing is under construction, and the eastbound through/right-turn lane on North Druid Hills Road at US 78 is being extended about 245 feet.
Memorial Drive, Moreland and Ponce corridors: New mid-block crosswalks and restricted turns are going in along Memorial Drive, and Skyhaven Road is being realigned to meet United Avenue at Moreland Avenue. A new duplex on Crew St SW awaits materials.
VaHi and Morningside: Demolition at 1907 Piedmont Rd NE and a land development permit at 1917 Piedmont Rd NE for a six-story mixed-use building are in review. An electrical permit is issued for the Haunted Fest at Piedmont Park on Oct. 30 and 31.
Southwest Beltline and West Midtown: The SR 14 bridge over the Beltline is being refurbished, and SR 14 is being repaved from Norman Berry Drive to the CSX crossing. The Northside Drive intersections at 14th Street and Hemphill Avenue are being simplified for more flexible signal timing. Two electrical permits are issued for a new duplex on Byewood Ln SW.
