Presented by Rally Built Homes

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Hey, Buckhead! This week: the Atlanta City Council approved a $68 million sale of the city detention center to Fulton County on an 8-7 vote, after a procedural scramble you'll want to read about. We've also got a townhome project near Phipps Plaza closing in on a sellout, a 391-unit Lenox apartment tower changing hands, and a Halloween weekend packed with rooftop parties, a Chastain Park glow-up and Buckhead Theatre shows.

- News — Beyond the jail sale vote, you'll find where Zoning 2.0 stands after a council work session with no action taken, the rooftop scene at The Tess, the last few townhomes at Belvedere on Peachtree near Phipps Plaza, and ORIX's purchase of the AMLI Lenox tower, soon to be Akari Buckhead.
- Events — Mahjong and Phipps Plaza's inaugural Boo Bash kick things off, then Halloween rooftop parties, Glow Chastain, and Buckhead Theatre shows from Adam Ray and Brandy Clark take over, with Wellness Week(end) running Oct. 30–Nov. 1.
- Government — Fulton commissioners trimmed the North Point Mall TAD language and approved a three-month bridge for senior rides, while this week's Atlanta City Council committees take up zoning, a Habersham and Valley roundabout, and more.
- Construction — Permits show a five-phase medical office expansion on Howell Mill and Lenox office turnover, GDOT has SR 400 tunnel repairs on its list, and the Moores Mill Road bridge closed October 20th after a vehicle strike.

Let's dive in.

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Atlanta City Council votes to sell detention center to Fulton County for $68 million
The Atlanta City Council approved the $68 million sale of the Atlanta City Detention Center to Fulton County following an 8-7 vote. The transaction transfers the downtown municipal detention facility to county control to help ease long-standing overcrowding across the county jail system.

Atlanta City Council reviews proposed Zoning 2.0 rewrite during work session
The Atlanta City Council reviewed the ongoing comprehensive Zoning 2.0 overhaul during a briefing with the Department of City Planning, Atlanta Housing, and external zoning consultants. The session examined potential adjustments to commercial and residential zoning frameworks across the city, though no formal legislative action was taken.

This Atlanta hotel offers a rooftop restaurant, live music, and chic rooms in Buckhead
The Tess, formerly The Thompson Atlanta-Buckhead and now part of Marriott's Autograph Collection, is home to Tesserae, a rooftop restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with skyline views. Tesserae has live jazz on Wednesday evenings and a DJ on Friday and Saturday nights.

Infill Buckhead project near Phipps Plaza sniffs sellout, at last
Five of the 20 townhomes at Belvedere on Peachtree, at 3667 Peachtree Road NE about two blocks from Phipps Plaza, remain unsold, and two listed without contracts are asking $900,000 each. The three-story, three-bedroom units are just shy of 2,500 square feet, and Windsor Residential Group is in the final stages of construction after the first units took shape in 2017.

ORIX Acquires Buckhead Apartments for $83M
ORIX Corporation used an $83 million New York Life loan to finance its purchase of AMLI Lenox, a 24-story, 391-unit tower at 3478 Lakeside Dr. NE completed in 2020, from AMLI Residential. The property was 96% occupied at the time of financing and will be renamed Akari Buckhead.

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Tuesday, October 27
- Bam in Buckhead: Tuesday Mahjong at Gypsy Kitchen | Livable Buckhead Events
- Buckhead CID - Monthly Meeting | Buckhead Council of Neighborhoods
- John Mark Comer: Into the Quiet Experience: Atlanta | Peachtree Presbyterian Church
- NPU-B Monthly Zoning Committee Meeting | Garden Hills Neighborhood Association
- Skilla Baby | The Buckhead Theatre

Wednesday, October 28
- Phipps Plaza Hosts Inaugural Boo Bash | The Green at Phipps Plaza
- Adam Ray | Buckhead Theatre

Thursday, October 29
- Boone’s Halloween Party | Boone’s
- Sip & Spin at Brush Sushi | Buckhead Village District
- Amigas & Agave | Local Three Kitchen & Bar
- Brandy Clark | Buckhead Theatre

Friday, October 30
- Steve Lacy: Oh yeah? Tour | 4469 Stella Drive
- We Are ILL’s Wellness Week(end) (Oct. 30–Nov. 1) | JW Marriott Atlanta Buckhead
- Glow Chastain | Chastain Park
- KC Bruner | Buckhead Theatre

Saturday, October 31
- Elevated Spirits: Rooftop Mixology Class | Kimpton Sylvan Atlanta - Buckhead
- The Art of Hatmaking | Buckhead Village District
- Saturday Vinyasa Yoga Classes with Highland Yoga | Buckhead Village
- Uptown Market ATL: Battle of the Generations Silent Disco (3 Live DJs) | The Lawn at Uptown
- Haunted Rooftop | Atlanta Halloween Party | Rose & Rye | Hotel Colee
- Gypsy Kitchen: Velvet Residence Halloween Soirée (Oct. 31–Nov. 1) | Buckhead Village District

Sunday, November 1
- Dan Locklair, Requiem | The Cathedral of St. Philip
- Todd Patrick: Wine Tasting with Amari Carter | Buckhead Village District
- Brush: Dessert Omakase | Buckhead Village District

Neil Hediger Real Estate combines more than 35 years of living in Atlanta with 23+ years of real estate experience and a deep background in marketing. As an Atlanta Board Top Producer, Neil knows Atlanta — its neighborhoods, its properties and the nuances that can make the difference in a successful sale or purchase. He brings creative strategy, seasoned guidance and a highly personal approach to every client. Whether you’re buying or selling, contact Neil Hediger today to put that experience to work for you.

Note: our information comes from posted meetings documents (agendas and minutes when available) — latest source document hyperlinked to each meeting.

Past Week Roundup

Fulton County Board of Commissioners
Fulton commissioners approved the county's participation in Alpharetta's North Point Mall tax allocation district on a 6-0 vote, but only after cutting language that would have let the money go toward buying real estate. Two proposals from Commissioner Dana Barrett failed, one to lift the 5% cap on department budget requests for 2027 and one urging action against corporate takeovers of physician practices. Commissioners held a proposed $9.59 million, 12-month senior transportation contract extension with Transdev. Instead, they approved a three-month, $1.06 million bridge contract with Common Courtesy, so riders age 60 and older keep their ride-sharing service through March 2027. The board also approved $3 million in standby water system construction contracts, split between two firms, and a batch of utility easements that clear the way for new housing and commercial projects in North Fulton.

Atlanta Public Schools
The Policy Review Committee met and discussed a new policy on how students and teachers can use artificial intelligence in classrooms, along with the draft 2027 legislative priorities the board will bring to state lawmakers. Members took no votes, so nothing changes in your child's school yet. Both items must go back to the full board before they take effect. A second board meeting the same day, listed as a budget session, has a posted record showing only a standard agenda outline and no recorded decisions. Minutes for that one aren't published yet, so check back for any word on school finances.

Atlanta City Council
As covered in today's news section, the council took up the sale of the city detention center to Fulton County. Its full meeting agenda also included a $2 million federal grant for Centennial Yards street improvements, a ban on septic tanks for new commercial projects, and legislation requiring data centers to switch to closed-loop cooling instead of using city drinking water. Water customers also had a stake in an ordinance that would create credits and appeal protections for sudden, unexplained bill spikes. Council members also had a long list of zoning requests in front of them, and the agenda included a plan to buy land to expand the Memorial Drive Greenway. Before that, the Committee on Council had on its agenda a request for certified police officers at recreation centers used as polling places, competing changes to public comment sign-up rules, an outside legal review of city dealings with Foris Webb, III, and a charter amendment requiring every bill to name a council sponsor. The agenda for both meetings is posted but minutes aren't yet, so outcomes beyond what's covered in the news section aren't confirmed.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

Atlanta City Council
- 340 E Paces Ferry Rd NE — A Special Use Permit application is being proposed to authorize the operation of a commercial recreation facility on a 1.595-acre site in Buckhead Village.

Meetings This Week
- Atlanta City Council — Zoning Committee | Oct-26, 11:00 AM | key topics: self-storage development moratorium extension, zoning code modernization, and BeltLine mixed-use rezonings
- Atlanta City Council — Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee | Oct-26, 1:00 PM | key topics: anonymous code enforcement complaint protections, E911 network modernization contract, and package alcohol distance waivers
- Atlanta City Council — City Utilities Committee | Oct-27, 10:00 AM | key topics: commercial septic tank prohibition, water distribution system rehabilitation, and storm sewer upgrades
- Atlanta City Council — Community Development/Human Services Committee | Oct-27, 1:30 PM | key topics: BeltLine Tax Allocation District funding reallocation, HUD grant funding acceptance, and tree fee waivers
- Atlanta City Council — Transportation Committee | Oct-28, 10:00 AM | key topics: Habersham Road and Valley Road roundabout agreement, airport runway improvements, and street repaving contracts
- Atlanta City Council — Finance/Executive Committee | Oct-28, 1:30 PM | key topics: Glynn Drive annexation and school district expansion, urban tree canopy contract, and youth development grants

CONSTRUCTION | Presented by

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Permits
- 3193 Howell Mill Rd NW: Five separate alteration permits are in review for a five-phase interior renovation and suite expansion of an existing medical office practice. The practice is growing, and you can expect the work to roll out in stages.
- 3560 Lenox Rd NE: A second-generation tenant build-out is in review for the 12th floor of a 30-story office building. It's a sign that office space here is turning over to new occupants.
- 3333 Piedmont Rd NE: A fire sprinkler permit is issued to relocate 134 sprinkler heads as part of interior renovations. That's a big reshuffle, so a sizable remodel is underway inside.
- 3003 Howell Mill Rd NW: A fire sprinkler permit is issued to add or relocate 24 heads in a renovated commercial space. Another retail or office refresh is moving along.
- 3355 Lenox Rd NE: A small interior remodel is issued for a vacant office space, including selective demolition and a relocated light fixture. It's a modest job, but it could mean a new tenant is on the way.

Road Work

Under Construction
- I-75 from Musket Ridge Drive to I-85 - Lighting — Crews are swapping I-75's old high-pressure sodium lights for LED fixtures from Musket Ridge Drive down to I-85.
- SR 400 at Justin C Martin Building - Tunnel Bridge Rehab — Crews are repairing the SR 400 tunnel under the Justin C. Martin Building, patching concrete in its beams and roof slabs. The work also upgrades the tunnel's fire, electrical and monitoring systems.
- SR 237 at Main Street Mid-Block Crossing & PHB — A mid-block crosswalk with a pedestrian hybrid beacon, a signal drivers must stop for when someone is crossing, is going in on SR 237 at Main Street.
- SR 237 @ Lindbergh Dr & Way Install Signal & Ped Facilities — A new traffic signal and pedestrian crossings are going in on SR 237 (Piedmont Road) at Lindbergh Drive and Lindbergh Way.
- CS 6339/Mt. Paran Road from SR 3 to I-75 — The westbound left-turn lane on Mt. Paran Road is being lengthened to 250 feet. The eastbound acceleration lane is coming out, and the northbound right turn from SR 3 becomes a yield.
- SR 9 from SR 3 to North of Paces Ferry Road — Crews are repaving SR 9 (Peachtree Road) from SR 3 to just north of Paces Ferry Road.
- SR 9 from SR 141 to Abernathy Road — Crews are repaving SR 9 (Roswell Road) from SR 141 north to Abernathy Road.

Utility Work

Atlanta Watershed:
- Bridge Closure on Moores Mill Road Following Heavy Vehicle Strike — The City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management closed the Moores Mill Road bridge October 20th after an incident involving a heavy vehicle strike.

Service Requests
- Potholes: 11 reports, including Peachtree Battle Ave NW, Ardmore Rd NW and Ardmore Ct NW, Sardis Way NE and 3120 Peachtree St NE, Northside Pkwy and E Beechwood Dr NW, and Piedmont Rd NE. Six more spots round out the list.
- Non-Emergency Traffic Signal Repair: 10 reports, including two at Peachtree Rd and Buckhead Ave. Others came in at Harris Trl NW and Mount Paran Rd NW, Northside Dr and W Paces Ferry Rd, SR 237 at Morosgo Dr, and Peachtree Rd and Paces Ferry Rd. Four more locations were also reported.
- Emergency Traffic Signal Repair (Level 1): 3 reports, including two at Piedmont Rd and Peachtree Rd and one at Peachtree Rd and Collier Rd. All three are already closed, so crews moved fast.
- Right of Way Overgrowth and Visibility: 2 reports on Peachtree Rd NE, both flagging growth that blocks sightlines.
- Right of Way Litter Removal: Lenox Rd and Buford Hwy.
- Sign Repair, Replacement, or Installation: Piedmont Rd and Miami Cir.

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Until next week,
Buckhead Busybody

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Disclaimer: We use advanced data retrieval and analysis techniques across hundreds of sources, and may be prone to occasional error. Independently verify information with a secondary source, and please let us know if we got anything wrong via the feedback form.