Buckhead: Affordable Housing Breaks Ground, BeltLine Hits 17 Miles

Hello, Buckhead! Affordable housing is coming to southern Buckhead's MARTA corridor, the Atlanta BeltLine just crossed a milestone that's been years in the making, and a Juneteenth celebration at the Atlanta History Center anchors one of the busiest weekends of the summer. There's plenty to dig into below.

- News — Affordable rentals near MARTA are breaking ground in southern Buckhead, the BeltLine just hit 17 connected miles, and the Fulton Commission chair race is heating up over a tax extension debate that could hit your property bill.
- Business — Swiss watchmaker Audemars Piguet has arrived in Buckhead with its first Atlanta AP House — a membership-style boutique where trying on a $50,000 Royal Oak is apparently part of the experience.
- Events — A free Juneteenth celebration at the Atlanta History Center anchors the week, with Les Claypool at Chastain Park, World Cup watch parties, and a full Father's Day restaurant lineup rounding out the weekend.
- Government — City Council committees advanced the FY2027 budget, a major affordable housing trust fund, and a $7.86 million land buy for forest preservation — plus a Chastain Park gym funding fix and a Peachtree Street blight tax are heading to a full council vote Monday.
- Construction — Interior demo at 3402 Piedmont hints at a tenant changeover, Peachtree Road is getting resurfaced through the heart of Buckhead, and residents filed 21 pothole complaints and 11 traffic signal repair requests this week.

Let's dive in.

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NEWS

Beltline: Affordable Buckhead rentals near MARTA set to break ground
A transit-oriented, mixed-use development designed to bring affordable rental housing to southern Buckhead is preparing to break ground — and its location, steps from a MARTA rail station and the future Atlanta BeltLine trail, makes it one of the more thoughtfully sited projects in recent memory. Lindbergh, Brookwood Hills, and Peachtree Hills residents should pay attention: this one could meaningfully expand walkability and housing options in your backyard.

Atlanta's tax extension plan becomes issue in Fulton Commission chair runoff
The debate over Atlanta's proposed tax extensions has found a new arena: the Fulton County Commission chair runoff. Homeowners will want to track this race closely, as the outcome could have real consequences for local property taxes and how infrastructure gets funded across the county.

World Cup Atlanta: Additional watch parties in metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta's historic World Cup summer just keeps getting more festive, with local organizers announcing additional community watch parties across the area. If your couch is starting to feel too small for the occasion, this is your guide to finding the crowd.

The Atlanta Beltline now has nearly 17 miles of connected trails
This is the kind of milestone worth stopping to appreciate: the completion of a new Southside trail segment has stitched together 17 continuous miles of BeltLine, finally linking the Eastside and Westside trails into one unbroken route. While a good distance from us, those near our portion of the trail that want to go for an ambitious adventure around almost the whole city can now do so.

BUSINESS

Audemars Piguet - opening - The Swiss watchmaker behind the Royal Oak has arrived in Buckhead with its first Atlanta AP House, a membership-style, apartment-format boutique that's less "glass case and hard sell" and more "come in, sit down, and try on a $50,000 timepiece at your leisure".

EVENTS | Presented by

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Monday, June 15
- Junior TreeKeeper Chastain Park Camp 2026 | Chastain Park

Tuesday, June 16
- T. Cole Jones | Atlanta History Center
- Comedy Bang! Bang! | The Buckhead Theatre
- Mahjong & Mingles at St. Julep Rooftop | St. Julep
- Christian Professionals June Networking Social | Buckhead Club
- Young Writers Summer Studio | Wild Aster Books

Wednesday, June 17
- John Cameron Mitchell | The Buckhead Theatre
- Sincerely Divorced | The Punchline
- Ladies Night | Johnny's Hideaway

Thursday, June 18
- Greet the Sheep and Goats | Atlanta History Center
- Sushi Making Class & Omakase Dinner at O by Brush | Buckhead Village District
- T.J. Miller | The Punchline
- JINJER Duel North America 2026 | Buckhead Theatre
- Under Pressure Pop-up at Brush Sushi | Buckhead Village District
- Levi Ransom | The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill Buckhead
- CBF26 Sparkles Peachtree Hills Trip | Peachtree Hills Recreation Center

Friday, June 19
- Juneteenth 2026 | Free with RSVP | Atlanta History Center
- Summer Fridays | Buckhead Village District

Saturday, June 20
- Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade | Chastain Park
- Atlanta Memorial Park Soccer Watch Party | Atlanta Memorial Park
- Whiskey Washback Atlanta | Kimpton Sylvan Hotel
- Saturday Vinyasa Yoga Classes with Highland Yoga | Buckhead Village
- The Kevin Langue Show Live | Buckhead Theatre
- Queer Book Bedazzling | All The Tropes

Sunday, June 21
- Father's Day BBQ, Bourbon & Match Day Social at The Betty | Kimpton Sylvan Atlanta - Buckhead
- Father's Day at Local Three | Local Three Kitchen & Bar
- Father's Day at The Southern Gentleman | Buckhead Village District
- The Art of Hatmaking – Father's Day Special | Buckhead Village District
- Me & Halo: For The Fathers Live | Buckhead Theatre
- Basque in the Sun at Gypsy Kitchen | Buckhead Village District
- West Elm Wedding Registry Event | west elm

GOVERNMENT

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

Past Week Roundup

Atlanta City Council — Finance/Executive Committee

The committee's biggest move was recommending approval of the City of Atlanta's Fiscal Year 2027 budget and setting the corresponding property tax millage rates — a foundational decision that determines how much residents pay and what services they receive in the coming year. Equally significant, the committee unanimously backed the Atlanta Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative (NRI) Trust Fund, a sweeping economic development framework that extends the life of select Tax Allocation Districts and channels funding into affordable housing, community stabilization, and small business preservation. On the development front, a multi-property annexation on Woodland Avenue NE was approved, expanding Atlanta's city limits and school district boundaries, while proposed annexations near the Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam and on Glynn Drive SE were held in committee for further review. The committee also forwarded — without a formal recommendation — a new consumer protection ordinance for parking garages that would require fee transparency, accessible payment options, and a dispute resolution process. On the spending side, a proposed $2.29 million water tank services contract with Davis Water Service was officially killed, while a $30,000 donation was approved, splitting funds between the Atlanta Fire Rescue Foundation and the Diaspora District. A $75,000 grant to HouseProud Atlanta, which funds free home repairs for senior homeowners, was held in committee pending further review.

Atlanta City Council — Transportation Committee

Pedestrian safety took center stage as the committee unanimously approved new legislation requiring the Atlanta Department of Transportation to establish mandatory temporary pedestrian routes whenever construction or excavation blocks an existing sidewalk — a change that affects anyone walking near an active job site. The committee also approved a ban on commercial cut-through truck traffic in the Cabbagetown Landmark District and secured residential-only parking restrictions on Lakeview Avenue NE, both direct responses to quality-of-life concerns raised by nearby residents. On the infrastructure funding side, the committee approved more than $9.3 million in street resurfacing resources, combining a $6 million GDOT grant with a $3.27 million contract with Blount Construction Company. The airport also received a massive injection of capital, with over $310 million approved across several Hartsfield-Jackson contracts covering construction management, the Skytrain modernization program, and program management support. Two high-profile projects remained stalled: a $3.6 million corridor improvement plan for Peachtree Street and a proposal to install dedicated bicycle and vehicle lanes along the Atlanta BeltLine were both held in committee for further review.

Atlanta City Council — Community Development/Human Services Committee

The committee's headline decision was a unanimous vote to authorize the city's purchase of nearly 30 acres on Randall Mill Road NW for $7.86 million, permanently protecting the land as forested open space using the Tree Trust Fund and Park Millage Fund — a major win for green space preservation. The committee also voted 7-0 to update Atlanta's Comprehensive Development Plan with four new neighborhood master plans, including the Peachtree Park Neighborhood Plan, the Edgewood Comprehensive Neighborhood Plan, the BeltLine Subarea 8 Master Plan, and the Collier Road Multimodal Study, all of which guide future land use and infrastructure decisions in those corridors. On the blight front, a resolution to impose a tax penalty on the owners of a neglected Midtown commercial property was approved, sending a signal that the city intends to use financial pressure to push blighted properties toward improvement or redevelopment. The committee also accepted a land donation of more than 122,000 square feet from the Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority for future affordable and mixed-income housing in the Mechanicsville neighborhood. Several contested rezoning requests — including those along Logan Circle and Chattahoochee Avenue — were held for a future public hearing, while proposed short-term rental regulations, including a new permitting office and registry, were deferred at the sponsor's request.

Atlanta City Council — City Utilities Committee

The committee approved several infrastructure contracts, including a $822,567 change order extending the Greensferry Stream and Floodplain Restoration project by 280 days, and a nine-month, up-to-$2 million extension with Salmons Dredging Corporation for on-call diving services — work that keeps the city's water system maintained and safe. A month-to-month software support contract for the city's solid waste billing platform was also extended for up to 12 months at a cost not to exceed $364,000, keeping billing operations running while longer-term solutions are evaluated. Most consequentially for residents, a proposed ordinance to adjust solid waste taxes, assessments, and service fees was held in committee to allow for a public hearing, giving Atlantans a chance to weigh in before any rate changes take effect. A separate proposal to restore green infrastructure and stormwater retention requirements that were stripped from city code in 2020 was also held for further review — an item with real implications for how the city manages runoff and flooding. A new ordinance authorizing the purchase of 12 parcels for a constructed wetlands project, priced at nearly $1.9 million, received its first reading but has not yet come to a vote.

Atlanta City Council — Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee

The committee's most notable action was unanimously approving a $3.5 million contract amendment with Axon Enterprise to equip the Atlanta Police Department with a counter-drone system capable of detecting, tracking, and mitigating unauthorized drone activity citywide — a technology investment that reflects growing concerns about drone use near public events and sensitive facilities. The committee also unanimously approved a $500,000 settlement in a pending Fulton County State Court lawsuit and signed off on more than $50,000 in approved property damage and bodily injury claims against the city from various incidents. On community policy, a resolution directing the Atlanta City Detention Center to explore options for reducing the detention of low-level, non-violent misdemeanor offenders was approved, with the stated goals of easing jail overcrowding and reserving detention space for more serious cases. A proposed 180-day moratorium on new alcohol license applications in the Edgewood Corridor was held at the sponsor's request, with a scheduled return on June 15, and a proposal to lease space for a new APD Zone 6 precinct was also deferred to that same date.

Atlanta City Council — Zoning Committee

The committee's agenda was dominated by large-scale industrial-to-residential conversion proposals that reflect a citywide push to redevelop older warehouse and manufacturing sites into mixed-use neighborhoods. Among the most significant cases were a proposal to rezone a 12.5-acre industrial tract near the BeltLine on White Street to high-density mixed residential and commercial use, and a separate proposal to convert 8.5 acres on Ellsworth Industrial Boulevard in the Upper Westside from heavy industrial to mixed residential and commercial — both of which could bring substantial new housing and retail to those corridors. A contested rezoning along Sylvan Road and Cox Avenue, where city staff and the Zoning Review Board recommended denial despite a local neighborhood approval, was among the more divisive cases on the docket. The committee also took up a citywide text amendment that would impose a special use permit requirement and buffer zones for state-licensed medical cannabis dispensaries. Special use permits for a private club and an outdoor dining establishment within 1,000 feet of residential homes were also on the agenda. Because minutes are available, these items were taken up as scheduled — though the committee's specific votes on individual cases were not detailed in available records beyond what the agenda indicated.

Fulton County Board of Commissioners — Special Called Meeting

The Fulton County Board of Commissioners convened a Special Called Meeting on June 9, 2026, with a single substantive agenda item: a discussion of the county's Service Delivery Strategy (SDS), a state-mandated agreement that governs how Fulton County and its cities — including Atlanta, Sandy Springs, and Alpharetta — divide responsibility and funding for services like water, sewer, fire protection, police, and parks. These negotiations matter directly to property owners because the SDS is designed to prevent residents from being taxed twice for the same service by different jurisdictions, and how costs are allocated can influence future tax rates and service levels. Because no minutes have been posted for this meeting, it is not yet confirmed what, if anything, was decided — the discussion may have been preliminary, and formal action could follow at a later session. Residents with a stake in how county services are funded and how Fulton balances responsibilities with its municipalities should watch for follow-up action in the coming weeks.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

Atlanta City Council — Community Development/Human Services Committee
- 3800 & 3910 Randall Mill Rd NW — The city approved the acquisition of nearly 30 acres across these two parcels (and adjacent lots) for $7,856,051.93, permanently protecting the land as forested open space through the Tree Trust Fund.
- Chastain Park Gym — The committee approved an amendment to the funding source for a $4.5 million donation earmarked to construct a new community gym at Chastain Park.

Atlanta City Council — City Utilities Committee
- 2428 Oldfield Rd NW — A request for a waiver to build a structure's lowest floor two feet above base flood elevation — bypassing standard floodplain protections — was held in committee and has remained without action since February.

Atlanta City Council — Zoning Committee
- 2745 Ridgewood Rd NW — A certificate under the Metropolitan River Protection Act was on the agenda to allow construction of a new single-family dwelling on this 1.88-acre property.
- 2525 Piedmont Rd NE — A sign ordinance waiver was on the agenda to allow this commercial property to exceed the permitted number of wall and building signs on its corner lot.
- 1950 W Paces Ferry Rd NW & 2518 W Wesley Rd NW — A rezoning from R-1 (single-family) to PD-H (Planned Development Housing) was on the agenda to allow a custom residential subdivision across these two properties.

Meetings This Week
- Atlanta City Council — Committee on Council — Monday, June 15, 2026 at 11:30 AM. The committee is scheduled to consider a resolution requesting certified law enforcement officers be stationed at all city recreation centers used as polling sites during major elections, along with proposed changes to public comment procedures at council meetings. Also on the agenda are appointments to the BeltLine TAD Advisory Committee, the Atlanta Citizen Review Board, and the city's Housing Commission.
- Atlanta City Council — Monday, June 15, 2026 at 1:00 PM. The full council is scheduled to vote on the city's Fiscal Year 2027 budget and new property tax rates, a proposed $7.85 million acquisition of nearly 30 acres at 3800 and 3910 Randall Mill Road NW for permanent forest preservation, and an ordinance that would require mandatory pedestrian detours whenever sidewalks are blocked by construction. Also on the agenda: a proposed rezoning of 13.87 acres on Sylvan Road and Cox Avenue from light industrial to mixed residential-commercial, a blight tax resolution targeting 1155 Peachtree Street NE, and a funding correction for the city's $4.5 million contribution toward a new gymnasium at Chastain Park.
- Fulton County Board of Commissioners — Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at 10:00 AM. Commissioners are scheduled to consider an $8.96 million election staffing contract for the second half of 2026, grants to convert 66 downtown market-rate apartments to affordable housing and fund a new 20-unit affordable development in English Avenue, and a $1.78 million cybersecurity contract to upgrade the county's firewall infrastructure. The board will also receive a progress update on the countywide rollout of smart water meters.

CONSTRUCTION

Permits

- 3402 Piedmont Rd NE — Interior demolition permit accepted for a space converting away from its previous restaurant/assembly use. Watch this one; a tenant changeover at this address could signal a new concept coming to that corridor.
- 3445 Peachtree Rd NE — An interior office suite alteration is working through review, with selective demolition and reconfiguration of occupied space. Two supporting permits (plumbing and HVAC, both already issued) suggest the buildout is moving in phases.
- 2580 Piedmont Rd NE — Plumbing permit issued to reinstall fixtures in both restrooms — the kind of behind-the-scenes work that usually means a refresh or reopening is in progress.
- 2300 Peachtree Rd NW — New exhaust fans and updated air distribution permitted at this commercial address. Routine on its face, but HVAC upgrades often precede a renovation or new tenant fit-out.
- 2020 Peachtree Rd NW — Mechanical work pending for fan coil units, ductwork, and piping. Another address worth watching if you're tracking what's changing along upper Peachtree.

Beyond the headliners, the broader permit picture is steady-state Buckhead: 28 residential HVAC pulls, 17 electrical permits, 11 plumbing jobs, and 21 arborist permits for dead or hazardous trees — that last number is worth noting as summer storm season ramps up.

Road Work

Under Construction
- I-75 Lighting Upgrade (Fulton County) — GDOT is swapping out aging high-pressure sodium fixtures for LED lighting along I-75 between Musket Ridge Drive and I-85, a 1.7-mile stretch running close to Buckhead's western edge. No lane closures are guaranteed, but expect periodic nighttime work activity in the corridor.
- SR 400 Tunnel Rehabilitation at the Justin C. Martin Building (Fulton County) — Active repair work is underway on the SR 400 tunnel just under two miles from Buckhead. The scope includes spall repair on transfer beams and roof slabs, fire system repairs, and structural upgrades. If SR 400 is part of your daily routine, stay alert for shifting lane patterns near this work zone.
- SR 9 Resurfacing from SR 3 to North of Paces Ferry Road (Fulton County) — Peachtree Road (SR 9) is getting a fresh layer of asphalt as part of a GDOT maintenance push to bring up its pavement condition score. This corridor runs directly through the heart of Buckhead, so expect intermittent lane restrictions and flagging operations, likely during overnight hours. If you travel SR 9 regularly between Paces Ferry Road and downtown, build in a few extra minutes until the work wraps.

Pre-Construction
- SR 9/SR 237/Habersham Road Intersection Study (Fulton County) — A scoping study is underway for operational improvements at three interconnected intersections: Piedmont Road at Roswell Road, Piedmont Road at Habersham Road, and Roswell Road at Habersham Road. If you navigate this triangle regularly, expect eventual signal or turn-lane changes once the study shapes into a funded design.
- SR 141 Connector: Lenox Road Streetscape & Trail — Phase III (Fulton County) — Streetscape upgrades and a shared-use path are planned along Lenox Road between Piedmont Road and Phipps Boulevard, connecting residential, office, and commercial destinations. Pedestrian and cyclist access through the Lenox corridor will improve significantly once this gets underway.
- I-75 NB Ramps at Moores Mill Road — Roundabout (Fulton County) — A two-lane roundabout is planned at the I-75 northbound ramps and Moores Mill Road, designed to smooth out eastbound merging and turning movements. This one will reshape how drivers exit and enter I-75 near the Moores Mill area, so worth keeping an eye on as it moves toward construction.
- SR 400 Atlanta Financial Center Tunnel — LED Lighting Upgrade (Fulton County) — Lighting replacement is planned inside the tunnel on SR 400. A straightforward maintenance project, but expect possible lane restrictions during installation once work begins.
- SR 9/US 19 Bridge Replacement over CSX Railroad (Fulton County) — The existing Peachtree Road bridge over the CSX rail line is slated for full replacement. With three inside lanes and two outside lanes in the current typical section, this is a significant structure — and when construction does kick off, Peachtree Road traffic will feel it.
- SR 3 at West Paces Ferry Road — Lane Restriping (Fulton County) — Restriping is planned on Northside Parkway to add dual left-turn lanes in both directions, plus two eastbound through lanes under the I-75 overpass. A relatively low-disruption fix that should meaningfully reduce backup at this busy interchange.

Service Requests

Buckhead residents filed 45 service requests this week, with road and signal issues leading the way.

- Potholes — 21 reports filed across the area, with repeated hits on Northside Dr NW (3 reports), Paces Ferry Rd at Paces Pl, and Buckingham Cir NW. Additional locations include Mathieson Dr NE, Raintree Ln NW, and a dozen more scattered throughout the neighborhood.
- Traffic Signal Repairs — 11 non-emergency signal repair requests on Old Ivy Rd NE at Wieuca Rd NE, Northside Pkwy NW, Northside Pkwy NW at Rilman Rd NW, Lindbergh Dr at Piedmont Rd, and five other intersections. Two emergency-level signal issues were also reported at Shadowlawn Ave at Peachtree Rd and Old Ivy Rd.
- Litter Removal — Four right-of-way litter complaints on Roswell Rd NE (two reports), Roanoke Ave at Shenandoah Ave, and Sidney Marcus Blvd at Buford Hwy.
- Overgrowth — Visibility and overgrowth issues flagged at Oak Valley Rd NE at Prichard Way NE, Morosgo Dr at Adina Dr, and Alden Ave at Deering Rd.
- Downed Trees — Three trees reported down on Pharr Rd NE, Lindbergh Dr NE, and Darlington Cir NE.
- Sign Repair — One sign repair request on Peachtree Battle Ave NW.