Buckhead: Elyse Buckhead Breaks Ground on $60M in Presales

Hey Buckhead — big week on the development front. Kolter Urban has broken ground on Elyse Buckhead with $60 million already in presales, while the would-be townhome project at 2855 Piedmont Road is scrapping its plans and starting over. Plus, Ilana Glazer, Kandi Burruss, and Sting are all hitting the neighborhood this week — keep reading for the full rundown.

- News — A luxury tower breaks ground with $60M already sold, a Piedmont Road development hits reset, and a striking $4.5M "livable sculpture" hits the market.
- Business — Doughnuts + Fries near Chastain shuttered after just 11 months, while the new Koshu Club arrives to fill Buckhead's nightlife calendar.
- Events — Time to venture out of the neighborhood for VaHi Pochfest. It's also a stacked week at Buckhead Theatre, and Sting is here Friday at Chastain — plus the neighborhood council meets Thursday.
- Government — The City Council unanimously approved $1.3B in airport bonds and a $52M FIFA grant, while NPU-B and NPU-C took up setback variances, outdoor dining permits, and a key Peachtree Park neighborhood plan adoption.
- Construction — Interior overhauls are underway at two major Peachtree Road addresses, 29 tree removals are logged across the neighborhood, and 25 traffic signal complaints flooded the service request queue this week.

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NEWS

Kolter Urban Officially Breaks Ground on Elyse Buckhead
Buckhead Village's skyline is about to change — Kolter Urban has officially broken ground on Elyse Buckhead, a luxury residential tower that has already racked up more than $60 million in presales before a single floor is built. For neighbors in Peachtree Heights West and beyond, this is one of the clearest signals yet that high-density investment in the neighborhood's core isn't slowing down anytime soon.

Atlanta Fire Responds to Emergency at Peninsula at Buckhead
Emergency crews descended on the Peninsula at Buckhead high-rise along Piedmont Road earlier this week to address an urgent safety situation at the building. It's a reminder that as Buckhead's residential corridors grow taller and denser, fire safety protocols in these towers matter more than ever — something every resident in Lindbergh and Buckhead Forest should keep in mind.

Paused Piedmont Road Development Heads Back to Drawing Board
The .92-acre site at 2855 Piedmont Road was supposed to become a modern townhome project — but after hitting delays, it's back to square one with a potential redesign in the works. Neighbors near Garden Hills and Buckhead Forest will want to keep a close eye on this highly visible parcel, as whatever eventually rises there will shape the look and feel of that stretch for decades.

Newly Built 'Livable Sculpture' in Buckhead Targets $4.5M
A striking new home called "Wingspan" has landed on the market, perched on a wooded acre near Buckhead's core and asking $4.5 million. The project leans hard into architectural ambition — the kind of high-end, custom residential design that has long defined enclaves like Mt. Paran-Northside and Paces, and keeps Buckhead on the map for buyers who want a home that makes a statement.

Atlanta City Council Moves Forward with $10 Billion Neighborhood Reinvestment Plan
The Atlanta City Council has accepted recommendations for a sweeping, multi-billion-dollar reinvestment initiative targeting neighborhood infrastructure and affordable housing across the city. The plan's potential Tax Allocation District extensions have raised some eyebrows, but for neighborhoods, the long-term upside in investment and resources could be substantial.

BUSINESS

Doughnuts + Fries - closing - The specialty doughnut and East Pole Coffee shop near Chastain Park has shuttered after just 11 months, a reminder that even the most lovable concepts don't always get the time they deserve.

Koshu Club - opening - A new upscale cocktail and nightlife destination has arrived in Buckhead, adding another polished option to a neighborhood that's never exactly been hurting for places to be seen.

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EVENTS

Monday, May 11
- BLOODYWOOD "SYSTEM OF A BROWN" TOUR w/ The Pretty Wild, Ladrones & Ankor | Buckhead Theatre
- Trivia Night | Johnny's Hideaway

Tuesday, May 12
- Ilana Glazer Live! | Buckhead Theatre
- Robert D. Bland in conversation with Claire Haley | Atlanta History Center
- Deborah Sacks Mintz: Hadar Atlanta: Rising Song Gathering | Ahavath Achim Synagogue
- Karaoke Hot Hits Sing-along After Braves Game! | Park Bench

Wednesday, May 13
- History on the Rocks: Puttin' on the Ritz | Atlanta History Center
- Kandi Burruss | The Buckhead Theatre
- Josh Courson Rockin' Acoustic Hits! – Following Braves Game | Park Bench

Thursday, May 14
- Buckhead Council of Neighborhoods Monthly Meeting | Buckhead Council of Neighborhoods
- Kyma's 4th Annual Champagne Social | Kyma
- Iration | Buckhead Theatre
- Dueling Pianos – Braves Girls Nite Out! | Park Bench

Friday, May 15
- STING 3.0 Tour | Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park
- Larry Griffith Band | Little Nancy Creek Park
- Member Tour: Cyclorama Tours | Atlanta History Center
- Armistead | Buckhead Theatre
- 90 Proof Pop, Rock & Party Country Favorite Hits | Park Bench

Saturday, May 16
- ⚔️Uptown Market ATL: Battle of the Generations Silent Disco | The Lawn at Uptown
- Sherri Shepherd: Make It Make Sense Tour | Buckhead Theatre
- Saturday Vinyasa Yoga Classes with Highland Yoga | Buckhead Village
- Dueling Pianos – Rockin' Before & After Braves Game | Park Bench

- VaHi Porchfest | Virginia-Highland

Sunday, May 17
- Atlanta Musicians' Orchestra Spring Concert | Ahavath Achim Synagogue
- Jim Breuer: Find The Funny | Buckhead Theatre
- Trailblazers and Horizons | Church at Wieuca
- Solo Piano Show After Braves Game | Park Bench

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

The full Council met May 4 and approved a $1.3 billion bond issuance to fund improvements at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, alongside a $39 million contract with Paschen Millhouse JV to build a new 911 Center — two of the largest single expenditures the city has authorized in recent memory. FIFA World Cup preparations are now officially moving through city government: the Council approved a $52.1 million grant application and temporarily lifted the public drinking ban in select downtown areas from June 11 through July 19, 2026. In a more contentious move, the Council voted 12-1 to order a review of all administrative offices not explicitly required by the City Charter, with the goal of identifying positions that could be cut — Councilmember Kelsea Bond cast the lone dissenting vote. A new Special Event Technical Advisory Group was also created to scrutinize permitting for large events with impacts on Piedmont Park, while a supplemental bond ordinance for water and wastewater sustainability projects was tabled and sent back to the Finance/Executive Committee for further review on May 13. Separately, the Committee on Council advanced appointments to the Beltline Affordable Housing Advisory Board and Beltline TAD Advisory Committee, recommended stationing law enforcement at recreation centers used as polling places, and held — without action — both a proposed charter amendment on legislative sponsorship and a resolution that would have launched an independent investigation into city contracts tied to Foris Webb III.

Fulton County Board of Commissioners

The Board of Commissioners met on May 6, and because minutes have not yet been posted, the following reflects what was scheduled on the agenda — keep in mind that any item may have been approved, tabled, or otherwise not acted upon as listed. The biggest-ticket item was a proposal to issue $325 million in Tax Anticipation Notes to cover General Fund expenses until 2026 tax revenues are collected, with repayment expected by the end of the year. A $28 million contract for the operation and maintenance of wastewater facilities in the North Fulton service area was also on the agenda, alongside a roughly $1.44 million change order to modernize a regional pump station. On the affordable housing front, two grant-funded projects in the English Avenue neighborhood — a 26-unit multifamily development and a cluster of 14 permanently affordable duplexes and single-family homes — were scheduled for consideration. A $1.2 million contract with the Urban League of Greater Atlanta to administer tenant-based rental assistance for low-to-moderate-income households was also up for a vote, while a separate contract award related to a sanitary sewer extension project was slated to be removed from consideration entirely.

Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education

The Atlanta Board of Education held its May 4 regular meeting and passed every major item unanimously at 9-0. Most significantly, the board adopted a tentative $1.6 billion budget for fiscal year 2027 — the first of two required readings before it becomes final — covering general operations, SPLOST capital projects, and school nutrition. The board also cleared outstanding ad valorem taxes, interest, and penalties on 38 property parcels being conveyed to the Metro Atlanta Land Bank, directly supporting the City of Atlanta's housing affordability goals and removing a tax barrier that had complicated those properties' redevelopment. A MARTA easement was authorized at the district's Metro Transportation Facility to support regional transit infrastructure improvements, and a new five-year lease was approved for a district-owned property known as the "Little White House." The board also authorized the use of state grant funding for student mental health services and renewed several vendor contracts covering student assessment tools, bus driver uniforms, tree maintenance, and flooring installation across district facilities.

NPU-A

Neighborhood Planning Unit A met virtually on the evening of May 5, though minutes have not yet been posted — meaning what follows reflects only what was scheduled, and any item may have been approved, denied, deferred, or withdrawn without public record yet. The most substantive item on the agenda was a variance request involving a residential property in the Tuxedo Park area, where the applicant sought three simultaneous adjustments to standard R-2 zoning rules: a reduced eastern side yard setback from 15 feet to 7.5 feet, a reduced rear yard setback from 20 feet to 15 feet, and an increase in total lot coverage from 35% to 43.2%. Changes of this kind matter to neighbors because increased lot coverage can affect stormwater runoff and alter the visual character of a block, and any NPU recommendation on the request would move the case forward to the Board of Zoning Adjustment for a binding decision. Standard departmental reports from Atlanta Police, Fire, City Planning, and elected officials were also on the agenda, though the substance of those briefings won't be public until minutes are released.

NPU-B

NPU-B also met virtually on May 5, and again, no minutes have been posted — so outcomes are unknown and all items below were scheduled but may not have moved forward as listed. The most consequential long-term item was a proposal to formally adopt the Peachtree Park Neighborhood Plan into the City's Comprehensive Development Plan, which would give that community's vision for its own future official weight in city planning decisions for Council District 7. On the zoning side, two residential variance requests were on the agenda seeking significant reductions in required yard setbacks, and a special use permit application for outdoor dining at a Roswell Road location was also up for review. The business landscape saw additional activity, with a new Asian restaurant on Piedmont Road scheduled for an alcohol license review and existing establishments up for ownership and agent changes. A community Fourth of July block party on Stratford Road was also on the agenda for a special event permit, which — if approved — would mean road impacts on that street around Independence Day.

NPU-C

NPU-C convened virtually on May 5 at 6:45 p.m., and like its sibling NPUs, has not yet published minutes, so the items below reflect the agenda only and actual outcomes remain unknown. The highest-stakes planning item was a proposal to incorporate the Collier Road Multimodal Study into the City's Comprehensive Development Plan, a step that would formalize a vision for improving that corridor for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians across Council Districts 8 and 9 — and could eventually trigger funded construction projects. Also on the agenda was a city-wide zoning ordinance, backed by nearly the full City Council, that would ban new self-storage facilities within the Beltline Overlay District in favor of more active uses along that corridor. Two residential variance requests involving reduced setbacks were scheduled for a vote, and an application for a FIFA World Cup community watch party at a Northwest Atlanta park in late June was also up for consideration. Departmental reports from Atlanta Police, Fire, Watershed Management, and Parks and Recreation were also on the agenda.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

NPU-B
- 4475 Roswell Rd NE — A special use permit (U-26-8) for outdoor dining at this location is scheduled to be heard, pending NPU-B's recommendation.
- 128 E Andrews Dr NW — Buckhead Brewing is on the agenda for a change of ownership application.
- 3186 Roswell Rd NE — Muse Restaurant is scheduled for a change of agent application.

Atlanta City Council
- 3393 Peachtree Rd NE — The City Council approved, 14-0, a waiver allowing this business to erect a sign and supporting structures that would otherwise conflict with the current sign ordinance.

Meetings This Week
- Atlanta City Council — Zoning Committee — Monday, May 11 at 11:00 AM
The committee will take up a wide range of rezoning requests and special use permits across the city, including a proposed transition from single-family zoning to planned development at a 24-acre site on County Line Road and a mixed-use rezoning for the "Terminal South" project on Hank Aaron Drive. Two Buckhead-area addresses are on the agenda: a proposed single-family home at 2745 Ridgewood Road NW, which falls under Metropolitan River Protection Act rules, and a special use permit for outdoor dining at 4475 Roswell Road NE, located near residential properties.

- Atlanta City Council — Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee — Monday, May 11 at 1:00 PM
The committee is scheduled to consider a new lease for an APD Zone 6 precinct location, a proposed 180-day moratorium on new alcohol licenses in the Edgewood Corridor, and a nearly $5 million contract extension for citywide demolition of blighted properties. Several Buckhead-area items will be heard, including a property damage claim tied to an incident at 3530 Tuxedo Parkway NW, a bodily injury claim connected to a sidewalk incident at 3669 Powers Ferry Road NW, a stormwater damage claim at 761 Woodward Way NW, and a pothole claim at the intersection of Habersham Road NW and Lakeland Drive NW — along with a separate pothole incident at Roswell Road NE and Sheldon Drive NE.

- Fulton County Board of Commissioners — Special Called Meeting — Tuesday, May 12 at 10:00 AM
The board is convening a special session focused exclusively on the county's Service Delivery Strategy — a state-mandated agreement governing how Fulton County and its cities divide responsibility for essential services such as police, fire, and infrastructure, and how costs are allocated to prevent residents from being taxed twice for the same services.

- Atlanta City Council — City Utilities Committee — Tuesday, May 12 at 10:00 AM
The committee will consider more than $50 million in proposed sanitary sewer repairs, a $24 million expansion of Peachtree Creek watershed infrastructure, and an $8.5 million road resurfacing program. A Buckhead-adjacent item is also on the docket: a held ordinance regarding 2428 Oldfield Road NW, where a property owner is seeking a waiver to build a structure's lowest floor closer to the base flood elevation than city code typically allows.

- Atlanta City Council — Community Development/Human Services Committee — Tuesday, May 12 at 1:30 PM
- Atlanta City Council — Wednesday, May 13 at 9:30 AM
- Atlanta City Council — Transportation Committee — Wednesday, May 13 at 10:00 AM
The committee is set to consider a resolution calling for dedicated bicycle and motorized-vehicle lanes along the Atlanta BeltLine to improve pedestrian safety, a $3.6 million infrastructure improvement project on Peachtree Street from North Avenue to West Peachtree Street, and a proposed residential parking designation on Lakeview Avenue NE. A public hearing is also scheduled on a proposal to close a segment of Gilmer Street SE and transfer the right-of-way to Georgia State University.

- Atlanta City Council — Finance/Executive Committee — Wednesday, May 13 at 1:30 PM
The committee's headline item is the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 city budget and accompanying property tax rates for the general levy, schools, parks, and special districts including the Atlanta BeltLine. Also on the agenda: an annexation vote for several properties on Woodland Avenue NE into the city and Atlanta Public Schools, and a utility easement at Fire Station 26 at 2970 Howell Mill Road NW to support the ongoing Howell Mill Road Complete Street project.

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Permits

- 3445 Peachtree Rd NE — Commercial interior alteration filed, with selective demolition, new partitions, and decorative finishes on the docket. Someone's refreshing a space at one of Buckhead's busiest addresses — expect some construction noise in the building.
- 3060 Peachtree Rd NW — Interior alteration permit accepted for a vacant office suite. No structural changes, but a previously empty space is being prepped — worth watching to see what moves in.
- 2045 Peachtree Rd NE — Minor tenant renovation accepted, with MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) modifications underway. Routine, but signals an active tenant transition.
- 3715 Northside Pkwy NW — Fire sprinkler system additions and relocations routed for review at what appears to be a Century-branded property. Sprinkler upgrades often accompany larger buildouts or occupancy changes.
- 750 Park Ave NE — Interior condo renovation filed for a unit in an existing high-rise. No changes to the building's footprint or occupancy — just one resident making upgrades.
- 5 Paces W Ter NW — A multi-family property is expanding its sitting room and adding a screened porch over an existing deck. Small addition, but a nice quality-of-life upgrade in the Paces corridor.
- 771 Miami Cir NE — Telecom equipment swap filed: one microwave dish out, a new one in, along with updated cabling. Standard infrastructure maintenance at this commercial address in the Miami Circle design district.

Beyond the headliners, the week's 141 residential permits were dominated by electrical work (30 permits), dead/dying tree removals (29 — consistent with ongoing canopy management across Buckhead's tree-heavy streets), HVAC replacements (21), and plumbing work (15). Nothing dramatic, but the tree removal volume is a reminder that Buckhead's beloved tree canopy requires constant upkeep.

Road Work

Under Construction
- I-75 Lighting Upgrade (Fulton County) — GDOT is swapping out old high-pressure sodium lights for LED fixtures along I-75 between Musket Ridge Drive and I-85, about 1.7 miles from Buckhead. Pole and conduit replacements may also be part of the scope. Expect some nighttime lane activity as work progresses.
- SR 400 Tunnel Bridge Rehab at the Justin C. Martin Building (Fulton County) — Active rehabilitation work is underway on the SR 400 tunnel, roughly 1.9 miles out. The project includes spall repair on transfer beams and roof slabs, fire system repairs, and additional structural upgrades. If SR 400 is part of your daily commute, keep an eye out for lane shifts or closures near this stretch.
- 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 to bring its pavement condition score back up to standard. At 2.8 miles out, this one is close enough to affect Buckhead drivers heading south. Watch for lane restrictions and flagging operations during active paving days.

Pre-Construction
- SR 9 / SR 237 Intersection Study (Piedmont Rd, Roswell Rd & Habersham Rd) — A scoping study is underway for operational improvements at three closely connected intersections: Piedmont at Roswell, Piedmont at Habersham, and Roswell at Habersham. No construction yet, but this triangle of busy intersections is officially on GDOT's radar for a redesign.
- SR 3 Resurfacing (Fulton County) — Pavement work is planned along SR 3 from I-75 north to the Cobb County line. When crews arrive, expect lane disruptions along this corridor.
- SR 3 @ West Paces Ferry Road — Restriping is coming to the SR 3 / Northside Pkwy intersection at West Paces Ferry. The plan adds northbound and southbound dual left-turn lanes on Northside Pkwy and reconfigures lanes under the I-75 overpass to provide two eastbound through lanes. A meaningful flow improvement for a chronically congested spot.
- SR 141 Connector / Lenox Road Shared-Use Path (Phase III) — A streetscape and shared-use path network is planned along Lenox Road from Piedmont Road to Phipps Boulevard, connecting commercial, office, and residential destinations. Good news for pedestrians and cyclists in the Lenox area.
- Bridge Preventative Maintenance (SR 6, SR 9, SR 14 & SR 70) — Deck preservation, joint replacement, spall repairs, and steel painting are planned at four bridge locations across Fulton County touching these routes. Routine but necessary work that typically brings intermittent lane closures.
- I-75 NB Ramps @ Moores Mill Road — Roundabout — A two-lane roundabout is planned at the I-75 northbound ramps and Moores Mill Road, with dedicated eastbound lanes for improved separation and flow. A significant change to this interchange — worth watching as it moves toward construction.
- SR 400 Atlanta Financial Center Tunnel — LED Lighting Upgrade — New LED lighting is planned for the tunnel on SR 400. Minimal disruption expected, but nighttime lane closures are typical for this kind of work.
- SR 400 Resurfacing (I-85 to south of Johnson Ferry Road) — Pavement work is coming to a long stretch of SR 400. When it kicks off, expect intermittent lane closures, likely overnight.
- SR 9 / US 19 Bridge Replacement over CSX Railroad — GDOT plans to replace the existing Peachtree Road bridge over the CSX rail line in Atlanta. The current structure carries three 11-foot inside lanes and two 12-foot outside traffic lanes — a major corridor that will require careful management during construction. One to watch closely as this moves forward.
- SR 237 @ Main St — Mid-Block Crossing & Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (PHB) — A new mid-block pedestrian crossing with a hybrid beacon signal is planned on Roswell Road at Main Street, improving safety for people on foot crossing this busy corridor.

Service Requests

Buckhead residents filed 58 service requests this past week, with road and signal issues dominating the list.

- Potholes — 23 reports filed across the area, with clusters on W Wesley Rd NW (3 reports), Habersham Rd at Lakeland Dr (2), Biscayne Dr NW (2), and Peachtree Rd NE (2), plus 13 additional locations throughout Buckhead.
- Traffic Signal Issues — 25 reports combined across emergency and non-emergency categories. Non-emergency repairs were flagged at Roswell Rd NE (3), Lenox Rd at Burke Rd (2), Wesley Rd at Habersham Rd (2), Peachtree Dunwoody Rd at Peachtree Rd, Lindbergh Way at Lindbergh Dr, and 8 other intersections. Emergency repairs were reported at Habersham Rd NW at W Wesley Rd NW (2), Lenox Rd at Burke Rd (2), Northside Dr NW at W Paces Ferry Rd NW, Randall Mill Rd at Mount Paran Rd, and two additional locations.
- Overgrowth & Visibility — 7 right-of-way maintenance requests citing overgrowth on Roxboro Dr NE (2), Peachtree Dunwoody Rd NE, Lake Forrest Dr at Laurel Dr, Valley Rd NW, W Wesley Rd NW, and one additional location.
- Sign Repair — A non-emergency sign repair or replacement requested on Peachtree Rd NE.
- Downed Tree — One report on Lenox Rd NE.
- Litter Removal — Right-of-way litter flagged at Pine St and Piedmont Ave.