Buckhead: Shepherd Center's 13-Story Landmark and Two Restaurants Open

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Hello, Buckhead — it's a big week. Shepherd Center just cut the ribbon on a stunning 13-story rehabilitation center at Peachtree and Collier, and two serious new restaurants landed on the same week, including a Michelin-pedigree chef bringing wagyu to the neighborhood. Keep reading — there's plenty more happening from World Cup planning at City Hall to a packed weekend of events.

- News — Shepherd Center opens its impressive Marcus Center for Advanced Rehabilitation, the Atlanta History Center marks 100 years, and AI Week puts Buckhead's corporate corridors at the center of Georgia's tech conversation.
- Business — Two major restaurants debuted in the same week: Michelin-starred chef J. Trent Harris launches Koshu Club, and Rich Clark opens a 6,000-square-foot Southern-French steakhouse with a wine list worth the trip alone.
- Events — It's a jam-packed week ahead, headlined by Grammy-winner Brandy Clark at Buckhead Theatre Wednesday, a stunning international floral show taking over Phipps Plaza, and a free skin cancer screening at the Peachtree Road Farmers Market Saturday.
- Government — Atlanta City Council greenlit a World Cup entertainment district Downtown while short-term rental rules remain stuck in committee — and a busy week of meetings ahead includes a critical FY2027 budget vote and a $3.6 million Peachtree Street safety project.
- Construction — Heavy-duty permits signal major commercial builds on W. Paces Ferry Road, GDOT is upgrading I-75 lighting to LED, and Buckhead residents filed 65 service requests last week dominated by potholes and traffic signal problems.

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Let’s dive in:

NEWS

Marcus Center for Advanced Rehabilitation at Shepherd Center brings innovation to South Buckhead
The skyline near Peachtree and Collier just got a new 13-story landmark with the opening of the Marcus Center for Advanced Rehabilitation. This massive expansion adds 48 inpatient beds and a dedicated 30,000-square-foot innovation center to the Shepherd Center, ensuring that world-class recovery technology stays rooted right in our backyard.

Atlanta History Center celebrates 100th anniversary with new exhibition and book
Our local bastion of the past is hitting a triple-digit milestone with a century of storytelling under its belt. To celebrate, the center is launching a new exhibition and a commemorative book that proves Buckhead's history is far more than just stately mansions and rolling lawns — it's the literal foundation of the city's identity.

Atlanta AI Week brings together business, education leaders to discuss technology's future
Buckhead's corporate corridors are buzzing this week as leaders gather to figure out if artificial intelligence is a friend, a foe, or just a really efficient way to write meeting minutes. The summit focuses on how tech is reshaping the local workforce, placing our neighborhood at the center of the conversation about Georgia's digital future.

BUSINESS

Koshu Club — Chef J. Trent Harris of Michelin-starred Mujō is expanding beyond omakase into binchotan-grilled wagyu and ambitious vegetable plates, and it's shaping up to be an instant heavyweight on Buckhead's dining scene.

Clark's Steakhouse — Rich Clark's new 6,000-square-foot Peachtree Road spot marries Southern-inflected fire with French technique, but it's the meticulously curated wine list that seals its status as Buckhead's next high-polish night out.

EVENTS

-Pop & Country Hits— Mon Apr 27 — Park Bench
-Trivia Night— Mon Apr 27 — Johnny's Hideaway
-Buckhead CID - Monthly Meeting— Tue Apr 28 — Buckhead Council of Neighborhoods
-Karaoke Hot Hits Sing-along After Braves Game!— Tue Apr 28 — Park Bench
-Brandy Clark— Wed Apr 29 — Buckhead Theatre
-Global Floral Show Fleurs de Villes FLORA— Wed Apr 29 — Phipps Plaza
-Leading through the Shift-Workforce Strategy in an AI Accelerated Economy— Wed Apr 29 — Atlanta Tech Village
-Get the Most Out of Audio Post to Elevate Your Storytelling Panel— Wed Apr 29 — Tara Theatre
-National Bubble Tea Day— Thu Apr 30 — Buckhead Village
-Fashion In Bloom: A Spring Runway Show— Thu Apr 30 — Buckhead Village
-Ron Hsu in conversation with Henna Bakshi— Thu Apr 30 — Atlanta History Center
-Karaoke Nite!— Thu Apr 30 — Park Bench
-Celele x Madre Selva: One-Year Anniversary Dinner— Thu Apr 30 — Madre Selva Atlanta
-Arts in the Garden— Fri May 1 — Skyland Trail
-Goldens are FURever Gala— Fri May 1 — Atlanta History Center
-Vegas-Style Piano Show— Fri May 1 — Park Bench
-Free Skin Cancer Screening— Sat May 2 — Peachtree Road Farmers Market
-Floral Arranging Workshop with Canaan Marshall— Sat May 2 — The Veranda at Buckhead Village District
-Uptown Market Atlanta— Sat May 2 — The Lawn at Uptown
-Spring Fling at Shops Around Lenox— Sat May 2 — Shops Around Lenox
-Saturday Vinyasa Yoga Classes with Highland Yoga— Sat May 2 — Buckhead Village
-Arm'sLength: There's A Whole World... Tour— Sat May 2 — Buckhead Theatre
-Dueling Pianos – All Night!— Sat May 2 — Park Bench
-3 Guys Burgers & Buys – Sunday Nights at L3— Sun May 3 — Local Three Kitchen & Bar
-Make your own fresh Pasta Class— Sun May 3 — Buckhead Village District
-#SistersInLaw Live— Sun May 3 — Buckhead Theatre

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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 and its Committee on Council both met on April 20, and together they covered a lot of ground. The biggest headline from the full Council session: Atlanta is getting serious about World Cup logistics. By a 10-2 vote, the Council approved a temporary "Public Entertainment District" Downtown that will be in effect from June 11 through July 19, 2026, banning the distribution of free commercial products and prohibiting cruising in the area to keep crowds and traffic manageable during the FIFA tournament. Councilmembers Kelsea Bond and Antonio Lewis cast the dissenting votes.

On land use, the Council approved several rezonings that allow for higher residential density — including shifts from single-family to "Planned Development – Housing" classifications in East Lake and on the Westside — signaling a continued city-wide push toward adding housing capacity. A portion of the Lincoln Cemetery property was rezoned to allow for more intensive commercial use. The Council also approved a Special Use Permit for a large West Midtown food-and-beverage venue ("Ladybird West Midtown") and another for a day care center on Cleveland Avenue SW.

A few other notable approvals: the "Midwest Cascade" neighborhood was officially renamed West Cascade on all city maps; Fulton Street SW was renamed J. Lowell Ware Boulevard; Republic Services of Georgia received a solid waste contract extension through August 2026 at $52.57 per ton; and the city authorized a $12,000 donation to Propel ATL for youth cycling education. On the other hand, residents watching short-term rental regulations will have to wait — proposed ordinances to create a Short-Term Rental Registry were kept "Held" in committee, with the next opportunity for public input at the April 28 Community Development committee meeting. Several major neighborhood master plans, including one for Peachtree Park, were referred to committee for a final vote on April 28 as well.

Over in the Committee on Council, which met earlier the same morning, members took up several governance-focused items. A proposed ordinance would allow a council committee to step in and fill board and commission vacancies when the responsible Councilmember has left a seat open for more than 60 days — a procedural fix aimed at keeping city oversight bodies functional. The committee also revisited a resolution calling for the City Attorney to hire outside counsel to independently investigate the city's contracts and dealings with Foris Webb III, a matter that had previously been held. Two additional Charter amendments were on the table: one that would require every piece of legislation to have a named Councilmember as primary sponsor of record (boosting accountability), and another clarifying that mandatory training requirements apply only to newly elected officials, not returning ones. Finally, the committee was set to appoint two Councilmembers to the Budget Commission for one-year terms ahead of the FY 2027 budget process.

Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education

The APS Board Development Committee met on April 21 for a governance-focused session with no major policy decisions, budget actions, or school-zone changes on the table. Members reviewed a draft update to the Board Operation Manual — the internal rulebook governing how the board conducts its business — though the document has not yet been formally adopted. The committee also discussed the cadence of future board retreats (used for long-term strategic planning) without landing on a finalized schedule for the 2026–2027 school year, and held preliminary conversations about standardizing how board members communicate and engage with the public. On the compliance side, the board checked in on state-mandated professional development hours to ensure all members are meeting Georgia's requirements. Routine procedural votes — approving the meeting agenda and prior session minutes — were the only formal actions taken.

Meetings This Week
- Atlanta City Council — Zoning Committee — Monday, April 27 at 11:00 AM
A sweeping agenda will take up rezonings that could transform industrial corridors into mixed-use neighborhoods, including a nearly 14-acre proposal along Sylvan Road and Cox Avenue and multiple properties along Logan Circle and Chattahoochee Avenue in the Upper Westside. The committee will also consider a text amendment that would ban new self-storage facilities within the BeltLine Overlay District, and a resolution kicking off the city's "Zoning 2.0" code overhaul. A business sign waiver is on the agenda for 3393 Peachtree Rd NE (Lenox Square area); a proposal to expand a nonconforming structure is scheduled for 4300 Powers Ferry Rd NW; and a rezoning from R-1 to Planned Development Housing is up for consideration at 1950 W. Paces Ferry Rd / 2518 W. Wesley Rd NW.

- Atlanta City Council — Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee — Monday, April 27 at 1:00 PM
The committee is scheduled to discuss a temporary waiver that would allow open-container drinking in parts of Downtown during the 2026 FIFA World Cup (June 11–July 19), as well as a resolution that would direct Atlanta Police to stop using colorimetric field drug tests as the sole basis for an arrest.

- Atlanta City Council — City Utilities Committee — Tuesday, April 28 at 10:00 AM
More than $70 million in water and sewer projects is on the agenda, alongside a proposal to transfer approximately 12 acres of city-owned land at 1270 West Marietta Boulevard to Invest Atlanta for potential redevelopment. The committee will also consider easements supporting the Atlanta Botanical Garden's expansion, a $24 million contract amendment for the Peachtree Creek Eastside 2B sewer project, and utility coordination with GDOT ahead of resurfacing work on Northside Drive and Peachtree Road.

- Atlanta City Council — Community Development/Human Services Committee — Tuesday, April 28 at 1:30 PM
The committee is set to consider a $52.1 million federal grant application for FIFA World Cup hosting and security, along with more than $1.87 million for construction of Enota Park on the Atlanta Beltline. Also on the agenda are second readings of neighborhood master plans for Peachtree Park and Edgewood, and a resolution that would temporarily pause the sale and redevelopment of 1060 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway NW pending a community impact review.

- Atlanta City Council — Transportation Committee — Wednesday, April 29 at 10:00 AM
A $3.6 million safety improvement project for Peachtree Street between North Avenue and West Peachtree Street is scheduled for a vote, alongside property acquisitions needed to advance the Proctor Creek Greenway (Segment 4) and new sidewalks on Moreland Avenue. The committee will also consider authorizing the 2026 "Atlanta Streets Alive" program and a proposal to transfer a 0.71-acre section of Gilmer Street SE to Georgia State University. A designation of residential-only on-street parking is proposed for Lakeview Ave NE.

- Atlanta City Council — Finance/Executive Committee — Wednesday, April 29 at 1:30 PM
The committee is scheduled to take up the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget and set property tax rates for the coming year — decisions that will directly affect homeowners' tax bills. Also on the agenda: a proposed $1.3 billion bond issuance for Hartsfield-Jackson Airport improvements, a $39 million contract for construction of a new 911 Center, and a $600,000 investment in Grant Park upgrades including Milledge Fountain repairs and a new outdoor classroom.

CONSTRUCTION

Permits

- 102 W Paces Ferry Rd NW — Temporary power pole issued for a new commercial construction project, tied to a 500kVA Georgia Power transformer. That's a heavy-duty hookup — a sizeable building is on its way.
- 155 W Paces Ferry Rd NW — Two separate permits issued here: a full sanitary, waste, vent, and domestic water system installation, plus electrical work covering dual 800A feeders and 99 circuits for what's described as a new commercial business building with adult restrooms. Something substantial is being built out at this address.
- 3401 Northside Pkwy NW — Sitework permitted for grading, hardscape, and landscaping tied to an existing building permit. The exterior of this project is starting to take shape.
- 311 Peachtree Hills Ave — Structural work filed: main-level wall removal, ceiling beam installation, and basement structural additions. More than a cosmetic refresh — this one involves the bones of the building.
- 4090 Roswell Rd NE — Commercial plumbing permit for a drain line in slab. Modest on paper, but slab work typically signals a tenant build-out in progress.
- 2450 Piedmont Rd NE — Electrical remodel permit issued, covering new outlets and lighting repairs. Routine, but consistent with a space being refreshed for a new or returning tenant.

Beyond the headliners, the broader permit picture shows a busy week: 29 HVAC permits, 21 arborist filings (dead, dying, or hazardous trees), 19 residential electrical pulls, and 15 plumbing permits across the area's neighborhoods. Spring is doing what spring does in Buckhead.

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. Expect some nighttime lane activity as crews work through the corridor.
- SR 400 Tunnel Rehabilitation at the Justin C. Martin Building (Fulton County) — Active bridge and tunnel work underway on SR 400, roughly 1.9 miles out. The project covers spall repairs to transfer beams and roof slabs, fire system repairs, and general structural upgrades. If SR 400 is part of your daily routine, keep an eye out for lane shifts near this stretch.
- SR 9 Resurfacing from SR 3 to North of Paces Ferry Road (Fulton County) — Crews are resurfacing SR 9 (Peachtree Road) along this corridor to address a low pavement condition score. With Paces Ferry Road squarely in the Buckhead footprint, this one hits close to home. Expect rough transition zones and possible lane restrictions while paving is active.

Pre-Construction
- SR 9 @ SR 237 & Habersham Road (Fulton County) — A scoping study is underway for intersection improvements at three closely linked intersections: Piedmont Road at Roswell Road, Piedmont Road at Habersham Road, and Roswell Road at Habersham Road. This is still in the planning phase, but the triangle of intersections is one of Buckhead's most congested — worth watching as this moves forward.
- SR 3 from I-75 to Cobb County Line (Fulton County) — Resurfacing work is funded and queued up along SR 3 in this stretch. No start date yet, but paving operations on this corridor will mean lane restrictions when work does begin.
- SR 3 @ West Paces Ferry Road (Fulton County) — Restriping is planned at this intersection to add northbound and southbound dual left-turn lanes on SR 3/Northside Parkway, plus lane adjustments under the I-75 overpass for eastbound through traffic. A relatively low-disruption fix that should improve flow at a notoriously awkward interchange.
- SR 141 Connector — Lenox Road Streetscape & Trail, Phase III (Fulton County) — This project will build out streetscapes and a shared-use path along Lenox Road between Piedmont Road and Phipps Boulevard, connecting commercial, office, and residential destinations. Good news for pedestrians and cyclists in the Lenox area once it gets moving.
- I-75 NB Ramps @ Moores Mill Road (Fulton County) — A two-lane roundabout is planned at the intersection of Moores Mill Road and the I-75 northbound ramps. Construction hasn't started yet, but when it does, expect significant disruption at this interchange during the build.
- SR 400 @ Atlanta Financial Center Tunnel — LED Lighting Upgrade (Fulton County) — Funded lighting replacement inside the Atlanta Financial Center tunnel on SR 400. A straightforward infrastructure update, but tunnel lighting work typically requires overnight lane closures.
- SR 400 from I-85 to South of Johnson Ferry Road (Fulton County) — Resurfacing is funded along this SR 400 stretch. Lane closures will follow once a contractor is selected — likely overnight work given the volume on this corridor.
- SR 9/US 19 Bridge over CSX Railroad (Fulton County) — The existing bridge carrying Peachtree Road over the CSX rail line is slated for full replacement. The typical section includes three 11-foot inside lanes and two 12-foot outside lanes — a significant structure. This one will be a major disruption to Peachtree Road traffic when construction begins; start planning alternates now.

Utility Work

Atlanta Watershed
- Emergency Road Closure at 6th Street NE and West Peachtree Street NW — Road closed at the intersection of 6th Street NE and West Peachtree Street NW for emergency large valve replacement work starting April 28 and lasting for 2 weeks.
- Emergency Road Closure at 10th Street NE for Sewer Mainline Work — Emergency closure at 250 10th Street NE between Myrtle Street NE and the adjacent intersection. 24-hour closure on Apr 29 with 4 weeks of follow-on work 7am - 9pm.

Service Requests

- Potholes — 29 reports scattered across the neighborhood, with clusters on Randall Ridge Rd NW (3 reports), Conway Valley Rd NW, W Wesley Rd NW, and Peachtree Dr NE (2 each), plus 19 additional locations. Most are in progress.
- Traffic Signal Repairs — 17 non-emergency signal reports at intersections including Northside Pkwy & Moores Mill Rd, Northside Pkwy & Paces Ferry Rd, and Ivy Pkwy & Roswell Rd, among others. An additional 4 emergency signal repairs were filed at Piedmont Rd & Lindbergh Dr (2 reports), Northside Dr & Peachtree Battle Ave, and Piedmont Rd & Tower Place Dr NE.
- Overgrowth & Visibility — 7 right-of-way overgrowth complaints, with three at Roswell Rd & Wieuca Rd and single reports at Andrews Dr & Paces Ferry Rd, Piedmont Rd & Garson Dr, W Wesley Rd NW, and Wesley Rd & Ellwood Dr.
- Sign Repairs — 5 requests for sign repair or replacement, including locations at Beechwood Hills Ct NW and Mount Paran Rd & Randall Ct.
- Loose Metal Plate — Reported at Paces Ferry Rd & Roxboro Rd.
- Litter & Dumping — ROW litter removal requested on Lenox Rd NE; an illegal dumping investigation was filed on Lindbergh Dr NE.