Candler Park: Sewer project goes to final phase, and new coffee shop opens

Welcome to this week’s update for Candler Park. We’re diving into the latest on the Marlbrook sewer project and the opening of a new neighborhood coffee spot celebrating African culture. We also have details on upcoming roadwork along Ponce.

Let’s dive in.

Marlbrook Drive Sewer Main Project Enters Final Phase
The full road closure on Marlbrook Drive NE, which has been in place since mid-January for the installation of a new sanitary sewer main and lateral, is scheduled to conclude this week. Lake Claire residents who have been navigating detours between Hardendorf and Harold Avenues can expect the road to reopen as the Department of Watershed Management finishes final site work and restores access.

DeKalb County Moves to Update Local Sound and Blasting Ordinances
During their February 10 meeting, the Board of Commissioners introduced amendments to the county’s noise regulations and a new ordinance to establish regulatory oversight for blasting operations. These changes aim to improve public safety and community stability, providing Druid Hills homeowners with more structured protections against disruptive environmental noise and construction activities common in the neighborhood’s ongoing residential developments.

City Council Proposals Target Improved Pedestrian Access and World Cup Readiness
The Atlanta City Council is reviewing an ordinance this week that would require all primary pedestrian entrances to be equipped with push-button activators to enhance accessibility for residents with mobility challenges. Additionally, a new resolution affirming the "Play Fair ATL" policy platform for the 2026 FIFA World Cup signals the city’s intensifying preparations for the upcoming influx of global visitors and the logistical adjustments that will follow in neighborhoods like Candler Park.

Coffee Therapy - opening - Owners Tamar Telahun and Simon Gebru, formerly of Feedel Bistro, have opened this new cafe in Druid Hills that focuses on community connection and the celebration of African culture.

Atlanta City Council - Zoning Committee
February 09, 2026 at 11:00 AM
The committee tackled a busy agenda ranging from citywide accessibility standards to specific developments across Atlanta. A major policy highlight included a proposal to require push-button automatic door activators for the primary entrances of most new buildings (excluding single-family homes). The committee also discussed a ban on new warehousing and self-storage facilities within the Beltline Overlay District to protect the area’s walkability.

While no projects were located directly within our neighborhood boundaries, the committee discussed several significant developments elsewhere, including the approval of a 248-unit multifamily project in Southeast Atlanta, a Special Use Permit for a large establishment in West Midtown, and outdoor dining for a restaurant in the Edgewood area.

Atlanta City Council - Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee
February 09, 2026 at 01:00 PM
Public safety and housing standards took center stage this week. The committee is considering a significant update to the Atlanta Housing Code that would classify visible mold as a "highly hazardous" condition, requiring landlords to conduct inspections within five days of a complaint and follow professional remediation standards.

Other key discussions included a proposed 180-day freeze on new alcohol licenses in the Edgewood Corridor in response to safety concerns following a mass shooting in the area last summer, plans for a new "Entertainment District" in South Downtown that allow open containers, and plans for an interim fire station to be built in the Midtown area while a permanent one is built that includes affordable housing. Of local interest, the committee reviewed over 30 legal claims, including a claim involving an injury at the MARTA station near Little Five Points that was recommended for denial.

Atlanta City Utilities Committee
February 10, 2026 at 10:00 AM
The Utilities Committee focused heavily on infrastructure readiness and sustainability. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, the city is authorizing an additional $2.06 million for temporary labor to handle increased sanitation and debris pickup needs. The city also accepted a national award for its "EV Readiness Ordinance," which requires new homes and city facilities to be built with infrastructure for electric vehicle charging.

Other matters included an $8 million transfer to oversee major capital improvements, approved software updates to optimize trash collection routes, and funding increases for levee improvements along the Chattahoochee River to protect water reclamation facilities.

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners
February 10, 2026 at 09:00 AM
The Board officially adopted the 2026 DeKalb County Annual Budget and advanced several multi-million dollar sewer system upgrades to meet reliability standards. For residents interested in "going green," the Board discussed a new rebate program to encourage contractors and homeowners to switch from gas-powered blowers and mowers to electric landscape equipment.

Other matters included noise ordinance amendments, a “People’s Choice” repaving initiative for District 7 that would allow residents to select five miles of roadway for prioritization, a request to rezone a commercial property to high-density housing along Northeast Expressway, and a resolution to create a “Court-Held Dog Coordinator” to manage animal care costs during legal proceedings.

Atlanta City Council - Community Development/Human Services Committee
February 10, 2026 at 01:30 PM
This meeting focused on long-term planning and social services. The committee is moving to create a dedicated "Office of Short-Term Rentals" within the Department of City Planning to manage a mandatory registry and enforce permit verification for platforms like Airbnb.

Other matters also included a grant application to study citywide senior accessibility that could lead to slower speed zones and safety treatments near senior living areas, a discussion on the $40 million Bowen Choice Neighborhood grant focusing on infrastructure in West Atlanta, and several amendments to the Comprehensive Development Plan for residential and mixed-use projects in South and West Atlanta.

Atlanta City Council - Finance/Executive Committee
February 11, 2026 at 01:30 PM
The Finance Committee authorized several donations to support local neighborhood districts, including $12,000 for the Little Five Points Cultural District and $36,000 for the Virginia Highland District Association.

Other financial and administrative decisions included a nearly $1 million agreement to deploy "smart" public restrooms in city parks and high-use areas, approval of significant funding for street outreach, rehousing services, and the "Safe Passage Program", an update to interest rate penalties on delinquent taxes, and a $135,000 donation for playground improvements in Southwest Atlanta

Atlanta City Council - Transportation Committee
February 11, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Transportation officials discussed a significant proposed increase to on-street metered parking fees, which would move from $1.00 to $1.75 per half-hour to cover rising enforcement costs.

Major project updates included:

Atlanta Committee on Council
Monday, February 16, 2026, 11:30 AM
Key agenda items include: Administrative appointments to various city boards and regional commissions, including the Water and Sewer Appeals Board and the Defined Benefit Pension Plan Investment Board. Notably, the committee will consider the appointment of District 5 Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari to a four-year term on the Atlanta Regional Commission Board of Directors. The committee is also scheduled to discuss its 2026 Goals and Objectives and handle a technical correction regarding the identity management system at the airport.

Atlanta City Council
Monday, February 16, 2026, 1:00 PM
Key agenda items include: A wide range of legislative actions surfaced during sub-committee meetings in the past week, including a significant vote to establish mold remediation guidelines for residential properties and a final vote on a city-wide mandate requiring push-button door activators for disability access on most new commercial and multi-family buildings. Other items of interest include a 180-day moratorium on new alcohol licenses along the Edgewood corridor, a policy platform for the 2026 FIFA World Cup focusing on human rights and labor equity, and the creation of a public alcohol consumption exemption for a specific district in South Downtown. Zoning and development discussions include transitioning industrial land to mixed-use zones in the Murphy Triangle and Milton Avenue areas, new housing developments on Bolton Road and West Paces Ferry Road, and permits for outdoor dining and sales along Edgewood Avenue and Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard. Additionally, the Council will consider a new fire station on Piedmont Avenue and the renaming of a portion of Fulton Street.

DeKalb County Committee of the Whole
Tuesday, February 17, 2026, 9:00 AM
Key agenda items include: Major investments in county infrastructure and services, including a $22.2 million contract extension for animal shelter operations and nearly $50 million for sewer assessments and rehabilitation. The committee will review the implementation plan for the DeKalb County Day Center to address homelessness and a proposed "Water Customer Bill of Rights." New ordinance proposals include a county-wide moratorium extension on sexual device sales, updated regulations for data centers, safety oversight for construction blasting, and stricter maintenance standards for vacant and nuisance properties. The agenda also covers 2026 election preparations, artistic crosswalk improvements for the Stone Mountain Trail, and office space leases in Decatur.

Atlanta City Council
Meeting from February 2, 2026 - Key decisions: Appointed Marquetta J. Bryan as City Attorney and approved the issuance of $154 million in revenue bonds for the Housing Opportunity Program to create and preserve affordable housing. The Council approved an amended Tree Protection Ordinance regarding removal on earthen dams and authorized over $27 million in grant applications for the Atlanta Beltline Northeast Trail and citywide street resurfacing. Also approved were $1 million for regional e-bike rebate programs and a $129,297 extension for E-911 system administration. Locally, the Council approved traffic calming measures for residential streets in Lake Claire and a special use permit for a preschool in the Virginia-Highland area. Various rezonings were approved for multifamily and mixed-use projects in Northwest and Southwest Atlanta, while a vote on increasing on-street parking fees was deferred pending a public hearing.

It’s been a busy month for renovations and new additions. If you’ve heard heavy machinery on Springdale, you now know why—there's over $1.5 million in work happening on that street alone.

Commercial and High-Dollar Highlights:

There were also 13 minor permits (HVAC, plumbing, and smaller alterations) totaling about $126,000 across the area.

Traffic signals seem to be the theme of the week. If you’re driving through the DeKalb and Clifton intersection, be extra careful—it’s been reported multiple times.

Traffic

DeKalb County Watershed

Atlanta Watershed

Monday, February 16
- CPNO Monthly Meeting February | Candler Park | 7:00 PM
- February Fun Camp 2026 | Piedmont Park | 9:00 AM
- Atlanta Run Club: Monday Night Runs | Ponce City Market | 11:30 PM

Tuesday, February 17
- Mardi Gras Party with The Venus Kings | Blind Willie's |
- Ruby Chow’s Annual Lunar New Year Party | Ruby Chow’s |
- Weekly Walking Club | Piedmont Park | 10:00 AM
- Dos Costas Carnival Takes Over Tio Lucho’s for Fat Tuesday | Tio Lucho's | 9:00 PM

Wednesday, February 18
- Orson Welles Double Feature | Plaza Theater Atlanta |
- Always The Goat | Dad's Garage |
- Fermentation Workshop | Piedmont Park | 5:30 PM
- Tripp and The Breakers | Blind Willie's | 8:30 PM

Thursday, February 19
- Figure Drawing - 2/19 | Piedmont Park | 7:00 PM
- Chester Lethers | Blind Willie's | 8:30 PM

Friday, February 20
- Jay Badlani & Friends Vol. 7: A Stand-Up Showcase | BiblioTech |
- Skyler Saufley | Blind Willie's | 9:00 PM
- R&B Fridays at Marcus Bar & Grille | Marcus Bar & Grille | 10:00 PM

Saturday, February 21
- Meet a Ranger | Fernbank Museum of Natural History | 11:30 AM
- Live Animal Encounter | Fernbank Museum of Natural History | 2:00 PM
- WildWoods: AGLOW | Fernbank Museum of Natural History | 6:00 PM
- Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives | Variety Playhouse |
- Mardi Gras Day Party | New Realm Brewing |
- The Jury Experience – Death by AI: Who Pays the Price? | 7 Stages Theatre |
- In The Clouds Presents Justin Martin | Park Tavern | 7:00 PM

Sunday, February 22
- Sensory Morning | Fernbank Museum of Natural History | 9:00 AM
- Morning Hikes | Fernbank Museum of Natural History | 9:00 AM
- Live Animal Encounter | Fernbank Museum of Natural History | 2:00 PM
- National Margarita Day | Neighbor's | 11:00 AM
- Celebration of Life for George and Betty Klein 3-6pm Tanglewood Tonic 6:30pm-9:30pm | Blind Willie's | 6:30 PM