Presented by Rally Built Homes

Hey, Downtown - welcome to our first edition! This week: Atlanta and MARTA finally settled their decade-long tax fight, freeing up $52 million for transit upgrades, and the neighborhood is bracing for Dragon Con's 40th anniversary invasion over Labor Day weekend. Add in a Tabernacle rebrand, a big Upper Westside rezoning win, and scooter companies preemptively shutting down rentals to block a planned street takeover, and it's a lot to keep up with, so let's get into it.

- News — The MARTA-Atlanta tax truce unlocks millions for transit, the Tabernacle gets a new name, and city leaders eye a "parking bill of rights" while Dragon Con and scooter chaos loom over downtown streets.
- Events — Dragon Con's costumed masses take over downtown all week, with Shakespeare Tavern classics, live music at The Masquerade, and a full slate of parades, parties, and pop-up festivals rounding out the weekend.
- Government — Council approved a major Upper Westside rezoning and $40 million in body cam expansion while punting on a data center water study and a seventh police patrol zone, plus two meetings worth watching this week.
- Construction — Downtown buildings are mid-facelift with re-roofing at Luckie Street, an electrical overhaul for Live Nation's venue, and LED tunnel lighting upgrades rolling out along I-75.

Let's dive in.

NEWS

Atlanta and MARTA settle decade-long tax dispute, paving the way for transit upgrades
The City of Atlanta and MARTA have resolved a long-running dispute over sales tax revenue, releasing $52 million in funding earmarked for transit improvements and key regional projects.

Why Atlanta's iconic Tabernacle venue is changing its name
The Tabernacle, a live music landmark in Downtown Atlanta for three decades, is entering a new naming-rights partnership with iTHINK Financial and will now be officially called Tabernacle Presented by iTHINK Financial.

Atlanta leaders consider new 'parking bill of rights'
Atlanta City Council leaders are advancing legislation to regulate private parking lot operators and require clearer signage, targeting predatory booting and confusing payment practices in commercial districts.

Dragon Con 2026 guide: What to know before heading downtown
More than 75,000 attendees are expected in Downtown Atlanta over Labor Day weekend for Dragon Con's 40th anniversary, bringing heavy foot traffic, major road closures, and increased transit activity to the neighborhood.

Downtown highway-capping Stitch project advances with new leadership appointments
Atlanta Downtown Stitch Inc. has appointed two veteran civic leaders to its team, a step forward for the planned highway-capping park intended to reconnect Downtown and Midtown over the I-75/I-85 Connector.

Bird, Lime restrict scooters in downtown Atlanta on Tuesday to block planned takeover
Shared e-scooter operators geofenced and disabled rentals across parts of Downtown Atlanta to prevent an unpermitted group takeover event from disrupting streets and pedestrian pathways.

EVENTS | Presented by

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Monday, August 31
- Big Wave: No Room for Error | Cosm Atlanta
- Big D and the Kids Table | The Masquerade – Purgatory
- Play Haven Reading: Rural | Theatrical Outlet

Tuesday, September 1
- Cheerleader Roadkill | Wheelies Tiny Donuts
- Diva Bleach | The Masquerade

Wednesday, September 2
- Jutes: Smile You’re on Tour | The Masquerade
- Dragon Con 2026 | Atlanta Marriott Marquis

Thursday, September 3
- Adventures at the Center: Side Quest | Agents, Heroes & Dragons | National Center for Civil and Human Rights
- Fall Faculty Showcase | Florence Kopleff Recital Hall
- The Glass Cannon Network - Call of Cthulhu Live! (18+ Event) | Heaven at The Masquerade
- Brobdingnagian Bards: Dragon Con 2026 | Hyatt Regency Atlanta
- Atlanta Shakespeare Company presents The Taming of the Shrew | Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse

Friday, September 4
- Meltt | The Masquerade
- ISOxo presents: Hardcore Diva | Hop ON – Hop OFF Tours
- Atlanta Shakespeare Company presents Twelfth Night | Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse

Saturday, September 5
- Dragon Con Night at Georgia Aquarium | Georgia Aquarium
- 2026 Aflac Kickoff – Auburn vs. Baylor | Mercedes-Benz Stadium
- Sevendust & Theory of a Deadman | The Tabernacle
- Bank of America: Museums on Us | National Center for Civil and Human Rights
- Icon for Hire: SCRIPTED 15 YEAR ALBUM ANNIVERSARY TOUR | The Masquerade – Purgatory
- Dragon Con Parade View and Brunch | Hard Rock Cafe
- Outside the Box at Children's Museum of Atlanta | Children's Museum of Atlanta
- TinyCON at Children's Museum of Atlanta | Children's Museum of Atlanta
- Atlanta Hip Hop Day Festival | Historic Fourth Ward Park
- Taste of Soul Atlanta | 498 N. MLK Jr. Dr.
- Atlanta Shakespeare Company presents The Comedy of Errors | Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse

Sunday, September 6
- WWE Sunday Night’s Main Event | State Farm Arena
- Cheekface w/ special guest Catbite | The Masquerade – Purgatory
- Dua Saleh | The Masquerade
- Measure for Measure | The Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse

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

Council committees covered a packed docket this week. At the Zoning Committee, members cleared nearly 37 acres in the Upper Westside for Selig Enterprises to turn old industrial land along Logan Circle and Chattahoochee Avenue into mixed-use development, while shelving a proposed historic district overlay on Peachtree Circle in a divided vote. The Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee approved $815,000 in settlements tied to two federal lawsuits against the police department and sent a $40 million contract expanding Axon body and fleet cameras to full council, while holding off on a study for a possible seventh police patrol zone. The City Utilities Committee approved $2 million for stream restoration at Chastain Park Golf Course and a utility deal letting GDOT relocate water and sewer lines for free ahead of the I-285 Top End Express Lanes project, but held a data center water restriction and task force proposal for more review. The Community Development/Human Services Committee moved forward on land use changes that would allow denser development along Ponce de Leon Avenue, Ellsworth Industrial Boulevard and Decatur Street, and took up condemnation proceedings against five blighted Westside properties. The Finance/Executive Committee took up a crackdown on tax-delinquent developers getting city incentives, over $332,000 in water and sewer refunds for residents, and next year's property tax rates, though minutes for that meeting aren't posted yet so outcomes aren't confirmed. The Transportation Committee took up a bid for $7 million in grants to build the next segment of the BeltLine's Southside Trail and an extension of e-scooter permits through mid-2027, also without confirmed outcomes yet.

Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education

The Student Advisory Council met this week for a mostly internal session, and nothing binding came out of it. Members reviewed a draft district policy on artificial intelligence in classrooms, though no restrictions or rollout timeline got finalized. District leadership also gave students a briefing on strategic goals for the 2026-2027 school year. The council spent the rest of its time on housekeeping, setting its meeting calendar and committee assignments for the year ahead. None of this affects zoning, budgets, or school operations yet, but it's worth watching as the AI policy develops.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

Atlanta City Council
- Centennial Olympic Park Drive — A resolution was introduced urging the transportation department to permanently preserve and upgrade protected multi-use paths along Centennial Olympic Park Drive.
- 213 Peachtree Street SW & 225 Pryor Street SW — The committee approved renewing a $50,000 parking lease agreement with Park Place Operations for Department of Parks and Recreation employee parking.

Atlanta NPU-M
- 40 Marietta Street NW — The Integral Group presented an application seeking $22 million in Invest Atlanta funding for downtown development.
- 108 Pryor Street SW — An application was considered for a new nightclub liquor license for LunchBox.
- 200 Peachtree Street NW — Organizers requested street and lane closures along Peachtree Street and Andrew Young International Boulevard for an outdoor soccer celebration festival.
- 191 Peachtree Street NE — Alma Cocina requested a liquor license status change to operate an open-air cafe with alcohol service.

Meetings This Week
- Atlanta Public Schools — Board of Education | Sep-01 | key topics: surplus property redevelopment for affordable housing, City of Atlanta parks joint use agreement, and student technology policies
- Fulton County Board of Commissioners — Board of Commissioners | Sep-02, 10:00 AM | key topics: affordable housing grants in Vine City and English Avenue, Fulton County Jail elevator modernizations, and water infrastructure agreements

CONSTRUCTION | Presented by

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Permits
- 84 Luckie St NW — Full re-roof job in progress. Crews are stripping the old modified bitumen roof down and putting in a new tapered TPO system, so expect some noise and equipment around the building for a while.
- 261 Mills St NW — Fire and water damage repairs underway at unit #101. The unit got gutted and everything inside is being replaced, a sign of how serious the damage was.
- 364 Nelson St SW — New tenant moving into the lower level. The permit covers interior alterations including restroom and egress work, so watch for a new business filling that space soon.
- 85 Centennial Olympic Park Dr NW — Live Nation is putting in new electrical systems here. Worth watching if you're into what's coming to that venue.
- 100 Peachtree St NW — Sizable electrical upgrade filed, adding floor boxes, 18 duplex outlets, 19 flat panel connections, wall and ceiling sensors. This looks like prep work for a modernized office or event space.
- 249 Ivan Allen Jr Blvd NW — Cosmetic-only interior upgrades planned, no mechanical, electrical, or plumbing changes. A light refresh rather than a major overhaul.
- 55 Ivan Allen Jr Blvd NW and 85 Centennial Olympic Park Dr NW area — Security camera and data system installs continue to pop up around downtown, including at 305 Spring St NW too. More buildings are beefing up their security infrastructure this month.

Road Work

Under Construction
- I-75/I-85 from CSX #050315P to Brookwood Interchange — Crews are resurfacing SR 401 to fix its low OCI score. The road was last resurfaced in 2016.
- I-75 @ Ralph McGill Blvd & @ Baker Street Tunnel Lighting — Crews are swapping the old HPS tunnel lighting for energy-efficient LED fixtures. The work may also include new conduit, wiring, and related fixes.
- I-75 @ SR 154 Tunnel Lighting — This project brings the same HPS-to-LED tunnel lighting upgrade to the I-75 tunnel at SR 154, with possible conduit and wiring replacement.
- I-75 from I-85 to Memorial Drive — Crews are upgrading corridor lighting from HPS to LED along this stretch, with work that may include new poles, conduit, and wiring.

Service Requests
- Traffic Signal Repairs — 14 reports flooding in on Ivan Allen Jr Blvd & Williams St, Centennial Olympic Park Dr & Marietta St, Ellis St NE, John Wesley Dobbs Ave & Peachtree Center Ave, Jesse Hill Jr Dr & Decatur St, and several other intersections. Most are in progress or closed, but a few are stuck in duplicate or cancelled status.
- Potholes — Crews are addressing reports on Courtland St SE, Piedmont Ave NE, Centennial Olympic Park Dr & Andrew Young International Blvd, Ivan Allen Jr Blvd NW, and Garnett St & Pryor St. One's already fixed, one found no problem, and the rest are in progress.
- Visibility and Overgrowth Issues — Reports came in on W Peachtree Pl NW, Peachtree Pl & Williams St, Ted Turner Dr & W Peachtree Pl NW, and Walker St SW. Three are already resolved.
- Sign Repair or Replacement — Walker St SW has two open requests, and Edgewood Ave NE & Leonard Tate St NE has a third. All three are still in progress.
- Litter Removal — Peachtree St & Renaissance Pkwy has a request in progress.
- Downed Tree — Willow St NE's report is already closed.
- Graffiti Removal — Jesse Hill Jr Dr & John Wesley Dobbs Ave has an in-progress request.
- Emergency Traffic Signal Repair — Linden Ave & Spring St has a Level 1 emergency request marked for further explanation.

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Until next week,
Downtown Busybody

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.