Presented by Nailed-It Roofing

Hey, Downtown! This week: we're looking at fresh renderings of The Stitch, the park planned to cap the Downtown Connector, and a City Council vote on selling the Atlanta City Detention Center to Fulton County for $68 million. Then it's on to a packed week of shows, Halloween-flavored fun and a Georgia State enrollment record.

- News — The Stitch's new renderings, the council's $68 million jail-sale vote, Georgia State's record 54,320 students, a lifted boil water advisory and Fulton Commission early voting.
- Business — Fanatics plans a flagship Hawks store at Centennial Yards in 2027, while HawksShop.com launches Oct. 19.
- Events — Journey, Teddy Swims and WNBA Finals Game 3 at State Farm Arena anchor the week, with a free Fright Night film screening at Founders Green and the Castleberry Hill Loft Tour on Saturday.
- Government — Council committees took up a zoning rewrite, the jail sale, and limits on data center water use, with the full council meeting Monday.
- Construction — Emory's pharmacy and Cath Lab are getting renovations, I-75 tunnels are slated for LED lighting, and traffic signal repair reports are piling up.

Let's dive in.

J. Goldsmith is one of Atlanta’s foremost experts on backyard renovations. From thoughtful backyard planning to complete outdoor living projects, they help homeowners create spaces designed around the way they live. For a limited time, Busybody ATL readers can get $500 off projects of $5k or more, and $1k off projects of $10k or more! Contact them here and tell them we sent you.

Atlanta City Council to Vote on Selling City Detention Center to Fulton County
Mayor Andre Dickens offered to sell the jail to the county for $68 million, and Fulton County Chair Robb Pitts accepted, though the council wanted to weigh in first. The sale is aimed at easing overcrowding at the county jail on Rice Street, and Fulton County already leases some beds at the city facility.

Metro Atlanta university sets enrollment record
Georgia State's fall total of 54,320 students is a 1.24% increase over last fall and surpasses the previous record, set in fall 2020, by roughly 600 students. Perimeter College enrolled more than 19,000 students, up 4.46%, and graduate enrollment reached 8,426 degree-seeking students.

Boil water advisory impacting metro Atlanta communities lifted
The advisory began after what the Atlanta Department of Watershed Management described as an issue at the Chattahoochee Water Treatment Plant, first reported on Sunday. The advisory was lifted for portions of South Fulton, Fairburn, Union City, Chattahoochee Hills and Palmetto, and sampling showed no signs of contamination.

Fulton Commission Races Heat Up as Early Voting Launches Across Metro
Five of the Fulton County Commission's seven seats are on the Nov. 3 ballot, and early voting runs through Oct. 30. In District 1, Republican incumbent Bridget Thorne faces a rematch with Democrat Maggie Goldman, after winning four years ago by 394 votes out of 72,410 cast.

New renderings revealed for The Stitch with project set to begin in 2027
The renderings include an indoor-outdoor Gateway Pavilion along Peachtree Street, and the project is estimated to cost $713 million, with phase one costing around $200 million. The nonprofit has secured $50 million for phase one and is applying for a new $60 million federal grant, after more than $150 million in federal funding was pulled last year.

BUSINESS

Fanatics planning flagship Atlanta Hawks store at Centennial Yards — Fanatics plans to open a flagship sports store at Centennial Yards, next to Mercedes-Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena in Downtown Atlanta, in 2027 as part of a new retail partnership with the Atlanta Hawks that also gives it control of the team's e-commerce business (HawksShop.com launches Oct. 19) and of retail operations at State Farm Arena starting with the Oct. 24 home opener.

Need a plumber, roofer, or other home pro? The Southern Shmooze is Atlanta's front porch for finding trusted home pros. The Southern Shmooze connects Atlantans with a vetted network of local home services businesses, backed by a Facebook community of more than 17,000 Atlanta locals.

Run a local business? Apply here to get Shmooze certified! It’s free to apply, and approved businesses can connect directly with the Shmooze community. Paid membership options offer additional benefits including homeowner leads, preferred directory placement, promotion, events, and more.

Monday, October 19
- JOURNEY – Final Frontier Tour (An Evening With) | State Farm Arena
- Vince Staples | Tabernacle
- KKPsi Wind Ensemble Concert | Florence Kopleff Recital Hall

Tuesday, October 20
- Teddy Swims – The Ugly Tour | State Farm Arena
- Atlanta Business League's Super Tuesday Conference & Women of Vision Breakfast | Atlanta Marriott Marquis
- Guest Artist Residency: Dr. Emorja Roberson | Florence Kopleff Recital Hall
- Arch Enemy/The Black Dahlia Murder: Wrath Across North America 2026 | The Masquerade - Heaven

Wednesday, October 21
- Atlanta Dream: WNBA Finals | Game 3 | State Farm Arena
- Rialto Feed Your Senses w/Atlanta Radio Theatre Co | Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University
- Live Music on the Broad St. Boardwalk | Downtown Atlanta Inc. (ADID)
- Junior Recital: Cesar Arroyo, tuba | Florence Kopleff Recital Hall
- Guest Artist Recital: Anne Slovin, Soprano & Rose Wollman, Viola, "Her Secret Life" | Florence Kopleff Recital Hall

Thursday, October 22
- SOMBR – You Are The Reason Tour | State Farm Arena
- GSU Connecting Communities Public Design Workshop | Georgia State University
- City Cleanup & Beautification | Downtown Atlanta Inc. (ADID)
- Markets on the Broad Street Boardwalk | Downtown Atlanta Inc. (ADID)
- Katt Williams On Book Tour! | Tabernacle Presented by iTHINK Financial
- Texas Is the Reason | The Masquerade
- Macbeth | The Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse

Friday, October 23
- Fall-O-Ween: Fandom Fest '26 | Home Depot Backyard at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
- Flwr Chyld & Friends | The Masquerade – Purgatory
- FREE COMMUNITY FOOD DISTRIBUTION, ATLANTA | Downtown Atlanta Inc. (ADID)
- Welch School of Art & Design: 2026 MFA Open Studios | Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design
- Where Being Takes Root: Chair of Collections-led Tour | The Welch School Galleries
- Roots N Riddim - Incognito | Atlantucky Brewing
- Out On Film Presents: Fright Night at Founders Green (FREE!) | Downtown Atlanta Inc. (ADID)

Saturday, October 24
- Atlanta United FC vs. Chicago Fire FC | Atlanta’s Stadium
- Atlanta Hawks vs. Houston Rockets | State Farm Arena
- Trick-Or-Treat at the CMOA | Children’s Museum of Atlanta
- Saturday Adventures at the Center: Mama Koku | National Center for Civil and Human Rights
- Castleberry Loft Tour & Wine & Tasting | Castleberry Hill
- College Students Get FREE Admission to the College Football Hall of Fame! | Downtown Atlanta Inc. (ADID)

Sunday, October 25
- Atlanta Falcons v San Francisco 49ers | Atlanta’s Stadium
- Johnny Blue Skies & the Dark Clouds | State Farm Arena
- Broom Making Workshop @ Five Points Garden | Downtown Atlanta Inc. (ADID)

Neil Hediger Real Estate combines more than 35 years of living in Atlanta with 23+ years of real estate experience and a deep background in marketing. As an Atlanta Board Top Producer, Neil knows Atlanta — its neighborhoods, its properties and the nuances that can make the difference in a successful sale or purchase. He brings creative strategy, seasoned guidance and a highly personal approach to every client. Whether you’re buying or selling, contact Neil Hediger today to put that experience to work for you.

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

Minutes aren't published yet for any of this week's committee meetings, so this recap covers what was on the agendas. The Zoning Committee took up a full rewrite of the city's zoning ordinance and map, plus a new legal definition of "family" that could change household occupancy rules in residential zones. The Finance/Executive Committee had the $68 million jail sale to Fulton County on its agenda, which the news section above already covers, along with FY 2027 property tax rates and a resolution urging that delinquent data center developers get no city tax breaks. The Transportation Committee considered accepting a $2 million federal grant to design complete streets around Centennial Yards, which could mean safer, more walkable streets in your part of Downtown. The City Utilities Committee looked at banning drinking water for routine data center cooling, relief for sudden water bill spikes, and $25 million for water pipe upgrades, plus a $20 million loan application for lead line replacement. The Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee weighed limits on city purchases of weapon-equipped robots and a $350,000 police lawsuit settlement. Over at the Community Development/Human Services Committee, members reviewed $24 million in federal housing grants and $21.85 million for park construction and repair contracts.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

Atlanta City Council
- Atlanta City Detention Center (254 Peachtree St SW) — The committee took up a proposed intergovernmental agreement to sell the detention facility to Fulton County for up to $68 million while leasing back space to continue housing municipal court detainees.
- Centennial Yards — An ordinance is under consideration to accept a $2 million federal grant alongside private matching funds to support environmental engineering and design for the Centennial Yards Complete Streets project.

Meetings This Week
- Atlanta City Council — Committee on Council | Oct-19, 11:30 AM | key topics: dedicated police presence at recreation center polling sites, revisions to public comment procedures, independent inquiry into city contracts involving Foris Webb III
- Atlanta City Council | Oct-19, 1:00 PM | key topics: proposed $68 million sale of the Atlanta City Detention Center, restrictions on data center drinking water cooling, acceptance of Centennial Yards Complete Streets grant funding
- Fulton County Board of Commissioners | Oct-21, 10:00 AM | key topics: North Point Mall Tax Allocation District funding, utility easements for residential projects, removal of the 5% departmental budget cap

CONSTRUCTION | Presented by

If you’re in need of commercial or residential roofing installation and repair services, look no further than Nailed It Roofing. Contact them today for a free quote: 770-241-5648

Permits
- 101 NEREM ST NW — Two HVAC permits issued for new fan-coil units, terminal units, chilled and hot water piping, and ductwork. The second one adds fan filter units and air valves, which points to a big mechanical overhaul inside.
- 550 PEACHTREE ST NE — Emory University Hospital has two renovations in the works. A three-phase interior renovation of the 17th-floor pharmacy, including Suite 1720, is still routed for review, and the space stays occupied during the work. Permits are issued for a Cath Lab 1 renovation with new ductwork, 6 new diffusers and plumbing for 2 new wall outlets.
- 133 CARNEGIE WAY NW — Verizon Wireless wants to remove 8 antennas and 9 radios from the 149-foot building owned by Carnegie Hotels. The permit is routed for review.
- 97 PEACHTREE ST SW — Fire sprinkler permit issued to add 331 sprinklers to a space so it meets the 2022 NFPA 13 standard. That's a large install.
- 230 PEACHTREE ST NW — Fire alarm renovation issued for Suite 2250.

Road Work

Under Construction
- I-75/I-85 resurfacing to the Brookwood Interchange — The Downtown Connector (I-75/I-85) is being repaved up to the Brookwood Interchange. GDOT lists the work as essentially complete.
- I-75 tunnel lighting at Ralph McGill Blvd and Baker Street — The I-75 tunnel lights at Ralph McGill Boulevard and Baker Street are being replaced with energy-efficient LEDs. GDOT lists the work as essentially complete.
- I-75 tunnel lighting at SR 154 — The tunnel lights on I-75 at SR 154 are being replaced with energy-efficient LEDs. GDOT lists it as about 99% complete.
- I-75 lighting, I-85 to Memorial Drive — Older sodium streetlights along I-75 between I-85 and Memorial Drive are being swapped for energy-efficient LEDs. GDOT lists it as about 85% complete.

Service Requests
- Non-Emergency Traffic Signal Repair: 16 reports came in. Two are at Courtland St and Baker St. Others cover Baker St and Centennial Olympic Park Dr, Forsyth St NW, Andrew Young International Blvd NW and Williams St NW, and Courtland St and Auburn Ave, plus 10 more spots around the area.
- Emergency Traffic Signal Repair (Level 1): 9 reports. Ted Turner Dr NW and John Portman Blvd NW drew three of them. The rest hit Piedmont Ave and Martin L King Jr Dr, Auburn Ave and Peachtree St, Ted Turner Dr and Baker St NW, and 2 other intersections. If you drive through the Ted Turner and John Portman corner, expect it to be a trouble spot.
- Downed Trees: 4 reports on Decatur St SE, all filed on 10/12.
- Potholes: 2 reports on Trinity Ave SW.
- Right of Way Litter Removal: 2 reports, one on Gilmer St SE and one on Irwin St NE.
- Right of Way Overgrowth: 1 report on Courtland St NE about overgrowth blocking visibility.

Want to sponsor us? Submit here

Want to alter your neighborhood selections? Submit here

Want to promote an event? Submit here

Until next week,
Downtown Busybody

Book your fall escape with Alaska Airlines. Golden aspens in Denver, sunshine in Palm Springs, or crisp hikes through New England. Book Now.

_{^{Subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply.}}

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.