East Atlanta: A Pop-Up Sports Bar, Beltline Billions, and Big Votes Ahead

PSA: we’ll be publishing on Tuesday next week, because Memorial Day.

Hey, East Atlanta! It's a busy week on multiple fronts, and a few things are worth putting on your radar before the week gets away from you. A pop-up sports bar from some familiar Atlanta names is taking over the old BrewDog space at Krog District, and City Hall is moving on everything from a new APD Zone 6 precinct lease to a land use flip on Kirkwood Ave. There's a lot happening; let's get into it.

- News — MARTA is bracing for World Cup crowds, the Beltline just put a $23 billion number on its impact, and the DeKalb District 3 primary is heating up with real stakes for East Lake and Kirkwood voters.
- Business — LikeMinds brings a pop-up sports bar and live music to Krog District's old BrewDog space
- Events — Atlanta Jazz Festival returns to Piedmont Park, Cabbagetown's square dance and concert series kick off midweek, Zoo Atlanta pours beers Saturday at Brew at the Zoo, and 529 and The Earl are stacked with live music every night through the weekend.
- Government — City Council committees advanced a Johnson Road industrial-to-housing rezoning and killed a Hollowell Parkway community center last week, while this Monday's full council meeting takes up the Zone 6 precinct lease, a Kirkwood Ave land use amendment, and the $1.05M Beltline maintenance renewal.
- Construction — PetFolk is building out on Grant Street, a new sprinkler system at 525 Moreland Ave signals an incoming tenant, and the I-20 lighting upgrade between Capitol and Flat Shoals is actively underway — plus two Southside Trail segments are funded and waiting to break ground.

Let's dive in.

NEWS

MARTA finalizes transit plans for 2026 FIFA World Cup crowds
MARTA has unveiled its full strategy for moving the expected surge of international visitors through Atlanta during the World Cup — think increased rail frequency, beefed-up security, and a system bracing for the kind of crowds it doesn't see every decade. If you live near Lindbergh, Buckhead, or Lenox stations, your commute is about to get a lot more interesting, so it's worth knowing what's coming before it arrives.

Atlanta's 'I'M SO ATL' Campaign to Bring Public Art to Neighborhood Parks
The city is rolling out art installations across more than 400 parks this summer, with Grant Park and Ormewood Park among the spots set to get new creative installations. The initiative is designed to reflect what makes each neighborhood distinct — which means this one's worth paying attention to, because your park may look a little different come July.

Atlanta's Beltline delivers $23 billion in economic output
A new report puts a staggering number on what the Beltline has meant for this city: $23 billion in economic output generated from a $1 billion public investment. For residents in Inman Park, Old Fourth Ward, and anywhere else along the Eastside Trail, that return shows up not just in statistics but in the businesses, property values, and foot traffic that have reshaped daily life in these neighborhoods.

Atlanta Housing hits 88% of 10,000-unit goal
Atlanta Housing is closing in on its ambitious target of creating or preserving 10,000 affordable units, with 88% of the goal now complete. For communities along the Eastside Beltline and Sweet Auburn — where development pressure is relentless — that remaining 12% is anything but a footnote.

DeKalb District 3 primary: Massiah faces rematch, new challenger
The race for DeKalb's District 3 seat is heating up, with incumbent Massiah facing both a familiar opponent and a new challenger as the primary approaches. For voters in East Lake and Kirkwood, the stakes are concrete — infrastructure investment, development priorities, and who actually shows up for these neighborhoods are all on the table.

BUSINESS

LikeMinds - opening - A pop-up sports bar and music venue is taking over the former BrewDog space in the Krog District, brought to life by the teams behind Westside Motor Lounge and Smith's Olde Bar — two names that know how to run a room. Expect live music, games, and food from Frazie's Meat & Market filling out that cavernous space nicely.

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EVENTS

Tuesday, May 19
- The Conspiracy Tour: Living Dead Girl w/ Vikkis Dream and Ashes to Omens | 529 Bar

Wednesday, May 20
- The Little Mercies: Cabbagetown Square Dance | Cabbagetown Park
- Historic Preservation Land Use (HPLU) Meeting | Cabbagetown Neighborhood Improvement Association
- Keeper for a Day: Reptiles and Amphibians | Zoo Atlanta
- CDSM | The Earl

Thursday, May 21
- Cabbagetown Concert Series | Cabbagetown Neighborhood Improvement Association
- Third Thursdays Cinemas at Atlanta Dairies Presents: Brink! | Atlanta Dairies
- Adventure Cubs at the Zoo | Zoo Atlanta
- Rickshaw Billie's Burger Patrol: Atlanta, GA | The EARL
- Daink Heads | 529 EAV

Friday, May 22
- Improvised Action Movie | Dad's Garage
- Cash Grab Tour 2026 | The Earl
- Üga Büga | The EARL

Saturday, May 23
- Brew at the Zoo | Zoo Atlanta
- Lemur Wild Encounter at Zoo Atlanta | Zoo Atlanta
- Warthog Wild Encounter at Zoo Atlanta | Zoo Atlanta
- Atlanta Jazz Festival | Piedmont Park

- TheatreSports | Dad's Garage
- Performing "Mega Man X" LIVE | The Earl

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

Atlanta's City Council and its committees were busy across multiple meetings this past week. In a brief Special Called Meeting on May 13, the full Council voted 8-0 to approve the final pricing terms for a series of water and wastewater "Sustainability Bonds," locking in interest rates and repayment schedules for debt that will fund ongoing utility infrastructure improvements — the urgency of the vote was to secure favorable market conditions before rates shifted. The City Utilities Committee (May 12) authorized over $100 million in water and sewer spending, including roughly $70 million across several sanitary sewer repair contracts and a $24 million change order to add the Peachtree Creek Eastside 2B project to ongoing creek infrastructure work — significant for residents in this watershed. The Transportation Committee (May 13) approved $6.4 million in state road maintenance grants and recommended abandoning a stretch of Gilmer Street SE to Georgia State University, while deferring the contentious proposal for dedicated bike and motorized vehicle lanes on the Atlanta BeltLine and stalling a $3.6 million Peachtree Street improvement grant for additional review. The Finance/Executive Committee (May 13) approved a $200,000 donation to the Piedmont Park Conservancy and advanced new Enterprise Zone infrastructure fees, but held the FY2027 budget, property tax rates, and a long-awaited Atlanta Fire Rescue compensation plan for further review. The Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee (May 11) approved a $4.89 million demolition and asbestos abatement contract, authorized a $400,000 legal settlement in the Linnet Carty case, and held the proposed 180-day moratorium on new alcohol licenses in the Edgewood Corridor at the sponsor's request. The Zoning Committee (May 11) approved a 24.7-acre planned residential development and rezoned 13 acres near the BeltLine from industrial to multi-family housing, while deferring a large mixed-use project on Sylvan Road — which already faces denial recommendations from city staff — and closing the door on a proposed community center permit on Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway. The Community Development/Human Services Committee (May 12) took up several land-use redesignations, a $1.05 million BeltLine parks maintenance renewal, a proposal to create a short-term rental registry, and formal adoption of neighborhood plans for Peachtree Park and Edgewood, though minutes are not yet posted so actual outcomes for those items remain unconfirmed.

Atlanta Public Schools — Board of Education

The APS Policy Review Committee wrapped up final approvals on two policy updates at its May 14 meeting while opening discussions on issues that will shape classrooms in the months ahead. The board granted final approval to an updated student counseling and career planning policy, formalizing how the district manages academic pathways for students preparing for graduation and post-secondary transitions, and also finalized stricter rules governing employee credit card and purchasing practices — a fiscal accountability measure affecting how district funds are spent. On the emerging issues front, the committee began formal discussions on setting limits for student screen time and device use during the school day, though no vote was taken and the item will return to a future meeting. The committee also received a status update on APS surplus properties — land the district no longer actively uses — which typically signals that sites could be headed toward sale or redevelopment in the coming months, with specific addresses expected to surface as items move toward an action vote.

Fulton County Board of Commissioners

Fulton County's Board of Commissioners held a Special Called Meeting on May 12 focused entirely on the county's Service Delivery Strategy — a mandatory legal agreement under Georgia law that determines how the county and its municipalities divide responsibility for services like police, fire, and infrastructure, and which government entity collects taxes to pay for them. Because minutes have not been posted, actual outcomes from this meeting are not yet confirmed, and the discussion may have been continued or deferred. The stakes are real for residents: the Service Delivery Strategy directly affects whether city residents are paying county taxes for services they don't receive, or whether gaps exist in coverage between jurisdictions. Decisions made in these negotiations often ripple into future budget cycles and changes in how emergency services or utilities are managed across the region.

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners

DeKalb's Board of Commissioners had a sweeping agenda on May 12, touching nearly every aspect of county life — though minutes are not yet available for either the May 12 or May 16 meetings, so actual votes and outcomes remain unconfirmed. Among the most consequential items scheduled: a $26.58 million project to build three new fire stations, a $32.37 million emergency expansion of the Snapfinger wastewater treatment facility, and an $8 million allocation for extending the South Peachtree Creek Trail to connect Medlock Park to the Lulah Hills development. The board was also set to consider new countywide regulations defining and setting development standards for data centers, along with a resolution that would require baseline health and environmental assessments before any new data center construction can begin — a direct response to community concerns about the industry's rapid expansion. Additional items on the docket included a proposed blasting safety ordinance, a Water Customer Bill of Rights, civilian oversight for the county's "Digital Shield" surveillance network, and a landscaping rebate program to encourage residents to switch from gas-powered to electric lawn equipment.

Meetings This Week
- Atlanta City Council — Committee on Council — Monday, May 18 at 11:30 AM
The committee is scheduled to take up a resolution requesting certified law enforcement officers at all Atlanta recreation centers used as polling sites, as well as a proposal to authorize outside counsel for an independent investigation into city contracts and administrative actions involving Foris Webb, III. Also on the agenda: appointments to the Budget Commission to begin laying groundwork for the FY2027 city budget, a resolution to dissolve several inactive city boards, and an ordinance that would require a council member to be listed as primary sponsor of record for most proposed legislation.

- Atlanta City Council — Monday, May 18 at 1:00 PM
The full council's agenda includes a rezoning request for a 13-acre site at 1125 Johnson Road and 1430 Rockdale Street NW from townhomes to apartments, and a separate proposal to rezone nearly 25 acres at 1981 County Line Road SW for a large planned residential development. The council will also consider a proposed five-year lease at 2025 Hosea Williams Drive SE for a new APD Zone 6 precinct serving much of Atlanta's east side, a city land sale to GDOT at 3711 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SW to facilitate the I-285/I-20 West interchange reconstruction, and a $1.05 million renewal for Atlanta Beltline park and greenspace maintenance.

- Atlanta City Council — Community Development/Human Services Committee — Monday, May 18 at 1:00 PM
The committee is set to consider a wave of land use map amendments proposing shifts from industrial to high-density mixed-use along the Logan Circle and Chattahoochee Avenue corridors in West Midtown, a resolution to create dedicated bicycle and motorized vehicle lanes on the Atlanta Beltline, and a proposal to make summer camp free for any child who qualifies for free or reduced lunch. A resolution to establish an Office of Short-Term Rentals — with a mandatory registry and platform permit verification — is also scheduled for consideration. A land use amendment at 708 Kirkwood Ave SE, proposing a shift from low-density residential to low-density mixed-use, is on the agenda.

- Fulton County Board of Commissioners — Wednesday, May 20 at 10:00 AM
Commissioners are scheduled to consider a resolution requesting the Sheriff decline certain misdemeanor bookings to address jail overcrowding, alongside a plan to improve jail staffing and hiring. Also on the agenda: $5.3 million in community services grants to local nonprofits, a MARTA quarterly briefing, a resolution supporting small business growth in South Downtown ahead of the 2026 World Cup, and a challenge to the constitutionality of Georgia HB 369, which would mandate nonpartisan elections for county officers and district attorneys in several metro counties starting in 2028.

- Atlanta NPU — NPU-W — Wednesday, May 20 at 7:00 PM (Virtual Only)

- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole — Thursday, May 21 at 9:00 AM
The committee is set to consider the county's tentative 2026 millage rates, proposed fee increases for sanitation services and stormwater utilities, and rate hikes for the DeKalb County Courthouse parking facilities. Also on the agenda: proposed roundabouts at two locations along SR 8/Ponce De Leon Avenue and at SR 155/Clairmont Road and Rosecliff Drive, a resolution to establish independent civilian oversight of the county's "Digital Shield" surveillance network, and a review of whether to extend a moratorium on adult entertainment businesses countywide.

CONSTRUCTION

Permits

- 1039 Grant St SE — PetFolk Pet Care is building out a new location, with both plumbing and HVAC permits issued for the interior buildout. New ductwork, sanitary lines, and exhaust fans going in — this one's getting close to opening.
- 525 Moreland Ave SE — A new wet fire sprinkler system is going in, a reliable signal that a commercial space is being prepped for a new tenant. Keep an eye on this stretch of Moreland.
- 1015 Blvd SE — Multiple permits filed for a new tenant buildout: 7 new plumbing fixtures and relocated sprinklers to accommodate a new drop ceiling. Someone's moving in.
- 951 Glenwood Ave SE — A Tesla Level 2 EV charger (11.5kW) is being installed at this commercial property. Small upgrade, but part of a quiet trend of EV infrastructure appearing at local businesses.
- 1188 Glenwood Ave SE — Cosmetic remodel and electrical fixture replacement filed. Light refresh, nothing dramatic.
- 1061 Memorial Dr SE — Voice, data, and security systems permitted for this commercial space. Typically a late-stage finishing step before a business opens.

On the residential side, 12 arborist permits were filed — the most of any category this week, likely routine dead or hazardous tree removals ahead of storm season.

Road Work

Under Construction

- SR-42/US-23 at Moreland Ave & Arkwright Place (Fulton County) — The intersection at Moreland and Arkwright Place is being converted to a right-in/right-out configuration, with a new median going in to eliminate left turns and cut across movements. If you're used to turning left here, that option is going away — start planning your route now.
- SR-154 (Memorial Drive) — Multiple Locations, DeKalb & Fulton — A pedestrian safety overhaul is underway along Memorial Drive, adding a mid-block crossing, a right-in/right-out, and a Restricted Crossing U-Turn (RCUT) between Hill Street and Pearl Street. Expect lane shifts and signal changes at multiple spots along this corridor.
- SR-260 at Brownwood Ave, Joseph Ave, Haas Ave & Eastside Ave — Several intersections along SR-260 in nearby DeKalb are getting Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacons (RRFBs) installed to improve pedestrian crossing safety. Construction activity at these intersections may cause brief slowdowns.

Pre-Construction
- BeltLine Southside Trail – Glenwood Ave to Woodward Ave (Fulton County) — This long-awaited segment of the Southside Trail (Segment 6) runs along Bill Kennedy Way/SR-154 Connector and includes a new trail bridge over I-20. It's sitting in the pre-construction pipeline, funded but not yet underway — when it does break ground, expect some disruption along that corridor.
- BeltLine Southside Trail – Faith Ave to SR-154 (Fulton County) — The adjacent Southside Trail segment, also on Bill Kennedy Way, is similarly queued up and waiting to move. Together, these two segments will close a significant gap in the trail network through this part of town.
- SR-154/Memorial Drive Corridor Improvements (Fulton County) — Sidewalk expansions are coming to Memorial Drive between Connally Street and Grant Street — filling in missing, broken, and damaged sections and bringing everything up to ADA standards. No active work yet, but this one is funded and in the queue.
- SR-154 Auxiliary Lanes – Connally St to Grant St (Fulton County) — Paired with the sidewalk project above, this work adds through lanes along the same Memorial Drive stretch. Two separate projects, same corridor — when construction eventually starts, that section of Memorial Drive will be a busy work zone.
- Atlanta Traffic Signal Enhancements – Phase II (DeKalb & Fulton Counties) — A broad signal upgrade program covering intersections across both counties, including equipment upgrades, better detection, ADA ramp improvements, fiber/4G communications, and retimed signals. No specific intersection list is public yet, but if you've got a chronically bad light in the neighborhood, this project might be the fix — eventually.

Service Requests

Eighteen service requests came in across the area this week, covering a familiar mix of road, signal, and public space issues.

- Sign Repair, Replacement, or Installation — Work underway at Chastain St SE & Woodward SE, DeKalb Ave & Moreland Ave, Rosalia St SE, Weatherby St SE, and Moreland Ave & Alta Ave.
- Potholes — Reported at Chester Ave & Glenwood Ave (two separate reports), Sydney St & Fulton St, Flat Shoals Ave SE, and Wylie St SE.
- Graffiti Removal — Three reports clustered along the Moreland Ave corridor: at DeKalb Ave, Seaboard Ave, and Caroline St.
- Traffic Signal Issues — A Level 1 emergency repair is underway at Moreland Ave & Wylie St. Non-emergency signal repairs are also in progress at Glenwood Ave SE & I-20 (west of ramp) and along Glenwood Ave SE.
- Right-of-Way Overgrowth — Two visibility complaints, at Glenwood Ave SE between Cherokee Ave and Boulevard SE and on Rosalia St SE, have both been resolved.