East Atlanta: Beltline Hits 17 Miles and Cabbagetown Is Getting an Upgrade

Hey, East Atlanta! The Beltline just crossed a milestone years in the making, Cabbagetown scored a win at City Hall, and a new wine bar from the Little Bear team is headed to the Village. There's a lot to dig into this week, including a packed Juneteenth weekend calendar and some construction news that will affect how you move through the corridor.

- News — The Beltline now has 17 contiguous miles of trail, the Memorial Drive Greenway holds its final public input meeting June 23, and Cabbagetown Park is in line for meaningful upgrades.
- Business — The team behind Little Bear is opening Bar Schmutzi in EAV, while Krog District adds a YETI store this week and Eggslut later this fall.
- Events — Juneteenth weekend anchors the calendar with free programs and tours at Oakland Cemetery, plus the Cabbagetown Concert Series kicks off Thursday.
- Government — City Council approved a ban on commercial cut-through truck traffic in Cabbagetown, moved toward a FY2027 budget vote, and deferred a key alcohol moratorium for the Edgewood Corridor to this Monday.
- Construction — A new Grant Park restaurant is permitting fast, Moreland Ave is getting an intersection overhaul at Arkwright Place, and nine pothole reports are keeping city crews busy across the neighborhood.

Let's dive in.

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NEWS

Images: Upgrades bound for beloved Cabbagetown park
Cabbagetown Park — already one of the eastside's most-loved green spaces, tucked right next to the Krog Street Tunnel — is getting a meaningful upgrade. The planned improvements target both the park's usability and its connections to the East Side Beltline, which means better access for the whole corridor, not just the immediate neighborhood.

Final open house event for Memorial Drive Greenway project is June 23
If you live in Oakland, Cabbagetown, or Grant Park and haven't been paying attention to the Memorial Drive Greenway, now is the time to catch up, because June 23 is your last chance to weigh in. The final open house at Oakland Cemetery's Visitor Center will lay out plans for a linear park that would stitch the historic cemetery all the way to the Downtown Connector.

The Atlanta Beltline now has nearly 17-miles of connected trails
This is the milestone Beltline believers have been waiting for. The completion of a Southside trail segment this past week created 17 contiguous miles of trail, finally linking the Eastside and Westside trails into one unbroken loop — a genuine turning point for how Atlantans move through their city.

World Cup Atlanta: Additional watch parties in metro Atlanta
Atlanta is deep in World Cup fever this summer, and the watch party options keep expanding across the metro. Whether you want a crowd, a cold drink, or both, there are more ways than ever to catch the action out in the world — click through for the full rundown.

Atlanta's tax extension plan becomes issue in Fulton Commission chair runoff
The Fulton County Commission chair runoff just got more consequential for Atlanta homeowners. A proposed tax extension has moved to the center of the race, and depending on who wins, the implications for local property taxes and how the county funds infrastructure could be significant — worth tracking closely as the election approaches.

BUSINESS

Bar Schmutzi - opening - The team behind Summerhill's beloved Little Bear is bringing a cozy, European-inspired wine bar to East Atlanta Village, with a curated wine list and a small food menu.

The Krog District - opening - The mixed-use hub is in the middle of a busy season, with a YETI store arriving June 18th and Eggslut expected this fall, adding to recent additions Nando's and Likeminds — the stretch keeps stacking up tenants.

EVENTS | Presented by

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Monday, June 15
- Garden to Table Summer Camp | Oakland Cemetery
- Summer Safari Camp at Zoo Atlanta | Zoo Atlanta
- Plush | 529 Bar

Tuesday, June 16
- CBF26 - Zoo Atlanta Grant Park Field Trip | Grant Park Recreation Center
- Tony Jupiter | The Earl

Wednesday, June 17
- Historic Preservation Land Use (HPLU) Meeting | Cabbagetown Neighborhood Improvement Association
- Marisa Anderson | The Earl
- Brave Days | 529 EAV

Thursday, June 18
- Cabbagetown Concert Series | Cabbagetown Neighborhood Improvement Association
- Adventure Cubs | Zoo Atlanta
- Sean Patton | The Earl
- Saving Vice & RODERIK & Resider | 529 EAV

Friday, June 19
- Juneteenth at Finally, Friday | Oakland Cemetery
- We Shall All Be Free: A Spirited Juneteenth Tour | Oakland Cemetery
- National Martini Day | Republic Social House
- The Darts | The Earl
- Solid State Radio | 529 EAV

Saturday, June 20
- We Shall Overcome: African American Stories from Civil War to Civil Rights (FREE in Celebration of Juneteenth) | Oakland Cemetery
- Pride Night | Zoo Atlanta
- Keeper for a Day: Elephants | Zoo Atlanta
- Upchuck | The Earl
- LungBurner | 529 Bar

Sunday, June 21
- EARL 27th Anniversary Series | The Earl
- Trainer for a Day: World of Wild Theater | Zoo Atlanta
- The Women of Oakland | Oakland Cemetery
- Beasts Of The East Tour @ 529 | 529 EAV

GOVERNMENT

Note: our information comes from posted meetings documents (agendas and minutes when available) — latest source document hyperlinked to each meeting.

Past Week Roundup

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners

At its June 9 meeting — for which minutes have not yet been posted — commissioners were scheduled to act on several consequential items, including a 100-day extension of the county's moratorium on new data centers (through September 30), which would give planning staff more time to finalize zoning regulations for the industry. Proposed fee increases for stormwater utility and sanitation services were deferred to June 23, and the board also backed state-planned roundabouts on Ponce de Leon Avenue and Clairmont Road to improve intersection safety. A controversial ordinance targeting public camping and vagrancy, as well as a major overhaul of the county's noise regulations, were both pushed to later dates. At a separate June 10 Town Hall — agenda only, no minutes posted — the county is scheduled to present those same stormwater and sanitation fee increase proposals to the public and collect feedback before any final vote; residents who wish to speak must submit a speaker card to the clerk before the relevant public comment periods begin.

Atlanta City Council — Zoning Committee

The Zoning Committee's June 8 meeting — minutes are posted — featured a packed docket of development proposals signaling continued pressure to convert industrial land into housing and mixed-use corridors across the city. On the agenda were first readings for a 12.5-acre industrial-to-mixed-use rezoning along the BeltLine on White Street SW, an 8.5-acre heavy industrial-to-residential proposal on Ellsworth Industrial Boulevard NW, and sweeping rezoning requests for dozens of parcels along Logan Circle and Chattahoochee Avenue NW on the Upper Westside. A citywide text amendment was also up for consideration that would impose strict buffer zones and special use permit requirements for medical cannabis dispensaries. Because these were agenda items subject to deferral or withdrawal, readers should confirm outcomes before assuming any of these rezonings moved forward.

Atlanta City Council — Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee

Minutes are posted from the June 8 meeting, where the committee approved a nearly $3.5 million contract amendment with Axon Enterprise to equip Atlanta Police with a counter-drone detection and mitigation system — a significant investment in a technology increasingly relevant to urban public safety. The committee also approved a resolution to pursue a blight tax penalty against the neglected property at 1155 Peachtree Street NE, and authorized a $500,000 settlement in a pending Fulton County court case. On the other hand, two locally significant items were deferred to June 15: a proposed 180-day moratorium on new alcohol licenses in the Edgewood Corridor, and a lease proposal for a new APD Zone 6 precinct on Hosea Williams Drive at $102,000 per year.

Atlanta City Council — Community Development/Human Services Committee

With minutes posted from the June 9 meeting, the committee approved a $7.86 million acquisition of nearly 30 acres on Randall Mill Road NW to be permanently protected as forested land — one of the city's larger recent conservation purchases. The committee also unanimously advanced the Atlanta Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative (NRI) Trust Fund framework, which extends the life of select Tax Allocation Districts to direct money toward affordable housing and community stabilization, though the vote was not without dissent: Council Member Michael Julian Bond voted against and Chair Matt Westmoreland abstained. Land use changes approved include a shift of properties on Sylvan Road SW and Cox Avenue from industrial to high-density mixed-use, opening the door to ground-floor retail with dense housing above. A proposal to establish an Office of Short-Term Rentals with a permitting registry was deferred at the sponsor's request, leaving that debate for another day.

Atlanta City Council — City Utilities Committee

The June 9 Utilities Committee meeting — minutes posted — approved a $2 million contract extension for on-call underwater diving services used to inspect and maintain the city's water infrastructure, along with an $822,567 funding boost and timeline extension for the Greensferry Stream and Floodplain Restoration project. A month-to-month software support contract for solid waste billing was also extended at up to $364,000. Notably, a proposed ordinance that would adjust solid waste taxes and service fees for residents — a direct pocketbook issue — was held in committee to allow for a public hearing first, giving Atlantans a chance to weigh in before any rate changes take effect.

Atlanta City Council — Transportation Committee

Minutes are posted from the June 10 Transportation Committee meeting, where members approved a ban on commercial cut-through truck traffic in the Cabbagetown historic district — a win for residents who have long complained about heavy vehicles using neighborhood streets as shortcuts. The committee also passed new legislation requiring construction sites to provide safe temporary pedestrian pathways whenever sidewalks are blocked, and approved over $9.3 million in combined GDOT grants and resurfacing contracts to improve local streets. Two high-profile projects remain stalled: a $3.6 million improvement plan for the Peachtree Street corridor and a proposal to add dedicated bike and vehicle lanes along the Atlanta BeltLine, both held in committee for further review.

Atlanta City Council — Finance/Executive Committee

The June 10 Finance/Executive Committee — minutes posted — recommended approval of the city's Fiscal Year 2027 budget and set the ad valorem millage rates that will determine property tax bills across Atlanta, including rates for the BeltLine and Atlanta Stitch special service districts. The committee also unanimously advanced the Atlanta Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative Trust Fund, which extends certain Tax Allocation Districts to channel economic development funding toward affordable housing and small business support in targeted neighborhoods. A proposed ordinance establishing consumer protections for park-for-hire facilities — covering rate disclosures, payment access rules, and dispute resolution for parking lots and garages — was forwarded to the full council without a committee recommendation. On the other side of the ledger, a $2.28 million water tank services contract was officially killed by the committee.

Fulton County Board of Commissioners

The Fulton County Board of Commissioners convened a Special Called Meeting on June 9 to take up negotiations over the county's Service Delivery Strategy — a state-mandated agreement that determines how Fulton County and its cities divide responsibility and funding for essential services like water, sewer, fire protection, and parks. No minutes have been posted, so it's not yet confirmed what, if anything, was decided. The outcome of these negotiations matters directly to residents because the agreement is designed to prevent double-taxation, where property owners could otherwise be billed by both the county and a city for the same service — making this a foundational discussion for how local tax dollars get allocated.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

Atlanta City Council — Transportation Committee
- Tenelle Street & Carroll Street (Cabbagetown) — The committee approved a ban on commercial cut-through truck traffic on these streets, along with Estoria Street, to protect the historic Cabbagetown Landmark District from heavy freight traffic.

Atlanta City Council — Community Development/Human Services Committee
- Brownwood Park Recreation Center (602 Brownwood Ave SE) — A five-year lease agreement with East Atlanta Kids Club, Inc. was approved to continue youth programming at the recreation center.
- 708 Kirkwood Avenue SE — A request to redesignate this property from Low Density Residential to Low Density Mixed Use (allowing small-scale neighborhood shops alongside residential uses) was deferred to a hearing scheduled for June 15, 2026.

Meetings This Week
- Atlanta City Council — Committee on Council — Monday, June 15 at 11:30 AM
The committee is scheduled to take up a resolution requesting certified law enforcement officers be stationed at all city recreation centers used as polling places during major elections, along with a proposed ordinance that would change how residents sign up for public comment at council meetings. Appointments to the BeltLine TAD Advisory Committee, the Atlanta Citizen Review Board, and the city's Housing Commission are also on the agenda.

- Atlanta City Council — Monday, June 15 at 1:00 PM
The full council is scheduled to vote on the Fiscal Year 2027 city budget and new property tax rates, along with a proposed ordinance requiring mandatory pedestrian detours whenever sidewalks are blocked by construction. A proposed ban on commercial cut-through truck traffic on Estoria, Tenelle, and Carroll Streets in Cabbagetown is on the agenda, as is a rezoning request for 13.87 acres at Sylvan Road and Cox Avenue — which city planning staff and the Zoning Review Board have recommended for denial. A proposed lease with the East Atlanta Kids Club at Brownwood Park Recreation Center is also scheduled for consideration.

- Fulton County Board of Commissioners — Wednesday, June 17 at 10:00 AM
Commissioners are scheduled to vote on an $8.9 million election staffing contract covering the General, Nonpartisan, and Runoff Elections through the end of 2026. Also on the agenda are grant awards to convert 66 market-rate apartments in Downtown Atlanta to affordable housing, fund a new 20-unit affordable housing development in English Avenue, and support site preparation for the Andrew Young International Institute for Peace and Reconciliation in Vine City.

- Atlanta NPU — NPU-W — Wednesday, June 17 at 7:00 PM (Virtual Only)
No agenda is available at this time.

- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole — Thursday, June 18 at 9:00 AM
Public hearings on the 2026 county property tax millage rates are scheduled, alongside a proposed $233.8 million contract to rebuild major infrastructure at the Scott Candler Water Treatment Plant. The committee is also set to consider new zoning rules and a development moratorium for data centers, plus design contracts for extensions of the South River Trail and the North Fork Peachtree Creek Trail.

CONSTRUCTION

Permits

- 1039 Grant St SE — A new restaurant and bar is taking shape in Grant Park. Multiple permits filed for the 2,642 sq ft space covering interior fit-out, kitchen buildout, and a fresh sprinkler system installation. The flurry of activity suggests an opening could be on the horizon — worth watching if you're in that corridor.
- 461 Flat Shoals Ave SE — Interior demolition and wall work underway as an existing tenant space gets subdivided. White-box improvements like these usually signal a new business getting ready to move in on one of EAV's main commercial stretches.
- 414 Bill Kennedy Way SE — Interior buildout of an existing tenant space, with new non-load-bearing partitions and electrical modifications filed for review. Another sign of commercial activity filling in along that stretch near Reynoldstown.
- 390 Stovall ST SE — Two HVAC heat pump replacements permitted back-to-back this week. Routine maintenance, but signals an active commercial property keeping systems current.
- 777 Memorial Dr SE — Electrical permit filed to extend a lighting circuit for a sign. Small permit, but new signage often means a business change or rebranding is imminent.

On the residential side, the usual seasonal mix of HVAC replacements, electrical work, and minor additions rounds out the week — nothing dramatic, just the neighborhood humming along.

Road Work

Under Construction
- I-20 Lighting Upgrade (Fulton & DeKalb Counties) — GDOT is swapping out old high-pressure sodium lights for energy-efficient LEDs along I-20 from Capitol Ave to Flat Shoals Road. Work may also involve replacing poles and conduit along the corridor. If you're on I-20 through this stretch, expect nighttime lane activity.
- SR 42/Moreland Ave at Arkwright Place — Intersection Overhaul — This Fulton County project is converting the Moreland Ave and Arkwright Place intersection into a right-in/right-out configuration. A new median will eliminate left turns and restrict through movements — a notable change for anyone who cuts through here regularly. Plan your approach accordingly.
- SR 154 (Memorial Drive) — Pedestrian Safety Improvements (DeKalb & Fulton Counties) — Active work is underway at multiple locations along SR 154, adding a mid-block pedestrian crossing, a right-in/right-out, and a restricted crossing U-turn between Hill Street and Pearl Street. Expect lane shifts and temporary signal changes near those intersections.
- SR 260 (Glenwood Ave) — Pedestrian Crossing Upgrades — Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacons (RRFBs) are being installed at Brownwood Ave, Joseph Ave, Haas Ave, and Eastside Ave. These are pedestrian-activated warning lights, so watch for new signals and work crews at these crossings.

Pre-Construction

- BeltLine Southside Trail – Segments along Bill Kennedy Way/SR-154 Connector (Fulton County) — Two funded segments of the Southside Trail are advancing through the pre-construction process. The work runs along Bill Kennedy Way between Glenwood Avenue and Woodward Avenue, and includes a new trail bridge over I-20. Big news for Grant Park, Glenwood Park, and Ormewood Park residents who've been waiting on this connection.
- SR-154/Memorial Drive Corridor Improvements (Fulton County) — Sidewalk expansion and ADA upgrades along Memorial Drive between Connally Street and Grant Street, filling in missing and damaged sidewalk gaps. Pedestrian-focused work that will require some lane management once it gets going.
- SR-154 Auxiliary Lanes – Connally St to Grant St (Fulton County) — Through-lane additions on SR-154 in the same Memorial Drive corridor. Likely to be coordinated with the sidewalk project above, but worth watching as a separate construction window.
- Atlanta Traffic Signal Enhancements – Phase II (DeKalb & Fulton Counties) — A broad signal modernization effort covering intersections across both counties, including equipment upgrades, updated detection systems, ADA ramp improvements, fiber or 4G communications installation, and signal timing optimization. No single choke point, but widespread impact once crews start moving through the corridor.
- I-20 Downtown Connector Study – Scoping (Fulton County) — Early-stage scoping only for a 5.46-mile study of I-20 and the I-75/I-85 Downtown Connector. Nothing to detour around yet, but this one is worth tracking if your commute touches downtown.

Service Requests

Nine pothole reports are keeping city crews busy across the neighborhood, with active work underway on Georgia Ave & Hill St, Milledge Ave SE & Hill St SE, Hardee St & Walthall St, Boulevard SE, E Ave & Glen Iris Dr, and four additional locations.

Overgrowth and visibility issues in the right of way have been flagged at Hardee St & Walthall St (two reports), Boulevard SE, Delmar Ave SE, and Hansell St SE — a reminder that summer growth moves fast.

Litter removal requests have come in for Gaskill St SE, Cherokee Ave & Glenwood Ave, Hill St SE, and Kelly St SE at Clarke St SE.

Three traffic signal repair requests are in progress at Bill Kennedy Way SE & Glenwood Ave SE, Memorial Dr & Gibson St, and Bill Kennedy Way SE — worth a heads-up if you're driving those corridors.

One general service request has been filed for Powell St SE, with details unspecified.