East Atlanta: Dickens' $5.5B Plan, a BeltLine Vote, and Nando's Is Coming

Hey, East Atlanta! It's a big week for city hall watchers and neighborhood walkers alike. Mayor Dickens spent nearly seven hours defending his $5.5 billion neighborhood plan before a skeptical council, and the full council is set to vote on next year's budget and a BeltLine self-storage ban this Sunday. Plus, we've got permits, pothole complaints, and a new restaurant worth circling on your calendar.

- News — Mayor Dickens fought hard for his $5.5B neighborhood plan, the school board is pushing back on his tax extension, and Atlanta is already gearing up for a World Cup party season.
- Business — Nando's peri-peri chicken is opening at Krog Street Market in early June, giving Inman Park a spicy new lunch option.
- Events — It's a stacked week from Oakland Cemetery's five-day service kickoff to Shakespeare at 97 Estoria, blues jams at TEN ATL, and a full slate of shows at The Earl and 529.
- Government — The full Atlanta City Council votes Sunday on the FY2027 budget, a BeltLine self-storage ban, and a new APD Zone 6 precinct on Hosea Williams Drive — plus DeKalb is weighing roundabouts, a data center moratorium, and a big D.R. Horton rezoning near Norris Lake.
- Construction — A Memorial Drive restaurant is being demolished for something bigger, two BeltLine Southside Trail segments are funded and in pre-construction, and nine pothole complaints have stacked up across Flat Shoals and Boulevard.

Let's dive in.

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NEWS

Atlanta mayor defends $5.5B neighborhood plan at city hall
Nearly seven hours. That's how long Mayor Andre Dickens stood his ground at city hall defending his 20-year, $5.5 billion neighborhood reinvestment plan before a skeptical council. When things got tense, Dickens leaned into his roots: "I'm Atlanta born, I'm Atlanta bred. And when I die, I'm going to be Atlanta dead." Whatever you think of the plan, the man came prepared to fight for it.

Atlanta school board members seem skeptical of mayor's tax extension plan
The Atlanta Board of Education isn't exactly rolling out the welcome mat for Mayor Andre Dickens' proposed tax extension — and the questions they're raising are worth paying attention to. For anyone who owns property or sends kids to Atlanta public schools, how this funding fight plays out could have real consequences for both your tax bill and your neighborhood's classrooms.

Inside SoDo, Atlanta's 'once in a lifetime' project
Ten city blocks. Fifty-eight historic buildings. The South Downtown revitalization effort is one of the most ambitious urban transformations Atlanta has seen in decades, and it's unfolding right on the doorstep of Capitol Gateway. If it delivers on its promise, the ripple effects — new retail, cultural anchors, activated streets — will reach well beyond downtown.

Atlanta festivals, events and parties to check out during the FIFA World Cup
The World Cup is coming to Atlanta, and the city is not playing it cool about it — street parties, festivals, and neighborhood watch events are already stacking up on the calendar. Whether you're a die-hard soccer fan or just someone who enjoys a good excuse for a block party, now's the time to start planning.

BUSINESS

Nando's Krog Street - opening - The South African peri-peri chicken chain is bringing its flame-grilled birds north of us to Krog Street Market, giving Inman Park a new reason to linger past the farmer's market.

EVENTS

Monday, June 1
- 50th Anniversary Celebration: Five Days of Service | Oakland Cemetery
- Shakespeare on Draught presents: Twelfth Night | 97 Estoria
- Summer Safari Camp at Zoo Atlanta | Zoo Atlanta
- Junior Makers Workshop Summer Camp | Oakland Cemetery
- Required Reading | Lost In The Letters
- Oakland Tour | Oakland Cemetery

Tuesday, June 2
- HEADBANGERS BALL NIGHT | 529
- Oakland Tour | Oakland Cemetery

Wednesday, June 3
- Roadhand Review | 529
- Keeper for a Day: Reptiles and Amphibians | Zoo Atlanta
- Bourbon & Blues Wednesday Night Jam Session | TEN ATL
- Flat Tired | The Earl
- Oakland Tour | Oakland Cemetery

Thursday, June 4
- Just Getting Started Tour | 529
- Academy of Staring Daggers | The Earl
- Oakland Tour | Oakland Cemetery
- Amplify Decatur Music Festival | Downtown Decatur Square

Friday, June 5
- Flannel Nation | 529
- Uranium Club | The Earl
- Oakland Tour | Oakland Cemetery

Saturday, June 6
- Asher | 529
- Said The Sky | The Eastern
- Lines of Play: Soccer-Inspired Group Exhibition at ABV Gallery | ABV Gallery
- History, Mystery, and Mayhem | Oakland Cemetery
- Kids Night Out | Zoo Atlanta
- Adventure Cubs | Zoo Atlanta
- ALBUM RELEASE SHOW | The Earl
- Oakland Tour | Oakland Cemetery

Sunday, June 7
- We Shall Overcome: African American Stories from Civil War to Civil Rights | Oakland Cemetery
- Portrayal of Guilt | The Earl

Markets move. Headlines catastrophize. Inside the noise is the story that matters — the opportunity, not the fear. The Daily Upside: global business and finance, reported without the alarm.

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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 committees had a packed week spanning public safety, transportation, zoning, utilities, and community development — with a mix of confirmed outcomes and items still pending. On the public safety front, the Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee approved a new firefighter compensation plan aimed at competitive pay, unanimously passed a temporary open-container exemption for Downtown Atlanta during the FIFA World Cup (June 11–July 19), and restricted APD's use of field drug tests — requiring laboratory confirmation before arrests can be made; meanwhile, a proposed 180-day moratorium on new alcohol licenses in the Edgewood Corridor remains stalled in committee. The Community Development/Human Services Committee approved a $1.05 million renewal for BeltLine park maintenance, $735,000 in federal HOME funds for affordable housing at Sweet Auburn Grande, and forwarded a nearly $7.9 million land acquisition for forest preservation to the full Council — while deferring a sweeping neighborhood reinvestment framework, dozens of land-use amendments, and short-term rental regulations to future meetings. The Transportation Committee — which does have minutes posted — considered over $15 million for trail expansions (including PATH Westside and PATH 400), a $6 million state road resurfacing grant, an $824,000 pedestrian safety project, and a resolution requesting dedicated bike and vehicle lanes along the Atlanta BeltLine. Still on the agenda-only side, the Finance/Executive Committee is scheduled to take up FY2027 property tax rates and a FIFA "activation zone" that would lift event permit restrictions near Centennial Olympic Park, while the Zoning Committee has a proposed ban on new self-storage facilities within the BeltLine Overlay District and major rezoning along the Chattahoochee Avenue industrial corridor on its agenda — though all items scheduled without minutes may be tabled, deferred, or withdrawn before a vote occurs.

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners

DeKalb County commissioners had a full slate of consequential items this week across two meetings, both agenda-only with no minutes posted yet, so outcomes are not confirmed. At the May 26 regular meeting, commissioners were scheduled to adopt tentative 2026 millage rates — the first formal step toward setting this year's property tax bills — alongside proposed increases to residential sanitation fees and the county's stormwater utility fee, both of which would directly affect what households pay for trash pickup and drainage maintenance. Also on the agenda: roundabouts at two busy intersections (Ponce De Leon Ave. at East Lake Road and Clairmont Road at Rosecliff Drive), a $1.86 million perimeter security upgrade at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, and a proposal to crack down on illegal tire dumping by setting a $1-per-tire legal disposal fee. At the May 28 zoning meeting, the most significant item is a D.R. Horton proposal to rezone land near Norris Lake for 214 new single-family homes, which would substantially increase density and traffic in that district; the board is also set to consider a major QuikTrip development along Memorial Drive seeking permits for a drive-through car wash, fuel pumps, and alcohol sales, as well as countywide rule updates for short-term rental taxation and a new "Repeated Nuisance" ordinance targeting chronic problem properties. All items from both meetings remain scheduled but unconfirmed, as no minutes have been posted.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

Atlanta City Council — Community Development/Human Services Committee
- 708 Kirkwood Avenue SE — A proposed Comprehensive Development Plan change from Low Density Residential (LDR) to Low Density Mixed Use (LDMU) was held in committee by a 6-0 vote for further review.

Meetings This Week
- Atlanta Public Schools — Board of Education — June 1, 2026
The board is scheduled to take a final vote on the FY 2027 budget and consider a contract extension for the Superintendent, along with proposals to purchase 22 new school buses and Yondr cell-phone pouches for students. Construction management contracts for building improvements at Midtown High School and Maynard Jackson High School (801 Glenwood Ave SE) are also on the agenda.

- Atlanta City Council — Committee on Council — June 1, 2026, 11:30 AM
The committee is scheduled to review proposed changes to public comment sign-up rules and speaking time limits at City Council meetings, alongside a held resolution requesting law enforcement officers be stationed at recreation center polling sites. Citizen appointments to the BeltLine Affordable Housing Advisory Board and BeltLine TAD Advisory Committee are also up for confirmation.

- Atlanta City Council — June 1, 2026, 1:00 PM
The full council is scheduled to take up the proposed FY 2027 city budget and new property tax rates, a $7.8 million forest land acquisition along Randall Mill Road NW, and a $3.5 million police counter-drone contract. A proposed ordinance that would ban new self-storage facilities within the BeltLine Overlay District is also on the agenda, along with a rezoning at 708 Kirkwood Avenue SE affecting the Cabbagetown Landmark District and a proposed lease for a new APD Zone 6 precinct at 2025 Hosea Williams Drive SE.

- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole — June 2, 2026, 9:00 AM
The committee is scheduled to consider a potential extension of the county's moratorium on new data centers, proposed fee increases for stormwater utility service and residential trash collection, and a series of ordinances targeting chronic nuisance properties and vacant homes. Roundabout proposals for Ponce De Leon Avenue NE and Clairmont Road at Rosecliff Drive are also on the agenda.

- Fulton County Board of Commissioners — June 3, 2026, 10:00 AM
Commissioners are scheduled to consider a $15.6 million, eight-year contract with Motorola Solutions to upgrade the county's emergency radio system, along with grants to convert 66 Downtown Atlanta apartments to affordable housing and fund a new 20-unit affordable development in English Avenue. A $12.6 million contract renewal with Grady Health System to operate the Fulton County Behavioral Health Crisis Center is also on the agenda.

CONSTRUCTION

Permits

- 264 Memorial Dr SE — Full demolition of a restaurant building, foundation and all. The parcel is folding into a larger development footprint — something bigger is coming to that block.
- 750 Glenwood Ave SE — A 3,100 sq ft tenant buildout is in review: two new offices and a breakroom getting carved out of existing commercial space. Someone's putting down roots in Glenwood Park.
- 535 Gresham Ave SE — Major electrical overhaul permitted: a new 600-amp service panel, 33 circuits, and 49 lights. That's a serious infrastructure upgrade, not a minor refresh.
- 525 Moreland Ave SE — New wet fire sprinkler system issued. A full sprinkler install usually signals a more significant interior renovation is either underway or coming.
- 475 Bill Kennedy Way SE — A former reading room (assembly use) is converting to a gift shop. No construction involved, just a change of occupancy — a small but telling shift in how that space will serve the neighborhood.
- 414 Bill Kennedy Way SE — Interior buildout of an existing tenant space with new partitions and electrical modifications. Still awaiting additional materials before it moves forward.
- 1015 Blvd SE — Two permits pulled here: sprinkler relocations for a new tenant buildout and a 3-ton heat pump installation. A space in active transition.

Beyond those, the week brought 55 residential and minor permits across the area — the bulk of them arborist removals (19 permits for dead, dying, or hazardous trees) plus the usual mix of electrical, HVAC, and plumbing work.

Road Work

Under Construction

The stretch of I-20 between Capitol Ave and Flat Shoals Road is seeing active work right now — I-20 Lighting Upgrade (DeKalb/Fulton Counties) — crews are swapping out old high-pressure sodium fixtures for LED lighting along this corridor, which may mean lane restrictions and equipment in the roadway. If you're rolling east on 20 from downtown, expect some disruption through this stretch.

- SR-42/US-23 @ SR-154 & Arkwright Place (Fulton County) — Moreland Avenue at Arkwright Place is being converted to a right-in/right-out intersection, with a new median going in to block left turns. If you regularly turn left here, you'll need a new plan — this one changes your route, not just your patience.
- SR-154 Pedestrian Safety Improvements (DeKalb/Fulton Counties) — Work is underway at multiple locations along SR-154 (Memorial Drive corridor), adding a mid-block pedestrian crossing, a right-in/right-out restriction, and a Restricted Crossing U-Turn (RCUT) between Hill Street and Pearl Street. Watch for changed traffic patterns and reduced speeds near active work zones.
- SR-260 Pedestrian Crossing Upgrades (DeKalb County) — Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacons (RRFBs) are being installed at Brownwood Ave, Joseph Ave, Haas Ave, and Eastside Ave along SR-260. Close to the neighborhood edge — minor disruptions, but worth knowing if that's your cut-through.

Pre-Construction
- BeltLine Southside Trail – Glenwood Ave to Woodward Ave (Fulton County) — Segment 6 of the Southside Trail is funded and moving toward construction along Bill Kennedy Way (SR 154 Connector), with a new trail bridge planned over I-20. At just 0.3 miles out, this one directly affects the EAV and Glenwood Park edges — and when it breaks ground, expect some disruption along that corridor.
- BeltLine Southside Trail – Faith Ave to SR 154 (Fulton County) — A companion segment to the above, this stretch extends the Southside Trail buildout further along the same Bill Kennedy Way corridor. Two funded BeltLine segments in pre-construction in the same vicinity means this trail connection is getting closer to reality — but also means construction activity along that stretch could overlap when work begins.
- SR 154/Memorial Drive Corridor Improvements (Fulton County) — Sidewalk expansions are coming to Memorial Drive between Connally Street and Grant Street, filling in missing and damaged sections and upgrading everything to ADA standards. Good news for pedestrians in the Grant Park and Reynoldstown corridors — this is funded and waiting on a contractor.
- SR 154 Auxiliary Lanes – Connally St to Grant St (Fulton County) — Paired with the sidewalk work above, this project adds through lanes along the same Memorial Drive stretch. Two separate funded projects on the same segment means this corridor is in for a significant overhaul once construction kicks off.
- Atlanta Traffic Signal Enhancements – Phase II (DeKalb & Fulton Counties) — Signal upgrades, updated detection equipment, ADA ramp improvements, and fiber or 4G communications installations are coming to intersections across Atlanta. This multi-county project touches both Fulton and DeKalb, so signals serving the East Atlanta and EAV areas could be in the mix — watch for intersection work once bidding wraps.

Service Requests

Pothole reports are piling up across the area, with 9 complaints logged on Flat Shoals Ave SE, Blvd SE, Blvd Dr SE, and several intersections including McPherson & Flat Shoals and Hardee & Walthall — most are in progress.

Five traffic signal issues are under repair at United Ave SE, Memorial Dr & Moreland Ave, Glenwood Ave & Bill Kennedy Way, and three other intersections. Two emergency-level signal failures — at Blvd & Glenwood Ave and Memorial Dr & Martin St — have already been resolved.

Overgrowth blocking sightlines was flagged at four right-of-way locations: Woodland Ave SE, Wylie & Chester, Stokeswood & Ormewood, and Blvd & United Ave. Separately, litter removal was requested along Hill St at both Woodward Ave and Harden St, and on Fayetteville Rd SE.

Three downed trees were reported at Park Ave SE, Kelly St & Memorial Dr, and United Ave SE. The Kelly St & Memorial Dr location also prompted a graffiti removal request nearby. A sign repair is pending on Kelley St.