East Atlanta: Grant Park Turns 143, a Mural Gets Its Second Chance

Hey, East Atlanta — a big week on multiple fronts. The city is moving forward with a $10 billion neighborhood reinvestment plan that could reshape neighborhoods for decades, and the Kirkwood Spring Fling is this Saturday — a perfect reason to get outside and see the neighborhood at its best. Plus, Grant Park is turning 143, a beloved mural is getting a second life, and there's plenty happening at The Eastern, The Earl, and 529 this week worth knowing about.

- News — Atlanta's $10B reinvestment push, Grant Park's 143rd birthday celebration, and Bellwood Coffee's pledge to bring back the Jovita Moore mural after community pushback.
- Events — VaHi Porchfest is back as one of the city’s marquee events. More locally, the Kirkwood Spring Fling takes over Bessie Branham Park on Saturday, and Mac DeMarco plays The Eastern this week.
- Government — The Atlanta City Council greenlit $1.3B in airport bonds and a FIFA alcohol exemption, a 12–1 staffing review vote could reshape city services, and a proposed APD Zone 6 precinct on Hosea Williams Drive heads to committee Monday.
- Construction — Something's brewing at 1039 Grant St, a major mechanical buildout is underway at 1061 Memorial, and the BeltLine Southside Trail bridge over I-20 is moving closer to reality.

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Let’s dive in.

NEWS

Grant Park to Celebrate 143rd Birthday with Market in the Park
Atlanta's oldest public park turns 143 on May 17, and the Grant Park Conservancy is marking the occasion in style with the second installment of its Market in the Park series at Boulevard Green. Local vendors, community energy, and a rare chance to toast a park that has outlasted just about everything else in this city — show up and celebrate something worth celebrating.

Bellwood Coffee to Recommission Jovita Moore Mural in Grant Park
After the removal of a beloved mural honoring late WSB-TV anchor Jovita Moore sparked swift and pointed community backlash, Bellwood Coffee has pledged to recommission the work at its Grant Park location. It's a meaningful course correction — Moore was a fixture in Atlanta living rooms for decades, and her legacy deserves better than a blank wall.

Atlanta City Council Moves Forward with $10 Billion Neighborhood Reinvestment Plan
The Atlanta City Council has accepted recommendations for a sweeping, multi-billion-dollar reinvestment initiative targeting neighborhood infrastructure and affordable housing across the city. For residents, the proposal's potential Tax Allocation District extensions are worth watching closely — this is the kind of policy decision that shapes neighborhoods for a generation.

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EVENTS

The Kirkwood Spring Fling and Tour of Homes is back Saturday, and it's the kind of neighborhood event that reminds you why you live here — a beloved annual gathering at Bessie Branham Park that draws the community together with home tours, local flavor, and that particular energy of a neighborhood showing off its best self. Plan your Saturday around it, and expect some extra foot traffic through Kirkwood.

Tuesday, May 12
- CNIA Monthly Meeting | Cabbagetown Neighborhood Improvement Association
- Tom Morello | The Eastern

Wednesday, May 13
- Mac DeMarco | The Eastern
- Lost In Separation & Dropout Kings & Kent Osborne | 529 EAV

Thursday, May 14
- Sound Bath & Social | Cabbagetown Neighborhood Improvement Association
- Setting | The Earl

Friday, May 15
- Breakaway Atlanta Official After Party ft. PEEKABOO b2b LYNY (18+ Event) | The Eastern
- Beach Vacation | The Earl
- Kyle Lewis Is A Boring Name | 529 EAV
- Vibe City | Buteco
- School and Group NightCrawler Overnight | Zoo Atlanta

Saturday, May 16
- Buy Her Flowers Pop Up Experience | 1071 Ormewood Avenue Southeast, Atlanta, GA
- Endangered Species Day | Zoo Atlanta
- Red Bull Dance Your Style — Atlanta Qualifier (16+) | The Eastern
- Monty Symarip | The Earl
- Underground Echo | 529 EAV
- Keeper for a Day: Elephants | Zoo Atlanta
- VaHi Porchfest | Virginia-Highland
- The Sound of Learning | The Anchor
- Kirkwood Spring Fling and Tour of Homes | Bessie Branham Park

Sunday, May 17
- David Ramirez | 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

The Atlanta City Council had a packed session on May 4th, approving a $1.3 billion bond issuance for Hartsfield-Jackson Airport improvements and a $39 million contract to build a new 911 Center. FIFA World Cup preparations are officially in motion: the Council greenlit a $52 million grant application and temporarily suspended the city's public alcohol ban in select downtown areas from June 11 through July 19, 2026. A resolution ordering a comprehensive staffing review of city administrative offices passed 12–1, with the stated goal of identifying potential cuts — a move that could reshape how city services are delivered. The Council also paused the proposed sale and redevelopment of a property on Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway pending a community impact review, and established a new technical advisory group to oversee special event permitting at Piedmont Park.

Atlanta City Council – Committee on Council

The Committee on Council met the same morning focused largely on board appointments and election security. A resolution requesting POST-certified law enforcement at every city recreation center used as a polling place cleared the committee 4–0 (with two abstentions) and heads to the full Council — a measure that could affect dozens of polling sites across Atlanta. The committee unanimously approved several appointments to the Beltline's Affordable Housing Advisory Board and Tax Allocation District committee, bodies that directly influence how Beltline-area development dollars get allocated. Two high-profile items were held for further review: an ordinance that would require a primary Council sponsor for most proposed legislation, and a resolution seeking an independent investigation into city contracts tied to Foris Webb, III.

Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education

The APS Board unanimously approved a tentative $1.6 billion budget for fiscal year 2027 on May 4th — the first of two required readings before it becomes final — with the General Fund alone accounting for $1.3 billion and $174 million earmarked for capital projects through SPLOST. The board also passed two resolutions extinguishing outstanding taxes and penalties on 38 city-owned parcels, clearing the way for those properties to be transferred to the Metro Atlanta Land Bank for affordable housing development under the City's Housing Affordability Action Plan. On the infrastructure side, the board authorized a MARTA easement at the Metro Transportation Facility to support regional transit improvements, and approved a new five-year lease for the property known as the "Little White House." All major items passed 9–0.

Fulton County Board of Commissioners

The Fulton County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to consider a significant slate of financial and infrastructure items at its May 6th meeting — though minutes are not yet posted, so outcomes are not confirmed. Most notably on the agenda is authorization of $325 million in Tax Anticipation Notes to manage the county's 2026 cash flow until tax revenues arrive, with repayment expected by year's end. A $28 million wastewater operations contract for the North Fulton Service Area and a $1.44 million pump station modernization project are also up for consideration, along with a $1.2 million rental assistance contract with the Urban League of Greater Atlanta to help low-to-moderate-income households. Two affordable housing grants targeting the English Avenue neighborhood — one for a 26-unit multifamily building, another for 14 duplexes and single-family homes — are also on the agenda, though as with all items listed here, any or all could be deferred, amended, or withdrawn before a vote is taken.

DeKalb County Planning Commission

The DeKalb County Planning Commission met May 5th and delivered a mixed bag of decisions on land use across the county. Commissioners denied a concrete recycling plant proposed for an industrial corridor and blocked a drive-through car wash on Memorial Drive — a win for nearby residents concerned about incompatible commercial uses near homes — while separately approving fuel pumps and an accessory alcohol outlet at the same Memorial Drive QuikTrip site, subject to 22 conditions. New residential infill was green-lit at two locations, including a 12-unit single-family development on Kelly Lake Road, while a massive 214-unit subdivision proposal was deferred to July for additional review. The commission also approved countywide updates to Short-Term Rental regulations and new rules governing "Residential Entertainment" uses, and elected new leadership with Jon West as Chair.

DeKalb County Committee of the Whole

DeKalb County commissioners advanced more than $80 million in major infrastructure and public safety spending during their May 5th Committee of the Whole session. A $26.5 million contract to construct three new fire stations in Tucker, Decatur, and Lithonia moved to the full Board for final approval, as did roughly $53 million in emergency upgrades at the Snapfinger Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility — including $32 million for membrane capacity and nearly $11 million for wet weather overflow prevention. The committee also forwarded a resolution to establish independent civilian oversight of the county's "Digital Shield" surveillance program, and an $8 million SPLOST-funded extension of the South Peachtree Creek Trail. A proposed stormwater utility fee increase was pulled for further vetting by the Public Works & Infrastructure Committee before any final vote.

Meetings This Week
- Atlanta City Council — Zoning Committee — Monday, May 11 at 11:00 AM | The committee will take up a range of rezoning and special use permit requests across the city. Items of note for East Atlanta–area residents include a proposed ordinance to revise sidewalk repaving requirements in the Cabbagetown Landmark District and amendments to prohibited uses in the MLK Jr. Landmark District.
- Atlanta City Council — Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee — Monday, May 11 at 1:00 PM | The committee is scheduled to consider a proposed lease for a new APD Zone 6 Precinct at 2025 Hosea Williams Drive SE, a 180-day moratorium on new alcohol licenses in the Edgewood Corridor, and a firefighter pay overhaul aimed at improving recruitment and retention.
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Tuesday, May 12 at 9:00 AM | No agenda is available at this time.
- Fulton County Board of Commissioners — Special Called Meeting — Tuesday, May 12 at 10:00 AM | Commissioners are convening exclusively to discuss the county's Service Delivery Strategy, the legally required agreement that determines how Fulton County and its cities divide responsibility — and tax revenue — for services like fire, police, and infrastructure.
- Atlanta City Council — City Utilities Committee — Tuesday, May 12 at 10:00 AM | The committee will consider more than $50 million in proposed sanitary sewer repairs, an $8.5 million road resurfacing package, a $24 million expansion of Peachtree Creek watershed infrastructure, and the proposed conveyance of city property at 3711 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to GDOT for the I-285/I-20 West Interchange reconstruction.
- Atlanta City Council — Community Development/Human Services Committee — Tuesday, May 12 at 1:30 PM | No agenda is available at this time.
- Atlanta City Council — Wednesday, May 13 at 9:30 AM | No agenda is available at this time.
- Atlanta City Council — Transportation Committee — Wednesday, May 13 at 10:00 AM | A resolution calling for dedicated bike and motorized-vehicle lanes along the Atlanta BeltLine is on the agenda, along with a $3.6 million Peachtree Street improvement grant, an $824,000 pedestrian safety project on Campbellton Road, and a public hearing on the proposed closure of a portion of Gilmer Street SE for Georgia State University's campus.
- Atlanta City Council — Finance/Executive Committee — Wednesday, May 13 at 1:30 PM | The committee is scheduled to take up the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 city budget and property tax rates, alongside a vote on annexing several properties on Woodland Avenue NE into Atlanta city limits and the Atlanta Public Schools district. Also on the agenda: a $1.26 million contract for in-stream litter collection devices in city waterways.

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Permits

- 1039 Grant St SE — A vacant white-box commercial suite is being carved up for multiple tenants, including a kitchen and food-related space. A nail salon HVAC permit was also filed for the same address. Something's coming together here — watch this block in Grant Park.
- 195 Chester Ave SE — Fire sprinkler systems are being installed across all three buildings on this property, covering the full complex under NFPA 13r code. A significant buildout signal — this kind of life-safety work typically precedes occupancy or a change in use.
- 1061 Memorial Dr SE — Seven rooftop units and seven exhaust fans permitted for a commercial space. That's a substantial mechanical footprint, suggesting a large retail, restaurant, or service tenant getting ready to open.
- 816 Berne St SE — A temporary power pole filed for new construction. Early-stage work underway in Ormewood Park — something's being built from the ground up here.
- 225 Stovall St SE — Plumbing permitted for both units of a new SFR duplex (Unit A front and Unit B rear). Active residential construction in the pipeline.
- 468 Gift Ave SE — A duplex is being converted back into a single-family home. One fewer rental unit in the mix as the neighborhood's housing stock continues to shift.

Beyond the highlights, 53 additional residential permits were filed this week — mostly electrical, HVAC, and arborist work — the usual hum of a neighborhood in ongoing upkeep.

Road Work

Under Construction

The stretch of I-20 from Capitol Ave to Flat Shoals Road is getting a lighting overhaul right now — crews are swapping out older HPS fixtures for LED lighting along this Fulton/DeKalb corridor, which may mean lane shifts or nighttime work disruptions if this is part of your daily route.

On SR 42/Moreland Ave at Arkwright Place, an intersection reconfiguration is underway that will convert the crossing to a right-in/right-out setup, with a new median going in to eliminate left turns. If you're used to cutting through there, start planning a new approach now.

The SR 154/Memorial Drive corridor is seeing active pedestrian safety improvements across multiple spots spanning DeKalb and Fulton counties — including a new mid-block crossing, a right-in/right-out restriction, and a Restricted Crossing U-Turn (RCUT) between Hill Street and Pearl Street. Expect intermittent traffic pattern changes along that stretch.

SR 260 (Glenwood Ave) has multiple pedestrian safety projects underway near Brownwood Ave, Joseph Ave, Haas Ave, and Eastside Ave, with Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacons (RRFBs) being installed at several crossings. These are DeKalb-side but close enough to affect east-west movement through the area.

Pre-Construction
- BeltLine Southside Trail – Segments Near Glenwood Ave & SR 154 (Fulton County) — Two connected segments of the BeltLine Southside Trail (Segment 6) are funded and moving toward construction along Bill Kennedy Way (SR 154 Connector), running between Glenwood Avenue and Woodward Avenue. The bigger piece: a new trail bridge over I-20 is part of the plan. This is a significant missing link for the Southside Trail and directly affects Glenwood Park, East Atlanta, and Ormewood Park residents who've been waiting on this connection.
- SR 154/Memorial Drive Corridor Improvements (Fulton County) — Sidewalk expansions and ADA upgrades are planned along Memorial Drive between Connally Street and Grant Street, filling in missing and damaged segments. Paired with a separate auxiliary lanes project on the same stretch, this corridor is getting a meaningful refresh — relevant for anyone walking, biking, or driving through the Grant Park and Reynoldstown edges of Memorial Drive.
- Atlanta Traffic Signal Enhancements – Phase II (DeKalb & Fulton Counties) — A broad signal upgrade program covering intersections across DeKalb and Fulton counties, including detection improvements, ADA ramp upgrades, fiber or 4G communications, and retimed signals. Expect periodic, short-term disruptions at various intersections once work begins — the upside is meaningfully better signal coordination across the area.
- SR 42 @ United Ave & Skyhaven Road – Intersection Realignment (Fulton County) — Skyhaven Road will be realigned to meet United Avenue across SR 42, eliminating the current offset intersection. Left-turn lanes are also being added on northbound and southbound approaches. About a mile from the core EAV area, but worth watching if that's part of your routine.

Service Requests

Potholes are the week's most-reported issue, with eight complaints filed across Hardee St & Walthall St, Hardee St NE, United Ave SE, Flat Shoals Rd SE, and Gresham Ave SE, among others — most are in progress.

Right-of-way overgrowth was flagged at four locations including Stokeswood Ave & Pendleton St, Braeburn Dr SE, Augusta Ave SE, and Moreland Ave SE. Separately, litter removal was requested along Park Ave SE and Pearl St SE.

Three traffic signal repairs are in the mix at Memorial Dr SE & Bill Kennedy Way SE, Hardee St & Moreland Ave, and Glenwood Ave & Bill Kennedy Way.

Also reported: graffiti removal needed at DeKalb Ave NE & Moreland Ave, a sign repair or replacement at Estoria St & Memorial Dr, and a downed tree at Mary Dell Dr & Fayetteville Rd — the last of which has since been resolved.