East Atlanta: Madison Yards Sells for $73M and a New Beltline Segment Opens Thursday

Hey, East Atlanta! Big week for the neighborhood and big upcoming week for the city more broadly. The retail hub many of us walk to for groceries just quietly changed hands for $73 million, and a new Beltline segment opens this Thursday. Also, the World Cup is kicking off this week, and with it, tons of events in our neighborhood and beyond.

- News — Madison Yards sells to an institutional investor, a new Beltline segment opens June 12, and the Fulton Commission race gets louder — here's why each one matters to your neighborhood.
- Events — The Eastside Beltline bar crawl hits Thursday, Tim Kasher plays the Earl Wednesday, Barbie Prom lands in Cabbagetown Saturday, and Oakland Cemetery tours are running all week.
- Government — Fulton votes on a $15.5M emergency radio upgrade, DeKalb advances $325M in water and sewer repairs, and Atlanta City Council takes up a Cabbagetown truck traffic ban and the FY2027 budget this week.
- Construction — A demo permit clears the old restaurant at 264 Memorial, food concepts are stirring on Grant Street and Gresham Avenue, and Moreland Avenue is getting a new median that will cut off left turns at Arkwright Place.

Let's dive in.

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NEWS

Madison Yards in Reynoldstown Sells for $73 Million to Institutional Investor
The retail hub anchoring Reynoldstown, home to the neighborhood Publix, restaurants, and shops that residents depend on daily, has just changed hands for a staggering $73 million. An institutional investor is now calling the shots, and while daily operations may feel unchanged for now, big ownership moves like this rarely stay quiet for long. It's worth paying attention to what comes next.

Fulton County Election: Pitts and Ivory Clash at Atlanta Forum
Commission Chairman Robb Pitts and challenger Natalie Ivory went head-to-head at a recent candidate forum, trading arguments over county budgets, infrastructure, and how Fulton gets its act together on basic services. This race matters well beyond the campaign trail as whoever runs the Commission sets the tone for everything from road maintenance to public safety funding in our corner of the city.

The Latest Segment of the Atlanta Beltline to Open on June 12
Mark your calendar: a new stretch of the Atlanta Beltline trail opens to the public this Thursday, June 12, nudging the long-promised loop one step closer to completion. For neighbors who rely on the trail to commute, run, or just decompress after work, more connected trail means more options and fewer excuses to drive.

Some DeKalb Leaders Want to Double Distance Required Between Data Centers and Homes
DeKalb County commissioners are pushing to significantly expand the buffer zone required between industrial data centers and residential neighborhoods, concerned about the noise and environmental toll these facilities bring to nearby streets. It's a sign that leaders in the county are starting to push back against the data center boom that has quietly reshaped communities across metro Atlanta. If the measure passes, it could meaningfully reshape where, and whether, these facilities get built next door to homes.

Where to Watch the World Cup Around Atlanta
The World Cup is here, and Atlanta is fully in its feelings about it. Whether you're a die-hard supporter or just someone who wants to be part of the moment, this guide breaks down the best spots around the city to catch the matches with a crowd. Pick a bar, grab a seat early, and enjoy the rare thing that gets an entire city rooting together.

EVENTS | Presented by

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Monday, June 8
- Nature Navigators Summer Camp | Oakland Cemetery
- Summer Safari Camp at Zoo Atlanta | Zoo Atlanta
- Oakland Tour | Oakland Cemetery

Tuesday, June 9
- CNIA Monthly Meeting | Cabbagetown Neighborhood Improvement Association
- Oakland Tour | Oakland Cemetery

Wednesday, June 10
- Tim Kasher | The Earl
- The Wednesday Session | 3 Taverns Brew Terminal
- Trainer for a Day: World of Wild Theater | Zoo Atlanta
- Oakland Tour | Oakland Cemetery

Thursday, June 11
- CANCERSLUG | 529
- Keeper for a Day: Elephants | Zoo Atlanta
- Evan Stepp & the Piners | The Earl
- Oakland Tour | Oakland Cemetery
- ​Bar Crawl, Eastside Beltline & Edgewood Corridor | Eastside Beltline

Friday, June 12
- JOSHUA QUIMBY | 529
- Vinyl Wlliams | The Earl
- Oakland Tour | Oakland Cemetery

Saturday, June 13
- APOSTLE | 529
- Barbie Prom | Cabbagetown Neighborhood Improvement Association
- The Last Dinner Party | The Eastern
- BE WELLTHY 5K | Grant Park Gateway
- Epitaphs: The Immortality of Words | Oakland Cemetery
- Keeper for a Day: Reptiles and Amphibians | Zoo Atlanta
- Jombi with Pinto Sunshine at The EARL | The Earl
- Oakland Tour | Oakland Cemetery
- Introducing O4W Soccer Program, Kickoff Festival | Historic Fourth Ward Park

Sunday, June 14
- EMO NIGHT | 529
- World Block Party | Zoo Atlanta
- Krawfish with the Krewe | Grant Park
- Atlanta Pride Party
- The Jewish Grounds of Oakland | Oakland Cemetery
- SUMMER SAGA SHOW | 529 EAV
- Oakland Tour | Oakland Cemetery

Monday, June 15
- SUMMER SAGA SHOW | 529

GOVERNMENT

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

Past Week Roundup

Fulton County Board of Commissioners

Note: Minutes have not been posted for this meeting, so the items below reflect what was on the agenda — outcomes may differ if items were tabled, deferred, or withdrawn. The June 3 agenda featured several major spending proposals, led by an eight-year, $15.5 million contract with Motorola Solutions to upgrade the county's ASTRO P25 digital radio system — the backbone of emergency communications for first responders — which was listed for a vote despite being a non-competitive award that drew opposition from Chairman Robert Pitts. Also on the agenda: a $12.6 million renewal with Grady Health System to continue operating the county's Behavioral Health Crisis Center, and $1.5 million to expand ride-share transportation options for seniors aged 60 and older. Three affordable housing and historic preservation grants sponsored by Commissioner Dana Barrett — including one to convert 66 market-rate units into affordable housing in Downtown Atlanta and another to build 20 affordable units in English Avenue — were deferred at the sponsor's request and are expected to return at a future meeting.

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners – Committee of the Whole

DeKalb County's Committee of the Whole advanced a sweeping set of infrastructure and public safety items to the full Board of Commissioners on June 2, with the headline item being a staggering $325.5 million multi-year emergency contract spread across six vendors for countywide water and sewer repairs — the kind of investment that keeps aging pipes from becoming neighborhood crises. The committee also forwarded a $20.6 million contract for the next phases of expanding the Snapfinger Wastewater Treatment Facility, and a $29.8 million payment to the City of Atlanta covering joint water and sewer capital improvement projects dating back to 2021. On land use, the committee advanced a proposal to hold a public hearing on extending the county's moratorium on new data centers, giving residents a formal opportunity to weigh in before any decision is made. A proposed pension code amendment that would create a line-of-duty death benefit for county first responders was also moved forward for a public hearing. Smaller but notable district-level items included $50,000 for mobile veterinary services through the Atlanta Humane Society and nearly $10,000 for kudzu removal and naturalist-led community walks.

Atlanta City Council

The Atlanta City Council held two meetings on June 1, and between them, produced a significant volume of decisions on land use, infrastructure spending, and internal governance. The full Council voted unanimously to ban new self-storage facilities within the Beltline Overlay District — a policy aimed at keeping premium infill land available for more active, mixed-use development — and approved a massive $1.26 billion bond budget amendment to fund water and wastewater capital projects, alongside $20 million in sanitary sewer repairs and $8.5 million for street resurfacing. The Council also directed $735,000 in federal HOME funds toward affordable housing at the Sweet Auburn Grande development and renewed a $1.05 million contract for Beltline park maintenance, while deferring the proposed FY2027 city budget and property tax millage rates back to committee for further deliberation. Meanwhile, the Committee on Council unanimously approved reforms to how public comment and proclamations are managed at City Council meetings, and approved several board appointments including Alfred "Shivy" Brooks to both Beltline advisory bodies. Two more contentious measures — a resolution to station certified law enforcement at recreation center polling sites, and one calling for an independent investigation into city contracts involving Foris Webb, III — were held in committee without a vote.

Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education

The Atlanta Board of Education's June 1 meeting had minutes posted, confirming the board took up a packed agenda of fiscal and operational decisions with direct consequences for students, families, and school neighbors alike. The board was scheduled to take a final vote on the FY2027 district budget — covering the General Fund, SPLOST, Nutrition, and other funds — which determines how school dollars flow and affects local property tax distributions. Also on the table: authorization to purchase Yondr cell-phone pouches for students, pointing toward a potential district-wide phone restriction policy during the school day, along with approval of 22 new school buses and 13 service vehicles for facilities and transportation staff. The board also considered Construction Management at Risk contracts for building improvements at Midtown High School and Maynard Jackson High School, two major neighborhood campuses, as well as a campus safety upgrade to ensure reliable first-responder radio signals inside school buildings.

Meetings This Week
- Atlanta City Council — Zoning Committee — Monday, June 8, 2026 at 11:00 AM
A dense agenda is on tap, led by proposals to rezone a 12.5-acre industrial site at 1200 White Street SW for high-density mixed-use development along the Beltline corridor and to convert 8.5 acres along Ellsworth Industrial Boulevard on the Upper Westside from heavy industrial to mixed residential and commercial. A city-wide text amendment establishing buffer zones for medical cannabis dispensaries is also scheduled for consideration, along with a rezoning at 708 Kirkwood Avenue SE within Cabbagetown's Landmark District from Subarea 3 to Subarea 4 guidelines.

- Atlanta City Council — Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee — Monday, June 8, 2026 at 1:00 PM
The committee is scheduled to take up a proposed $3.5 million counter-drone detection system for the Atlanta Police Department and a retroactive lease agreement to keep APD's Zone 6 Precinct housed at Hosea Williams Drive through 2030. A $500,000 civil lawsuit settlement and a resolution seeking to reduce detention of low-level misdemeanor offenders are also on the agenda.

- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole — Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at 9:00 AM

- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Board of Commissioners — Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at 9:00 AM

- Fulton County Board of Commissioners — Special Called Meeting — Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Commissioners are convening specifically to discuss the county's Service Delivery Strategy, the state-mandated agreement that determines how Fulton County and its cities divide funding and responsibility for services including water, sewer, police, fire, and parks. The outcome of these negotiations could affect property tax distributions and utility service agreements across the county.

- Atlanta City Council — City Utilities Committee — Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Solid waste rate adjustments are on the agenda, including a rate study presentation and a proposed ordinance to modify trash and recycling service fees and clarify backyard collection exemptions. The committee is also scheduled to consider a nearly $1.9 million land acquisition to construct the "Valley of the Hawks" wetlands for stormwater management, a $822,000 contract extension for Greensferry Stream restoration, and a proposal to reinstate green infrastructure requirements for developers that were removed in 2020.

- Atlanta City Council — Community Development/Human Services Committee — Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at 1:30 PM
The committee is scheduled to consider a proposal to spend up to $7.85 million to permanently protect nearly 30 acres of forested land along Randall Mill Road NW, funded through the city's Tree Trust Fund. Also on the agenda are a 5-year lease extension for the East Atlanta Kids Club at Brownwood Park Recreation Center and a land donation acceptance at 0 Eugenia Street SW for affordable housing development. A land-use redesignation at 708 Kirkwood Avenue SE in Cabbagetown — from Low Density Residential to Low Density Mixed Use — is currently held in committee and may be heard.

- Atlanta City Council — Transportation Committee — Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at 10:00 AM
A proposed ordinance is on the agenda to ban heavy commercial cut-through truck traffic on Estoria Street, Tenelle Street, and Carroll Street in the Cabbagetown Landmark District. The committee is also scheduled to consider a mandate requiring temporary pedestrian walkways whenever construction blocks city sidewalks, more than $9.3 million in road resurfacing contracts, and a $43.8 million modernization program for the Hartsfield-Jackson SkyTrain.

- Atlanta City Council — Finance/Executive Committee — Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at 1:30 PM
The committee's biggest items are the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 city budget and accompanying property tax rate ordinances, covering the general levy, parks, bonded debt, education, and special service districts including the Atlanta Beltline and the Atlanta Stitch. Also on the agenda are a consumer protection ordinance targeting predatory park-for-hire lots and three annexation proposals that would bring unincorporated properties into Atlanta city limits and the Atlanta Public Schools district, including a residential parcel at 2341 Glynn Drive SE.

- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Board of Commissioners — Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at 6:30 PM

CONSTRUCTION | Presented by

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Permits
- 1039 Grant St SE — A new food-and-retail concept is taking shape. Two permits filed for what looks like a multi-tenant buildout with a kitchen and meat prep area inside an existing white box suite. Worth watching if you're curious what's coming to that block.
- 264 Memorial Dr SE — Full demolition permitted for an existing restaurant building — foundation, asphalt, all of it. The parcel is slated to become part of the adjacent green space, so this is subtraction, not addition. Expect noise and some traffic disruption during demo.
- 461 Flat Shoals Ave SE — Interior demo and white box improvements permitted for a tenant space on Flat Shoals. Walls going up to subdivide — a new tenant is getting ready to move in.
- 475 Bill Kennedy Way SE — A former reading room is being converted to a gift shop. No construction involved, just a change of occupancy — but a new retail presence on that stretch.
- 535 Gresham Ave SE — Grease trap installation filed, which almost always signals a food operation getting up to code or a kitchen coming online.
- 170 Blvd SE — A multifamily unit is expanding its kitchen and adding a loft living area. Minor in scale but reflects ongoing investment in the older apartment stock along the Boulevard corridor.
- 951 Glenwood Ave SE — A Level 2 EV charger going in at a commercial property on Glenwood. Small but steady signs of the neighborhood's infrastructure catching up.

Road Work

Under Construction
- I-20 Lighting Upgrade (Capitol Ave to Flat Shoals Road) — GDOT is swapping out old high-pressure sodium lights for energy-efficient LEDs along this stretch of I-20, with work spanning both Fulton and DeKalb counties. Expect crews and equipment along the corridor — keep that in mind for your evening commute.
- SR 42/Moreland Ave at Arkwright Place — Intersection Overhaul — This Fulton County project is converting the Moreland Avenue and Arkwright Place intersection into a right-in/right-out configuration, meaning a new median will cut off left turns and through movements. If you rely on that turn, start finding your workaround now.
- SR 154 (Memorial Drive) Pedestrian Safety Improvements — Active work is underway on a package of pedestrian upgrades between Hill Street and Pearl Street, including a new mid-block crossing, a right-in/right-out restriction, and a Restricted Crossing U-Turn (RCUT). The project touches both DeKalb and Fulton counties — expect some disruption to traffic flow along Memorial as crews work through multiple locations.
- SR 260 (Glenwood Ave) Pedestrian Beacon Installations — Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacons (RRFBs) are going in at several crossings along Glenwood Avenue, including at Brownwood Ave, Joseph Ave, Haas Ave, and Eastside Ave. These are DeKalb County installations but sit right on the edge of the neighborhood — worth knowing if Glenwood is part of your daily routine.

Pre-Construction
- BeltLine Southside Trail – Glenwood Ave to Woodward Ave (Fulton County) — Segment 6 of the Southside Trail is funded and heading toward construction along Bill Kennedy Way (SR 154 Connector), including a new trail bridge over I-20. At just 0.3 miles out, this one is right in the neighborhood's backyard — a big deal for connectivity once shovels hit the ground.
- BeltLine Southside Trail – Faith Ave to SR 154 (Fulton County) — A companion segment to the above, also along the Southside Trail corridor and similarly in the pre-construction queue. Together, these two segments will knit together a meaningful stretch of the trail when work begins.
- SR 42 @ United Ave & Skyhaven Road – Intersection Realignment (Fulton County) — Skyhaven Road is slated to be realigned to meet United Avenue head-on, eliminating an awkward offset intersection. New left-turn lanes are coming to northbound and southbound approaches as well. About a mile out, but worth watching if you use SR 42.
- Atlanta Traffic Signal Enhancements – Phase II (DeKalb & Fulton Counties) — A broad signal upgrade sweep covering intersections across both counties, including equipment modernization, updated detection systems, ADA ramp improvements, and fiber or 4G communications. Smarter, better-timed signals could mean real day-to-day relief on local corridors.
- SR 154/Memorial Drive Corridor Improvements (Fulton County) — Sidewalk gaps between Connally Street and Grant Street are getting filled and upgraded to ADA standards. Paired with the auxiliary lane work on the same stretch (see below), Memorial Drive is quietly getting a lot of attention right now.
- SR 154 Auxiliary Lanes – Connally St to Grant St (Fulton County) — New through lanes are planned along this Memorial Drive segment. Combined with the sidewalk project on the same corridor, this is a meaningful investment in one of East Atlanta's main arterials.
- I-20 & I-75/I-85 Downtown Connector – Scoping Study (Fulton County) — Early-stage scoping is underway for a 5.46-mile study of the I-20 and Downtown Connector. Nothing is shovel-ready yet, but the outcome of this study could shape major highway changes affecting how traffic moves in and around the neighborhood for years to come.

Service Requests

Potholes are the week's most-reported issue, with 12 complaints logged across the neighborhood — concentrated at Kirkwood Ave & Cleveland St (three reports), Chester Ave & Glenwood Ave (two reports), and additional spots on Hill St SE, Gress Ave & Home Ave, and Gresham Ave & Ormewood Ave, among others.

Overgrowth and visibility complaints came in from seven locations, including Blvd SE, Delmar Ave SE, Clifton Rd & Flat Shoals Rd, and Wylie St & Chester Ave — a reminder that summer growth moves fast.

Litter removal was requested along Blvd & Decatur St (twice), Flat Shoals Ave SE, Leah Ln SE, and Augusta Ave SE.

A few one-offs worth noting: a traffic signal at Grant St & Georgia Ave needs attention, a downed tree was reported on Mead St SE, graffiti has been flagged on Flat Shoals Ave SE, and a sign repair was requested on Blvd SE.