BUSYBODY EAST ATLANTA
Welcome to this week’s update for East Atlanta! We’re highlighting a major $3.5 million investment in our local parks and a new survey that lets you decide what should finally open at the Grant Park Gateway.
Big Stories — Learn about the multi-million dollar boost for area parks and the long-awaited survey for the empty Grant Park Gateway building.
Local Business Updates — Discover the new locations for EAV Copy Center and Catalyst Studioz, the launch of Wyld Bird in Reynoldstown, and plans for a new Italian-inspired wine bar on Gresham Avenue.
Upcoming Events — Catch STS9 at The Eastern, several rock shows at The Earl, or head to the EAV Farmers Market this Sunday to celebrate Waxwing Coffee’s first birthday.
Local Government Discussion — Local officials are considering the return of "Happy Hour" drink discounts, a ban on new self-storage along the Beltline, and a plan to return the Zoo's Abana Courtyard to public use.
Development & Construction Nearby — Major roadwork continues on I-20 and the Glenwood-Moreland realignment, while new permits show a cafe coming to Boulevard and a $124,000 renovation on Fayetteville Road.
Let’s dive in.
Table of Contents
BIG STORIES
Grant Park Gateway survey, SE Atlanta house fire, and $3.5M for local parks
Grant Park survey: Seriously, Atlanta, what should go here? (February 17, 2026)
We’ve all been wondering why the landmark building at the Grant Park Gateway has been sitting empty for over five years, and now the city is finally asking us what should actually go there. Make sure to voice your opinion in the new survey before officials decide on a project that might not fit the specific needs of our neighborhood.
Atlanta, DeKalb County parks to get $3.5M boost (February 18, 2026)
Our local green spaces are about to get some much-needed attention thanks to a new $3.5 million funding boost split between Atlanta and DeKalb parks. This investment is expected to address long-overdue maintenance and upgrades for the parks where we walk our dogs and take our families every weekend.
Invest Atlanta approves financing for senior housing in Downtown (February 20, 2026)
More affordable living options are coming to the edge of the Eastside with the approval of $2 million in financing for the Five Peachtree Senior community. This development is a key part of the effort to ensure our long-time neighbors can afford to stay in the city as the downtown and Capitol Gateway areas continue to redevelop.
Atlanta City Council seeks answers after consultant paid $910K despite legal block on project (February 20, 2026)
Transparency at City Hall is under the microscope again as council members demand to know why a consultant was paid nearly a million dollars for a project that was supposed to be on hold. It is the kind of bureaucratic oversight that has many of us questioning how our tax dollars are being prioritized for city-wide improvements.
Applications open for two jobs at proposed Atlanta LGBTQ+ Community Center (February 20, 2026)
The plan for a new LGBTQ+ Community Center is moving into a more official phase with the city now hiring for leadership roles to drive fundraising and strategic partnerships. This is a major step toward establishing a permanent civic resource for the community in the heart of the city.
LOCAL BUSINESS UPDATES
EAV Copy Center moves, Wyld Bird opens, and new Sagra wine bar planned
Sagra - opening - This upcoming neighborhood wine bar and community gathering space, featuring an Italian-inspired menu and a small back patio, is moving forward with construction at its Gresham Avenue location. (February 19, 2026)
East Atlanta Copy Center - relocating - This long-standing neighborhood staple has moved into a newly redeveloped 1950s-era building at 1280 Portland Ave SE, featuring an expanded footprint that includes creative workspace and community rooms for planned events and classes. (February 18, 2026)
Wyld Bird - opening - A new pollo asado operation from the owners of Savannah’s The Wyld Dock Bar has officially launched dinner service Wednesday through Sunday inside the Home Grown restaurant space in Reynoldstown. (February 19, 2026)
Catalyst Studioz - opening - This creative business has begun operations within the newly expanded infill project at the corner of Gresham and Portland avenues in East Atlanta Village. (February 18, 2026)
EVENTS
STS9 at The Eastern, Zoo NightCrawlers, and concerts at The Earl
If you have event venues you want covered here, let us know in the feedback form (bottom of this newsletter)! Always open to improvements.
Monday, February 23
- Jake Xerxes Fussell | The EARL | 8:00 PM
Tuesday, February 24
- Spiritual Cramp | The Earl | 7:30 PM
- A Killers Confession | 529 EAV | 8:00 PM
Wednesday, February 25
- Keeper for a Day: Reptiles and Amphibians | Zoo Atlanta | 1:00 PM
- Jesse Welles | The Eastern | 8:00 PM
Thursday, February 26
- Dyskrasia | The EARL | 7:30 PM
Friday, February 27
- School & Group NightCrawler Overnight | Zoo Atlanta | 6:00 PM
- Sound Tribe Sector 9 w/ Lotus | The Eastern | 7:30 PM
- The Constellations | The Earl | 8:30 PM
- Makes My Blood Dance | 529 EAV |
- School and Group NightCrawler Overnight | Zoo Atlanta | 11:00 PM
Saturday, February 28
- Family NightCrawler Overnights | Zoo Atlanta | 6:00 PM
- Elephant Wild Encounter at Zoo Atlanta | Zoo Atlanta | 7:00 PM
- Yosemite In Black | 529 EAV | 8:00 PM
- Prison Affair | The Earl | 8:30 PM
- Sound Tribe Sector 9 and Lotus 2 | The Eastern |
- Family NightCrawler Overnight | Zoo Atlanta | 11:00 PM
Sunday, March 01
- Pop Up Market: Waxwing Coffee Turns One | East Atlanta Village Farmers Market | 10:00 AM
- Family NightCrawler Overnight | Zoo Atlanta |
LOCAL GOVERNMENT DISCUSSION
Zoo lease return, $90M Woodruff Arts bonds, and DeKalb sewer projects
Meetings from the Past Week
Fulton County Board of Education
February 19, 2026 at 12:00 AM
Big agenda items: The Board approved several district-wide measures, including the 2026 Local Facilities Plan, new textbook adoptions for multiple subjects, and a contract for the Infinite Campus Student Information System. They also approved charter school renewals for Chattahoochee Hills and the Fulton Academy of Science and Technology (FAST).
Other topics: The Board reviewed grading regulations for valedictorians and updated protocols for student field trips.
Atlanta Public Schools - Policy Review Committee
February 19, 2026 at 12:00 AM
Big agenda items: The committee reviewed and discussed district-wide policies regarding school safety, visitor regulations, student attendance, and school admissions. They also addressed financial procedures governing the Board Office.
Other topics: Members discussed graduation requirements, specifically regarding community service and other criteria.
Fulton County Board of Commissioners
February 18, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Big agenda items: The Board approved $90M in revenue bonds for improvements at the Woodruff Arts Center and proposed a mandate to dedicate 2% of the FY2026 budget to affordable housing. They also adopted a resolution to limit federal immigration enforcement activities at county facilities and established new technical standards for water and sewer infrastructure.
Neighborhood detail: The Board authorized returning 1,955 sq. ft. of the Atlanta Zoo lease (Abana Courtyard) in Grant Park to public use as a seating plaza.
Other topics: The Reparations Task Force was extended through the end of 2026.
DeKalb County Committee of the Whole
February 17, 2026 at 09:00 AM
Big agenda items: The committee reviewed a $22.2M contract extension for animal shelter operations and a $49.75M contract for sewer rehabilitation required by the county’s Consent Decree. Discussion also covered the implementation plan for a new centralized Homelessness Day Center and potential updates to regulations for data centers and "chronic nuisance" properties.
Other topics: The committee honored K-9 Argo on his official retirement from the Police Services department.
Atlanta City Council
February 16, 2026 at 01:00 PM
Big agenda items: The Council approved new mold remediation guidelines for the city’s housing code and a mandate requiring push-button door activators on new commercial and multi-family buildings. They also advanced the "Play Fair ATL" policy framework to ensure labor standards and human rights protections during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Neighborhood detail: Legislation was introduced to rename Fulton Street, which borders Capitol Gateway, to "J. Lowell Ware Boulevard." A Special Use Permit was considered for outdoor dining at 717 Edgewood Ave SE.
Other topics: The Council established a 180-day moratorium on new alcohol licenses within the Edgewood Corridor.
Atlanta Committee on Council
February 16, 2026 at 11:30 AM
Big agenda items: The committee recommended Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari for a four-year term on the Atlanta Regional Commission Board of Directors and Councilmember Wayne Martin for the Pension Investment Board. They also moved forward with the appointment of Delvin Davis to the Water and Sewer Appeals Board.
Other topics: An administrative correction was made to a previous ordinance regarding the Identity Management System at the airport.
Upcoming Meetings in the Next Week
Atlanta City Council - Zoning Committee
Monday, February 23, 2026, 11:00 AM
The committee will consider a ban on new self-storage and distribution facilities along the Beltline to prioritize walkable, mixed-use development. The agenda also includes a proposal to double allowable residential density in the Historic West End and several annexations of land from DeKalb County.
Atlanta City Council - Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee
Monday, February 23, 2026, 1:00 PM
Legislators will vote on allowing bars and restaurants to offer "Happy Hour" drink discounts citywide and a proposed 180-day moratorium on new alcohol licenses for the Edgewood corridor. The committee will also consider a resolution requesting that police prioritize community diversion over arrests for low-level offenses to reduce jail overcrowding.
Atlanta City Council - City Utilities Committee
Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 10:00 AM
The committee will review $24 million in water infrastructure management contracts and $2 million for supplemental labor to support solid waste and park maintenance. Members will also vote on delaying the city's "Cool Roofs" ordinance until 2027 to address material supply chain shortages.
Atlanta City Council - Community Development/Human Services Committee
Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 1:30 PM
The committee will discuss centralizing short-term rental enforcement under a new dedicated office and a $1-per-year land lease for a peace institute in Vine City. Other items include a human rights action plan for the 2026 World Cup and various land-use redesignations across the city.
Most notable to your neighborhood: Discussion on the proposal to return control of the Abana Courtyard at Zoo Atlanta to the city to create a public seating plaza for the Grant Park community.
Atlanta City Council — Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 1:30 PM (agenda not yet posted)
Atlanta City Council - Transportation Committee
Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 10:00 AM
The committee will take up a proposal to increase on-street metered parking fees from $1.00 to $1.75 per half-hour and review $3.6 million in grants for Peachtree Street safety improvements. Discussions will also cover transit land conveyances to MARTA and infrastructure preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Most notable to your neighborhood: the proposed renaming of Fulton Street SW between Whitehall Terrace and Capitol Avenue to "J. Lowell Ware Boulevard."
Atlanta City Council - Finance/Executive Committee
Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 1:30 PM
This meeting features multi-million dollar upgrades to the E911 system and contracts for smart Wi-Fi infrastructure ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The committee will also consider changing interest rate calculations for delinquent city taxes to align with Georgia state law.
DeKalb County Board of Commissioners
Thursday, February 26, 2026, 9:00 AM
The board is scheduled to adopt the 2026 annual budget and consider a new ordinance allowing the county to close "chronic nuisance" properties. Key contract votes include $22.2 million for animal shelter operations and $49.7 million for sewer infrastructure assessments.
DeKalb County Committee of the Whole — Thursday, February 26, 2026, 9:00 AM (agenda not yet posted)
Atlanta Board of Education — Monday, March 2, 2026, 2:41 AM (agenda not yet posted)
DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION NEARBY
New cafe on Boulevard, $124K home renovation, and Moreland Ave build-out
Permits
Here’s the latest on what’s being built, renovated, and demolished around the neighborhood this week. Keep an eye (and an ear) out for activity at these spots:
1015 Boulevard SE (Grant Park): Looks like a new caffeine fix is on the way. Permits were routed for an interior build-out to turn this commercial space into a cafe and coffee shop.
1039 Grant St SE (Grant Park): A substantial $180,000 commercial alteration is in the works here. While the description is a broad "Building Alteration," the price tag suggests some major interior changes.
505 Moreland Ave SE (East Atlanta): Things are getting busy at this address with multiple permits issued for a major build-out of the 3rd and 4th floors. Work includes new HVAC systems, ductwork, plumbing, and fire alarm installations.
1061 Memorial Dr SE (Reynoldstown): This commercial site is undergoing a tech upgrade with new structured cabling, security cameras, and access control systems being installed.
Fayetteville Rd SE (East Atlanta/Ormewood Park): A major residential renovation is starting up, with permits filed for $124,000 worth of alterations to a home on this stretch.
Kirkwood Ave SE (Reynoldstown): Expect some construction noise near the tracks; a permit was accepted for a $100,000 residential addition.
491 Flat Shoals Ave SE (East Atlanta Village): A quick commercial plumbing update is underway in the heart of the village to install new sinks and facilities.
Commercial Demolition (Location Pending): Heads up that a commercial demolition permit was recently processed in the area—expect some heavy machinery and debris removal if you're passing by active work sites.
Beyond the big projects, there are about 47 other minor permits active this week, including nine hazardous tree removals and several small-scale plumbing and electrical repairs across Cabbagetown and Grant Park.
Road Work
Here is what’s on the radar for East Atlanta, Grant Park, Reynoldstown, and our surrounding neighborhoods:
Interstate 20 Updates
I-20 Concrete Rehabilitation (Hill St to Columbia Dr): This is a big one, neighbors. It is currently Under Construction, which means active work is happening now. Crews are on-site to resurface the roadway and fix those aging concrete slabs. Since this spans both Fulton and DeKalb counties, expect heavy traffic impacts and potential lane closures.
I-20 at Moreland Avenue (SR 42) Interchange: This project is also Under Construction. Crews are working to reconfigure the ramps—specifically aiming to fix that tricky northbound Moreland to I-20 westbound loop. Expect active crews and shifted traffic patterns around this major gateway between East Atlanta and Reynoldstown.
I-20 Lighting Upgrades (Capitol Ave to Flat Shoals Rd): Currently Under Construction, this project is upgrading old lighting to energy-efficient LEDs. You’ll likely see crews working on poles and conduits as they move through this stretch in both Fulton and DeKalb.
Moreland & Glenwood Corridor (SR 42 & SR 260)
Glenwood Avenue Realignment at Moreland Avenue: This is the long-awaited project to eliminate that awkward 70-foot offset where Glenwood crosses Moreland. It is officially Under Construction, so expect active work as they realign the road to the south and add a new shared-use lane for cyclists.
Moreland Avenue Signal & Pedestrian Upgrades: Several safety projects are Under Construction along Moreland Ave (SR 42). This includes installing new pedestrian hybrid beacons and crosswalks near Faith Ave, Sanders Ave, and Custer Ave to help us get across the street safely.
Glenwood Avenue Signal & Pedestrian Facilities: There is active work (Under Construction) at Glenwood and Clifton, as well as new pedestrian signals (RRFBs) being installed at Brownwood Ave and Joseph Ave to make the walk to Brownwood Park a bit easier.
Atlanta BeltLine (Southside Trail)
BeltLine Southside Trail Segment 6 (Glenwood to Woodward): This project is currently in the Construction Work Program. This means it is fully funded and approved, but active construction hasn't started just yet. It includes the exciting new trail bridge over I-20 that will finally connect our neighborhoods without having to brave the Bill Kennedy Way traffic.
BeltLine Southside Trail (Faith Ave to SR 154): Also in the Construction Work Program phase. The contracts are being finalized, so while you won't see crews on-site today, work is imminent. This will eventually provide a paved shared-use path through the Ormewood Park area.
Stay safe out there, and maybe give yourself an extra five minutes if you’re heading toward Moreland this week!
Service Requests
Non-Emergency Traffic Signal / Sign Repairs at Glenwood Ave & Bill Kennedy Way, Blvd & Decatur St, Blvd & N Ave, Martin St SE, Moreland Ave & Memorial Dr, Moreland Ave & Ormewood Ave, Sanders Ave SE, Fraser St. and Memorial Dr.
Potholes at Blvd SE & Woodward Ave SE, Flat Shoals Ave SE,
Illegal Dumping Investigations at Hill St SE, Walthall St NE, Maynard Ter SE
Downed Tree Reporting at Blake Ave SE: A report was filed regarding a fallen tree in the neighborhood.
Right of Way Maintenance (ROW) Litter Removal at Savannah St SE: A request was filed to clear litter and debris from the public right of way.
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Until next week,
East Atlanta Busybody
Disclaimer: We use advanced data retrieval and analysis techniques across hundreds of sources, and as such we may be prone to occasional error. Independently verify anything presented here with a second source, and please let us know if we got anything wrong via the feedback form.
