East Atlanta: Pandas Are Back, and Superman Is Keeping Inmates Up at Night

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Hey, East Atlanta — it's a big week for news with some genuine range to it. Giant pandas are officially returning to Zoo Atlanta, which is great for Grant Park foot traffic and less great for your parking situation, and the Superman production filming near the Federal Penitentiary is apparently keeping inmates awake with late-night pyrotechnics. There's a lot more worth knowing this week, from a new wine bar quietly taking shape on Gresham to a proposed moratorium on Edgewood alcohol licenses that deserves your attention.

- News — Pandas are returning to Zoo Atlanta, Superman's film crew is rattling the Federal Penitentiary with nighttime pyrotechnics, and Atlanta's mural count just crossed 2,000 — with our corner of the city leading the charge.
- Business — Moreland Avenue's Halidom development is rising with Phase Two, and a cozy wine bar called Sagra with a hidden back patio is quietly taking shape on Gresham Avenue.
- Events — It's a stacked week from Fugazi's rhythm section at The Earl to Disclosure at The Eastern, with Cass McCombs, Boogarins, and a free climate talk in Decatur rounding out an embarrassment of riches.
- Government — Atlanta City Council approved a FIFA World Cup entertainment district downtown, a proposed Edgewood alcohol license moratorium is headed to committee, and the FY2027 budget and property tax rates go before the Finance Committee this week.
- Construction — A full gut-build at 471 Flat Shoals signals a new tenant is close, the Moreland and Arkwright intersection is about to lose your left turn, and the long-awaited BeltLine Southside Trail is finally funded and moving toward construction.

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Let’s dive in:

NEWS

Zoo Atlanta announces it will again host giant pandas
Just when we thought the bamboo budget was finally zeroed out, the black-and-white icons are officially returning to Grant Park. It is a massive win for neighborhood foot traffic and local tourism, though you might want to start planning your alternate driving routes around the park now before the global crowds descend.

'Superman: Man of Tomorrow' filming is upsetting inmates at Atlanta Federal Penitentiary
Hollywood's latest takeover of Southeast Atlanta is causing a stir, but not for the usual traffic reasons. Production for the new Superman flick has been keeping neighbors awake with late-night pyrotechnics and stadium-grade lights, proving that even a superhero can be a bit of a nuisance when he moves in next door.

Atlanta Jazz Festival announces free concert series at local parks this May
The city is gearing up for its annual jazz takeover, and while Piedmont Park usually gets the glory, the neighborhood series is bringing free sets much closer to home. It is the perfect excuse to grab a blanket and claim your spot in the grass before the official festival madness begins at the end of the month.

Atlanta now has more than 2,000 murals. How did we get here?
If it feels like every brick wall in the area has been claimed by an artist, you aren't imagining things — the city has officially surpassed the 2,000-mural milestone. Our corner of the city remains the heartbeat of this movement, turning everyday commutes into a walk through an outdoor gallery that evolves almost weekly.

BUSINESS

Halidom — Moreland Avenue's South Beach-themed hub is leveling up: Phase Two construction is now rising on an 18,000-square-foot building set to deliver new retail and medical options to the neighborhood's southern edge. If you've watched that corner evolve, things are about to get a lot more interesting.

Sagra — A cozy wine bar is taking shape on Gresham Avenue, promising a 50-seat "living room" vibe complete with a tucked-away back patio — pencil in this summer for its debut.

EVENTS

-Big Samson & The Truth's Pro Jam— Mon Apr 27 — 529 EAV
-Elephant Wild Encounter at Zoo Atlanta— Mon Apr 27 — Zoo Atlanta
-The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis— Mon Apr 27 — The Earl
-Krissy Bergmark: decollage at Grocery on Home— Mon Apr 27 — Grocery on Home
-Eco Revolution: Maya Penn in Conversation with Hannah Testa— Mon Apr 27 — Decatur Library
-Boogarins with Rujen— Tue Apr 28 — The Earl
-Jordan Ifueko with Jill Tew - The Genie Game!— Tue Apr 28 — Little Shop of Stories
-Injustice Town: Rick Tulsky with Cynthia Tucker— Tue Apr 28 — Decatur Library
-Sinkane— Wed Apr 29 — The Earl
-David Ryan Harris: In Residence at Eddie's Attic— Wed Apr 29 — Eddie's Attic
-Jazz on the Beltline (Live Music, Margarita & Wine Flights!)— Wed Apr 29 — Buena Vida Tapas Bar
-Keeper for a Day: Elephants— Thu Apr 30 — Zoo Atlanta
-Square Dancing with Live Music— Thu Apr 30 — Cabbagetown Neighborhood Improvement Association
-Liz Cooper— Thu Apr 30 — The Earl
-Snorkeler & Parrotfish— Thu Apr 30 — 529 EAV
-Tree Tour: Atlanta Beltline Arboretum Eastside— Thu Apr 30 — Inman Park Coffee
-Poetry Showcase— Thu Apr 30 — Charis Books & More
-Disclosure Live— Fri May 1 — The Eastern
-Dark Disko's One Year Anniversary Party— Fri May 1 — The Earl
-BeetleCat MayDay Event— Fri May 1 — BeetleCat
-"May Flowers" Group Exhibition + Art Crawl at Cat Eye Creative— Fri May 1 — Cat Eye Creative.
-Jane's Walk— Fri May 1 — Downtown Decatur
-Free Throw - Moments Before The Wind Tour— Fri May 1 — The Masquerade
-Adventure Cubs— Sat May 2 — Zoo Atlanta
-Food & Street Art Tour on the Atlanta Beltline— Sat May 2 — 99 Krog St NE
-Beastly Feast Gala— Sat May 2 — Zoo Atlanta
-THE WITCHES OF DYSTOPIA TOUR - Mortiis & Uada 2026— Sat May 2 — 529 EAV
-Cass McCombs + Band— Sat May 2 — The Earl
-The Little Shop of Stories Children's Book Festival— Sat May 2 — Decatur Library
-Bug Fest— Sat May 2 — Fernbank Museum of Natural History
-Coffee, Donuts & Community Clean-Up— Sat May 2 — Edgewood
-The Sawed Offs— Sun May 3 — 529 EAV
-Wolf Eyes— Sun May 3 — The Earl
-Spring Clothing Swap— Sun May 3 — Dairy Barn at Legacy Park

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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

The full Council and its Committee on Council both met April 20, with minutes confirmed for both sessions. The headline from the full Council meeting: Atlanta is officially preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. A temporary "Public Entertainment District" covering Downtown from June 11 through July 19 was approved 10-2, banning the distribution of free commercial products and prohibiting cruising in the area to manage the expected surge in crowds and traffic. On the neighborhood identity front, the "Midwest Cascade" area has been officially renamed West Cascade on all city maps, and Fulton Street SW received a new name — J. Lowell Ware Boulevard. Council also approved a $12,000 donation to Propel ATL to support youth cycling education. Residents watching the city's solid waste contract will note that Republic Services of Georgia received an extension through August 2026 at $52.57 per ton. One item that didn't move: proposed regulations to create a Short-Term Rental Registry were kept "held" in committee — those discussions are expected to continue at the April 28 committee meeting. Several major neighborhood master plans, including Peachtree Park and Beltline Subarea 8, were referred to committee for a vote also expected April 28.

At the earlier Committee on Council session, members took up several governance proposals. A new ordinance was considered that would allow a council oversight committee to fill board and commission vacancies if a councilmember leaves a seat open for more than 60 days — a move aimed at keeping city boards functional. Also on the table: a resolution requesting the City Attorney hire outside counsel to independently investigate contracts and payments involving Foris Webb III, a matter that had previously been held in committee. Two additional Charter amendments were discussed — one that would require every piece of legislation to have a named councilmember as primary sponsor, and another clarifying that mandatory training requirements apply to newly elected officials, not re-elected incumbents. The committee also moved to appoint two council members to the Budget Commission ahead of the FY 2027 budget process.

Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education

The APS Board Development Committee met April 21 for a procedural session focused on internal governance — no major spending decisions, rezonings, or school-zone changes came out of this one. Members reviewed a draft of the Board Operation Manual, which governs how the board itself functions, though it has not yet been formally adopted. The committee also discussed the frequency of board retreats used for long-term district planning, without settling on a final schedule for the 2026–2027 year. Community engagement strategies were floated — how board members communicate with the public and whether to standardize those interactions — but nothing concrete was approved. The board also reviewed compliance with state-mandated training hour requirements for members, a routine step to meet Georgia professional development rules.

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole

DeKalb's Committee of the Whole met April 21 and cleared a heavy agenda, advancing more than $220 million in spending and several notable policy items to the full Board of Commissioners. The biggest dollar figures were in water infrastructure: over $52 million in emergency contracts were moved forward for urgent upgrades to the Snapfinger Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility, covering wet weather storage, membrane capacity improvements, and lift station work designed to prevent system failures. Public safety got a major investment too — a $26.6 million contract with Cooper & Company General Constructors was advanced to build three new fire stations, which will serve the Tucker, Decatur, and Lithonia areas and are expected to improve emergency response times. To cover county operating expenses while waiting on property tax revenue to come in later this year, the committee also moved forward a $142.3 million short-term Tax Anticipation Note — a standard financing tool counties use annually. On the planning side, a $250,000 contract was approved for Tunnell-Spangler & Associates to update the Kensington Livable Centers Initiative master plan, which shapes future development and walkability near the Kensington MARTA station. And on a notably different note, a proposed ordinance that would strictly regulate the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet shops was advanced to a subcommittee for further review — a change that could significantly affect how local pet stores operate. Smaller community allocations also advanced, including $100,000 toward a John Lewis memorial in Decatur and $10,000 for a cold-weather shelter in Tucker.

Meetings This Week
- Atlanta City Council — Zoning Committee — Monday, April 27 at 11:00 AM
Major land use proposals are on the agenda, including a nearly 14-acre rezoning at Sylvan Road and Cox Avenue from light industrial to mixed-use, and a batch of industrial-to-mixed-use conversions along Logan Circle and Chattahoochee Avenue in the Upper Westside. The committee will also take up a proposed text amendment that would ban new self-storage facilities within the BeltLine Overlay District, and a resolution to formally launch "Zoning 2.0," a citywide overhaul of Atlanta's development rules.

- Atlanta City Council — Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee — Monday, April 27 at 1:00 PM
The committee is set to consider a temporary waiver that would allow outdoor alcohol consumption in parts of Downtown during the 2026 FIFA World Cup (June 11–July 19), as well as a proposed 180-day moratorium on new alcohol licenses in the Edgewood Corridor. Also on the agenda: legislation that would prohibit Atlanta Police from using colorimetric field drug tests as the sole basis for an arrest.

- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Board of Commissioners — Tuesday, April 28 at 9:00 AM
No agenda is available at this time.

- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole — Tuesday, April 28 at 9:00 AM
No agenda is available at this time.

- Atlanta City Council — City Utilities Committee — Tuesday, April 28 at 10:00 AM
More than $70 million in water and sewer infrastructure contracts and amendments are scheduled for consideration, including a $24 million addition to the Peachtree Creek Eastside sewer project. The committee will also take up a proposal to transfer approximately 12 acres of city-owned land at 1270 West Marietta Boulevard to Invest Atlanta for potential redevelopment, along with easements to support an Atlanta Botanical Garden expansion and a $1.28 million stream restoration project in Hunter Hills.

- Atlanta City Council — Community Development/Human Services Committee — Tuesday, April 28 at 1:30 PM
A $52 million federal grant application for FIFA World Cup hosting and security is scheduled for consideration, alongside $1.87 million in funding for construction of Enota Park on the Atlanta Beltline. The committee will also hear second readings on neighborhood master plans for Peachtree Park and Edgewood, and a resolution calling for a temporary pause on the sale and redevelopment of 1060 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway NW pending a community impact review.

- Atlanta City Council — Transportation Committee — Wednesday, April 29 at 10:00 AM
A $3.6 million safety improvement project for Peachtree Street in Midtown is on the agenda, along with property acquisitions needed to advance the Proctor Creek Greenway expansion and new sidewalk installations along Moreland Avenue. The committee is also scheduled to consider authorizing the 2026 Atlanta Streets Alive open-street program and a proposal to rename a stretch of Lee Street SW to "Judge Thelma Cummings Moore Way."

- Atlanta City Council — Finance/Executive Committee — Wednesday, April 29 at 1:30 PM
The committee is scheduled to take up the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget and set property tax rates for the coming year — decisions that will directly affect homeowners' tax bills. Also on the agenda: a proposed $1.3 billion bond issuance for Hartsfield-Jackson Airport improvements, a $39 million contract for a new 911 Center, a $600,000 investment in Grant Park infrastructure including the Milledge Fountain and a new outdoor classroom, and a $15,000 donation toward renovation of the Western Gate at Oakland Cemetery.

CONSTRUCTION

Permits

- 471 Flat Shoals Ave SE — A commercial interior buildout is underway, with separate electrical and plumbing permits filed covering lights, outlets, smoke detectors, three toilets, sinks, a shower, and a water heater. That's a full gut-and-build, suggesting a new tenant is getting close to opening.
- 525 Moreland Ave SE — A white-box renovation on the second floor is routed for review. Second-floor commercial space on Moreland is worth watching — this could signal a new business coming to a corridor that's seen steady activity.
- 930 Kirkwood Ave SE — Multiple 200-amp electrical service permits issued for units in what's identified as the Stein Steel site. The cluster of permits across several units at once points to an ongoing residential conversion or build-out at scale.
- 621 Memorial Dr SE — Fire alarm installation permit pending for a commercial property. Routine on its own, but a fire alarm permit is often one of the last steps before a space opens to the public.
- 1039 Grant St SE — New electrical lighting and outlets filed for a commercial space. Early-stage work.
- 479 Kelly St SE — Four Georgia Power meters and disconnects being replaced due to weatherization and mechanical failure. Maintenance work, but worth knowing if you're near the building and notice utility crews.

On the residential side, 45 permits filed across the area — split pretty evenly among plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and general alterations. Homeowners are busy.

Road Work

Under Construction
- I-20 Lighting Upgrade (Capitol Ave to Flat Shoals Rd) — GDOT is replacing outdated high-pressure sodium lights with LED fixtures along this I-20 stretch spanning Fulton and DeKalb counties. Expect crews working along the corridor — nighttime lane restrictions are common with this type of work.
- 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, meaning a new median will eliminate left turns and through movements. If you cut through here regularly, start finding your alternate now.
- SR 154/Memorial Drive — Pedestrian Safety Improvements — Active work is underway at multiple locations along SR 154 across DeKalb and Fulton counties, 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. Expect shifted traffic patterns and watch for construction activity near those intersections.
- SR 260/Glenwood Ave — Pedestrian Beacon Installations — Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) are being installed at several crossings along SR 260, including at Brownwood Ave, Joseph Ave, Haas Ave, and Eastside Ave. These are all in DeKalb, just over the border, but close enough to affect your route if Glenwood is part of your regular commute.

Pre-Construction
- BeltLine Southside Trail – Glenwood Ave to Woodward Ave (Fulton County) — The long-awaited Southside Trail Segment 6 is funded and moving toward construction. This stretch runs along Bill Kennedy Way (SR 154 Connector) and includes a new trail bridge over I-20 — a significant missing link for the BeltLine network. No shovels in the ground yet, but it's in the pipeline.
- BeltLine Southside Trail – Faith Ave to SR 154 (Fulton County) — A companion segment to the project above, this piece fills in more of the Southside Trail along the same Bill Kennedy Way corridor. Together, these two segments represent a major step toward completing the southside connection that East Atlanta and Glenwood Park residents have been watching for years.
- SR 154/Memorial Drive Corridor Improvements (Fulton County) — Sidewalk expansions are coming to Memorial Drive between Connally Street and Grant Street, with gaps filled, damaged sections replaced, and the whole stretch brought up to ADA standards. Good news for anyone walking or rolling along this busy corridor.
- Atlanta Traffic Signal Enhancements – Phase II (DeKalb & Fulton Counties) — A broad signal upgrade project spanning both counties that includes new detection equipment, updated signal timing, fiber or 4G communications connections, and ADA ramp improvements at intersections across the area. The goal is better-timed lights and smarter traffic flow — though the real test will be in the execution.
- SR 154 Auxiliary Lanes – Connally St to Grant St (Fulton County) — Additional through lanes are planned along this stretch of SR 154/Memorial Drive, overlapping with the sidewalk improvement project in the same corridor. Expect this section of Memorial Drive to look noticeably different once both projects get underway.

Service Requests

- Traffic Signal Repairs — Issues reported at Glenwood Ave SE & I-20 E (two separate reports), Maynard Ter & Memorial Dr, Cherokee Ave & Georgia Ave, Bill Kennedy Way SE, and additional locations. With seven reports in a four-day window, signals in the Glenwood and Grant Park corridors are getting some attention.
- Potholes — Flat Shoals Ave SE and Emerson Ave SE each drew multiple complaints, with Grant St SE also flagged. Five reports total filed between April 19–25.
- Illegal Dumping — Reported at Gilbert St & Lyndale Dr, Cleveland St SE, Carroll St SE, and Decatur St & Boulevard. Four reports filed across the week.
- Overgrowth & Visibility Issues — Vegetation blocking sightlines reported at Glenwood Ave SE, Ormond St & Rawlins St, and Moreland Ave SE & Bill Kennedy Way.
- Litter Removal — A right-of-way cleanup request was filed for Bill Kennedy Way.
- Graffiti Removal — One report at DeKalb Ave & Moreland Ave, currently in progress.
- General Requests — Two unspecified requests filed at Carroll St SE and Powell St SE.