Edgewood / Kirkwood / East Lake: Dickens' $5.5B Plan and World Cup Hype

Hey Edgewood, Kirkwood, and East Lake! It's a big week for city politics, neighborhood development, and live music. Mayor Dickens spent seven hours defending his $5.5 billion reinvestment plan before city council, but now the school board is pushing back, and with property taxes in the balance, it's worth paying close attention. Closer to home, Peetza Bear is pulling permits in Kirkwood, Drive-By Truckers are headlining Decatur Square on Saturday, and roundabouts on Ponce are one step closer to reality.

- News — Mayor Dickens fought hard for his $5.5B neighborhood plan, a Japanese-American candidate made history in the DeKalb primary, and World Cup fever is officially arriving in Atlanta.
- Events — Drive-By Truckers headline Amplify Decatur on Saturday, and the week is packed with ghost stories, Shakespeare, a serviceberry feast, and a baseball parade in Oakhurst.
- Government — DeKalb is eyeing new millage rates and a QuikTrip on Memorial Drive, the school board is skeptical of the mayor's tax extension, and the full city council votes on the FY2027 budget Monday; plus a rezoning at 1675 Memorial Drive SE is on the docket.
- Construction — Peetza Bear is pulling permits at 1245 Caroline St NE in Kirkwood, I-20 is getting LED lights and fresh concrete, and pedestrian beacons are going in along SR-260 at multiple crosswalks.

Let's dive in.

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NEWS

Atlanta mayor defends $5.5B neighborhood plan at city hall
Seven hours, one room, and a mayor who came ready to fight — Andre Dickens stood his ground before city council on his sweeping 20-year, $5.5 billion neighborhood reinvestment plan. At one point Dickens declared, "I'm Atlanta born, I'm Atlanta bred. And when I die, I'm going to be Atlanta dead." Whether you're for it or against it, a plan this ambitious will touch every neighborhood in this city, including ours.

Atlanta school board members seem skeptical of mayor's tax extension plan
Mayor Dickens may have survived city council, but the Atlanta Board of Education isn't rolling out the welcome mat for his proposed tax extension. Board members are raising pointed questions about the plan, and with school funding and property taxes directly on the line, families and homeowners in the area have every reason to follow this one closely.

Atlanta festivals, events and parties to check out during the FIFA World Cup
The World Cup is coming to Atlanta, and the city isn't planning to be shy about it. A new guide rounds up the full lineup of festivals, street parties, and watch events happening across town — expect crowded sidewalks, festive energy, and plenty of reasons to venture out this summer.

Japanese-American Candidate Makes History with Landslide Primary Win in DeKalb County
DeKalb County voters delivered a decisive verdict in the primary, sending a Japanese-American candidate to victory in what's being called a watershed moment for representation in the region.

EVENTS

The Amplify Decatur Music Festival kicks off Thursday and builds to a headline moment Saturday night: Drive-By Truckers take the Decatur Square stage. If you're anywhere near the neighborhood this weekend, plan around it.

Monday, June 1
- ONE Zoning Committee Meeting | Our Neighborhood Edgewood
- Serviceberry Fe(a)st ATL 2026 | The Deer and The Dove
- 50th Anniversary Celebration: Five Days of Service | Oakland Cemetery
- Shakespeare on Draught presents: Twelfth Night | 97 Estoria
- Looking for Frank Wills: Wesley Brown with Daniel Black | Decatur Library
- Monday FUNday - Half-Priced Cocktails | Wild Heaven Beer

Tuesday, June 2
- AUTHOR EVENT | Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé | THE HEIRS | With Channelle Desamours | Brave and Kind Books
- Moore Chapel Gardeners Volunteer Day | Legacy Park
- $5 Beer Trivia Tuesdays in Avondale | Wild Heaven Beer
- Salon: The Art of Conversation with Sarah Turquety | Core Dance

Wednesday, June 3
- Zoning Committee Meeting June | Candler Park
- Volunteer Project | Woodlands Garden
- That Haint Right: Appalachian Ghost Stories | Dynamic El Dorado

Thursday, June 4
- Amplify Decatur Music Festival | Downtown Decatur Square
- Sustainable Landscaping Volunteer Day | Legacy Park
- Singing Workshop in the Pavilion – June | Woodlands Garden
- To Love a Country: Dominic Erdozain with Patrick Allitt | Decatur Library
- The WILD UNO Tournament | The Reading Room
- Queer Ecologies BC Reads: Love After the End: An Anthology of Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer Speculative | 184 S. Candler St., Decatur, GA 30030

Friday, June 5
- Charis After Dark: An After-Hours Experience | 184 S. Candler St.
- Gutenberg! The Musical! - Opening Night! | Dad's Garage

Saturday, June 6
- Drive-By Truckers | Decatur Square
- Baseball Opening Day Parade | Oakhurst Park
- Decatur FC VS. Nashville | Decatur High School
- Superica Breakfast Taco Pop-Up | Superica
- Chosen Family | Church at Ponce and Highland
- The Cleverlys | Eddie's Attic
- Ask Anything Tarot Reading w/ Megan 6/6 | Odd Bird Loft
- Walk & Talk Decatur | Clarity Fitness
- Family Yoga: Yoga with Your Little Yogi | Decatur Library
- Take & Make Saturdays | Decatur Library

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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

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners

The Board met on May 26 and is scheduled to return on May 28 for a zoning session — and neither meeting has minutes posted yet, so outcomes are not confirmed. At the May 26 regular meeting, commissioners are scheduled to adopt tentative 2026 millage rates, which is the first formal step in setting this year's property tax bills, alongside proposed fee increases for both residential trash pickup and stormwater utility management, which funds the drainage systems that keep neighborhoods from flooding. Road safety is also on the agenda, with proposed roundabouts at Ponce De Leon Avenue at East Lake Road and Clairmont Road at Rosecliff Drive, and a nearly $1.86 million contract is up for consideration to upgrade perimeter security at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport. At the May 28 zoning meeting, the Board is scheduled to consider a wide range of land-use requests, including a 214-unit single-family subdivision proposed by D.R. Horton near Norris Lake, a QuikTrip complex on Memorial Drive seeking permits for a car wash, fuel pumps, and alcohol sales, and countywide ordinance updates that would clarify excise taxes on short-term rentals like Airbnb and establish a new framework for penalizing repeat nuisance properties. As with all agenda-only meetings, any item may be deferred, withdrawn, or tabled before a vote is taken.

Atlanta City Council Committees

It was a busy week across City Council committee rooms, with confirmed action on several fronts and a packed agenda of proposals still awaiting final votes. On the public safety side, the Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee approved a new compensation plan to bring more competitive pay to Atlanta Fire Rescue, gave unanimous sign-off on a $4.7 million equipment contract for APD, and — looking ahead to the summer — approved a temporary open-container exemption for public spaces downtown during the FIFA World Cup (June 11–July 19); the committee also voted to require that field drug tests be followed by laboratory confirmation before they can form the basis of an arrest, a meaningful reform to how APD processes drug-related charges. The Community Development/Human Services Committee approved a $1.05 million renewal for BeltLine park maintenance, directed $735,000 in federal HOME funds toward affordable housing at the Sweet Auburn Grande development, and forwarded a $7.85 million proposal to acquire nearly 30 acres along Randall Mill Road for forest preservation — though a sweeping neighborhood reinvestment framework and dozens of land-use rezoning requests were deferred for further review. The Transportation Committee took up over $15 million in trail funding — including an $8 million agreement for the PATH Westside Connector and a boost to the PATH 400 Trail budget — alongside a $6 million state resurfacing grant and a $3.6 million Peachtree Street safety improvement project. Still on the agenda (no minutes yet posted) are the Finance/Executive Committee's consideration of the FY2027 budget and property tax rates, a proposed electronic payment surcharge, and the Zoning Committee's scheduled vote on banning new self-storage facilities within the BeltLine Overlay District, along with major rezoning proposals for the Chattahoochee Avenue corridor and new rules for medical cannabis dispensaries — keep in mind that any item on an agenda without posted minutes may be tabled, deferred, or withdrawn before a vote is taken. The City Utilities Committee is also scheduled to consider adjustments to solid waste fees, an $8.5 million road resurfacing transfer, new mandatory sewer connection criteria, and a $20 million infusion for sanitary sewer repairs — significant budget moves for residents who care about infrastructure and monthly utility bills.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

Atlanta City Council — Zoning Committee
- 1675 Memorial Drive SE — A request to waive regulations allowing a service station (gas station) to operate in a C-2 Neighborhood Commercial district is on the agenda to be heard; as an agenda item, it may be tabled, deferred, or withdrawn.

Atlanta City Council — Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee
- 2025 Hosea Williams Drive SE — The city is proposing a lease for 9,000 square feet of office space at this address to serve as the new Atlanta Police Department Zone 6 Main Precinct, with an initial annual rent of $102,000 through September 2030.

Meetings This Week
- Atlanta Public Schools — Board of Education — Monday, 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. Also on the agenda: authorization to purchase 22 new school buses and Yondr cell-phone pouches for students, plus Construction Management at Risk contracts for building improvements at Midtown High School, Maynard Jackson High School, and the Coan administrative site at 1550 Hosea L. Williams Dr NE in Kirkwood.

- Atlanta City Council — Committee on Council — Monday, June 1, 2026 at 11:30 AM
The committee is scheduled to take up proposed changes to public comment sign-up rules and time limits at City Council meetings, alongside a held resolution that would station certified law enforcement officers at recreation centers used as polling sites. Citizen appointments to the BeltLine Affordable Housing Advisory Board and BeltLine TAD Advisory Committee are also on the agenda for confirmation.

- Atlanta City Council — Monday, June 1, 2026 at 1:00 PM
The full council is scheduled to take up the proposed FY 2027 city budget and new property tax rates, a nearly $7.9 million forest land acquisition along Randall Mill Road NW, and a proposed ban on new self-storage facilities within the BeltLine Overlay District. A $3.5 million contract for police drone-tracking technology is also on the agenda. A rezoning request at 1675 Memorial Drive SE — a C-2 waiver to permit a service station — is scheduled to be heard.

- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole — Tuesday, June 2, 2026 at 9:00 AM
The committee is scheduled to consider proposed fee increases for stormwater utility service and residential and commercial trash collection, as well as a public hearing to potentially extend the county's moratorium on new data centers. Also on the agenda: roundabout proposals for intersections along Ponce De Leon Avenue and Clairmont Road, new ordinances targeting chronic nuisance and vacant properties, and a $325.5 million emergency contract for countywide water and sewer line repairs. The Memorial Drive corridor is also slated for discussion, with a proposed contract to install corridor branding signs and gateway features along the road.

CONSTRUCTION

Permits

1245 Caroline St NE — Three separate permits filed for incoming tenant Peetza Bear: plumbing alterations, electrical rewire, and mechanical work. A new business is getting close to opening at this Kirkwood address.

1106 Blvd Dr NE — Electrical wiring permitted for two new duplexes. More residential units coming to the neighborhood.

225 Rogers St NE — Commercial plumbing permit issued to install 36 parking deck drains. Unglamorous work, but someone's investing in a serious parking structure nearby.

Elsewhere, 46 residential and minor permits were filed across the area, dominated by arborist removals (12 permits) and routine HVAC and electrical work.

Road Work

Under Construction
- I-20 Lighting Upgrade (DeKalb/Fulton) — Active work is underway along I-20 from Capitol Ave to Flat Shoals Road, where crews are swapping out old high-pressure sodium fixtures for LED lighting. Expect nighttime lane disruptions along this stretch.
- I-20 Concrete Rehab (DeKalb/Fulton) — Resurfacing is ongoing along I-20 from west of Hill St in Fulton County to west of Columbia Dr in DeKalb — a corridor with a notably low pavement condition score. If I-20 is part of your daily commute, build in extra time and watch for lane shifts.
- SR-260 Pedestrian Safety Upgrades (DeKalb) — Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacons (RRFBs) are being installed at multiple crosswalks along SR-260, including intersections at Haas Ave, Eastside Ave, Brownwood Ave, and Joseph Ave. These are active work zones, so slow down — and once complete, the crossings will be meaningfully safer for pedestrians.

Pre-Construction

- SR 154/Memorial Drive Sidewalk Improvements (DeKalb County) — New and rebuilt sidewalks along Memorial Drive from Moreland Avenue to Candler Road. A modest stretch, but a meaningful upgrade for pedestrians along one of the area's busiest corridors.
- Atlanta Traffic Signal Enhancements – Phase II (DeKalb & Fulton Counties) — Signal equipment upgrades, smarter detection, ADA ramp improvements, and retimed signals at intersections across DeKalb and Fulton. Less waiting, fewer missed cycles — when it eventually gets underway.
- DeKalb Avenue Railroad Crossing Upgrades at CSX (DeKalb County) — New two-quadrant warning device installation at the CSX crossing on DeKalb Avenue. A safety improvement at a crossing that sees regular train traffic.
- SR 8/Ponce De Leon Avenue Drainage Improvements (DeKalb County) — Drainage work along the Ponce De Leon corridor in DeKalb County, targeting an urban arterial stretch that has long had stormwater issues.
- SR 8 Roundabouts at Eastlake and North Ponce De Leon (DeKalb County) — Two roundabouts proposed along the Ponce de Leon corridor: one at SR 8 and Eastlake, another at SR 8 at North Ponce, West Parkwood, and East Parkwood. If you drive this stretch regularly, the layout will look notably different once construction begins.

Service Requests

Three potholes are being patched on Clay St SE, at Hosea L. Williams Dr & Alston Dr SE, and at Hosea L. Williams Dr & Rogers St. Traffic signals at two Hosea L. Williams Dr intersections — at Woodbine Ave and Mayson Ave — are flagged for repair. Litter removal is underway along the right of way on Hardee St NE, and overgrowth obscuring visibility has been flagged on Memorial Dr SE. A reported downed tree on Dixie St SE was cancelled as a duplicate.