Edgewood / Kirkwood / East Lake: Kirkwood Senior Housing Heads to a Vote

PSA: we’ll be publishing on Tuesday next week, because Memorial Day.

Hey Edgewood, Kirkwood, and East Lake — it's a big week for neighborhood decisions. A senior housing rezoning that's had residents asking hard questions is now headed for a full Atlanta City Council vote. Plus, there's a lot in the pipeline — from Ponce de Leon roundabouts to a packed week of events — so let's get into it.

- News — A contested plan to bring micro-apartments for homeless seniors to Kirkwood is heading to a full council vote and a structural change to DeKalb elections just became law.
- Events — It's a stacked week: Jazz Fest returns to Piedmont Park, Chet Faker and The Pharcyde both hit The Masquerade, the DeKalb Symphony closes out Season 61, and the Strawberry Festival lands at New Realm on Saturday.
- Government — The full council meets Monday on the Zone 6 precinct lease at Hosea Williams Drive and rezoning votes on Howard Street, while DeKalb's Committee of the Whole takes up proposed roundabouts on Ponce de Leon — including one at East Lake Road.
- Construction — I-20 is getting an LED lighting upgrade and a full concrete overhaul, pedestrian beacons are going in along SR-260, and two roundabouts on Ponce de Leon are moving closer to reality.

Let's dive in.

NEWS

Questions remain as Kirkwood senior housing project heads for full Atlanta City Council vote
A proposal to build micro-apartments for seniors experiencing homelessness in Kirkwood is moving toward a full City Council vote, but the neighborhood isn't sold yet. Conditions have been added to the rezoning request, though lingering concerns about density and what "supportive services" actually looks like in practice have residents watching closely.

DeKalb District 3 primary: Massiah faces rematch, new challenger
The race for DeKalb's District 3 seat is shaping up to be a genuine contest, with incumbent Massiah facing both a familiar opponent and a fresh face on the ballot. For East Lake and Kirkwood residents who fall within DeKalb's boundaries, this primary is a direct line to who controls the purse strings on infrastructure, development, and local services.

Governor signs bill making DeKalb elections nonpartisan
Governor Kemp has signed legislation shifting certain DeKalb County elected positions to a nonpartisan format — a significant structural change to how local democracy works in this county. The idea is that voters will focus on candidates rather than party labels, though how that plays out in practice remains to be seen.

MARTA finalizes transit plans for 2026 FIFA World Cup crowds
The World Cup is coming, and MARTA has a plan — more trains, beefed-up security, and a system bracing for a surge unlike anything Atlanta has seen in years. If you rely on rail for your daily commute this summer, it's worth understanding what's about to change before the crowds arrive and your usual routine goes out the window.

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EVENTS

Monday, May 18
- Monday FUNday - Half-Priced Cocktails | Wild Heaven Beer
- Summer Reading Challenge Scavenger Hunt | Decatur Library
- Chet Faker | The Masquerade
- Andrés Cepeda: Bogota La Gira | Variety Playhouse
- Tai Chi/Qigong Midlevel Practice | Legacy Park

Tuesday, May 19
- ONE Monthly Meeting | Our Neighborhood Edgewood
- DeKalb Symphony Orchestra Season 61 Finale | First Baptist Church of Decatur
- The New Pornographers | Variety Playhouse
- Truckin' Tuesdays | Legacy Park
- Jack Cheevers: Kennedy's Coup Author Event | Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum
- $5 Beer + Taco + Trivia Tuesdays in Avondale | Wild Heaven Beer
- The Pharcyde | The Masquerade

Wednesday, May 20
- Sweet Auburn Barbecue Brings Back Good Luck Smoke | Sweet Auburn Barbecue
- Tio Lucho's Ceviche Sessions Returns May 20th | Tio Lucho's
- An Evening of Conversation with Susan Ford Bales and Lisa McCubbin Hill | Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church
- Square Dancing w/ Live Music | Cabbagetown Neighborhood Improvement Association

Thursday, May 21
- Cabbagetown Concert Series | Cabbagetown Neighborhood Improvement Association
- United States of Rejection: Alison Kinney with Anjali Enjeti | Decatur Library
- Third Thursdays Cinemas at Atlanta Dairies Presents: Brink! | Atlanta Dairies
- Jana Kramer | City Winery Atlanta
- Singing Workshop in the Pavilion – May | Woodlands Garden
- Sustainable Landscaping Volunteer Day | Legacy Park

Friday, May 22
- Candlelight: Back in Black (Tribute to AC/DC) | The Chapel on Sycamore
- Candlelight: Neo-Soul Favorites ft. Songs by Prince, Childish Gambino, & More | The Chapel on Sycamore

Saturday, May 23
- Terminus Ballet School's Spring Showcase | Moving In The Spririt
- Strawberry Festival | New Realm Brewing
- Brew at the Zoo | Zoo Atlanta
- A Shakespeare Happening Spring Series | Avondale Estates Business District
- Kenny Howes & The Wow with Mathis Hunter & The Rinse | Wild Heaven Beer
- The Dynamic! – Funny scenes, songs and games! | Dynamic El Dorado
- Atlanta Jazz Festival | Piedmont Park

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 DeKalb County Board of Commissioners had a packed agenda at its May 12 meeting, with a May 16 session also on the books — though minutes are not yet available for either meeting, so actual outcomes remain unconfirmed. On the infrastructure side, $32.37 million in emergency upgrades to the Snapfinger Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility and an $8 million allocation for the South Peachtree Creek Trail extension — connecting Medlock Park to the Lulah Hills development — were both scheduled for votes. The board was also set to consider new county-wide regulations defining and setting development standards for data centers, alongside a resolution that would require baseline health and environmental impact assessments before any new data center land disturbance permits could be issued. Public safety items included a $26.58 million project to build three new fire stations and a proposed ordinance establishing regulatory oversight for blasting operations near homes and construction sites. A proposed Stormwater Utility Fee increase, a "Water Customer Bill of Rights" resolution, and a long-deferred ordinance targeting chronic nuisance properties were also on the agenda — readers should note that any of these items may have been tabled, amended, or deferred during the actual meeting.

Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education

The Atlanta Public Schools Policy Review Committee met May 14 and gave final approval to two updated district policies: one formalizing how the district manages student academic counseling and career planning pathways, and another strengthening oversight of how employees use district credit cards and make purchases — a fiscal accountability measure aimed at ensuring taxpayer funds are handled transparently. The board also began formal discussions on setting screen time limits for students during the school day, though that item did not go to a final vote and will return at a future meeting as the district weighs digital learning against health concerns. Under other business, the committee received a status update on surplus district properties — land no longer in active use by APS — though no specific sales or leases were authorized at this session; residents should watch future meetings for action items as specific properties move toward disposition. The committee also discussed its involvement with the Tax Allocation District Advisory Council, which affects how property tax increment revenue is directed toward specific development projects rather than the general fund.

Atlanta City Council

Atlanta's City Council and its committees were busy across multiple meetings this past week. In a brief Special Called Meeting on May 13, the full Council voted 8-0 to approve the final pricing terms for a series of water and wastewater "Sustainability Bonds," locking in interest rates and repayment schedules for debt that will fund ongoing utility infrastructure improvements — the urgency of the vote was to secure favorable market conditions before rates shifted. The City Utilities Committee (May 12) authorized over $100 million in water and sewer spending, including roughly $70 million across several sanitary sewer repair contracts and a $24 million change order to add the Peachtree Creek Eastside 2B project to ongoing creek infrastructure work — significant for residents in this watershed. The Transportation Committee (May 13) approved $6.4 million in state road maintenance grants and recommended abandoning a stretch of Gilmer Street SE to Georgia State University, while deferring the contentious proposal for dedicated bike and motorized vehicle lanes on the Atlanta BeltLine and stalling a $3.6 million Peachtree Street improvement grant for additional review. The Finance/Executive Committee (May 13) approved a $200,000 donation to the Piedmont Park Conservancy and advanced new Enterprise Zone infrastructure fees, but held the FY2027 budget, property tax rates, and a long-awaited Atlanta Fire Rescue compensation plan for further review. The Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee (May 11) approved a $4.89 million demolition and asbestos abatement contract, authorized a $400,000 legal settlement in the Linnet Carty case, and held the proposed 180-day moratorium on new alcohol licenses in the Edgewood Corridor at the sponsor's request. The Zoning Committee (May 11) approved a 24.7-acre planned residential development and rezoned 13 acres near the BeltLine from industrial to multi-family housing, while deferring a large mixed-use project on Sylvan Road — which already faces denial recommendations from city staff — and closing the door on a proposed community center permit on Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway. The Community Development/Human Services Committee (May 12) took up several land-use redesignations, a $1.05 million BeltLine parks maintenance renewal, a proposal to create a short-term rental registry, and formal adoption of neighborhood plans for Peachtree Park and Edgewood, though minutes are not yet posted so actual outcomes for those items remain unconfirmed.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

Atlanta City Council — Finance/Executive Committee
- 2041 Delano Dr (Bessie Branham Park) — The committee approved an updated utility easement with Georgia Power, correcting the recorded square footage from 750 to 855 square feet for underground power facilities, with the city receiving a payment not to exceed $23,000.

Atlanta City Council — Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee
- 2025 Hosea Williams Dr SE (APD Zone 6 Main Precinct) — The committee approved a lease for 9,000 square feet of office space at this address to house the Atlanta Police Department's Zone 6 precinct through 2030, at roughly $102,000 per year.

Atlanta City Council — Zoning Committee
- 78 Howard St NE — The committee approved a rezoning from R-4A (single-family residential) to PD-H (Planned Development), over a denial recommendation from the local NPU, with specific conditions attached.
- 88 Howard St NE — This address was rezoned alongside 78 Howard St NE from R-4A to PD-H, allowing a planned residential development to move forward with committee-imposed conditions.

Meetings This Week
- Atlanta City Council — Committee on Council — Monday, May 18, 2026 at 11:30 AM
The committee will take up a resolution requesting certified law enforcement officers at all Atlanta Recreation Centers used as polling sites in Fulton and DeKalb counties. Also on the agenda: a proposed independent investigation into city contracts and administrative actions involving Foris Webb, III, appointments to the FY2027 Budget Commission, and an ordinance that would require a sitting councilmember to serve as primary sponsor of record for most proposed legislation.

- Atlanta City Council — Monday, May 18, 2026 at 1:00 PM
The full council is scheduled to consider a five-year lease at 2025 Hosea Williams Drive SE that would establish a new main precinct for APD Zone 6, which covers much of Atlanta's east side, at roughly $102,000 annually. Also on the agenda: a proposed easement for the Amani Trail Spur at 1612 Hardee Street NE, a utility easement at 2041 Delano Drive (Bessie Branham Park), and rezoning proposals at 78 and 88 Howard Street NE from single-family (R-4A) to planned development housing (PD-H).

- Atlanta City Council — Community Development/Human Services Committee — Monday, May 18, 2026 at 1:00 PM
The committee will consider formally adopting the Edgewood Neighborhood Plan into the city's Comprehensive Development Plan, along with a proposed easement for the Amani Trail Spur at 1612 Hardee Street NE. The agenda also includes major land-use shifts in West Midtown from industrial to high-density mixed use, a Beltline safety proposal to add dedicated lanes separating cyclists and motorized vehicles from pedestrians, and a resolution that would make summer camps free for any child qualifying for free or reduced lunch.

- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole — Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 9:00 AM
The board is scheduled to consider the county's tentative 2026 millage rates alongside proposed fee increases for sanitation, stormwater utilities, and courthouse parking. Also on the agenda: two roundabouts proposed for SR 8/Ponce De Leon Avenue — including one at the East Lake Road intersection — roof repairs at several county facilities including the Kirkwood Mental Health center, and a resolution to establish independent civilian oversight of the county's "Digital Shield" surveillance network.

CONSTRUCTION

Permits

131 Whitefoord Ave SE — Site work permit under review for parking reconfiguration, accessible space, and a new dumpster pad. Routine infrastructure, but signals active upkeep at a commercial property.

1855 Memorial Dr — Security gate installation completed at the Lidl grocery store. Interior work only, no disruption to shoppers.

1631 La France St NE — Switchgear replacement permitted at a commercial address. Electrical infrastructure work — expect a brief outage window if you're nearby.

Beyond that, the week was quiet on the big-ticket front — 49 residential permits came through, mostly HVAC, plumbing, and tree work, with a combined value under $14K. Eleven arborist permits is a notably high count; storm-damaged and hazardous trees are clearly getting attention across the area.

Road Work

Under Construction
- I-20 Lighting Upgrade (DeKalb & Fulton Counties) — Active work is underway along I-20 between Capitol Ave and Flat Shoals Road, where crews are swapping out old high-pressure sodium lights for LED fixtures. Poles and conduit may also be replaced. Expect lane disruptions along this stretch, especially at night.
- I-20 Concrete Rehab (DeKalb & Fulton Counties) — Resurfacing work is ongoing on I-20 from west of Hill St in Fulton County to west of Columbia Dr in DeKalb County. This is a full concrete rehabilitation aimed at improving a corridor with a low pavement condition score — expect rough patches and lane shifts while crews work through it.
- SR-260 Pedestrian Safety Upgrades (DeKalb County) — Several Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacon (RRFB) installations are actively underway along SR-260 at Haas Ave, Eastside Ave, Brownwood Ave, and Joseph Ave. RRFBs are the high-visibility flashing crosswalk signals that help pedestrians cross safely — good news for walkability in the area, but expect localized lane narrowing near each intersection during installation.

Pre-Construction

- SR 154/Memorial Drive Sidewalk Improvements (DeKalb County) — New and rebuilt sidewalks along Memorial Drive from Moreland Avenue to Candler Road. Pedestrians navigating this stretch will eventually see safer, more connected infrastructure — good news for one of the area's busiest corridors.
- Atlanta Traffic Signal Enhancements – Phase II (DeKalb & Fulton Counties) — Signal upgrades, updated detection systems, ADA ramps, fiber/4G communications, and retimed signals across multiple intersections. Spans both DeKalb and Fulton counties. When this work eventually kicks off, expect temporary signal disruptions at various intersections — but the long-term payoff is smarter, better-timed lights.
- SR 8/Ponce De Leon Ave Drainage Improvements (DeKalb County) — Drainage work along the Ponce De Leon corridor, a key east-west artery for anyone moving between Inman Park and Decatur. No lane changes yet, but worth watching as it moves toward construction.
- SR 8 Roundabouts at East Lake and North Ponce (DeKalb County) — Two roundabouts proposed along the Ponce de Leon corridor: one at SR 8 and East Lake, and one at SR 8 at North Ponce/West Parkwood/East Parkwood. This one will directly reshape how traffic flows through the neighborhood once construction begins — start thinking now about how you navigate that stretch.
- SR 42/US 23 Lane Narrowing Study – Moreland Ave (DeKalb County) — Still in scoping, this project would narrow travel lanes on Moreland from 11.5 feet to 10 feet between DeKalb Avenue and Austin Avenue. It's early days, but the direction of travel here is toward a calmer, more pedestrian-friendly Moreland.

Utility Work

DeKalb County
- DeKalb Announces Memorial Day Residential Sanitation Collection Schedule — Trash and recycling pickup will run on a modified schedule around Memorial Day. Check the link to confirm your collection day.

Service Requests

Potholes — Reported at Green Ave SE & Alston Dr SE, Alston Dr SE, and Hosea L. Williams Dr & Rogers St, with multiple clusters suggesting some wear along these corridors.