Edgewood / Kirkwood / East Lake: Roundabouts, Runoffs, and a Rivalry That Isn't

Hey Edgewood, Kirkwood, and East Lake! A busy week in the neighborhood and at the county level, so buckle up. DeKalb voters aren't done yet: several commission and school board races are heading to runoffs, and two major roundabout projects on corridors you drive every day are moving closer to reality. Plenty more to dig into below.

- News — From Kirkwood's women-owned sports bars choosing collaboration over competition to MARTA's East Line glow-up and a World Cup watch party taking over Decatur Square, there's a lot going on beyond the neighborhood's borders worth your attention.
- Business — No openings or closings to report this week, but keep an eye on 1205 Caroline St NE, where a new low-voltage permit could signal a commercial tenant getting ready to move in.
- Events — A packed week ahead: the Atlanta Fringe Festival kicks off, Tio Lucho's hosts a wine-vs-beer dinner battle on Thursday, and East Lake Park hosts a spring field day on Sunday.
- Government — DeKalb's Board of Commissioners meets Tuesday to vote on tentative 2026 millage rates, sanitation fee hikes, and those two roundabouts — plus Atlanta City Council committees take up the Edgewood Corridor alcohol moratorium and a rezoning on Kirkwood Ave.
- Construction — I-20 resurfacing and LED lighting upgrades are actively affecting your commute, pedestrian safety beacons are going in along SR-260, and 1450 La France St is getting a full pool and amenity area remodel.

Let's dive in.

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DeKalb County Commission and School Board Races Head to Runoffs
The May 19 primary didn't settle everything — several DeKalb County Commission and School Board races are heading to runoffs, meaning local voters aren't done yet. Who ends up in these seats will shape education policy and county governance for years, so now is not the time to tune out.

MARTA Unveils Progress on Eastside Station Rehabilitation Projects
MARTA's $1 billion rehabilitation program is moving along, and the agency has released before-and-after photos to prove it. For riders who've been navigating worn infrastructure for years, these upgrades to East Line stations are a long time coming.

East Lake's TOUR Championship Previews Innovation and Fan Experience Upgrades
Organizers of the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club are already thinking about what the 2026 event looks and feels like — and they're leaning into both fan feedback and fresh ideas. The championship remains one of the neighborhood's biggest annual moments, with real economic ripple effects for the surrounding community.

Kirkwood's Women-Owned Sports Bars Highlight Local Business Synergy
In Kirkwood, two competing women-owned sports bars aren't treating each other like rivals — and that says something about this neighborhood. The piece is a sharp look at how local hospitality businesses can build each other up rather than cannibalize, and why Kirkwood keeps earning its reputation as a destination worth the trip.

Decatur project called 'transformative' set to officially break ground
Candler Crossing, a retail development just east of East Lake, is moving from promise to pavement with a groundbreaking ceremony on the horizon. Officials say the project will revitalize a key corridor and bring new amenities to neighborhoods that have been waiting on this kind of investment for a while.

Decatur WatchFest '26 to show 60-plus World Cup matches on the Square
FIFA has signed off, and Decatur Square is about to become the region's soccer living room — more than 60 World Cup matches on big screens from June 11 through July 19. If you've been looking for a reason to get out of the neighborhood this summer, this is a pretty good one.

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Tuesday, May 26
- Truckin' Tuesdays | Legacy Park
- Kelly Quindlen with Julian Winters - This Must be the Place! | Little Shop of Stories
- David Ryan Harris at Eddie's Attic | Eddie’s Attic
- Tsushimamire | The Earl

Wednesday, May 27
- Atlanta Fringe Festival 2026 | 14th Annual Atlanta Fringe Festival
- Dinner and Drinks: Pop Up with Chef Michael Condon | The Reading Room
- Senior Health & Fitness Day Fair | Decatur Recreation Center

Thursday, May 28
- Sustainable Landscaping Volunteer Day | Legacy Park
- Ashley Woodfolk & Kelly Quindlen YA Author Event | Brave and Kind Books
- Tio Lucho's Serves Up a Wine vs. Beer Dinner Battle with A Cork in the Road | Tio Lucho's
- Climate Wayfinding: Healing Ourselves and the Planet We Call Home -- Katharine K. Wilkinson in conversation with Kimberly Reeves | Charis Books & More
- Babylon Is An Action Verb | The Supermarket
- Singing Workshop in the Pavilion – May | Woodlands Garden
- Sounds of Blackness | City Winery Atlanta
- Kennedy Ryan & Jahquel J Book Talk | First Baptist Church of Decatur

Friday, May 29
- Michael Jackson + Chill | Seviin Yoga
- Cowboy Bingo | Cabbagetown Neighborhood Improvement Association
- The Allison Wonders Show at Atlanta Fringe Fest | The Supermarket

Saturday, May 30
- Black Boys Cry - Touring Stage Play | Moving In The Spirit
- Grindhouse Killer Burgers 10-Year Anniversary Party | Grindhouse Killer Burgers Decatur
- Decatur FC VS. UFA | Decatur High School
- Punch Brothers | The Eastern
- Audacity's 7th Anniversary Community Market | Little Five Points Community Center
- Poe, Through the Tales Darkly - Atlanta Fringe | 7 Stages Mainstage
- Paint a Pot with L'Arche | Woodlands Garden
- The Banned Book Bunch - Storytime | 184 S. Candler St.
- Food & Street Art Tour on the Atlanta Beltline | 99 Krog St NE
- Tai Chi/Qigong 4 Beginners | Legacy Park
- Zainab Johnson | City Winery Atlanta

Sunday, May 31
- Just Watch Me BLAZE Spring FIELDDAY | East Lake Park
- (May) Monthly Sound Bath | Seviin Yoga
- R&B Brunch with DJ Blovely | The Reading Room
- Free Yoga | Wild Heaven Beer
- Love Stories of Oakland | Oakland Cemetery

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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 Atlanta City Council took significant action this week on housing and recreation while hitting the pause button on the city's upcoming billion-dollar budget and property tax rates. During the May 18 full session, councilmembers officially approved a measure to make city summer camps free for any child who qualifies for free or reduced lunch. They also cleared the way for new affordable housing projects and formally adopted updated neighborhood plans into the city’s long-term development strategy. At the committee level, proposals were introduced to establish dedicated bike lanes on the Beltline and a new city office to regulate short-term rentals. Finally, a resolution to station law enforcement officers at recreation centers used as polling places was held for further study to address potential election security concerns.

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners

The DeKalb County Committee of the Whole met on May 21 and advanced a slate of items that could directly affect what residents pay — most notably, the county's tentative 2026 property tax millage rates moved forward as the first formal step toward setting next year's tax bills, and proposals to raise fees for residential and commercial sanitation service and landfill tipping were also sent on to the full Board of Commissioners for a final vote. Drivers and commuters should note that the committee also advanced official county support for two GDOT roundabout construction projects: one at Ponce De Leon Avenue and East Lake Road/Parkwood Road, and another at Clairmont Road and Rosecliff Drive — changes that would reshape traffic flow at two busy intersections. Parking at county-owned facilities is also up for a rate hike, with proposed increases at the Courthouse Parking Deck and nearby lots headed toward a full board decision. On the spending side, the committee approved $98,750 from District 1 reserves for a childcare and caregiving needs assessment, and several District 3 neighborhood grants including $15,000 for senior home repairs and $10,000 for a Summer Academy. Because the Committee of the Whole functions as a gatekeeper rather than a final decision-maker, none of these items are yet law — they are scheduled to go before the full Board of Commissioners, where they can still be amended, deferred, or rejected.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

Atlanta City Council
- 78 Howard Street NE — The council approved a rezoning from large-lot single-family residential to a planned housing development for a new 0.66-acre project.
- 88 Howard Street NE — This property was rezoned to a planned development designation to facilitate the construction of a new residential project.
- 1612 Hardee Street NE — Council members authorized an easement for the Amani Trail Spur to establish a public trail connection in the Edgewood area.
- 2025 Hosea Williams Drive SE — This location was included in the meeting's official zoning actions regarding neighborhood development.
- 2041 Delano Drive — Infrastructure updates for this property were formally considered by the council during the session.

Meetings This Week
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole — Tuesday, May 26 at 9:00 AM
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Regular Meeting — Tuesday, May 26 at 9:00 AM
The board is scheduled to adopt tentative 2026 millage rates — the first step in setting this year's property tax bills — alongside proposed fee increases for residential trash pickup and stormwater management. Also on the agenda: roundabouts proposed for the intersection of Ponce De Leon Ave. at East Lake Road and Clairmont Road at Rosecliff Drive, a countywide public hearing on extending a moratorium on new adult entertainment businesses, and a $1.86 million contract for security upgrades at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport.

- Atlanta City Council — City Utilities Committee — Tuesday, May 26 at 10:00 AM
The committee is set to consider adjustments to solid waste service fees, a transfer of $8.5 million toward citywide road resurfacing, and a new ordinance defining when property owners are required to connect to the public sewer system. A $20 million funding transfer for sanitary sewer repairs and an $822,567 contract amendment for Greensferry Stream restoration are also on the agenda.

- Atlanta City Council — Zoning Committee — Tuesday, May 26 at 11:00 AM
- Atlanta City Council — Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee — Tuesday, May 26 at 1:00 PM
The committee is scheduled to take up items including a new sworn compensation plan for Atlanta Fire Rescue, a temporary open-container exemption for Downtown during the 2026 FIFA World Cup (June 11–July 19), and restrictions on how APD uses field drug tests. A proposed 180-day moratorium on new alcohol licenses in the Edgewood Corridor remains held in committee.

- Atlanta City Council — Community Development/Human Services Committee — Tuesday, May 26 at 1:30 PM
A sweeping neighborhood investment ordinance is on the agenda that would extend Tax Allocation Districts and establish a new Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative Trust Fund aimed at affordable housing and anti-displacement. The committee will also consider a $7.85 million land acquisition on Randall Mill Road to permanently protect nearly 30 acres of forest, final rezoning votes for West Midtown industrial land along Logan Circle and Chattahoochee Avenue, and adoption of a comprehensive neighborhood plan for Edgewood. A lease renewal for the East Atlanta Kids Club at Brownwood Park Recreation Center is also scheduled. A rezoning proposal for 708 Kirkwood Ave SE — from Low Density Residential to Low Density Mixed Use — is on the agenda for this district.

- Atlanta City Council — Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee — Tuesday, May 26 at 3:00 PM
The committee is scheduled to consider a $3.5 million APD contract covering body cameras and a counter-drone detection system, along with a lease for a new 9,000-square-foot Zone 6 Police Precinct. The proposed 180-day moratorium on new alcohol licenses in the Edgewood Corridor is also on the agenda. A proposed lease for the new Zone 6 precinct at 2025 Hosea Williams Drive SE is scheduled for consideration.

- Atlanta NPU — NPU-O — Tuesday, May 26 at 6:30 PM (Virtual Only)
- Atlanta City Council — Transportation Committee — Wednesday, May 27 at 10:00 AM
The committee is scheduled to consider accepting a $6 million GDOT grant for street resurfacing, an $8 million agreement for the PATH Westside Connector trail project, and a $3.6 million Peachtree Street safety improvement grant. Also on the agenda: residential parking restrictions for Lakeview Avenue NE, a resolution requesting dedicated bike and vehicle lanes along the Atlanta BeltLine, and a replacement funding agreement for the West Lake Avenue Bridge.

- Atlanta City Council — Zoning Committee — Wednesday, May 27 at 11:00 AM
A major citywide ordinance is scheduled for consideration that would ban new self-storage facilities within the BeltLine Overlay District. The committee will also hear a cluster of duplex rezoning proposals in NPU-J, large-scale mixed-use rezoning along Chattahoochee Avenue's industrial corridor, and new Special Use Permit rules for medical cannabis dispensaries. A request to allow a service station at 1675 Memorial Drive SE is on the agenda for this meeting.

- Atlanta City Council — Finance/Executive Committee — Wednesday, May 27 at 1:30 PM
The committee is scheduled to consider ratifying an executive order to create a FIFA World Cup "Activation Zone" in Downtown Atlanta for June 11–July 19, including street closures and lifted event permit restrictions near Centennial Olympic Park. Also on the agenda: setting the FY2027 property tax rates for the city and Atlanta Public Schools, annexation of properties on Woodland Avenue NE into city limits, and a proposed surcharge on electronic payments to the city.

- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Zoning Meeting — Thursday, May 28 at 5:30 PM
The board is scheduled to hear a proposal from D.R. Horton to rezone land at 8277 Norris Lake Way for a 214-unit single-family subdivision. Also on the agenda: three special use permit requests from QuikTrip for a car wash, fuel pumps, and alcohol sales at 4733–4775 Memorial Drive; a rezoning of 4700 East Ponce de Leon Avenue from residential to commercial for a tire shop and emissions station; and countywide text amendments addressing short-term rental taxes and a new "Repeated Nuisance" ordinance for problem properties.

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Permits

- 1450 La France St NE — Pool and amenity area remodel underway at this multifamily complex. New pavers, grill stations, cool decking, fencing, and landscaping are all in the mix. Expect some construction noise while it's happening, but residents are getting a serious upgrade when it's done.
- 225 Rogers St NE — Permits filed to install 36 parking deck drains. Unglamorous work, but a parking deck getting proper drainage infrastructure is a sign someone's investing in the structure for the long haul.
- 1205 Caroline St NE — Low-voltage cable installation permitted at a commercial property. Likely telecom or data wiring — could signal a space getting prepped for a new tenant.

On the residential side, the week was quiet — mostly routine electrical, plumbing, and a handful of arborist permits. Nothing that suggests major disruption.

Road Work

Under Construction
- I-20 Lighting Upgrade (DeKalb/Fulton) — 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 energy-efficient LEDs. Pole and conduit replacements may also be part of the scope. Expect lane activity along this stretch — it's a span that directly affects eastbound commuters heading in and out of the neighborhood.
- I-20 Concrete Rehab (DeKalb/Fulton) — Resurfacing is active on SR-402/I-20 from west of Hill St in Fulton County to west of Columbia Drive in DeKalb. The road's OCI (pavement condition) score drove this one — so the disruption is worth it. If I-20 is part of your daily route, build in extra time and know your alternates.
- SR-260 Pedestrian Safety Upgrades — Multiple Intersections (DeKalb) — Crews are installing Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacons (RRFBs) at four crossings along SR-260: at Haas Ave, Eastside Ave, Brownwood Ave, and Joseph Ave. RRFBs are the high-visibility flashing signals that alert drivers to pedestrians in crosswalks — a real safety upgrade for anyone on foot in this corridor. Watch for work zone activity at each of these intersections.

Pre-Construction

- SR 154/Memorial Drive Sidewalk Improvements (DeKalb County) — New and rebuilt sidewalks along Memorial Drive from Moreland Avenue to Candler Road. Pedestrian infrastructure along this stretch is long overdue, and when construction eventually kicks off, expect some lane squeezes along a road that's already a grind at peak hours.
- Atlanta Traffic Signal Enhancements – Phase II (DeKalb & Fulton Counties) — Signal upgrades, smarter detection, ADA ramp improvements, and fiber/4G communications installations at key intersections across both counties. The goal is better signal timing coordination, which could meaningfully improve flow on surface streets once it's complete — but installation work will likely mean short-term headaches at affected intersections.
- SR 8/Ponce de Leon Ave Drainage Improvements (DeKalb County) — Drainage work along Ponce De Leon Ave, a designated Atlanta MPO corridor. Drainage projects tend to require lane closures and utility access, so this one will be worth watching when it moves to active construction.
- SR 8 Roundabouts at East Lake and North Ponce de Leon (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 is a significant reconfiguration of intersections that many Kirkwood and East Lake residents use daily. Construction will be disruptive — start thinking about alternate routes now.

Service Requests

Four service requests are active in the area this week. Potholes were reported on Ashburton Ave SE. Right of way overgrowth is being addressed at Wesley Ave & New St. Sign repair or replacement is underway at Battlefield Ave & Arkwright Pl. A traffic signal issue at Hosea L. Williams Dr NE & Woodbine Ave has been closed out.