Edgewood / Kirkwood / East Lake: Trail Funds, Trash Bosses, and a $5.5 Billion Bet on Atlanta

Good morning, Edgewood, Kirkwood, and East Lake! It's been a week of "weather whiplash" moving from tornadoes to snow, but we've got some fresh trail funding and a massive reinvestment plan to keep our spirits high. Grab your coffee while we catch you up on why your commute on Moreland is about to look a lot different.

- Big Stories — Between Mayor Dickens' $5.5 billion neighborhood reinvestment bet, fresh trail cash, and a new sanitation director, there's a lot happening in the ATL this week.
- Local Business Updates — We're saying a sad goodbye to a Moreland Avenue staple as Hudson Grille hangs up the jersey.
- Upcoming Events — Whether you want to explore outer space at Pullman Yards or crawl your way through a Beltline taco fest, your weekend plans are officially sorted.
- Local Government Discussion — From "no-show" school board members to a $910k consulting investigation at City Hall, the local political drama is reaching a fever pitch.
- Development & Construction Nearby — Say goodbye to those tricky left turns on Moreland and get ready for a much smoother (and brighter) nighttime commute on I-20.

Let's dive in.

BIG STORIES

Dickens' $5.5 billion Neighborhood Reinvestment plan hinges on extending Atlanta's TADs. Can they deliver? (March 18, 2026) Mayor Dickens is betting big on a $5.5 billion plan to fix the "tale of two cities," but it all depends on some wonky tax-district extensions. If it works, it could mean a massive infusion of cash for infrastructure and affordable housing in our neck of the woods. It's an ambitious swing to make sure growth doesn't leave long-term residents behind—fingers crossed the math actually adds up.

Decide DeKalb approves funding to extend South Peachtree Creek Trail (March 20, 2026) Get those sneakers ready because the dream of a seamless trail from Medlock Park to the Emory area is one big step closer to reality. A fresh bag of funding means we're finally moving toward closing those annoying gaps in the greenway, which is basically the best news our bikes have heard all year.

DeKalb County CEO appoints new sanitation director (March 19, 2026)
We've got a new sanitation director, as the County CEO just tapped someone to lead the department. After a few months of "will they or won't they" with the pickup schedule and some very full bins, here's hoping this new hire brings some serious consistency to our curbside.

LOCAL BUSINESS UPDATES

Hudson Grille - closing - Pouring one out for this Little Five Points anchor. Right on the edge of Edgewood, this massive spot has been our reliable home for wings and game-day energy for over six years, but it's officially hanging up the jersey at the end of the month. (March 16, 2026)

UPCOMING EVENTS

Get ready to clear your schedules because this is the week we've been waiting for! Between the massive launch of the immersive Space Explorers exhibit at Pullman Yards and the return of the legendary Taco & Tequila Crawl on the Beltline, our corner of the city is the place to be.

Monday, March 23
- Moondoggy | Eddie's Attic
- Toddler Storytime | Decatur Library
- Atlanta Run Club: Monday Night Runs | Ponce City Market
- Walter Trout | City Winery

Tuesday, March 24
- $5 Beer + Taco + Trivia Tuesdays in Avondale | Wild Heaven Beer
- Adultish Sewing Club | Decatur Library
- Dan Navarro, Jessica Willis Fisher & Tim Easton | Eddie's Attic
- Rakim | City Winery Atlanta

Wednesday, March 25
- Insert Laugh Here | Dad's Garage
- Decatur Farmers Market | First Baptist Church of Decatur
- Richard Thompson with Zara Phillips | Variety Playhouse
- Sound Bath & Social | Cabbagetown Neighborhood Improvement Association

Thursday, March 26
- Super Villain Monologues 2 | Dad's Garage
- Will Kimbrough | Eddies Attic
- Stalking the Big Cat of Georgia: Screening & Talkback | Decatur Library
- Air Max Day Atlanta "All Maxed Out" | Handlebar ATL
- Cymande | Variety Playhouse

Friday, March 27
- Space Explorers: THE INFINITE | Pullman Yards
- Women's Comedy Film Festival | 7 Stages Theatre
- The 6th Annual Grant Park Conservancy Canopy Soirée | Savanna Hall at Zoo Atlanta
- Men in Blazers | The Eastern
- Cory Booker | STAND | Author Event | First Baptist Church of Decatur
- Candlelight: Hip Hop on Strings | The Chapel on Sycamore

Saturday, March 28
- Community Training: Narcan Use | Our Neighborhood Edgewood
- The Atlanta Beltline Taco & Tequila Bar Crawl 2nd Annual | Eastside Beltline
- Little 5 Fest | Behind Junkman's Daughter
- Vegetarian Food Festival & Rare Plant Market | New Realm Brewing
- Decatur Easter Egg Hunt | First Baptist Church of Decatur
- Tree Tour: History and Change on the Atl Beltline | Inman Park Coffee
- Reel Friends Presents: Spinal Tap: Tribute Night | Little Cottage Brewery

Sunday, March 29
- Free Bluegrass Concert – The Garden Fresh Pickers | Eastside United Methodist Church
- Tio Lucho's La Ñapa: A Peruvian Crawfish Boil | Tio Lucho's
- Phoenix Flies: Cabbagetown Tour with Greg | Cabbagetown Park
- Egg Hunt | Candler Park
- On Cinema - The Certified "Five Bags of Popcorn" Tour | Variety Playhouse

LOCAL GOVERNMENT DISCUSSION

Atlanta Public Schools

Discussion from the Past Week

It was a "show up or stay home" kind of week for the Atlanta Board of Education, and unfortunately, several members chose the latter. The Policy Review Committee attempted to dive into some heavy lifting on March 19, but with six of the nine voting members absent, they lacked a quorum. While they couldn't officially vote on anything, the three members who did show up still had plenty to say about the rules governing local students.

The most relatable topic on the table? Screen time. The committee is weighing how to balance digital learning with student well-being, specifically looking at putting limits on tablet usage. If you feel like your kid is turning into a digital zombie, the district is finally starting to look at the "off" switch. They also spent time debating high school graduation requirements—specifically, how community service hours are tracked and whether the current requirements actually make sense for today's students.

Meanwhile, the district is looking to tighten up Policy JB, which is the rulebook for student attendance. They're aiming for more clarity on how absences are tracked and managed. They also touched on the less-glamorous but very important internal financial procedures for the Board office itself. Basically, they are trying to make sure the math is mathing behind the scenes before these items head to a full board vote—whenever enough people show up to hold one, that is.

The Accountability Commission met on March 18 and entered Executive Session. No public action items were reported.

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners

Discussion from the Past Week

The county is officially looking into a "it's not you, it's me" break-up with its own water department. Commissioners discussed a $300,000 study to determine if the Water and Sewer system should be spun off into an independent "Water and Sewer Authority." The goal is to figure out if an outside authority could manage the aging infrastructure more reliably than the current county-run setup. This comes alongside a massive $40 million push for sewer rehabilitation and gravity sewer line restoration aimed at meeting federal consent decree requirements.

Meanwhile, DeKalb is moving toward becoming a lot less "wild west" for data centers. The committee discussed a new resolution that would force developers to get a third-party "baseline assessment" of a neighborhood's health and environment before they can even get a permit. This is a direct response to neighbors' growing headaches over the constant hum and high energy usage of these facilities.

But here's the thing that might affect your morning commute or evening walk: a new proposed ordinance is taking aim at "unauthorized camping" and public nuisance behaviors. While it's framed as a public safety move, it's already sparking the usual debates about how the county handles vagrancy. Also worth noting: Commissioner Ted Terry is looking into the future with a "For The People AI Tech Dividend Fund," a plan to see how the county might actually make money (or at least save some) by leveraging artificial intelligence.

In other news, the county is getting serious about tech-driven enforcement. They are moving toward a cloud-based platform to track down and regulate short-term rentals like Airbnbs to ensure everyone is paying their fair share of taxes and following the rules. On the safety front, a new "Control Blasting" ordinance was introduced to put tighter reins on developers who use explosives to clear land, ensuring they don't rattle the foundations of existing homes.

General county housekeeping included moves to fund kitchen upgrades at a senior center, playground modifications at several county parks, and significant safety repairs for the airfield at DeKalb Peachtree Airport.

Meetings in the Next Week
- Board of Commissioners, March 24, 2026 at 9:00 AM – The Board will hold final votes on the $45 million sewer overhaul and the new vagrancy/camping ordinance discussed last week. They are also expected to greenlight a whopping $22 million for a new fleet of police pursuit vehicles and administrative trucks.
- Committee of the Whole, March 26, 2026 at 9:00 AM
- Board of Commissioners - Zoning Meeting, March 26, 2026 at 5:30 PM – Commissioners will tackle a packed zoning agenda, headlined by a controversial proposal for a new gas station and drive-through pharmacy on North Decatur Road that has already faced a "no" vote from the Planning Commission. Other items include requests for new cottage homes, townhomes, and a project to turn an old industrial site into a residential community.

Atlanta City Council

Discussion from the Past Week

The City Council moved through a mountain of legislation this week, and two items stood out:

The headline-grabber was the "Committee on Council" opening a formal investigation into nearly $910,000 paid to a former Municipal Clerk for "consulting" services. The Council is bringing in outside legal help to figure out why $35,000 was being cut every month for a referendum project that technically never even started. Meanwhile, back on the Council floor, members approved a flurry of World Cup prep, including updated sign ordinances to allow massive building wraps downtown and major airport maintenance. They also gave the green light to a massive annexation of properties from unincorporated DeKalb County into the city limits, meaning a whole new batch of neighbors will soon be calling Atlanta Public Schools their own.

On the infrastructure front, the Council focused on "future-proofing" the city. This included major funding for levee improvements and affordable housing land grabs in Vine City. They also moved to tighten the rules on how the city's 85 different boards and commissions operate—basically making it so that if a seat stays empty for 60 days, the Council can step in and fill it themselves rather than letting the board sit in "quorum limbo."

Most notable to your neighborhood:
City Hall is cutting a few checks for local headaches. The Council also approved minor settlements for stormwater and tree damage in the Kirkwood/East Lake area. Additionally, several streets in the DeKalb portion of the city (including Sargent Avenue, Smith Street, and Eastland Road) were officially annexed and rezoned to R-4 single-family residential.

Meetings in the Next Week
- Zoning Committee, March 23 at 11:00 AM – The committee will weigh a massive 36-acre industrial-to-mixed-use conversion on the Upper Westside and various proposals for increased residential density across the city.
- Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee, March 23 at 1:00 PM – Expect a "happy hour" discussion as the city prepares to create a temporary downtown entertainment district for the 2026 World Cup, allowing open alcohol consumption on the streets.
- City Utilities Committee, March 24 at 10:00 AM – Focus shifts to stream restoration rules and a public-private mural project at the North Avenue Tunnel; they'll also check in on those permeable pavers in neighborhoods like Peoplestown.
- Community Development/Human Services Committee, March 24 at 1:30 PM – A major development blueprint for Edgewood is on the table, along with a $7.75 million grant to fix lead paint hazards in older homes.
- Transportation Committee, March 25 at 10:00 AM – While they talk about a billion-dollar airport expansion, the real heat will be on MARTA as Councilmembers demand answers about the halted Eastside BeltLine light rail project.
- Finance/Executive Committee, March 25 at 1:30 PM – This is "The Big One" for your wallet: the committee will take its first look at the proposed FY2027 budget and set the property tax rates that will appear on your next bill.

DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION NEARBY

Permits
- 2617 Memorial Dr SE — A commercial gas generator is being installed. Someone is tired of the power flickering on Memorial! Expect a little electrical work activity while they get this backup system wired up and ready for storm season.
- New Home Construction — Keep an eye out for four brand-new houses starting to go up across the neighborhood. We don't have the exact addresses yet, but the "New Build" signs are coming. Prepare for the sounds of framing and some extra work trucks on the street.
- Home Additions — Three of our neighbors are officially expanding with new additions. If you hear sawing and hammering during your morning walk, that's just the sound of Kirkwood and East Lake getting a little more legroom.
- The Small Stuff — There are another 17 permits out for minor residential fixes and electrical upgrades. It seems like the whole neighborhood is in "spring cleaning and fixing" mode to get those porches and systems ready for the warmer weather.

Road Work

Under Construction
- Moreland Ave (SR 42) at Arkwright Place Intersection Improvements — Heads up for a big shift right by the Edgewood Retail District. They are turning this intersection into a "right-in, right-out" setup by adding a median. If you're used to making that tricky left turn to get to the shops, you'll need to find a new route—the days of dodging Moreland traffic here are coming to an end.
- I-20 Concrete Rehab (Hill St to Columbia Dr) — This is the big one for our commuters. Crews are out resurfacing the highway across the DeKalb and Fulton line to fix that bumpy ride. It's a long stretch that cuts right through our neck of the woods, so expect some overnight lane closures and a slower crawl than usual.
- I-20 Lighting Upgrades (Capitol Ave to Flat Shoals Rd) — You might see crews working on the shoulders as they swap out old fixtures for energy-efficient LEDs. It's spanning both Fulton and DeKalb, eventually making that night drive home to East Lake a lot brighter and safer.
- Glenwood Ave (SR 260) Pedestrian Facilities at Haas Ave and Eastside Ave — Keep your eyes peeled for crews near the East Lake/East Atlanta border. They're installing those flashing pedestrian beacons (RRFBs) to help neighbors cross safely. It's great for walkability, but watch your speed through here while work is active.
- Glenwood Ave (SR 260) Pedestrian Facilities at Brownwood Ave and Joseph Ave — More safety upgrades are hitting Glenwood! Similar to the work at Haas, they are installing flashing signals here too. It's a busy stretch for our neighborhood walkers, so give the crews some space while they get these set up.

Construction Work Program
- SR 154/Memorial Drive Sidewalks (DeKalb County) — We're finally getting some love on Memorial between Moreland and Candler. This project will rebuild and add sidewalks, making those walks to Lidl or East Lake Park a lot less treacherous.
- Atlanta Traffic Signal Enhancements - Phase II (DeKalb & Fulton Counties) — A major "brain upgrade" is coming to our intersections. Expect signal equipment and fiber optic upgrades to help move traffic a bit smoother through our side of town.
- DeKalb Avenue Railroad Crossing (DeKalb County) — Heads up for the DeKalb Ave commuters: new railroad warning devices are coming to the CSX crossing. It's a small safety upgrade that should help with the general chaos of that stretch.
- S. McDonough St & Oakview Rd Path (DeKalb County) — Cyclists, take note! A new shared-use path is in the works starting at Hosea Williams and heading up into Decatur. It's going to be a game-changer for getting around on two wheels.
- Ponce De Leon Ave Roundabouts (DeKalb County) — This is a big one for anyone heading north: two roundabouts are planned for Ponce, one at the East Lake Road intersection and another at North Ponce/Parkwood. It'll definitely change the flow of your morning drive toward Druid Hills.
- SR 8/Ponce De Leon Ave Drainage (DeKalb County) — More work on Ponce, this time focused on drainage improvements near South Ponce and Ridgecrest Road. Hopefully, this means less hydroplaning during our summer downpours.
- Atlanta Ave & Adair Street Realignment (DeKalb County) — Just a hop over in the Oakhurst/Decatur area, they're planning to realign the Adair Street intersection and upgrade the railroad crossing. Definitely one to watch if you use this as a cut-through.
- Moreland Avenue Lane Narrowing (DeKalb County) — This one is in the scoping phase but worth tracking: GDOT is looking at narrowing the lanes on Moreland between DeKalb Ave and Austin Ave to 10 feet. It's a move toward "calming" the traffic, so keep an eye out for how this might affect your Little Five Points runs.

Service Requests
- Traffic Signal Repairs — Reported at the intersections of Memorial & Whitefoord, Rocky Ford & College, and Whitefoord & Hosea L. Williams. Let's hope these get sorted before the next school run.
- Illegal Dumping — Investigation requested on Memorial Dr SE. Seriously, neighbors, the curb is not a dumpster.
- Overgrowth & Visibility Issues — Maintenance is needed on Lakeview Dr NE where the greenery is getting a bit too "secret garden" for drivers to see.
- Sign Repair — A request is in for the corner of Oakview Rd and Douglas St. Whether it's leaning or missing, it needs some love.