Edgewood / Kirkwood / East Lake: World Cup Comes to Atlanta

Hey, Edgewood, Kirkwood, and East Lake! Slower week for neighborhood news, but a big upcoming week for the city with the World Cup finally here. MARTA upgrades tied to the tournament are heading to your corner of the city, and City Council just banned self-storage along the Beltline while a 180-day moratorium on new alcohol licenses in the Edgewood Corridor is still on the table.

- News — The World Cup is finally here, MARTA is getting long-overdue station upgrades because of it, and DeKalb's DA is taking the state to court over a new law that could strip party labels from local elections.
- Events — It's a packed week from start to finish: Big Boi headlines the Decatur WatchFest on Thursday, the massive FIFA viewing event at Pullman Yards kicks off Friday, and the O4W Soccer Program launches its own kickoff festival Saturday.
- Government — The Atlanta City Council banned self-storage along the Beltline, a 180-day alcohol license moratorium in the Edgewood Corridor is still pending, and roundabouts on the Ponce de Leon corridor are officially in the pipeline, plus a full slate of committee meetings this week worth watching.
- Construction — I-20 is getting LED lights and fresh concrete, pedestrian safety beacons are going in along SR-260, and two roundabouts are proposed for the Ponce de Leon corridor at East Lake — changes that will look very different once construction begins.

Let's dive in.

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NEWS

Atlanta World Cup Mobilizes MARTA Stations Renovation
The World Cup is doing something years of advocacy couldn't quite manage: getting MARTA stations a real facelift. Upgrades are rolling out across the transit network, and for riders at East Lake, that means changes (for better and worse) are coming to your daily commute.

DeKalb DA files lawsuit against nonpartisan elections law
DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston is taking the state to court over a new law that would strip party labels from local elections in several metro counties. The stakes are high, as if the law stands, it could fundamentally change how DeKalb voters choose their judges, commissioners, and other local officeholders going forward.

Some DeKalb leaders want to double distance required between data centers, homes
County commissioners are pushing to expand the mandatory buffer between data centers and residential neighborhoods, arguing the current rules don't do enough to shield homeowners from the noise and environmental toll of these facilities. As the data center boom shows no signs of slowing, this zoning fight is one worth watching closely.

Where to watch the World Cup around Atlanta
The wait is over. The World Cup is here, and Atlanta is a host city, which means the energy is real and the watch party options are plentiful. Whether you're a die-hard supporter or just in it for the atmosphere, Atlanta Magazine has you covered with the best spots around town to catch the matches.

EVENTS | Presented by

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The FIFA World Cup 26 kicks off this week, and Atlanta is going all in. From a massive viewing event at Pullman Yards to watch parties at neighborhood spots, the beautiful game is coming to our backyard and the energy is going to be hard to miss.

Monday, June 8
- CBF26- Bessie Branham Park 7-12 Summer 2026 | Bessie Branham Recreation Center
- CBF26- Bessie Branham 5-6 Summer 2026 | Bessie Branham Recreation Center
- Monday FUNday - Half-Priced Cocktails | Wild Heaven Beer
- CPNO Board Meeting June | Candler Park
- John Patrick Green with Gregg Schigiel - Investigators: Weather or Not! | DeKalb County Public Library Decatur Branch
- Nature Navigators Summer Camp | Oakland Cemetery
- Oakland Tour | Oakland Cemetery

Tuesday, June 9
- Jen Von Schlichten : Black Curacao | Genes
- CNIA Monthly Meeting | Cabbagetown Neighborhood Improvement Association
- Stewart Copeland | City Winery Atlanta
- Legacy Park Beaver Complex Tour | Decatur Legacy Park
- $5 Beer Trivia Tuesdays in Avondale | Wild Heaven Beer

Wednesday, June 10
- ONE Transportation Committee Meeting | Our Neighborhood Edgewood
- Volunteer Project | Woodlands Garden
- The Wednesday Session | 3 Taverns Brew Terminal
- Half-priced Pitchers | Wild Heaven Beer

Thursday, June 11
- Sunset Tree Tour: Atlanta Memorial Park Forest | Dekalb Memorial Park
- Big Boi | Downtown Decatur Square
- Decatur WatchFest '26 | Decatur Square
- Atlanta's USA Kickoff Festival | Historic Fourth Ward Park
- Sustainable Landscaping Volunteer Day | Legacy Park
- Singing Workshop in the Pavilion – June | Woodlands Garden
- Food & Street Art Tour on the Atlanta Beltline | 99 Krog St NE

Friday, June 12
- FIFA World Cup 26™ Visa Cash App Viewing Event | Pullman Yards
- World Cup Kick Off | Wild Heaven Beer
- Kemi Doll shares new book, A TERRIBLE STRENGTH | 215 Sycamore Street
- Qigong/Dao Yin Class: Mindful Movement Series | Woodlands Garden
- Twista | City Winery Atlanta
- Friday Night Live Patio Performance – Ansley Stewart | The Reading Room
- Novos Caminhos - Ian Coury & Igor Souza (live @ Waller's Coffee) | Waller's Coffee Shop

Saturday, June 13
- The Simply Mike V Band Show | The Atlanta Theater
- Chefs Galore 2.0: 10th Anniversary | Saint Philip AME Church
- Introducing O4W Soccer Program, Kickoff Festival | Historic Fourth Ward 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 – Committee of the Whole

The committee advanced a $325.5 million multi-year emergency contract for countywide water and sewer repairs and replacements, splitting the work among six vendors to ensure fast response — the kind of backstop infrastructure that affects every household connected to the county's water system. Commissioners also forwarded a $20.6 million contract for construction management on the next phases of the Snapfinger Wastewater Treatment Facility expansion, and a $29.8 million payment to the City of Atlanta for joint water and sewer capital improvement projects spanning 2021 through late 2025. On land use, the committee moved forward with scheduling a public hearing on whether to extend DeKalb's temporary moratorium on new data centers — giving residents a formal opportunity to weigh in before the county decides whether to keep those large facilities on pause. A proposed Home Rule Ordinance was also advanced to a public hearing that would add a line-of-duty death benefit for beneficiaries of county first responders and employees who die on the job on or after September 1, 2026. All of these items now head to the full Board of Commissioners for final action.

Atlanta City Council

The full Council met on June 1 and the Committee on Council convened the same morning, producing a busy day of votes. Most significantly, the Council approved unanimously a ban on new self-storage facilities within the Beltline Overlay District, a policy aimed at preserving that valuable corridor for active mixed-use development rather than low-employment warehousing. The Council also approved over $1.26 billion in water and wastewater capital bonds alongside $20 million for sanitary sewer repairs and $8.5 million for asphalt resurfacing — investments that affect streets and pipes across the city. On the fiscal side, the proposed FY2027 city budget and property tax millage rates were sent back to the Finance/Executive Committee for further debate, meaning Atlanta residents won't know their final tax picture just yet. Meanwhile, the Committee on Council unanimously passed a substitute ordinance reforming how public comment sign-ups and ceremonial proclamations are managed at Council meetings, while deferring a controversial resolution that would have placed certified law enforcement officers at recreation center polling sites and holding a separate resolution requesting an independent investigation into city contracts involving Foris Webb, III.

Atlanta Public Schools – Board of Education

The Atlanta Board of Education met June 1 and, with minutes now posted, outcomes are confirmed across a wide-ranging agenda. The board took up its final vote on the FY2027 budget — covering the General Fund, Special Revenue Fund, SPLOST Fund, Nutrition Fund, and Student Activity Fund — a decision that directly shapes school programming and affects how property tax dollars are allocated across the district. Construction Management at Risk contracts for building and site improvements at Midtown High School, Maynard Jackson High School, and the Coan administrative consolidation site were also on the table, signaling significant capital investment in several major school facilities. The board considered purchasing Yondr cell-phone pouches, a move that would lock student devices during the school day and represents one of the more visible policy shifts families will notice directly. Additional items included authorization to purchase 22 new school buses and 13 service vehicles for facilities and transportation departments, a vote on setting out-of-district tuition rates for 2026–2027, and a proposal to install public safety radio signal enhancements inside school buildings to improve first-responder communications on campus.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

Atlanta City Council
- 1675 Memorial Drive SE — The council voted 13-0 to waive C-2 commercial zoning regulations, allowing a service station at this address to continue operating.

Meetings This Week
- Atlanta City Council — Zoning Committee — Monday, June 8, 2026 at 11:00 AM | 55 Trinity Avenue, Atlanta
The committee is scheduled to hear a wide range of rezoning cases, including a proposal to convert a 12.5-acre industrial site at 1200 White Street, SW into high-density mixed-use development along the Beltline corridor, and a sweeping series of industrial-to-residential conversions on the Upper Westside along Logan Circle and Chattahoochee Avenue. A city-wide text amendment establishing buffer zone rules for medical cannabis dispensaries is also on the agenda.

- Atlanta City Council — Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee — Monday, June 8, 2026 at 1:00 PM | 55 Trinity Avenue, Atlanta
The committee is scheduled to consider a $3.5 million counter-drone detection system for the Atlanta Police Department and a $500,000 lawsuit settlement. Also on the agenda: a retroactive lease renewal to keep APD's Zone 6 Main Precinct at Israel Missionary Baptist Church (2025 Hosea Williams Drive, SE) through September 2030, and a still-pending 180-day moratorium on new alcohol licenses in the Edgewood Corridor.

- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole — Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at 9:00 AM | 178 Sams Street, Decatur (Multipurpose Room A1201)

- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Board of Commissioners — Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at 9:00 AM | 178 Sams Street, Decatur (Multipurpose Room A1201)

- Atlanta City Council — City Utilities Committee — Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at 10:00 AM | 55 Trinity Avenue, Atlanta
The committee is scheduled to hear a proposed $1.88 million land acquisition to build the "Valley of the Hawks" constructed wetlands for stormwater management, alongside a solid waste rate study presentation and a companion ordinance that could adjust residents' trash and recycling fees. A proposal to reinstate green infrastructure requirements for developers — aimed at reducing neighborhood flooding — is also on the agenda.

- Atlanta City Council — Community Development/Human Services Committee — Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at 1:30 PM | 55 Trinity Avenue, Atlanta
The committee is scheduled to consider spending up to $7.85 million to permanently protect nearly 30 acres of forested land along Randall Mill Road, NW, as well as a 5-year lease renewal for the East Atlanta Kids Club at Brownwood Park Recreation Center. A land donation at 0 Eugenia Street, SW for affordable housing development is also up for consideration.

- Atlanta City Council — Transportation Committee — Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at 10:00 AM | 55 Trinity Avenue, Atlanta
The committee is scheduled to vote on a proposed ordinance banning heavy commercial truck cut-throughs on residential streets in the Cabbagetown Landmark District, and a new requirement for mandatory temporary pedestrian walkways when construction blocks city sidewalks. Also on the agenda: more than $9.3 million in road resurfacing contracts and a $43.8 million modernization program for the Hartsfield-Jackson SkyTrain.

- Atlanta City Council — Finance/Executive Committee — Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at 1:30 PM | 55 Trinity Avenue, Atlanta
The committee's headlining item is the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 city budget and property tax rates, including levies for the general fund, parks, and the Atlanta Beltline special service district. Also scheduled: a new consumer protection ordinance targeting "park-for-hire" lots, and three annexation proposals that would bring unincorporated properties into Atlanta city limits and the Atlanta Public Schools zone.

- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Board of Commissioners — Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at 6:30 PM | 178 Sams Street, Decatur (Multipurpose Room A1201)

CONSTRUCTION | Presented by

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Permits

225 Rogers St NE — A parking garage ventilation system is going in, with 3 mini-split units and 18 electric heaters permitted. Expect some mechanical noise during installation.

1205 Caroline St NE — Seven rooftop HVAC units are being swapped out at once. A big mechanical refresh for whatever's operating here.

1245 Caroline St NE — A Type 2 vent hood installation suggests kitchen or food-service activity at this commercial address on Caroline.

Beyond that, the week was quiet — a handful of residential electrical, HVAC, and addition permits rounded things out, with nothing else cracking the $50K threshold or signaling major new development in the pipeline.

Road Work

Under Construction
- I-20 Lighting Upgrade (DeKalb & Fulton Counties) — GDOT is swapping out aging high-pressure sodium lights for LED fixtures along I-20 between Capitol Ave and Flat Shoals Road. Expect intermittent lane activity along this stretch as crews work through the corridor.
- I-20 Concrete Rehab (DeKalb & Fulton Counties) — Resurfacing work is underway on SR-402/I-20 from west of Hill St in Fulton County to west of Columbia Dr in DeKalb County. This is a low OCI score fix — meaning the pavement needed attention — so expect lane closures and rough transition zones while work is active.
- SR-260 Pedestrian Safety Upgrades (DeKalb County) — GDOT is installing Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacons (RRFBs) at multiple crosswalks along SR-260, including intersections at Haas Ave, Eastside Ave, Brownwood Ave, and Joseph Ave. RRFBs are the high-visibility flashing crosswalk signals that alert drivers when pedestrians are crossing — a meaningful safety upgrade for walkers in the area. Watch for work zone activity near these intersections.

Pre-Construction
- SR 154/Memorial Drive Sidewalk Improvements (DeKalb County) — Sidewalk construction or rebuilding along Memorial Drive between Moreland Avenue and Candler Road. If you walk or bike this stretch, improvements are coming — but expect some temporary disruptions once work gets underway.
- Atlanta Traffic Signal Enhancements – Phase II (DeKalb & Fulton Counties) — Signal equipment upgrades, updated detection systems, ADA ramp improvements, and signal timing optimization at intersections across DeKalb and Fulton counties. This one's close to home at just 0.4 miles out — smoother signal timing should eventually mean better flow on nearby corridors.
- SR 8/Ponce De Leon Ave Drainage Improvements (DeKalb County) — Drainage work along Ponce De Leon Avenue in DeKalb County. Not glamorous, but necessary — and worth knowing about before construction starts and lane restrictions follow.
- SR 8 Roundabouts at East Lake & North Ponce De Leon (DeKalb County) — Two roundabouts proposed along the Ponce de Leon corridor: one at SR 8 and East Lake, another at SR 8 at the North Ponce/West Parkwood/East Parkwood intersection. If you cut through this area regularly, the traffic pattern will look very different once this moves to construction.

Service Requests

Residents filed a handful of street and infrastructure requests this past week. Litter removal was the most common, with six ROW cleanup reports spread across Montgomery St SE, Spence Ave SE, Memorial Dr SE, the Memorial Dr/Clifton St intersection, and Hosea L. Williams Dr SE. Overgrowth and visibility issues were flagged at two locations on Eva Davis Way and along Glenwood Ave SE. Potholes were reported on Clay St SE, Green Ave SE at Alston Dr SE, and Rogers St NE. A traffic signal repair is also underway at Memorial Dr and Whitefoord Ave.