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Hey, Memorial Drive Corridor! This week: the $68 million sale of Atlanta's jail to Fulton County hits a pause button while DeKalb takes developers to court over the Intrenchment Creek land swap. We've also got a Spanish immersion preschool headed to Memorial Drive and a weekend stacked with porch music, makers, and a Bakari Sellers vs. Marjorie Taylor Greene debate, so settle in.

- News — Council members want answers on the $68 million detention center sale, DeKalb says the Blackhall land swap broke its contract, and Boulevard Heights gets three new modern homes with a $1.45 million price tag.
- Business — Tierra Encantada, a Spanish immersion child care center, is picking 1655 Memorial Drive SE for its first Georgia location this fall.
- Events — Oakhurst Porchfest, the Ormewood Park Makers Festival, and the Sellers vs. Greene debate at Pullman Yards headline a busy week, with Squirrel Flower and Inter Arma at The Earl.
- Government — Fulton's millage vote and employee health plans slip, Atlanta's council weighs a $1.59 million Memorial Drive Greenway land purchase, and DeKalb takes up data center rules.
- Construction — A grease trap permit on Glenwood Avenue hints at a new food business, a yoga studio becomes a photo studio, and crews are adding pedestrian crossings along Memorial Drive and Moreland Avenue.

Let's dive in.

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Atlanta library dares visitors to 'Read Fearlessly' in new campaign
The Kirkwood Library's "Read Fearlessly" campaign encourages readers to go beyond their comfort zone and try new genres or authors.

DeKalb lawsuit alleges breach of contract in Intrenchment Creek land swap
DeKalb County filed suit in DeKalb County Superior Court, alleging that two limited liability companies associated with the founder of Blackhall Studios breached a land-exchange contract. Under the agreement finalized in January 2021, the county traded about 40 acres in Intrenchment Creek Park for roughly 53 adjacent acres owned by Blackhall Real Estate Phase II LLC, and Blackhall agreed to perform improvements worth $1.5 million, according to County Attorney Terry Phillips.

Citing unanswered questions, City Council delays vote to sell Atlanta's lockup
The council's Finance Committee delayed approving the proposed $68 million sale of the Atlanta City Detention Center to Fulton County, citing questions about funding, proposed renovations and what might happen to the city's 182 corrections employees. Chief Financial Officer Mohamed Balla said the city spends about $30 million a year on corrections and that negotiations with county officials are still underway.

Atlanta Horror Film Festival Marks 20 Years With 96 Films in Little Five Points
The four-day festival runs Thursday through Sunday at 7 Stages Theatre and other venues, with a lineup that includes six feature films and nine themed shorts programs. A full-day pass is listed at $25, and a separate online selection of films is scheduled to stream on FestFlix.tv from Oct. 5 through Oct. 19.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens says he's focused on implementing transit plans
The Atlanta City Council voted unanimously to implement light rail on the 22-mile Beltline corridor. In an interview with SaportaReport after the Sept. 18 Atlanta Committee for Progress meeting, Dickens described a closer relationship between the city and MARTA, whose general manager, Jonathan Hunt, was named in August, and said "it's time to go down the path of actually implementing these things."

Images: In growing Boulevard Heights, modern-home trifecta pops up
Three modern homes built by Metro Chic Homes LLC and designed by AD Designs have replaced more modest houses, with the last one listed at 1043 Avondale Ave. SE for $1.45 million. The five-bedroom, four-bathroom home has just under 3,500 square feet, and the northernmost of the three sold for $1.17 million in July.

BUSINESS

Tierra Encantada opening Spanish immersion preschool on Memorial Drive in Kirkwood — The Minnesota-founded Spanish immersion child care and early education franchise, which serves children from infancy through pre-K, expects to open its first Georgia center at 1655 Memorial Drive SE this fall, with a second metro Atlanta location planned for Smyrna next year.

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Monday, October 5
- Oakland Tour | Oakland Cemetery
- ONE Zoning Committee Meeting | Our Neighborhood Edgewood
- Cabbagetown Initiative Meeting | Cabbagetown Neighborhood Improvement Association
- Catch These Hands | 529 Bar

Tuesday, October 6
- Unsane | The EARL
- Magic Movement | Grant Park- Greenspace F
- The Reynoldstown Yoga Reset | Lang-Carson Park

Wednesday, October 7
- Roadhand Roundup: October Country Music Show | 529 Bar
- Squirrel Flower | The Earl

Thursday, October 8
- Hybrid Fitness Fusion (Chair & Standing) | Lang-Carson Park
- Gavin Adcock | The Eastern
- Core-ography (Dance Fitness) | Lang-Carson Park
- Inter Arma | The Earl

Friday, October 9
- It's Up for Debate presented by Polymarket: Bakari Sellers vs. Marjorie Taylor Greene | Pullman Yards
- Ravyn Lenae | The Eastern
- The Friday Bike Bus! 🚲 | Our Neighborhood Edgewood
- EMO NIGHT 2 | 529 EAV
- Fruition | The Earl

Saturday, October 10
- Fumed Indie Perfume Expo | Pullman Yards
- Ormewood Park Makers Festival | Ormewood Park
- Zumba/Hip Hop Cardio | Terminal South/Switchman Hall
- Oakhurst Porchfest | Oakhurst Neighborhood / Harmony Park
- Kylie Cantrall | The Eastern
- Dirty Holly | 529 EAV
- The Brokes | The Earl

Sunday, October 11
- 3rd Annual Lacing Up Against Domestic Violence 5k | Grant Park
- Halloween Dinner – Spirits of South Hosted by 3F! | Historic Oakland Cemetery
- Epik High | The Eastern
- Crime Through Time | Oakland Cemetery
- Fit 404 Cardio & Strength | Terminal South/Switchman Hall
- Burning Floor Tour | The Earl

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Note: our information comes from posted meetings documents (agendas and minutes when available) — latest source document hyperlinked to each meeting.

Past Week Roundup

Fulton County Board of Commissioners
Commissioners held an eight-minute special meeting on Sept. 30 to conduct the required public hearing on the 2026 General Fund millage rate. Two residents spoke by Zoom, one on property taxes and one on the millage rate. The board didn't vote on the rate, so your tax bill didn't change at this session. Commissioners also voted 4-0 to pull two employee health insurance items from the agenda: a contract renewal with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and the 2027 premium rates for employees and retirees. The rate and the insurance items will need to come back before the board at a later meeting.

Atlanta City Council
The Finance/Executive Committee voted unanimously to hold the $68 million sale of the city detention center to Fulton County, as covered in today's news section, and it's set to return Oct. 5. That committee also advanced a $325,000 donation to Gateway Center for homeless services and a $438,005 weapons detection upgrade contract. It held a separate annexation request along Glynn Drive and closed out a single-property annexation petition. The Transportation Committee approved several airport deals, including $4.9 million to extend rental car center maintenance, $640,000 in design work for parking deck expansion, and a Frontier Airlines cargo lease. It held three street abandonment proposals that would hand public right-of-way to private owners, along with the BeltLine bike lane proposal and a request for new stop signs. The Zoning Committee took up a citywide requirement for a special permit for new self-storage facilities, a full rewrite of the zoning code, and several rezonings, though no outcomes are posted. The Community Development/Human Services Committee had a $1.59 million Memorial Drive Greenway land purchase, stronger tree protections, and a $7.75 million federal lead paint grant on its agenda, and the City Utilities Committee looked at protections against sudden water bill spikes and a $17.5 million tank and pump station project. The Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee had surveillance oversight rules and higher fire inspection fees on its agenda. Minutes aren't yet published for some of these meetings, so outcomes on those items aren't confirmed.

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners
The board's Sept. 29 agenda included a proposal to define and regulate data centers in the county code, which would set rules for where these power- and water-hungry facilities can operate. Commissioners also had an ordinance on street drifting, unauthorized camping and nuisance behavior, an item that's been delayed several times before. A $3.2 million design contract for 2.1 miles of new sidewalks along Flat Shoals Parkway was up for a vote. The board also considered a 10-year water and sewer capital plan and about $640,000 in early design money for new police and fire facilities. Since only the agenda is available, you can't yet confirm which items passed.

Atlanta Public Schools
The APS Student Advisory Council held a general body meeting on Sept. 30 at the Center for Learning and Leadership. Students discussed the district's "Forward 2040" long-term plan and efforts to strengthen core instruction. They also heard an overview of the council's standing committees. The record shows no votes or formal actions, so nothing from this meeting changes school policy, budgets, or zoning for your family.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

Atlanta City Council
- 264 Memorial Dr SE — Legislation is being proposed to authorize the city to acquire 0.32 acres for up to $1.59 million to expand the Memorial Drive Greenway.
- Walker Park — An ordinance is being proposed to officially rename Walker Park to Rose Hill Park.
- Glynn Dr SE — An ordinance to assign single-family residential zoning to parcels along Glynn Drive SE upon annexation into the City of Atlanta was considered.

Meetings This Week
- Atlanta Public Schools — Board of Education | Oct-05 | key topics: FY2027 property tax levy adoption, school facility modernization contracts, Towns Elementary lease, and student screen time policy
- Atlanta City Council — Committee on Council | Oct-05, 11:30 AM | key topics: police officer presence at recreation center polling sites, public comment sign-up procedures, and civic board appointments
- Atlanta City Council | Oct-05, 1:00 PM | key topics: special use permits for self-storage facilities, Memorial Drive Greenway acquisition, park acquisition on Hamilton E. Holmes Drive, and public pool fee waivers
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole | Oct-06, 5:30 PM | key topics: local rezoning proposals, HUD park improvement grants, data center regulatory oversight, and street drifting restrictions
- Fulton County Board of Commissioners | Oct-07, 10:00 AM | key topics: adoption of 2026 property tax millage rates, Camp Creek wastewater facility expansion, Jonesboro Road resurfacing agreements, and deed theft prevention

CONSTRUCTION

Permits

- 951 Hank Aaron Dr SW. Multifamily mechanical permit pending. The work covers two complete HVAC systems with ductwork, eight bath exhausts, four dryer vents, and two vent hoods. That's a sizable fit-out for an apartment building.
- 1260 Glenwood Ave SE. Grease trap installation pending. That usually means a food business is setting up or expanding, so keep an eye on this spot.
- 1454 La France St NE. A yoga studio is becoming a photo studio. The permit calls for minor cosmetic work in the existing space, and it's still in review.
- 1061 Memorial Dr SE. Fire sprinkler permit issued. It's a new system, but the permit renews an expired one, so it's likely a stalled project picking back up.
- 2371 Hosea L Williams Dr SE. Rooftop HVAC replacement issued. It's a 5-ton gas pack unit, so expect some rooftop equipment work.
- 777 Memorial Dr SE. Permit issued to replace Unit 205's 2-ton heat pump system.
- 1060 Memorial Dr SE. Two permits issued, one electrical and one HVAC, for installing and wiring a bathroom exhaust fan. It's small stuff, but you'll see the contractors coming and going.
- 494 Flat Shoals Ave SE. Electrical permit issued so the property can get an inspection and have its power restored. No construction is planned.
- 1610 Hosea L Williams Dr NE. HVAC permit pending. The filing says no mechanical, electrical, or plumbing work will be done, so it looks like a paperwork formality.

Road Work

Under Construction
- SR 42/Us 23 @ SR 154 & @ Arkwright Place — A new median on Moreland Avenue at Arkwright Place will limit turns to right-in/right-out, paired with a signalized pedestrian crossing.
- I-20 from Capitol Ave to Flat Shoals Road - Lighting — Crews are swapping the old high-pressure sodium lights along this stretch for energy-efficient LEDs, and may also replace poles, conduit and wiring.
- SR 154 @ 7 Locs in Dekalb & 1 Loc in Fulton - Vru — Mid-block pedestrian crossings and restricted-turn intersections are being added along Memorial Drive between Moreland Avenue and Candler Road and between Hill Street and Pearl Street.
- SR 3 & SR 42 @ 6 Locs in Clayton & Fulton - Vru — Pedestrian hybrid beacons are being installed at four spots along Moreland Avenue (SR 42), plus restricted-turn crossings with beacons at Woodstock Road and on SR 3 at Camelot Parkway.

Service Requests
- Sign Repair, Replacement, or Installation: Six reports came in on Linam Ave SE (two), United Ave and Home Ave, Wylie St SE, Cherokee Ave SE, and Side Ave at Memorial Dr.
- Litter Removal: You'll find five right-of-way litter reports on Hosea L. Williams Dr SE, S Ave SE, Flat Shoals Ave SE, Monument Ave SE, and Martin St SE. One has already been resolved.
- Potholes: Five reports cover Hosea L. Williams Dr SE (two), the intersection of Fayetteville Rd and Flat Shoals Rd, Maynard Ter SE, and Stokeswood Ave SE. One is fixed, and another got referred to the sewer division.
- Visibility and Overgrowth: Four reports focus on Memorial Dr SE at Bill Kennedy Way SE (three) and Rosalia St SE. All four are resolved, so sight lines should be clearer at that busy corner.
- Traffic Signal Repair: Signals are on the list at Memorial Dr and Connally St, and at Pryor St and Ridge Ave. The Pryor and Ridge report is closed.
- Downed Tree: A tree is down on Memorial Dr SE. Give that stretch extra attention if you're driving through.

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Until next week,
Memorial Drive Corridor Busybody

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Disclaimer: We use advanced data retrieval and analysis techniques across hundreds of sources, and may be prone to occasional error. Independently verify information with a secondary source, and please let us know if we got anything wrong via the feedback form.