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Happy voting day, Memorial Drive Corridor. If you haven’t cast your ballot yet, make sure to get that done today. This week: Shepard Fairey's first Atlanta solo show, "NEW DAY RISING," is on view at ABV Gallery in East Atlanta Village through January 3, 2027, and Cabbagetown's Chomp & Stomp weekend is just around the corner. We've also got DeKalb's new camping ordinance and the Memorial Drive items on the Planning Commission agenda, so grab your coffee and settle in.

- News — Fairey's East Atlanta Village exhibition leads the way, alongside DeKalb commissioners' 5-2 camping ordinance vote and the East Lake Cup results.
- Business — Viennoiseries After Dark is dropping off croissants in Reynoldstown, and Wagaya Groceries is planned for Inman Park next summer.
- Events — Cabbagetown's Chomp & Stomp and Romp & Stomp 5K headline a week that also brings shows at The EARL and The Eastern, a Friday Bike Bus, and an Edgewood mulch day.
- Government — Atlanta City Council committees extended the self-storage moratorium and backed Faith Avenue SE traffic calming, while NPU-O weighed a lot split on Memorial Drive and a Memorial Drive multifamily rezoning heads to the DeKalb Planning Commission.
- Construction — A building addition at 801 Glenwood Ave SE is the biggest permit on the list, while crews keep building a new median at Moreland and Arkwright and Memorial Drive pedestrian crossings are on the DOT docket.

Let's dive in.

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Shepard Fairey's First Atlanta Solo Show Opens at ABV Gallery
The exhibition, titled "NEW DAY RISING," opened October 24 at ABV Gallery in East Atlanta Village and remains on view through January 3, 2027. ABV Gallery describes more than 150 works, while ArtsATL reports 180, including portraits of John Lewis, Malcolm X, Angela Davis and Malala Yousafzai.

Auburn, Arkansas claim big wins at East Lake Cup
Auburn beat Oklahoma State 4-1 in the men's match-play final, with Billy Davis winning the clinching point in 19 holes against Eric Lee. Arkansas won the women's final in its East Lake Cup debut when María José Marín beat Oklahoma State's Marta Silchenko for the winning point.

DeKalb County approves unauthorized camping ordinance amid debate
Commissioners approved the ordinance 5-2 on Tuesday. Authored by District 3 Commissioner Nicole Massiah, it requires an official warning and an offer of services before an arrest, and gives people 24 hours to move belongings. The county CEO has seven days to decide on a potential veto.

Fulton County officials show how they're preparing for election; Sec. of State says elections secure
The U.S. Department of Justice plans to have monitors in several Georgia counties, including Fulton, though county officials say they do not know how many will be present. Fulton elections director Nadine Williams said voting equipment is not connected to the internet, and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said an Anthropic AI agent accessed only publicly available information on Georgia's Data Hub.

BUSINESS

Croissant pop-ups slated for Reynoldstown, Japanese grocery store planned for nearby Inman Park — Viennoiseries After Dark offers drop-off services for its croissants and French pastries at Mama Lin's Chicken Delight and Honey Bubble Tea at Madison Yards in Reynoldstown, while Japanese market Wagaya Groceries will open in the former A Haute Cookie space in Inman Park next summer.

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Tuesday, November 3
- Mannequin Pu**y w/ Wednesday – Band | The Eastern
- Pickle Ball at Coan Park (Nov. 3, 2026–Jan. 28, 2027) | Coan Park Theraputic Recreation Center
- The Rumjacks | The EARL
- The Reynoldstown Yoga Reset | Lang-Carson Park

Wednesday, November 4
- John R. Miller | The EARL
- Cody Bolden Music: Roadhand Roundup at 529 Bar: 3-Band Country Show | 529 Bar

Thursday, November 5
- Madeon | The Eastern
- lighthearted | The EARL

Friday, November 6
- Trivium w/ In Flames | The Eastern
- Author Event with Lauren Evans | All The Tropes (Kirkwood)
- Hit the Easy Button: Small Business Workshop | Station R
- The Friday Bike Bus! 🚲 | Our Neighborhood Edgewood
- The Tubs | The EARL
- school of design | HC Biergarten

Saturday, November 7
- Cabbagetown Chomp & Stomp | Cabbagetown Neighborhood
- Ready, Set, GROW! Waking Up Your Atlanta Garden | Urban Farm of Ormewood
- Tyler Ballgame | The Earl
- Romp & Stomp 5K 2026 | Milltown Tavern in Cabbagetown
- Run for Justice 5K | Grant Park/Zoo Atlanta
- Coffee, Donuts, & Community Clean-up | Our Neighborhood Edgewood
- Adventure Cubs at the Zoo | Zoo Atlanta
- Zumba/Hip Hop Cardio | Terminal South/Switchman Hall
- Chomp n Stomp Official Afterparty | 529 EAV
- Brutalismus 3000 | The Eastern

Sunday, November 8
- Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: In Concert | The Eastern
- "American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez" Film Screening | DH Stanton Park
- Nature Therapy with NorthSouthEast Nature & Forest Therapy | Hawk Hollow of the Wylde Center, 2304 1st Avenue, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Crobot | 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

Atlanta City Council
The Zoning Committee voted 6-0 to extend the self-storage moratorium in Office-Institutional districts by 60 days, and it kept the full citywide zoning rewrite on hold. At the Finance/Executive Committee, members unanimously backed the FY 2027 property tax rates, $1.1 million over three years for the Urban League's youth grant program, and a measure requiring council approval for city contracts that buy non-compostable single-use plastics. That committee held a $3.33 million Trees Atlanta contract and the Glynn Drive SE annexation for more review. The Transportation Committee approved $36.84 million for fire safety work on Concourse B at Hartsfield-Jackson and traffic calming on Faith Avenue SE, while it held a $2.88 million street resurfacing contract and a six-month extension for the city's parking enforcement operator. The City Utilities Committee recommended more than $64 million in water and utility projects, including $25 million for water pipe rehabilitation, and held a proposed ban on septic tanks for new commercial development. The Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee approved a $6.5 million AT&T upgrade of the E911 network and held an ordinance on anonymous housing code complaints. The Community Development/Human Services Committee had an agenda that included more than $24 million in federal housing grants and a proposal to reserve half of BeltLine tax allocation funds for one stretch of the corridor, though its outcomes aren't covered here. Everything that advanced went to the full council on Nov. 2. On Monday, Nov. 2, the Committee on Council approved Dr. Annette Hall's appointment to the Human Relations Commission and held both a rewrite of the council's public comment and proclamation rules and a charter change that would require a councilmember sponsor on all legislation. The full council met that afternoon with the FY 2027 property tax rates, the self-storage moratorium extension, Faith Avenue traffic calming and the water and sewer spending on its agenda, but results haven't been posted yet.

Atlanta Public Schools
The Student Advisory Council held a general body meeting on October 28 at the Center for Learning and Leadership. No minutes were published for the session, so there's no record of what was decided. The agenda set aside time for student support initiatives, using data to guide financial investments, and planning for the council's standing committees. This was an advisory student group, so it didn't vote on district budgets, contracts, or policy that would affect your household. The Board of Education met Monday, Nov. 2, with first reads of proposed fall 2027 attendance zones for more than a dozen west and southwest Atlanta schools, including Douglass and Washington high schools, along with the board's draft 2027 legislative priorities. Its consent agenda included temporary construction easements for the city and a school bus purchase. Minutes aren't posted yet.

Atlanta NPU
NPU-O met virtually on October 27, and the minutes aren't yet published, so you'll only see what was on the agenda here. Members took up several residential zoning variances for homeowners who want to build closer to property lines, along with a proposal to split one lot on Memorial Drive into two. The agenda also included a new alcohol license for a theater venue and a special event permit for a school field day in a neighborhood park next spring. Members were also set to vote on the 2027 NPU-O officers. NPU votes are recommendations that guide the city's later decisions, so they shape what gets built nearby.

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners
Commissioners met October 27 with a packed agenda. It included a proposal to buy the former YMCA property on Snapfinger Road and more than $4.6 million in federal grants for renovations at five county parks. Rezonings for townhomes on Old Briarcliff Road and a mixed residential project on Gresham Road were also up for decisions, along with a vote to move 30 vacant county-owned lots to the DeKalb Regional Land Bank Authority. The board also took up an ordinance on street drifting and unauthorized camping, and the camping ordinance is covered in today's news section. Outcomes from this meeting aren't known yet.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

Atlanta City Council
- Faith Avenue SE — The committee approved the installation of traffic calming measures along Faith Avenue SE between Glenwood Park Drive SE and Lewis Lane SE to reduce speeding.
- 483 Monument Avenue — A $1 million appropriation for stream bank stabilization and environmental restoration at 483 Monument Avenue was recommended for approval.

Atlanta NPU
- Departure Institute (225 Rogers Street NE) — An application for a new theater alcohol license at 225 Rogers Street NE was on the agenda for community review.
- Memorial Drive SE — An application to subdivide a residential property on Memorial Drive SE into two separate lots was on the agenda for neighborhood review.

Meetings This Week
- Fulton County Board of Commissioners | Nov-04, 10:00 AM | key topics: $45.5 million jail special purpose facility design contract, 2026 school board millage rate adoption, affordable housing TAD grant
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole | Nov-05, 9:00 AM | key topics: Gresham Road residential rezoning, Lithonia Park recreation center construction, pedestrian safety upgrades, data center regulations
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Planning Commission | Nov-05, 6:00 PM | key topics: Memorial Drive multifamily rezoning, residential infill proposals, commercial special land use permits

CONSTRUCTION

Permits
- 1039 Grant St SE: A commercial plumbing permit is issued for a big fixture package. It covers 10 sinks, 2 toilets, a dishwasher, a service sink, a drinking fountain and a water heater. That much plumbing points to a busy food or gathering space.
- 374 Martin L King Jr Dr SE: An electric vehicle charging installation is accepted. The plans call for a 250-amp electrical panel, concrete pads and six 60-amp breakers. Expect some construction activity on site while the chargers go in.
- 1275 Caroline St NE: An interior remodel of the existing Target store is on hold while the city waits on additional materials. The store stays put, so you can expect a refresh and not a closure.
- 791 Wylie St SE: A permit to replace a wood roof deck is in review. The deck came off earlier during a roofing membrane replacement. You may hear some rooftop work once it's approved.
- 777 Memorial Dr SE: Exterior work for Yan KTV is in review. The plans include custom LED lettering on the north-facing front. Your commute along Memorial will get a new bit of nightlife glow.
- 1260 Glenwood Ave SE: A tenant furniture and equipment installation is pending in an existing retail suite. The walls and building systems stay as they are. A new shop is getting ready to open.
- 801 Glenwood Ave SE: A building addition is in review, along with driveways, concrete walks, ADA access improvements and added parking. This is the biggest construction project on the list. You'll likely see site work and some traffic changes near the property.

Road Work

Under Construction
- Moreland Ave at Arkwright Pl — Crews are building a median that limits Arkwright Place to right-in/right-out turns and adding a signalized pedestrian crossing on Moreland. GDOT lists the project as about 36% complete.
- Moreland Ave at United Ave and Skyhaven Rd — Crews are starting to realign Skyhaven Road with United Avenue and add left-turn lanes, sidewalks and lighting on Moreland. Work began in late September and is expected to run into early 2029.
- Memorial Dr between Hill St and Pearl St — Crews are adding a mid-block pedestrian crossing, a right-in/right-out access point and a restricted U-turn on Memorial Drive. GDOT lists the project as about a quarter complete.
- I-20 lighting from Capitol Ave to Flat Shoals Rd — Crews are replacing the old sodium highway lights on I-20 east of downtown with LEDs. GDOT lists the work as a little over half complete.

Service Requests
- Potholes: You'll find nine reports, including two on Stovall St SE and others on Crew St SW, Hill St SE, Hansell St SE, and Hosea L Williams Dr SE. Three more spots round out the list.
- Sign Repair and Installation: Seven requests cover United Ave and Home Ave (two reports), Warren St and Trotti St, S Ave SE, Vanira Ave and Connally St, Hill St and Ormond St, and one more location.
- Traffic Signal Repair: Wylie St SE and Moreland Ave SE leads with four reports. You'll also see requests at Moreland Ave SE, Memorial Dr and Park Ave, and Hosea L Williams Dr NE and Woodbine Ave SE. A separate emergency signal repair was filed at Moreland Ave SE and Memorial Dr SE.
- Overgrowth and Visibility Issues: Four reports came in for Underwood Ave SE, Connally St SE, Atlanta Ave SE, and Chastain St SE. Crews have already solved three of them.
- Graffiti Removal: Three requests cover DeKalb Ave NE and Moreland Ave NE, Caroline St NE, and Biggers St and Grant St.
- Litter Removal: You'll spot trash piling up along Martin St SE and La France St NE.
- Downed Tree: A tree is down on Fulton St SE.

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Until next week,
Memorial Drive Corridor Busybody

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