Presented by Rally Built Homes
Memorial Drive Corridor
Hey y’all. Before we get into it this week, I recently connected with a local artist who makes these extremely cool Atlanta neighborhood prints (and much more). Check this out:
Hey, Memorial Drive Corridor! This week: a brand-new Beltline staircase in Grant Park is getting roasted online for leading straight into a fence, while the city and MARTA finally settled a decade-old tax fight that frees up $52 million for transit upgrades. Add in a 36.7-acre Selig Enterprises rezoning, a $40 million police camera contract, and duplexes popping up on Memorial and Washington, and there's plenty to catch up on.
- News — A viral "stairway to nowhere" in Grant Park, a landmark MARTA tax settlement worth $52 million, and 80 murals coming to Cabbagetown's Wylie Street.
- Business — Smileys Burger Club plants a flag in Summerhill, Spina Pizza fires up ovens in Reynoldstown, and EAV's Mary's proves queer nightlife staples can outlast the trends.
- Events — Gary Clark Jr. lands at The Eastern, Kylesa takes over 529 Bar for two nights, and Zoo Atlanta lets you play elephant keeper for a day.
- Government — Council approves a 36.7-acre Selig rezoning and a $40 million police camera expansion, while data center water rules and a new patrol zone get punted for later.
- Construction — New duplexes are rising on Memorial and Washington, a demolition permit hits 1503 Memorial Dr, and fresh pedestrian beacons are going up along Glenwood Ave.
One more update: our new Downtown and Southwest Beltline editions are now live! As a reminder, you can always update your neighborhood selections here
Let's dive in.
Rally Built Homes is an Atlanta-based design and build firm specializing in residential renovations. Whether you’re looking to increase your property value, make an area of your home more functional, or just want to make the space your own, let Rally be your one-stop shop for all things home renovation - kitchens, bathrooms, decks, porches and more.
Contact Rally Built Homes today for your home renovation needs
NEWS
Beltline's "stairway to nowhere" sparks backlash, plus MARTA's tax deal unlocks $52M and 80 new murals hit Cabbagetown
Atlanta Beltline fans call it 'the Stairway to Nowhere'
Neighbors in Grant Park are raising concerns over a newly constructed, 50-step staircase at the end of Grant Street leading up to the Atlanta Beltline. The staircase was meant to provide long-awaited direct access to the corridor, but incomplete connections to surrounding trail infrastructure have residents calling it a "stairway to nowhere."
Fresh tsunami of public art bound for eastside ATL neighborhood
The street art festival Forward Warrior announced that 80 new murals will be painted along Cabbagetown's Wylie Street corridor from September 18 to 20. This marks the 12th annual installation of the festival, expanding on last year's project.
Kirkwood Wine Stroll popping cork on a 20 year celebration
The annual Kirkwood Wine Stroll returns to the downtown Kirkwood business district on Saturday, September 12, marking its 20th anniversary. Organized by the Kirkwood Business Owners' Association, the fundraiser will feature pours and pairings across more than 50 local business locations.
Atlanta and MARTA settle decade-long tax dispute, paving the way for transit upgrades
The City of Atlanta and MARTA have resolved a long-standing dispute over sales tax revenue, freeing up $52 million in funding for transit improvements. The settlement clears a path forward for key regional transit projects.
Leadership DeKalb unveils executives, educators and elected officials in class of 2027
Leadership DeKalb has announced its class of 2027, bringing together a cohort of local executives, educators, and public officials. The program is designed to strengthen civic leadership and community initiatives across DeKalb County.
BUSINESS
Smileys Burger Club and Spina Pizza open up, while EAV's Mary's marks decades as a queer nightlife anchor
Smileys Burger Club opening in Summerhill and Spina Pizza opens in Reynoldstown — Smileys Burger Club is preparing to open a new location in Summerhill, while Spina Pizza has officially opened its doors in Reynoldstown.
East Atlanta Village bar Mary's withstands the test of time as a queer nightlife staple — Mary's, the longtime East Atlanta Village bar, continues operating as an inclusive neighborhood gathering spot with a history spanning decades of nightlife change in the area.
EVENTS | Presented by
Peace of Mind Recycling is your one stop shop for a convenient and affordable way to make sure your recyclables actually get… recycled! With Atlanta's city recycling services your guess is as good as ours in regards to what actually gets recycled. We document where we take your glass, metal, electronics & everything else so you can rest assured it's going to the good place 100% of the time.
Gary Clark Jr. hits The Eastern, Kylesa's two-night stand, and a zoo keeper-for-a-day adventure
Monday, August 31
- Oakland Tour | Oakland Cemetery
- Poor Hendrix Dog Adoption Event | Poor Hendrix
- Squid Pisser | 529 Bar
Tuesday, September 1
- Gary Clark Jr. | The Eastern
- Sheer Terror | 529 EAV
- ZOMBIES TOUR | The Earl
Wednesday, September 2
- Trainer for a Day: World of Wild Theater | Zoo Atlanta
- Kylesa - Night 1 | 529 Bar
Thursday, September 3
- Keeper for a Day: Elephants | Zoo Atlanta
- Kylesa - Night 2 | 529 Bar
Friday, September 4
- Gas Hound | The EARL
- The Builders & Butchers | 529 EAV
Saturday, September 5
- Circle Time with Ms. Monica Live! | Moving in the Spirit
- Community Clean-up | Our Neighborhood Edgewood
- Adventure Cubs at the Zoo | Zoo Atlanta
- Crime Through Time | Oakland Cemetery
- Practical Magic Market: Shop Local Handmade Art and Oddities! | East Atlanta Village Farmers Market
- Keeper for a Day: Reptiles and Amphibians | Zoo Atlanta
- Mike D 5D | The Eastern
- Kids Night Out at the Zoo | Zoo Atlanta
- Added Color | 529 Bar
- Cycles in the Infinite Dream Tour | The Earl
Sunday, September 6
- Mornings at the Zoo | Zoo Atlanta
- We Shall Overcome: African American Stories from Civil War to Civil Rights | Oakland Cemetery
GOVERNMENT
Council greenlights 36.7-acre Selig rezoning, $40M police camera deal, while data center water rules wait
Note: our information comes from posted meetings documents (agendas and minutes when available) — latest source document hyperlinked to each meeting.
Past Week Roundup
Council committees packed the week with land use fights and big-dollar contracts. The Zoning Committee approved a massive 36.7-acre rezoning along Logan Circle and Chattahoochee Avenue for a Selig Enterprises mixed-use project, while voting to shelve the Peachtree Circle Historic District proposal and holding a Ponce de Leon redevelopment for further review. The City Utilities Committee approved $2 million for stream restoration at Chastain Park Golf Course, a $2.7 million solid waste contract extension, and a no-cost utility deal with GDOT for the I-285 Top End project, but held off on rules restricting data centers from using drinking water for cooling. The Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee approved $815,000 in settlements over federal lawsuits against police and forwarded a $40 million contract expanding police body and fleet cameras, while a proposal to study a new seventh police patrol zone got held for more discussion. The Community Development/Human Services Committee took up rezonings that would allow taller, denser development along Ponce de Leon Avenue, Ellsworth Industrial Boulevard, and Decatur Street, plus condemnation actions against five blighted Westside properties. Minutes aren't yet posted for the Transportation Committee, which took up $7 million in grant funding for the BeltLine Southside Trail, a $4.5 million Buckhead street resurfacing deal, and new traffic safety measures near a Buckhead elementary school. The Finance/Executive Committee reviewed a plan to block tax-delinquent data centers and developers from receiving city incentives, over $332,000 in water and sewer bill refunds, and next year's property tax rates.
The APS Student Advisory Council met for orientation and briefings rather than binding votes. Members reviewed a draft district Artificial Intelligence policy that could eventually shape how students and teachers use AI tools in classrooms, though no restrictions or timelines were finalized. The council also got a strategic update on district goals for the 2026-2027 school year and worked through internal housekeeping like its meeting calendar and committee assignments. Families should expect more concrete AI policy details to surface at a future meeting once the draft moves further along.
NPU-O's agenda covered a citywide zoning change that matters well beyond its own boundaries. As covered in today's news section, the self-storage special use permit requirement was up for a vote, giving neighborhoods more say before new storage facilities can be built anywhere in the city. Members also weighed in on a three-lot residential subdivision and two zoning variances, including one that would let a homeowner build a wall shrinking a side setback down to just 0.3 feet. And residents heard a presentation on a new youth fencing and education partnership between Atlanta Public Schools and a local nonprofit. Since only the agenda is posted, outcomes on these votes aren't confirmed yet.
DeKalb commissioners took up a huge $233.8 million contract to overhaul the Scott Candler Water Treatment Plant, a project aimed at shoring up drinking water reliability countywide. The agenda also included a requirement for an independent health and environmental study before the county could lift its data center moratorium, a response to growing concern about the industry's resource demands. Commissioners considered major pedestrian upgrades too, including a $4.1 million extension of the Michelle Obama Trail and $3.2 million for new sidewalks along Flat Shoals Parkway. Other proposals on the table included a crackdown on car drifting and unauthorized camping, an overhaul of the county's noise ordinance, and a ban on retail sales of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet stores. Because only the agenda is available, none of these outcomes are confirmed yet.
Notable Neighborhood Mentions
Atlanta NPU
- Alston Dr SE (residential) — An application is on the agenda to subdivide the residential parcel into three separate buildable lots.
Meetings This Week
- Atlanta Public Schools — Board of Education | Sep-01 | key topics: affordable housing redevelopment agreements with AUDC, joint recreational facility use agreement with Atlanta Parks and Rec, facility repurposing policy
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Planning Commission | Sep-01, 6:00 PM | key topics: residential rezonings on Old Briarcliff Road and Memorial Drive, Embry Hills placemaking strategy, daycare special land use permits
- Fulton County Board of Commissioners — Board of Commissioners | Sep-02, 10:00 AM | key topics: affordable housing grants in Vine City and English Avenue, jail elevator modernization contract, 2026 property tax digest update
CONSTRUCTION | Presented by
If you’re thinking about a residential renovation to create a space that’s comfortable, memorable, and personalized for you, look no further than Rally Built Homes. Learn more here.
Duplexes rise on Memorial and Washington, plus new pedestrian beacons and LED lighting on I-20
Permits
- 1503 Memorial Dr SE — Demolition permit filed for a roughly 2,200 SF building. Expect noise and dust on this stretch once crews move in.
- 2015 Memorial Dr SE — A batch of plumbing permits just got issued for new single-family townhomes going in here. That's a sign more residential construction is on the way at this address.
- 225 Stovall St SE — Permit pending for a duplex build with front and rear porches, filed separately for Unit B to get its own Certificate of Occupancy. Worth watching if you're near this block.
- 1076 Washington St SW — New three-story, two-unit residential duplex in the works, though the city's asking for more materials before it moves forward.
Road Work
Under Construction
- Glenwood Ave @ Haas Ave & @ Eastside Ave - Install RRFB — Crews are installing rectangular rapid flashing beacons at these two crossings to improve pedestrian safety.
- Glenwood Ave @ Brownwood Ave & @ Joseph Ave - Install RRFB — This project adds rapid flashing beacons at both intersections for safer pedestrian crossings.
- SR 42 / Moreland Avenue Intersection Improvement — Crews are converting the SR 42 / Moreland Avenue intersection at Arkwright Place into a right-in/right-out setup, adding a median that blocks left turns.
- I-20 Lighting Upgrade, Capitol Ave to Flat Shoals Road — This project swaps old HPS lighting for energy-efficient LED fixtures along the corridor, with possible pole, conduit, and wiring replacement. It spans DeKalb and Fulton counties.
- SR 154 / Memorial Drive Pedestrian Safety Project — Crews are adding a mid-block pedestrian crossing, a right-in/right-out, and a restricted crossing U-turn between Hill Street and Pearl Street. The project covers seven locations in DeKalb and one in Fulton.
Service Requests
- Litter Removal — Crews responded to 10 reports along McPherson Ave SE, Blvd & Decatur St, Hosea L Williams Dr SE, Atlanta Ave SE at Fraser St SE, Bill Kennedy Way, and one other spot. Most are marked solved, with a few still in progress or closed out.
- Potholes — Six reports came in on Blvd & Carroll St, Glen St SE, Shirley Franklin Blvd & Decatur St, Roger St NE, and Blvd SE & Carroll St SE. Four are in progress, one's flagged as a duplicate, and one got kicked over to the Sewer Division.
- Traffic Signal Repairs (Non-Emergency) — Six signals need attention at Hosea L Williams Dr NE, Cherokee Ave & Georgia Ave, Memorial Dr & Pear St, Glenwood at Bill Kennedy, DeKalb Ave NE & Moreland Ave NE's northbound ramp, and one more location. Four remain in progress and two are closed.
- Traffic Signal Repairs (Emergency, Level 1) — Five urgent signal issues popped up around Blvd & Berne St, Bill Kennedy Way SE, the Bill Kennedy Way and Glenwood Ave intersection (reported from both directions), and Hank Aaron Dr SW & McDonough Blvd SW. Three are already closed, two still in progress.
- Visibility/Overgrowth in the Right of Way — Three spots need clearing: Grant St & Martin L King Jr Dr, Stovall St SE, and Arkwright Pl SE. Two are solved, one's still being worked.
- Graffiti Removal in the Right of Way — Two reports are in progress, one on Memorial Dr SE and one on Hosea L Williams Dr NE.
- Sign Repair, Replacement, or Installation — Two signs need work, at Battlefield Ave & Arkwright Pl and Memorial Dr & Maynard Terrace/Wyman St. Both are in progress.
- Downed Tree — A downed tree on Flat Shoals Way SE has already been cleared.
What did you think of this week's newsletter?
Want to sponsor us? Submit here
Want to alter your neighborhood selections? Submit here
Want to promote an event? Submit here
Until next week,
Memorial Drive Corridor Busybody
Privacy-first email. Built for real protection.
End-to-end encrypted, ad-free, and open-source. Proton Mail protects your inbox with zero data tracking.
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.
