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Hey, Memorial Drive Corridor! This week: a travel publication just crowned East Atlanta Village the “Brooklyn of Atlanta,” Reynoldstown gears up to celebrate the Wheelbarrow Festival's 30th anniversary with jazz, blues, and a founders' panel, and four new businesses — from a karaoke hub to an Afro-Caribbean restaurant — are opening their doors across the corridor. Add in a packed weekend of Beltline events, live music and there's plenty to catch up on.

- News — Reynoldstown's Wheelbarrow Festival hits 30 years, EAV gets tagged the “Brooklyn of Atlanta,” and the $68 million jail sale to Fulton County officially moves forward.
- Business — Yan Karaoke's massive Atlanta Dairies space nears its holiday opening while a nonprofit skateshop, a Venetian wine bar, and a new Afro-Caribbean restaurant all debut around EAV and Summerhill.
- Events — The Wheelbarrow Festival and Atlanta Foodie Festival anchor a jam-packed weekend alongside live shows at The Earl, a Beltline yoga reset, and Cabbagetown's Forward Warrior kickoff.
- Government — Council approved a huge Logan Circle rezoning and killed the Peachtree Circle Historic District, while DeKalb pushed forward major sewer and sidewalk funding.
- Construction — A demolition permit lands on Moreland Avenue, a new EAV restaurant kitchen is going in, and a big Memorial Drive intersection redesign is underway near SR 154.

Let's dive in.

NEWS

Wheelbarrow Festival 30th Anniversary — Press Release
The Reynoldstown Civic Improvement League will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Wheelbarrow Festival on September 19, marking the historic neighborhood's post-Civil War roots with live jazz and blues, local food vendors, and a founders' panel discussion honoring those who helped revitalize the community.

A Free Two-Day Food Festival Is Taking Over Grant Park in September
The Atlanta Foodie Festival runs September 19-20 in Grant Park, offering free admission and a celebration of the city's food culture and local businesses.

East Atlanta Village declared the 'Brooklyn of Atlanta.' Accurate?
Online travel publication Brooklyn Of named East Atlanta Village the “Brooklyn of Atlanta” as part of a broader initiative spotlighting standout neighborhoods across 150 global cities, citing the area's indie music venues, dive bars, street murals, and long-running neighborhood traditions.

City of Atlanta accepts Fulton County's offer to purchase Atlanta City Detention Center
Mayor Andre Dickens notified the Fulton County Board of Commissioners that the city will accept the county's $68 million offer for the Atlanta City Detention Center, with Dickens stating the deal is expected to deliver over $600 million in net present value to Fulton County taxpayers by leveraging existing detention capacity and avoiding greater future capital costs.

DeKalb board upholds denial of Shadowbox data center bid
DeKalb County officials voted to uphold the zoning denial for the proposed Shadowbox data center development, amid countywide concerns over heavy industrial infrastructure, power grid demands, and encroachment near residential communities.

BUSINESS

Yan Karaoke prepares to open at Atlanta Dairies in Reynoldstown — The 15,000-square-foot entertainment hub at Atlanta Dairies is on track to open this holiday season after its owners worked through neighborhood design and preservation concerns.

East Atlanta Kids Club opening nonprofit skateshop on Flat Shoals Avenue — The nonprofit East Atlanta Kids Club is launching the East Atlanta Skateshop at 481 Flat Shoals Ave. to support youth programming in Southeast Atlanta.

Venetian-style wine bar Sagra opens in East Atlanta Village — Italian wine bar Sagra has officially opened its doors in East Atlanta Village, offering a Venetian-inspired beverage and dining experience.

Bread & Butterfly chef Demetrius Brown opens Afro-Caribbean restaurant Heritage in Summerhill — Chef Demetrius Brown, previously of Bread & Butterfly, has debuted Heritage, a full-service restaurant celebrating Afro-Caribbean culinary traditions in Summerhill.

EVENTS | Presented by

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Monday, September 14
- Oakland Tour | Oakland Cemetery

Tuesday, September 15
- The Garden w/ Her New Knife | The Eastern
- Off Menu Series: Komos Tequila x Ruby Chow's | Ruby Chow's
- Kilometer Kids - DH Stanton Park (Youth) | DH Stanton Park Soccer Field
- Magic Movement | Grant Park- Greenspace F
- ONE Monthly Meeting | Our Neighborhood Edgewood
- Plush (USA): PLUSH Mass Hysteria Tour - w/s/g Major Moment | 529 Bar
- The Reynoldstown Yoga Reset | Lang-Carson Park
- Black Marble | The Earl

Wednesday, September 16
- Automatic | The Earl
- Kinda Clean Oysters and Comedy

Thursday, September 17
- Adventure Cubs at the Zoo | Zoo Atlanta
- Pearl & The Oysters | The EARL
- Atlanta Beltline Thursday Run Club | Terminal South
- Lord D'andre | 529 Bar

Friday, September 18
- Starved of Light | 529 EAV
- Psychedelic Porn Crumpets | The EARL
- Boots on the Beltline Dance | Terminal South
- New Neighbor Party | Cabbagetown Neighborhood Improvement Association
- Forward Warrior Weekend | Cabbagetown Neighborhood Improvement Association

Saturday, September 19
- Sippin' Safari at the Zoo | Zoo Atlanta
- Atlanta Foodie Festival - Day 1 | Grant Park
- Tai Chi in the Park | Our Neighborhood Edgewood
- Warthog Wild Encounter at Zoo Atlanta | Zoo Atlanta
- Art & Architecture Tour | Oakland Cemetery
- Reynoldstown Wheelbarrow Festival | Reynoldstown Memorial Park
- Death Lens | The EARL
- EYEHATEGOD | 529 EAV

Sunday, September 20
- FREE Bluegrass and Country Music | Eastside United Methodist Church
- Keeper for a Day: Elephants | Zoo Atlanta
- The Women of Oakland | Oakland Cemetery
- In Conversation: Bret Busch | The Earl
- ENOX | 529 EAV

Monday, September 21
- Slayyyter w/ Pearly Drops | The Eastern

GOVERNMENT | Presented by

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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
Atlanta's full council approved a major rezoning of more than 36 acres along Logan Circle and Chattahoochee Avenue, clearing out old industrial land for new apartments and retail. Council members also passed new rules cracking down on private “park-for-hire” parking lots, requiring clear pricing and easier dispute resolution so you don't get stuck with surprise fees or bogus boots. In a close 11-4 vote, the council killed the proposed Peachtree Circle Historic District, meaning those properties won't get special preservation protections after all. Members separately approved $17.8 million in lease financing for new police vehicles and $4.5 million for road resurfacing in Buckhead. As covered in today's news section, the council also introduced legislation to sell the Atlanta City Detention Center to Fulton County for up to $68 million. At the Committee on Council meeting, members advanced a new “Civility Pledge” for councilmembers and approved appointments to the Civil Service Board and the Downtown CID, while holding off on a proposal that would let residents speak at meetings in the exact order they signed up.

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners
DeKalb's Committee of the Whole pushed forward a big slate of infrastructure spending, including a $17.88 million loan to fund the Shoal Creek sewer project and design contracts worth more than $8 million combined for a Michelle Obama Trail extension and new sidewalks along Flat Shoals Parkway. Commissioners also advanced $2.9 million in contracts to expand in-home and mobile healthcare services for uninsured and underinsured residents countywide, a move that could make it easier for you or your neighbors to get basic medical care without a trip to a clinic. A 40-week compost pilot program for 500 unincorporated households also got the green light to move to the full board. Smaller items included increased funding for a countywide painting and pressure-washing contract and a resolution to rename the DeKalb Police East Precinct after former Chief Eddie Moody. All of these items still need a final vote from the full Board of Commissioners before they're locked in.

Meetings This Week
- Atlanta City Council — Zoning Committee | Sep-14, 11:00 AM | key topics: proposed citywide zoning code rewrite, District 8 subdivision moratorium, Ellsworth Industrial mixed-use rezoning
- Atlanta City Council — Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee | Sep-14, 1:00 PM | key topics: proposed city detention center sale, police camera expansion, abandoned-property cleanup contract
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Board of Commissioners | Sep-15, 9:00 AM
- Atlanta City Council — City Utilities Committee | Sep-15, 10:00 AM | key topics: proposed restrictions on data center drinking-water use, data center task force, street resurfacing funding
- Atlanta City Council — Community Development/Human Services Committee | Sep-15, 1:30 PM | key topics: BeltLine light rail support, tree recompense fee waivers for affordable housing, short-term rental rules, and Comprehensive Development Plan amendments
- Atlanta City Council — Transportation Committee | Sep-16, 10:00 AM | key topics: BeltLine Southside Trail funding, full-loop BeltLine light rail support, airport Plane Train expansion
- Fulton County Board of Commissioners — Board of Commissioners | Sep-16, 10:00 AM | key topics: proposed property tax millage rates, English Avenue affordable housing funding, public comment rules
- Atlanta City Council — Finance/Executive Committee | Sep-16, 1:30 PM | key topics: proposed detention center sale and leaseback, property tax millage rates, BeltLine refinancing bonds
- Atlanta NPU — NPU-W | Sep-16, 7:00 PM | key topics: accessory dwelling unit setback variance, privacy wall height exception, alcohol license applications, and special event permits

CONSTRUCTION

Permits
- 834 Hank Aaron Dr SE — Three full rooftop HVAC systems going in, complete with new ductwork. Expect some noise and roof work at this commercial site.
- 450 Moreland Ave SE — Demolition permit filed for a commercial building under NC-2 zoning. If approved, this clears the way for something new on Moreland.
- 1039 Grant St SE — A new restaurant is building out a full kitchen and bar inside an existing white box space. Another sign the corridor's restaurant scene keeps growing.
- 1155 Hank Aaron Dr SW — First tenant buildout inside an adaptive reuse warehouse building. New interior partitions signal this space is getting ready for its first occupant.
- 796 Fulton Ter SE — Exterior renovation planned for a two-unit residential duplex, including new siding. Expect some outdoor work noise here.
- 930 Kirkwood Ave SE — Temporary electrical pole permit for the Stein Steel Townhomes project, pointing to active construction continuing at that site.
- 1235 Caroline St NE and 390 Stovall St NE — Multiple HVAC and heat pump replacements filed across these addresses. Routine but worth flagging if you're near either site and hear rooftop work.
- 1205 Caroline St NE — New wall signs and a tenant panel sign approved, a small but visible sign of a business finalizing its storefront look.

Road Work

Under Construction
- SR 42/US 23 @ SR 154 & @ Arkwright Place Intersection Improvement (Fulton County) — Crews are converting the intersection at SR 42 / Moreland Avenue and Arkwright Place into a right-in/right-out setup. A new median will block all left turns at that intersection.
- I-20 Lighting Upgrade, Capitol Ave to Flat Shoals Road (DeKalb and Fulton Counties) — GDOT is swapping out old HPS lighting for energy-efficient LED fixtures along this stretch of I-20. The work may also include new poles, conduit and related equipment.
- SR 154 Pedestrian Safety Improvements, 7 Locations in DeKalb and 1 in Fulton (DeKalb and Fulton Counties) — This project adds a mid-block pedestrian crossing, a right-in/right-out and a restricted crossing U-turn along SR 154 / Memorial Drive between Hill Street and Pearl Street.

Service Requests
- Visibility/Overgrowth Issues — 9 reports across Memorial Dr, Kirkwood Ave & Chester Ave, Hutchinson St NE, Mortimer St & Arkwright Pl SE, Moreland Ave & Wylie St, and several other spots. Crews already resolved 8 of them.
- Downed Trees — 8 reports, with two on Atlanta Ave SE alone, plus Connally St SE, Lake Dr & Tupelo St, Cherokee Ave SE, Van Vleck Ave SE, and two more locations. Half are closed or cancelled, but 3 remain in progress.
- Traffic Signal Repairs (Non-Emergency) — 7 reports at Memorial Dr SE & Bill Kennedy Way SE, Atlanta Ave & Hank Aaron Dr, Flat Shoals Ave & Glenwood Ave, Hosea L Williams Dr & Whitefoord Ave, Memorial Dr & Fraser St, and two other intersections. Most are still in progress.
- Potholes — 6 reports, including two each on Carol St & Blvd and La France St & Flora Ave, plus Hank Aaron Dr SW & Vanira Ave SW and Park Dr NE. Crews are actively working most of these.
- Emergency Traffic Signal Repairs (Level 1) — 5 reports, with two at Cherokee Ave & Georgia Ave and others at Glenwood Ave SE & Winthrop Dr SE, Blvd & Glenwood Ave, and Blvd & I-20 eastbound exit. Most have already been closed out.
- Sign Repair, Replacement, or Installation — 2 reports on Berean Ave SE and Wisteria Way & Mellrich Ave.
- Litter Removal (Right of Way) — Reported on Mead St SE, still in progress.

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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.