Presented by Nailed-It Roofing

Hey, Midtown! This week: Campanile drama continues, new renderings of The Stitch, the park meant to cap the Downtown Connector, are out, and Invest Atlanta has approved a $330 million lease-purchase bond for Amsterdam Walk. We've also got Nordstrom Rack's Oct. 29 Atlantic Station opening and a packed events calendar, including a 14th Street bike lane celebration, to keep you busy.

- News — Campanile is crumbling and Fulton Commission races heat up as early voting runs through Oct. 30, while The Stitch renderings, the Amsterdam Walk bond and a planned Piedmont Park lantern parade round out the top stories.
- Business — Nordstrom Rack is scheduled to open at Atlantic Station on Oct. 29.
- Events — From Like Father at the Alliance and Black Violin to the Great Pumpkin-Carving Festival, Sullivan Fortner's Rhapsody in Blue run (Oct. 22–24) and a grassroots 14th Street bike lane celebration, there's plenty to plan around.
- Government — Atlanta City Council committees weighed a $68 million jail sale, the zoning rewrite and data center water limits, with a full council vote on the jail sale on the agenda Monday.
- Construction — Peachtree Street permits keep stacking up, signal repair reports cluster along Peachtree, and GDOT work continues on SR 8 resurfacing, bridge preservation and tunnel lighting.

Let's dive in.

J. Goldsmith is one of Atlanta’s foremost experts on backyard renovations. From thoughtful backyard planning to complete outdoor living projects, they help homeowners create spaces designed around the way they live. For a limited time, Busybody ATL readers can get $500 off projects of $5k or more, and $1k off projects of $10k or more! Contact them here and tell them we sent you.

Fulton Commission Races Heat Up as Early Voting Launches Across Metro
Five of the Fulton County Commission's seven seats are on the Nov. 3 ballot, including the chair, and early voting runs through Oct. 30. In District 1, Republican incumbent Bridget Thorne faces a rematch with Democrat Maggie Goldman, who lost to her by 394 votes out of 72,410 cast four years ago.

Piedmont Park debuts new holiday lantern parade during seasonal celebration
Light Up the Season takes place Sunday, Nov. 22, with a free Lantern-Making Party at Greystone at 3:30 p.m. and the inaugural Holiday Lantern Parade at 5 p.m., led by the Seed & Feed Marching Abominable. The parade ends in the Meadow for the lighting of the Great Tree, Menorah, and Kinara, and the displays remain in the park through Jan. 4.

Invest Atlanta approves $330 million lease-purchase bond for Amsterdam Walk
Portman Holdings will lease the 11-acre Monroe Drive site from Invest Atlanta and make payments while the bonds are repaid, with the authority holding title until the debt is paid off. The project currently includes 1,100 rental units, 1,435 parking spaces and 150,000 square feet of commercial space, and Portman received $15 million in Beltline Tax Allocation District funding in September.

New renderings revealed for The Stitch with project set to begin in 2027
The renderings show an indoor-outdoor Gateway Pavilion along Peachtree Street, cafe space and green spaces. The project is estimated at $713 million, with phase one costing about $200 million, of which $50 million has been secured, and the nonprofit is applying for a new $60 million federal grant.

Atlanta City Council to Vote on Selling City Detention Center to Fulton County
Mayor Andre Dickens offered to sell the jail to the county for $68 million, and Fulton County Chair Robb Pitts accepted the offer. The sale is intended to help with overcrowding at the county jail on Rice Street, and Fulton County already leases some beds at the city jail.

Atlanta's Zoning 2.0 plan faces criticism over complexity and housing goals
Sara C. Bronin, a law professor and founder of the National Zoning Atlas, described the 981-page draft as too long and complex, and recommended a shorter code with fewer districts. Her suggestions include allowing accessory dwelling units, allowing multifamily housing on and around the Beltline and MARTA stations, and eliminating parking mandates, while Council member Byron Amos said he doubts District 3 residents want that kind of density.

Midtown residents urge city to inspect crumbling building
Neighbors of the stalled Campanile building redevelopment at Peachtree and 14th streets say high winds from a Saturday storm damaged exterior panels, leaving loose materials hanging from fences, while crumbling sidewalks and bubbling tiles have caused people to trip and fall. They want the city to inspect the site, hold the developer accountable and fix the sidewalks, but it's unclear when inspectors or crews will come, and the owner didn't respond to FOX 5.

BUSINESS

Nordstrom Rack opening new store at Atlantic Station - Nordstrom Rack is scheduled to open a new store at Atlantic Station on October 29.

Need a plumber, roofer, or other home pro? The Southern Shmooze is Atlanta's front porch for finding trusted home pros. The Southern Shmooze connects Atlantans with a vetted network of local home services businesses, backed by a Facebook community of more than 17,000 Atlanta locals.

Run a local business? Apply here to get Shmooze certified! It’s free to apply, and approved businesses can connect directly with the Shmooze community. Paid membership options offer additional benefits including homeowner leads, preferred directory placement, promotion, events, and more.

Monday, October 19
- Like Father | Hertz Stage at Alliance Theatre
- Community Game Night | Piedmont Park
- Black Violin | Atlanta Symphony Hall

Tuesday, October 20
- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920) with Ken Double | Fox Theatre Marquee Club
- Big Peach Social Run | 6:30pm/Big Peach Ride and Run
- Land Use Committee Meeting | Midtown Neighbors Association

Wednesday, October 21
- Celebration of the 14th St Bike Lanes | Meet at the intersection of 14th Street NW and State Street NW
- The Ring in Concert w/ Georgia Symphony Orchestra | Fox Theatre Marquee Club
- Mix-It-Up Midtown: Connect + Learn at The Juniper | The Juniper
- Yoga on the Square | 6pm - 7pm/Colony Square Midtown
- Safety Committee Meeting | Midtown Neighbors Association

Thursday, October 22
- Rhapsody in Blue ft. Jazz Pianist Sullivan Fortner (Oct. 22–24) | Atlanta Symphony Hall
- Brand New | Fox Theatre
- Food x Design: Salty Wines, A Fundraiser for MODA | Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA)
- Peter Bjorn and John | THE LOFT
- Stryper | Center Stage Theatre
- Great Pumpkin-Carving Festival | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Moves on the Green: Free Fitness Event | 98 14th St NE
- Cemeterium: Halloween Terrarium Workshop | Piedmont Park

Friday, October 23
- MODA: Free Friday October | Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA)
- PipeScreams Organ Concert | Lutheran Church of the Redeemer
- Nick Shoulders | CENTER STAGE – THE VINYL
- Dev Lemons | THE LOFT
- Alana Springsteen | Center Stage Theater
- Paint & Sip: Fall in the Park! | Green Market

Saturday, October 24
- Sonic – Live in Concert | Fox Theatre
- John Violinist | Center Stage Theatre
- Monster Mash | Center for Puppetry Arts
- Plant. Eat. Repeat. Workshop: Container Gardening for Edible Plants | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Garden Chef Demo: Shobha Swamy | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Afterwords with the Cast: LIKE FATHER | Alliance Theatre

Sunday, October 25
- Family Concert: Halloween, Hogwarts & More | Atlanta Symphony Hall
- Musical Rarities: The Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta | The Breman Museum
- Midtown Artisan Markets | 98 14th St NE
- Trunk or Treat | First Presbyterian Church

Neil Hediger Real Estate combines more than 35 years of living in Atlanta with 23+ years of real estate experience and a deep background in marketing. As an Atlanta Board Top Producer, Neil knows Atlanta — its neighborhoods, its properties and the nuances that can make the difference in a successful sale or purchase. He brings creative strategy, seasoned guidance and a highly personal approach to every client. Whether you’re buying or selling, contact Neil Hediger today to put that experience to work for you.

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: Council committees met Oct. 12 through Oct. 14, and minutes aren't yet published, so the outcomes aren't confirmed. As covered in today's news section, the Finance/Executive Committee had the $68 million sale of the city detention center to Fulton County on its agenda, along with the FY 2027 property tax rates and a resolution urging that delinquent developers, data centers in particular, be barred from tax incentives. The Zoning Committee took up the full rewrite of the city's zoning code and map, plus a new legal definition of "family" that could change household occupancy limits in every residential zone. At the City Utilities Committee, you'd have seen a proposed ban on using drinking water to cool data centers, a ban on septic tanks for new commercial buildings, and legislation to ease water bill spikes, alongside more than $60 million in water and sewer upgrades. The Transportation Committee considered a $2 million federal grant for Centennial Yards street design, several street abandonments, and a held resolution for dedicated bike and motorized lanes along the BeltLine. The Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee had a bill limiting the city's purchase of weapon-equipped robots and a $350,000 lawsuit settlement tied to a police incident. The Community Development/Human Services Committee weighed $21.85 million more for park construction and maintenance contracts and $24 million in federal housing grants.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

Atlanta City Council
- Peachtree Street (North Avenue to West Peachtree Street) — Acceptance of a $3.6 million federal grant to fund roadway redesign, paving, and multimodal transit improvements along Peachtree Street is on the agenda.
- Bulldogs (893 Peachtree Street NE) — A special use permit to authorize an outdoor sales area for the restaurant and bar is being proposed.

Meetings This Week
- Atlanta City Council — Committee on Council | Oct-19, 11:30 AM | key topics: law enforcement presence at recreation center polling sites, revisions to public comment procedures, and an independent investigation into municipal contracts
- Atlanta City Council | Oct-19, 1:00 PM | key topics: the proposed $68 million sale of the city detention center, drinking water cooling bans for data centers, and the Centennial Yards Complete Streets grant
- Fulton County Board of Commissioners — Board of Commissioners | Oct-21, 10:00 AM | key topics: North Point Mall Tax Allocation District funding, utility easements for residential developments, and senior transportation contracts

CONSTRUCTION | Presented by

If you’re in need of commercial or residential roofing installation and repair services, look no further than Nailed It Roofing. Contact them today for a free quote: 770-241-5648

Permits
- 1230 Peachtree St NE: Commercial interior alteration filed and now routed for review. The work reworks a second-generation space in a multi-tenant building into a speculative suite, so a tenant hasn't signed yet but the landlord is getting ready for one.
- 1170 Peachtree St NE: Commercial alteration filed to remove an interior tenant stair between the tenth and eleventh floors. It's still routed for review. That points to a tenant using both floors and wanting the space reworked.
- 1349 W Peachtree St NW: Fire sprinkler (NFPA 13) and commercial plumbing permits issued for an interior renovation of an existing space.
- 1589 Peachtree St NE: Fire sprinkler permit issued to add and relocate sprinklers in the existing building and tie into the existing floor for a new expansion. The building is growing, and you'll likely see construction activity.
- 1600 Peachtree St NW: Fire sprinkler permit issued to add three heads for a cabinet paint booth on the fifth floor. It's a small job with an unusual use for the building.

Road Work

Under Construction
- SR 8 resurfacing, SR 3 to SR 42 — SR 8 is being repaved between SR 3 (Northside Drive) and SR 42 (Moreland Avenue). GDOT lists it as about 86% complete.
- Bridge preservation at six metro sites — Crews are resurfacing, painting and replacing joints on six bridges, including Moreland Avenue over the Norfolk Southern tracks and Deering Road over the I-75/I-85 ramp. GDOT lists it as about 46% complete.
- Buford Spring Connector tunnel lighting at I-85 — The tunnel lights where the Buford Spring Connector meets I-85 are being upgraded to energy-efficient LEDs. GDOT lists the work as essentially complete.
- I-75 lighting, I-85 to Memorial Drive — Older sodium streetlights along I-75 between I-85 and Memorial Drive are being swapped for energy-efficient LEDs. GDOT lists it as about 85% complete.
- SR 9 resurfacing to north of Paces Ferry Road — SR 9 is being repaved from SR 3 to just north of Paces Ferry Road. GDOT lists it as about 39% complete.
- I-75 tunnel lighting at Ralph McGill Blvd and Baker Street — The I-75 tunnel lights at Ralph McGill Boulevard and Baker Street are being replaced with energy-efficient LEDs. GDOT lists the work as essentially complete.

Service Requests
- Non-Emergency Traffic Signal Repairs: You'll find 11 reports across the area, filed between 10/12 and 10/17. Peachtree St & 6th St has two of them. Others cover Piedmont Ave & 15th St NE, Spring St NW, and the Peachtree St and 12th St intersection. Five more locations round out the list. Signals along Peachtree are the biggest cluster.
- Emergency Traffic Signal Repairs (Level 1): Two urgent reports came in on 10/16 and 10/17, one on 17th St NE and one at Spring St & 17th St. If you drive through there, treat those intersections with extra caution.
- Potholes: One report on Avery Dr NE, filed 10/12. Crews checked it and found no problem.

Want to sponsor us? Submit here

Want to alter your neighborhood selections? Submit here

Want to promote an event? Submit here

Until next week,
Midtown Busybody

Book your fall escape with Alaska Airlines. Golden aspens in Denver, sunshine in Palm Springs, or crisp hikes through New England. Book Now.

_{^{Subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply.}}

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.