Midtown: A Sky-High Tower, Street Racing, and 60,000 Runners' Shirts

Good morning, Midtown! Between the Mayor promising big things and our skyline getting its biggest growth spurt since the '90s, the "main character energy" in the neighborhood is at an all-time high. We've also got the scoop on the Peachtree Road Race T-shirt vote and why a local business owner is rallying the community through a youth peace walk.

- Big Stories — From the Mayor's vision for the city to the new mural currently taking over your Instagram feed, here is everything you need to know this week.
- Local Business Updates — We're welcoming a sleek new restaurant and a "Red Room" workout while prepping for the tallest skyscraper to hit the skyline in decades.
- Upcoming Events — Whether you want to browse the first Green Market of the season or catch jazz at the Symphony, your weekend plans are officially set.
- Local Government Discussion — See how APS is handling the screen time struggle and why City Council is currently obsessed with "ghost boards" and World Cup prep.
- Development & Construction Nearby — From fresh paving on Ponce to a well-lit upgrade on Spring Street, here is where the orange cones are moving next.

Let's dive in.

BIG STORIES

'The state of our city is strong.' Atlanta mayor annual address highlights investments, challenges (March 19, 2026)
Mayor Dickens took the stage at our very own Woodruff Arts Center this week to remind everyone that Atlanta is officially having a moment. Between ambitious housing goals and massive World Cup prep, the vibe was very "we've got big plans and even bigger construction projects." It's basically a formal heads-up that the city is leaning hard into growth, so get ready for more cranes on the horizon.

Midtown Atlanta unites to paint "Hope Beneath the Wings" mural, spreading a message of resilience (March 22, 2026)
Midtown just got a whole lot brighter thanks to dozens of neighbors who traded their Sunday morning sleep-in for paintbrushes. This massive new mural isn't just eye candy—it was a true community effort led by artist Aysha Pennerman to bring some "resilience" to a formerly blank wall. It's already the most Instagrammable spot in the zip code, so expect to see it all over your feed by tomorrow.

'Idle mind is a dangerous mind': Midtown Atlanta business owner starts youth peace walk (March 20, 2026)
A local business owner is taking matters into his own hands by organizing a youth peace walk that rolled right through the heart of Midtown and the BeltLine. The goal is to give the younger generation something constructive to do while promoting a safer, more connected neighborhood. Honestly? We love to see the community stepping up to look out for its own like this.

Here are the 2026 T-shirt designs for the Northside Hospital Peachtree Road Race (March 18, 2026)
The Peachtree Road Race T-shirt finalists are out, and since our neighborhood is basically the finish line every July, it's our civic duty to vote on what 60,000 runners will be wearing. Choose wisely; we're the ones who have to see these shirts everywhere for the next five years.

LOCAL BUSINESS UPDATES

SPICE Atlanta - opening - Your spring dinner plans just got a major upgrade. This spot is bringing a sleek, modern design to the neighborhood that promises to be every bit as flavorful as the menu.
(March 20, 2026)

Midtown's Tallest Tower - opening - Our skyline is officially leveling up. Architects just dropped new details on the massive tower nearing completion, which stands as the tallest building to hit Atlanta since the '90s—talk about a growth spurt!
(March 18, 2026)

STV - expanding - Midtown's professional circle is getting a little more crowded! The engineering and design pros at STV are planting their flag in the neighborhood with a brand-new office to support their big Southeast expansion.
(March 17, 2026)

Korn Ferry - relocating - Pouring one out for our neighbors at Korn Ferry. The executive search firm is packing up its Midtown desks and heading north to a new home in Buckhead—we'll miss seeing those power suits at our local coffee shops!
(March 16, 2026)

Barry's - opening - The "Red Room" has officially arrived on Peachtree! The cult-favorite workout is finally open in Midtown, so prepare to sweat through some high-intensity intervals before hitting the nearby juice bars.
(March 16, 2026)

UPCOMING EVENTS

Get ready to clear your schedule because Midtown is the place to be this weekend! With the long-awaited seasonal return of the Green Market at Piedmont Park, the neighborhood is officially springing to life.

Monday, March 23
- Pat Metheny | Atlanta Symphony Hall
- Community Game Night | Piedmont Park
- Martini & Steak Monday | Establishment Atlanta

Tuesday, March 24
- Shaken & Stirred Mixology Class | Bar Margot
- Yoga in the Park | Piedmont Park
- Alexander Stewart | Center Stage Theatre
- Weekly Walking Club | Piedmont Park
- HOLLOW CROWN TOUR | Center Stage Theater

Wednesday, March 25
- Samara Joy With The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra | Atlanta Symphony Hall
- Delilah Bon | Vinyl
- Painted Animal Portraits: Paper + Penny | Piedmont Park
- The Tales of Edgar Allan Poe | Center for Puppetry Arts

Thursday, March 26
- Anne Wilson: The STARS Tour | Fox Theatre
- Candlelight: Jazz The Best of Frank Sinatra & Nat King Cole | The Wimbish House
- Natalie Jane - The World I Didn't Want Tour | Center Stage Theater
- Midtown Community Meeting | Midtown Neighbors Association
- Twilight in the Garden | Atlanta Botanical Garden

Friday, March 27
- Garden Party | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Earlybirds Club | The Loft
- New InCommunity Exhibit | Woodruff Arts Center
- All Your Friends Indie Dance Party | Vinyl

Saturday, March 28
- Green Market Opening Day | Piedmont Park
- Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest in Concert | Atlanta Symphony Hall
- Brains On! Live | Center Stage Theater
- Drop-In Family Program: Natural Egg Dyeing | Atlanta Botanical Garden

Sunday, March 29
- Sons of Atlanta Vietnam War Memorial and Parade | Piedmont Park
- Bearing Witness: Stories from the Holocaust | The Breman Museum
- Rich Amiri | Center Stage Theater

LOCAL GOVERNMENT DISCUSSION

Atlanta Public Schools

Discussion from the Past Week

It was a bit of a "ghost town" at the Policy Review Committee meeting on March 19. Only three of the nine voting members showed up, which means they lacked a quorum and couldn't actually vote on anything. Instead, the meeting turned into a glorified study session. The group spent time diving into the district's attendance policy (Policy JB) to figure out how to better track and manage student absences. They also touched on the internal checkbook, looking at the financial procedures that govern the Board of Education's own office operations.

The most relatable debate, however, centered on "The Digital Dilemma." The committee is weighing potential screen time limits for students using district-issued tablets. It's the classic modern parenting struggle, but on a district-wide scale: trying to find the sweet spot between 21st-century digital learning and making sure students' eyes don't melt from staring at devices all day. Meanwhile, they also discussed whether community service should remain a mandatory hurdle for high school graduation and how those hours are actually tracked. Since no votes occurred, expect these topics to resurface once the full board actually shows up for work.

Also worth noting: because the Policy Review Committee couldn't take action this week, those potential changes to graduation requirements and tablet usage are still very much in limbo. These policy updates will likely be bundled into a future meeting where a full quorum is present to make things official.

Fulton County Board of Commissioners

Discussion from the Past Week

The big headline this week is that Fulton County is officially moving forward with a new hospital in South Fulton. In a unanimous vote, the board greenlit Phase Three of "Project Care," a partnership with Grady Health System to build a much-needed facility in the southern part of the county. And it's not just about the bricks and mortar. Chairman Pitts successfully pushed through a "friendly amendment" to ensure the Morehouse School of Medicine is baked into the deal, providing clinical training and faculty appointments. For those of us in Midtown, this matters because a more robust healthcare network in the south helps relieve the strain on the downtown Grady facilities we all rely on.

Meanwhile, because the District 4 seat—which represents much of our neighborhood—is currently vacant, the board had to play a high-stakes game of musical chairs. They divvied up several board appointments previously held by that representative: Vice Chair Abdur-Rahman is joining the Atlanta Beltline Board, Commissioner Thorne is taking over the OPEB Trust, and Commissioner Arrington is heading to the Stadium Authority. It is essentially the board's way of keeping the lights on for our district until a new representative is seated.

Also worth noting: The commissioners are already looking toward the 2026 World Cup. They approved a support plan for small businesses in South Downtown to ensure they can survive (and hopefully thrive) during the chaos of the international tournament. They also spread some financial love to the arts, cutting $200,000 checks to several cultural and nature centers to keep local programming alive.

On the "boring but necessary" side of the ledger, the board approved a 3% Cost-of-Living Adjustment for county retirees and authorized some "Tax Anticipation Notes"—basically a short-term financial tool to keep the county's cash flow steady while waiting for tax revenue to hit. They also dropped $2.3 million on a "PC Refresh" to get county employees some updated laptops, which sounds like a lot until you realize how many people it takes to run a county this size.

Not everything was a "yes," though. A nearly $1 million funding request for the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation was "held" (government-speak for "put on pause"), as was a resolution for a voter ID education campaign. Finally, the board handled a stack of routine items involving sewer and water easements for various housing and business developments across the county, ensuring the plumbing stays functional as the region grows.

Meetings in the Next Week
- Board of Commissioners on March 27, 2026 at 10:00 AM. No agenda is available yet for this meeting.

Atlanta City Council

Discussion from the Past Week

The City Council is officially in "get ready for company" mode. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup looming, the Council spent a good chunk of the week approving plans to make the city look presentable. This included updates to the sign ordinance—allowing those massive "wrap" advertisements to be projected onto downtown buildings during major events—and a flurry of funding for airport maintenance and beautification. They also tweaked on-street parking fees, because nothing says "welcome to Atlanta" like a slightly more expensive parking ticket.

In a move to streamline how things get done, the Committee on Council is looking to fix the city's "ghost board" problem. Currently, about 85 city boards and commissions are essentially paralyzed because they have too many empty seats to legally vote on anything. A new proposal would allow the Council to step in and appoint members if a seat sits vacant for more than 60 days. They are also moving toward "primary sponsorship" for all new laws, meaning every piece of legislation will finally have a specific Councilmember's name attached to it—making it much easier to know exactly who to thank (or blame) for new rules.

Things got a little spicy regarding fiscal oversight. The Council is moving forward with an independent, "conflict-free" investigation into nearly $1 million in consulting payments made to a former Municipal Clerk. The payments were allegedly for work related to the Public Safety Training Center referendum, but the Council wants to know why that money was spent when the actual "name-verification" work never actually started.

Meanwhile, on the infrastructure front, the city is growing. A significant batch of properties in DeKalb County were officially annexed into Atlanta, and the Council authorized land acquisitions for several sidewalk projects across the city. They also approved a series of legal settlements for the usual suspects: pothole damage, fallen trees, and sidewalk trips.

Meetings in the Next Week
- Zoning Committee, March 23 at 11:00 AM – The committee will consider a massive 36-acre industrial rezoning in the Upper Westside and several proposals to increase residential density across the city.
- Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee, March 23 at 1:00 PM – Expect a lively debate on a temporary "public entertainment district" for the World Cup that would allow open-container alcohol consumption downtown.
- City Utilities Committee, March 24 at 10:00 AM – Discussion will focus on watershed maintenance and a new 14,000-square-foot mural project for the North Avenue Tunnel to deter graffiti.
- Community Development/Human Services Committee, March 24 at 1:30 PM – This meeting will cover a $7.75 million grant for lead paint removal and a performance audit of the city's blight tax.
- Transportation Committee, March 25 at 10:00 AM – The big ticket item is a $1.04 billion airport contract, but locals should watch for a $3.6 million safety grant specifically for Peachtree Street in Midtown. Note: Infrastructure items near Lakeview Ave NE are also up for discussion.
- Finance/Executive Committee, March 25 at 1:30 PM – This is the big one for your wallet: the first look at the FY 2027 budget and proposed property tax rates for the upcoming year.

DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION NEARBY

Permits
- 715 Peachtree St NE — Big changes are coming to the first and second floors. We're talking new interior construction and plumbing to split the space for multiple tenants. Looks like this prime corner is getting a major refresh.
- 864 Spring St NW — The sledgehammers are coming out. They're demoing a second-generation office space to make way for something fresh. Keep your ears open for the sounds of progress (aka demolition noise).
- 1150 Spring St NW — We've got a "first generation" build-out happening in a previously vacant suite. It's always a win for the neighborhood to see those empty windows finally getting some life and lights.
- 754 Peachtree St NE — Someone is saying goodbye to private offices and hello to the "open concept" life. They're tearing down the drywall partitions to make room for more workstations.
- 1020 Spring St NW — A whole lot of wiring is going down here. With 19 new light fixtures and 23 floor boxes being installed, someone is planning on being very well-lit and very well-connected.
- 1200 Peachtree St NE — An architecture firm is moving into the neighborhood, and get this: they aren't changing a thing. No construction, no noise—just new neighbors. We love a low-drama move-in!
- 450 Piedmont Ave NE — Residents are getting a new heat pump and air handler. If you see a crane or some heavy lifting near the building, that's just the price of staying cool this summer.

Road Work

Under Construction
- SR 8/Ponce de Leon Ave Resurfacing (Fulton County) — Crews are out smoothing out the rough patches on Ponce between Northside Drive and Moreland. It's been a bumpy ride for a while, so this "low OCI score" fix is a win, even if the lane closures make your coffee run a little longer.
- SR 13/Buford Spring Connector Resurfacing (Fulton County) — The main artery into Midtown is finally getting some TLC for the first time since 2012. Watch for late-night paving as they resurface the stretch from Peachtree St up to the creek.
- SR 3/Northside Drive Operational Improvements (Fulton County) — Heads up, this is a big one: crews are reworking the messy intersection where Northside Drive, 14th Street, and Hemphill Avenue meet. They're simplifying the signals to help with the "Midtown crawl," but expect construction equipment to be a permanent fixture here for a bit.
- Buford Spring Connector Tunnel Lighting (Fulton County) — The tunnel under I-85 is getting a lighting overhaul. They're swapping those old, dim orange lights for energy-efficient LEDs, so it'll feel much brighter (and safer) on your evening commute.
- I-75/I-85 Connector Lighting Upgrade (Fulton County) — The main downtown/midtown corridor is getting a lighting overhaul from the I-85 split down to Memorial Drive. Keep an eye out for bucket trucks and shoulder work as they install new poles and LED fixtures.
- Bridge Preservation at 7 Locations (Cobb, DeKalb & Fulton Counties) — This multi-county project is hitting various bridges, including the Moreland Ave area. They're painting steel beams and replacing joints, so keep your eyes on the road if you see crews working overhead.
- SR 9/Peachtree Street Resurfacing (Fulton County) — Paving crews are working on Peachtree from the southern end up toward Buckhead. Expect some temporary delays as they refresh the pavement on Midtown's most iconic stretch.
- I-75 Tunnel Lighting at Ralph McGill & Baker (Fulton County) — More LED upgrades are happening right on the Midtown/Downtown line. This project targets the tunnel lighting at Ralph McGill and Baker Street to make those underpasses significantly less dingy.

Construction Work Program
- Peachtree Street (North Ave to West Peachtree) — This iconic stretch is getting a bit of a facelift with new 10-foot travel lanes. It's a short segment, but expect some orange cones to eventually join your morning commute right by the Fox Theatre.
- SR 9 & 14th Street (Howell Mill Rd to West Peachtree St) — Heads up, 14th Street regulars: a major "road transformation" is in the works. This realignment project is going to significantly change the flow between the Westside and the heart of Midtown.
- SR 13 @ Monroe Drive — Big changes are finally coming to that awkward intersection where the Buford Springway meets Monroe. They are planning to convert this into a multilane hybrid roundabout to help fix the constant bottleneck near the northeast corner of Piedmont Park.
- I-75/I-85 Capping (The Stitch - Phase I) — This is the one we've been waiting for! The project is moving forward with Phase I, focusing on the pedestrian bridge/cap over the Connector. It's the first real step in turning that downtown concrete canyon into usable park space.
- SR 8 / Ponce de Leon Ave (Peachtree St to Ponce de Leon Place) — More median work is on the horizon for this busy corridor. If you take Ponce to get across town, keep an eye out for upcoming lane shifts near the Georgian Terrace.
- SR 3 / Northside Drive (Marietta St to 8th St) — This realignment is a big one. They're essentially rebuilding Northside to provide four clear travel lanes and "improved intersections," which should make the drive past Georgia Tech a lot less chaotic.
- Atlanta Traffic Signal Enhancement (Phase I) — We are getting some high-tech upgrades at major intersections. This phase focuses on the city's "High Injury Network," adding new mast arms and signal tech to keep us all a little safer.
- Williams Street (I-85 SB Ramp to North Ave) — This one is in the scoping phase for a major study. They are looking at the 0.28-mile section where the Southbound Connector lets out, trying to find a better way to handle that North Avenue crush.
- Interstate Operational Analysis (Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, and Fulton Counties) — This massive project spans four counties and looks at the I-75/I-85 corridor. It's a high-level study to figure out how to untangle our daily interstate gridlock.
- SR 9 (South of Windsor Pkwy) — Though it's a bit further north on Peachtree, this utility relocation work is the opening act for larger road improvements. Keep it in mind if you're heading toward the Buckhead/Sandy Springs line.

Service Requests
- Potholes — 12 reports this week, including clusters on Monroe Dr NE, the intersection of 17th & Peachtree, and Myrtle St NE, along with N Ave & Angier Ave and 8th & Myrtle. Your suspension is definitely sending its regards.
- Traffic Signal Repairs — Keep an eye out for issues at N Ave & Argonne Ave, Spring St NW, and the corner of Spring & 12th. Hopefully, your commute stays a little less "stop" and a little more "go" soon.
- Illegal Dumping — An investigation was requested on Myrtle St NE. Let's keep the neighborhood beautiful, guys—the sidewalk is not a dumpster.