Midtown: Atlanta's Tallest Residential Tower Opens as Scream 7 Films in Midtown

Welcome to your weekly update for Midtown, where the neighborhood skyline just reached a new record height. This week, we’re highlighting the grand opening of the Alina skyscraper and the exciting news of a major horror franchise filming on the SCAD campus.

Big Stories — From the opening of Atlanta’s tallest residential tower to a historic church being named a "Place in Peril," it’s a big week for Midtown's architecture. We also look at local filming for the next Scream movie and a 40-year milestone for the Midtown Assistance Center.

Local Business Updates — Midtown is gaining a new luxury rooftop lounge and a second Barry’s fitness studio, though the neighborhood will say goodbye to the IPIC movie theater this spring. Plus, a new wellness head spa is on the way to help residents de-stress.

Upcoming Events — Get ready for the Oyster Crawfish Festival at Park Tavern this Saturday and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Fox Theatre. Other highlights include LEGO workshops at the library and several live performances at Center Stage.

Local Government Discussion — City officials are advancing World Cup infrastructure and a potential "Happy Hour" ordinance while considering an increase in on-street parking fees. Meanwhile, Atlanta Public Schools is finalizing safety protocols and prioritizing special education in its new budget.

Development & Construction Nearby — Major $2.7 million renovations are planned for Peachtree Street, while active work continues on the 10th Street bridge and the 15th Street extension. Drivers should also watch out for several pothole repair zones, specifically around Beverly Road.

Let’s dive in.

Rockefeller Group Unveils Alina, Atlanta’s Tallest Residential Tower (February 27, 2026)
The Rockefeller Group has officially introduced Alina, a 60-story skyscraper at 1072 West Peachtree Street that now stands as the tallest residential building in Atlanta. The tower brings 357 luxury residences and wellness-centered amenities to the heart of Midtown, significantly altering the neighborhood's skyline and high-end housing market.

24-hour road closure in effect for part of busy midtown Atlanta street (February 25, 2026)
Commuters and residents faced significant disruptions this week due to a full 24-hour road closure on a major Midtown artery to facilitate urgent infrastructure work. The closure required heavy coordination with local traffic enforcement and the implementation of several detours through the residential core of the district.

Historic Atlanta church building among 2026 Georgia Places in Peril list (February 25, 2026)
The 108-year-old Egleston Hall, located on the Midtown campus of All Saints’ Episcopal Church, has been named one of the state's ten most endangered historic sites for 2026. This designation by the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation aims to draw attention to the urgent structural needs of the Gothic Revival building, which remains a cornerstone of the neighborhood's architectural heritage.

Midtown Assistance Center celebrates 40 years of helping those who 'struggle to make ends meet' (February 24, 2026)
The Midtown Assistance Center is marking four decades of providing a vital safety net for local residents, focusing on preventing homelessness and hunger within the community. The nonprofit's milestone highlights the ongoing challenges of urban affordability and the critical role of neighborhood-based support systems in maintaining local stability.

"Scream 7" taps Atlanta's Savannah College of Art and Design campus for filming location (February 27, 2026)
The latest installment of the iconic slasher franchise, "Scream 7," features prominent scenes filmed right here in the neighborhood at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) Midtown campus. Residents may recognize several local streets and academic buildings that director Kevin Williamson handpicked to serve as backdrops for the film's suspenseful sequences.

IPIC Theaters - closing - The luxury dine-in movie theater at Colony Square on Peachtree Street is slated to close this April after its parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. (February 27, 2026)

Celestia - opening - A new rooftop terrace and cocktail lounge from the chefs behind MF Sushi and Umi has opened at the Ten Twenty Spring building, offering a late-night atmosphere and views of the Midtown skyline. (February 27, 2026)

Barry’s - opening - The fitness brand is expanding its footprint with a second Midtown studio opening this month, featuring a signature "Red Room," a dedicated LIFT studio, and a Fuel Bar. (February 27, 2026)

5 Senses Head Spa - opening - A new wellness destination focused on stress relief through specialized head and scalp treatments is preparing to open in the neighborhood this spring. (February 25, 2026)

The Oyster Crawfish Festival returns to Park Tavern this Saturday, March 7. Expect significant foot traffic and limited parking near the 10th Street and Monroe Drive entrance of Piedmont Park throughout the afternoon and evening.

Monday, March 02
- Elise Trouw | Vinyl |
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child | Fox Theatre |
- Martini & Steak Monday | Establishment Atlanta |

Tuesday, March 03
- LEGO® Labs: Coral Reefs | Peachtree Branch Library |
- Pete the Cat | Center for Puppetry Arts |
- The Tales of Edgar Allan Poe | Center for Puppetry Arts |
- Crochet Workshop: Tote Bag | Piedmont Park |
- Mae Martin : The Possum | Center Stage Theater |
- Weekly Walking Club | Piedmont Park |

Wednesday, March 04
- Midweek Lenten Worship | First Presbyterian Church |
- The Tales of Edgar Allan Poe | Center for Puppetry Arts |
- Pete the Cat | Center for Puppetry Arts |

Thursday, March 05
- Wynne | CENTER STAGE – THE VINYL |
- UpTempo Teen Night + ASO Concert | Atlanta Symphony Hall |
- Stutzmann Conducts Beethoven + Bruckner | Atlanta Symphony Hall |

Friday, March 06
- Design Book Club: Wrestling with Moses | Museum of Design Atlanta |
- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Baseball vs. Virginia Tech Hokies Baseball | Russ Chandler Stadium |
- In The Wild Find Your Match Night | Park Tavern |
- Big Boogie: Pain on Paper Tour | Center Stage Theater |

Saturday, March 07
- Oyster Crawfish Festival At Park Tavern Returns | Park Tavern |
- Coffee Connoisseur | Epicurean Atlanta, Autograph Collection |
- OHO Productions Presents Swanky by Sindhu Vee | Center Stage Theater |
- The Summer Set | Center Stage Theater |
- Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Leif Ove Andsnes & Nathalie Stutzmann | Atlanta Symphony Hall |
- Laughing Skull Lounge Stand-Up Comedy Class – March 7, 2026 | Laughing Skull Lounge |

Sunday, March 08
- Michelle Winters | Saints + Council |
- The Wild Harpsichord | Goizueta Stage for Youth & Families |
- Pete the Cat | Center for Puppetry Arts |

Atlanta Public Schools

Discussion from the Past Week

Big agenda items:
The Board of Education and its committees advanced several high-level policy and financial items this week, including the final approval of updated safety protocols (Policy EBB), revised school admission standards (Policy JBC), and new rules governing public visitors to school facilities (Policy KM). On the financial front, the Board authorized budget revisions for various BuildSmart capital projects funded by the 2022 SPLOST sales tax to account for shifting material costs and project scopes.

The Budget Commission also formally kicked off discussions for the next fiscal year’s budget development. A major focus of these early deliberations is the "We Are Caring for Every Child" initiative, which prioritizes funding for "Exceptional Children" (Special Education) and Student Support Services, including school counseling and mental health resources. These fiscal discussions were echoed in the full Board session, where district leaders presented plans for leveraging data to ensure strategic investments align with student emotional and academic outcomes, specifically through a new emphasis on ensuring every student has access to a "trusted adult" mentor within the school system.

Other topics:
The Board Development Committee elected Dr. Kaycee Brock as its new Chair and began planning for an upcoming Board Retreat focused on community engagement and training compliance. Meanwhile, the Student Advisory Council prepared for "Crossover Day" at the Georgia State Capitol, where students will advocate for educational legislation. The Board also officially recognized National School Social Work Week and Women’s History Month. All meetings were held at the Center for Learning and Leadership at 130 Trinity Avenue.

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Atlanta City Council

Discussion from the Past Week

Big agenda items:
The city is rapidly accelerating infrastructure preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Across the Finance and Transportation committees, officials advanced the "Integrated Atlanta: Wi-Fi World Cup Initiative," which includes over $660,000 in contracts with Georgia Power and Comcast for smart streetlights and digital connectivity. These preparations are moving toward a final vote at next week's full City Council meeting.

Major regulatory reforms are also underway regarding alcohol sales and parking. The Public Safety Committee discussed a citywide "Happy Hour" ordinance that would allow restaurants to offer up to 50% discounts on drinks. Simultaneously, the Transportation Committee advanced a proposal to increase on-street metered parking fees from $1.00 to $1.75 per half-hour to align with current demand studies.

In environmental and housing policy, the "Cool Roofs" ordinance—intended to reduce urban heat—will likely have its effective date delayed to June 2027 due to material supply chain issues. The Council is also centralizing the regulation of Airbnbs and Vrbos by creating a dedicated "Office of Short-Term Rentals" within the Department of City Planning to handle registration and enforcement.

Most notable to your neighborhood:
The Transportation Committee approved a $3.6 million grant for safety and placemaking improvements along Peachtree Street between North Avenue and West Peachtree Street. This project is tied to a legislative push to install a protected bike lane on Peachtree Street before the "Atlanta Streets Alive" event on April 19, 2026. Additionally, legislative items involving the government facility at 1400 W Peachtree St NW were advanced through the Public Safety Committee.

Other topics:
The Zoning Committee moved to prohibit new self-storage facilities and distribution centers within the Beltline Overlay District to encourage denser, walkable developments. Significant utility investments were approved, including $24 million for water and wastewater program management and a $4.87 million upgrade to the city's E911 system. The Council also reviewed several dozen legal claims, including vehicular accidents and pothole damage at 10th Street, 1410 Monroe Drive NE, and Lenox Road NE.

Meetings in the Next Week
- Committee on Council, March 02, 11:30 AM: This meeting focuses on internal operations, including mayoral appointments to the West End CID and Charter amendments regarding mandatory training for newly elected officials and the process for filling vacancies on city boards.
- Atlanta City Council, March 02, 1:00 PM: The full Council is expected to take final action on the on-street parking fee increase, World Cup Wi-Fi infrastructure contracts, and the "Cool Roofs" delay. 1400 W Peachtree St NW.

Fulton County Schools

Discussion from the Past Week

Big agenda items:
The Board held a strategic retreat on February 24 to review several long-range financial and operational plans. Significant time was dedicated to the FY2027 Budget Update and the Capital Plan 2027, which outlines upcoming construction, renovations, and facility improvements across the district. Looking even further ahead, the Board reviewed the Capital Plan 2032 (Technology), focusing on the strategic infrastructure and classroom technology needs required over the next decade.

The Board also underwent training on the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI), the state’s primary accountability system for measuring school performance. This was paired with a discussion on the UVA District Transformation resource, a partnership aimed at school turnaround and leadership development.

Other topics:
The session included a legislative briefing on current state and federal bills that may impact district operations. As this meeting was a retreat focused on planning and discussion, no formal votes were taken or public comments heard.

Meetings in the Next Week
- Board of Education March 04, 2026: An official agenda is not yet available for this meeting, though the Board is expected to continue discussions on the FY2027 budget and capital improvement plans introduced during the February retreat.

Atlanta NPU

Meetings in the Next Week
- NPU-E March 03, 2026 at 6:30 PM

Fulton County Board of Commissioners

Meetings in the Next Week
- Board of Commissioners, March 4, 2026 at 10:00 AM. The Board will consider a comprehensive audit of the $1 billion+ 2026 budget and a resolution to reallocate 2% of the budget specifically for new hospital facilities in response to local medical center closures. Other key items include voter ID education mandates at county facilities, jail diversion screening plans, and more than $800,000 in federal community development grants for water infrastructure, park improvements, and affordable housing projects in several Fulton County cities and neighborhoods.

Permits

Keeping an eye on the skyline and the sidewalk, here are the most notable building permits hitting the Midtown area this week. From massive $2.7M renovations to noisy pool deck demolition, there’s plenty of movement in the neighborhood.

- 1589 Peachtree St NE — Commercial building permit, $2,700,000 estimated cost. A major "miscellaneous building" project is in the works near the northern edge of the neighborhood.
- 77 Peachtree Pl NE — Multi-family pool deck renovation. Expect some noise at this location as crews remove the existing concrete pool deck and foam down to the structural deck.
- 1753 Peachtree St NE — Commercial interior renovation. A full-scale interior update including demolition, new partitions, and mechanical/electrical work.
- Peachtree Cir NE — Residential alteration permit, $75,000 estimated cost. A significant home renovation project is moving forward in the heart of Ansley Park.
- 715 Peachtree St NE — Commercial interior alteration. Work is beginning on the 1st and 2nd floors, consisting of new interior construction and general plumbing.
- 1355 Peachtree St NE — Commercial office expansion. Interior alterations for an existing business office that includes selective demolition and new decorative finishes.
- 1200 Peachtree St NE — Commercial office conversion. This project is converting an unoccupied single-tenant floor into a multi-tenant office space.
- 1150 Spring St NW — Commercial build-out. A first-generation build-out for a vacant suite within a multi-story office building.
- 999 Peachtree St NE — Commercial renovation. Updates are coming to the 19th-floor elevator lobby, corridors, and restrooms.
- 1201 Peachtree St NE — Commercial fire sprinkler permit. Ongoing safety upgrades to the fire system at Colony Square.

Beyond the big projects, there were nearly 20 smaller residential permits issued this week, primarily for tree maintenance and minor plumbing or HVAC repairs, totaling about $1,000 in additional neighborhood investment.

Road Work

If you’ve noticed more orange cones than usual around Midtown lately, you aren’t imagining it! Between bridge work on the Downtown Connector and several street-level upgrades, there is a lot happening on our local roads. Here is the latest on what’s currently under construction and what’s sitting in the pipeline:

- 15th Street Extension — Under Construction. This project is officially active and crews are on-site extending 15th Street from West Peachtree over to Williams Street. This is a big multi-modal connection project, so keep an eye out for workers as they build out those two new blocks west of West Peachtree.
- 10th Street Bridge Improvements — Under Construction. Active work is happening now on the bridge over I-75/85, including Techwood Drive and Williams Street. They are reconfiguring the travel lanes to include better buffers, so expect some shifting lanes and traffic impacts as you head toward Georgia Tech.
- I-85 Bridge Preservation — Under Construction. This project covers eight different bridge locations along I-85 through the city. Crews are currently on-site applying polymer overlays and replacing joints to keep the infrastructure solid. Since this spans multiple locations, you’re likely to run into active work zones during late-night or weekend commutes.
- SR 13 / Buford-Spring Connector Safety Improvements — Under Construction. This is active work focused on making the connector safer. Crews are installing high-friction surface treatments and oversized flashing signs to help with those sharp curves near the SR 9 interchange.
- SR 13 at Peachtree Road — Under Construction. Work has begun on a new roundabout at the Buford-Spring Connector ramps near Peachtree Road. This is a privately funded design-build project intended to modify access to the connector, so expect some construction activity where those ramps meet the surface streets.
- Peachtree Street: North Ave to West Peachtree — Construction Work Program. This project is officially funded and approved, but active construction has not started yet. While you won't see crews out there today, the plan is to eventually bring this stretch of Peachtree down to one 10-foot travel lane in each direction. Contracts are being finalized, so work is likely starting in the near future.
- SR 9 from SR 9 South to Windsor Parkway — Construction Work Program. This is currently in the utility relocation phase. While major roadway construction hasn't kicked off yet, it is funded and approved, meaning you'll see the preliminary utility work before the heavy equipment moves in.

Service Requests
- Potholes — Beverly Road was a major hotspot this week with nearly a dozen reports filed between Montgomery Ferry Drive, Friar Tuck Road, and Robin Hood Road. Other rough patches were reported on Nottingham Way NE, Penn Avenue, Spring Street (at 17th), and the intersection of Myrtle and 8th.
- Traffic Signal Repairs — Crews have been busy addressing signal issues at several major intersections, including 14th and Peachtree, 10th and Spring, 3rd and Piedmont Avenue, and along West Peachtree Street at Peachtree Place and 11th Street.
- Right of Way Maintenance — Recent requests include addressing overgrowth and visibility concerns on Myrtle Street NE and a call for litter removal along Peachtree Street NE.
- Illegal Dumping — An investigation was requested regarding items dumped on Charles Allen Drive NE near the park.