Midtown: Beltline Light Rail Battle, a Ghost Tower Cited, and Messi in Piedmont Park

Hey Midtown! It's a big week in the neighborhood, and there's a lot to keep up with. The fight over the Beltline's light rail future is getting loud, the city has finally taken action on that unfinished 20-story eyesore on Midtown's skyline, and Piedmont Park is about to become ground zero for Atlanta's World Cup moment. Grab a few minutes — there's plenty worth reading below.

- News — The Beltline light rail vs. bike lane battle drew real pushback from residents, the city cracked down on Midtown's long-dormant ghost tower, and Waymo is still suspended after a flooding incident, plus a 20-foot Messi now stands watch over Piedmont Park.
- Events — It's a packed week, with Tchaikovsky at Symphony Hall, the Amy Sherald exhibition at the High, Beauty and the Beast at the Fox, and yoga and cocktails back at Piedmont Park.
- Government — City Council committees this week are weighing a $3.6M Peachtree Street improvement grant, a FIFA open-container exemption, West Midtown industrial rezonings, and The Stitch cap project moving closer to reality.
- Construction — SR-13 is getting its first repaving since 2012, a W Peachtree high-rise is nearing its first residents, and a boil water advisory tied to a pumping station power failure has been lifted.

Let's dive in.

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Public Outcry Stalls Proposal to Replace Beltline Light Rail with Bike Lanes
Twenty-five-plus residents showed up and pushed back hard against District 8 Councilmember Mary Norwood's proposal to swap planned Beltline light rail for bike and scooter lanes — and for now, the pushback is working. The fight over the Beltline corridor is far from over, but neighborhoods like ours are watching closely: this decision will define transit connectivity for a generation.

Atlanta cracks down on Midtown's unfinished skyscraper
That hulking, half-built 20-story skeleton that's haunted Midtown for years has finally drawn official action — city officials have declared the long-dormant structure unsafe and issued legal notices targeting unsecured access and hazardous sidewalk conditions. It's a step residents have been waiting on for a long time, and the question now is what actually happens next.

Waymo service in Atlanta still suspended after self-driving car stuck in Midtown floodwaters
Waymo's Atlanta rollout hit a literal and figurative wall this spring when flash flooding stranded one of its autonomous vehicles on a Midtown street — and the service remains suspended across the neighborhood. The incident is a sharp reminder that no amount of cutting-edge technology outsmarts a drainage system that can't keep up with a hard Atlanta rain.

Three Fulton County Commission posts go to Democratic primary runoffs
Mark June 16 on your calendar — Midtown voters are heading back to the polls for runoffs that include the Fulton County Commission Chair race, where incumbent Robb Pitts faces challenger Mo Ivory. For residents of Ansley Park, Sherwood Forest, and beyond, this race carries real weight: the Commission shapes county policy on everything from transit to public health.

Latest Atlanta World Cup updates: A Piedmont Park finals watch party
It's official — Piedmont Park will serve as Atlanta's primary fan hub for the 2026 World Cup finals, with a massive watch party now confirmed for the city's most beloved green space. Midtown neighbors should start planning now: the logistical footprint for an event of this scale will be felt well beyond the park's borders.

20-foot Messi statue arrives in Piedmont Park ahead of World Cup
Piedmont Park now has a new — if temporary — landmark: a 20-foot inflatable Lionel Messi, standing watch over the greenspace as Atlanta gears up for the World Cup. If you had any doubt that the tournament was about to reshape daily life in Midtown, one look at that thing should settle it.

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Tuesday, May 26
- Disney's Beauty and the Beast | Fox Theatre Atlanta
- License and Permits Committee Meeting | Midtown Neighbors Association
- Yoga in the Park | Piedmont Park
- Weekly Walking Club | Piedmont Park
- Sina Bathaie | The Loft
- Concrete Boys | Center Stage
- Hand and Rod 101 | Center for Puppetry Arts
- Garden Playtime | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Drop-In Garden Tours | Atlanta Botanical Garden

Wednesday, May 27
- Atlanta In The Wild Dating: Speed Dating 27+ | Park Tavern
- Derrick Stroup | Center Stage Theater
- Storybook & Sensory Bin Time | Atlanta Botanical Garden

Thursday, May 28
- Midtown Community Meeting | Midtown Neighbors Association
- Stutzmann Conducts Tchaikovsky | Atlanta Symphony Hall
- Member May Exhibition Tour | Amy Sherald: American Sublime | High Museum of Art
- Cocktails in the Garden | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Garden Mixology | Piedmont Park
- Barry's x In The Wild Dating | Park Tavern
- J & The Causeways | CENTER STAGE – THE VINYL
- You Think You Know Atlanta? | Cathedral of St. Philip

Friday, May 29
- VIP Nights | Amy Sherald: American Sublime | High Museum of Art
- New InCommunity Exhibit at Woodruff Arts Center Celebrates Individual Artists | Woodruff Arts Center
- Shows for Seedlings: Music of Latin America with Havana Son | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- LAUGHTOPIA | Whole World Improv Theatre Co

Saturday, May 30
- Green Market | Piedmont Park
- "BASURA" at the Alliance Theatre | Alliance Theatre
- Workshop: Forest to Fiber – Invasive Papermaking | 10th & Piedmont
- Watercolor 101 | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Nice Dream | CENTER STAGE – THE VINYL

Sunday, May 31
- Guided tasting of two of our award-winning whiskeys | ASW Distillery
- Fulton Lee | Center Stage Theater

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GOVERNMENT

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
The Atlanta City Council moved forward this week on several infrastructure initiatives, including approving a feasibility study for privatizing airport security and authorizing a street abandonment to support university campus expansion. While the Council approved new affordable workforce housing, members opted to defer final decisions on the city's billion-dollar budget and property tax rates, meaning the potential tax impact on residents remains undecided for now. At the committee level, proposals were introduced to transform industrial corridors into high-density residential hubs and provide free summer camp enrollment for children from low-income families. Safety was also a major focus, as the Committee on Council approved the sunsetting of inactive city boards while choosing to hold a resolution that would place police officers at all recreation center polling sites. These combined actions reflect a busy week of balancing administrative streamlining with long-term urban planning and public safety concerns.

Fulton County Board of Commissioners

The Board's May 20 agenda included more than $5.3 million in grant funding for local nonprofits through the 2026 Community Services Program, which distributes money to organizations providing social services across the county — a significant annual investment in the safety net that many residents rely on. Commissioners were also set to vote on a resolution asking the Fulton County Sheriff to stop accepting bookings for certain misdemeanor offenses, a direct response to ongoing jail overcrowding that the county says is crowding out space needed for people accused of more serious crimes. On the legal front, the Board had a resolution on the table to challenge the constitutionality of HB 369, a new state law that would require nonpartisan elections for county officers and district attorneys in Fulton and several other metro counties starting in 2028 — a move that could reshape how voters choose local officials. Rounding out the agenda were smaller but notable items: a resolution to help South Downtown small businesses capture economic opportunities from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a drug testing contract for the Police Department and Sheriff's Office, and a sewer relocation project tied to a road improvement at Fulton Industrial Boulevard.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

Atlanta City Council
- 196 Montgomery Ferry Dr NE — This residential development project was discussed as part of the council's legislative actions regarding citywide growth and housing.

Meetings This Week
- Atlanta City Council — City Utilities Committee — Tuesday, May 26 at 10:00 AM
The committee is scheduled to consider adjustments to solid waste service fees, a $20 million transfer for sanitary sewer repairs, and new rules defining when properties must connect to the public sewer system. A $8.5 million road resurfacing proposal and a $4.1 million renewal for the city's watershed billing software are also on the agenda. Councilmember Wan has requested increased communication about disruptive infrastructure work involving the Midtown Alliance.

- Atlanta City Council — Zoning Committee — Tuesday, May 26 at 11:00 AM
- Atlanta City Council — Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee — Tuesday, May 26 at 1:00 PM
The committee will take up a new compensation plan for Atlanta Fire Rescue, a temporary open-container exemption for the FIFA World Cup (June 11–July 19), and a resolution to restrict the Atlanta Police Department's use of field drug tests. A proposed 180-day moratorium on new alcohol licenses in the Edgewood Corridor remains under consideration. A property damage claim at 212 15th Street NE and a development item at the intersection of Piedmont Avenue and 6th Street NE are among the locally relevant items on the agenda.

- Atlanta City Council — Community Development/Human Services Committee — Tuesday, May 26 at 1:30 PM
The committee is set to consider a sweeping "Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative" framework that would extend Tax Allocation Districts and create a new affordable housing trust fund, along with a $7.8 million purchase of nearly 30 acres of forested land in Northwest Atlanta. Final votes on rezoning several West Midtown industrial properties to high-density mixed use, proposed short-term rental regulations, and a $4.5 million gymnasium at Chastain Park are also scheduled.

- Atlanta City Council — Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee — Tuesday, May 26 at 3:00 PM
The committee is scheduled to consider a $3.5 million contract for APD body cameras and a counter-drone security system, a lease for a new Zone 6 Police Precinct on Hosea Williams Drive, and a violence reduction funding transfer.

- Atlanta City Council — Transportation Committee — Wednesday, May 27 at 10:00 AM
More than $15 million in trail and pedestrian infrastructure is scheduled for consideration, including an $8 million PATH Westside Connector agreement and a $3.6 million Peachtree Street improvement grant covering North Avenue to West Peachtree Street. The committee will also weigh a $6 million state resurfacing grant, a resolution to add dedicated bike and vehicle lanes along the Atlanta BeltLine, and a proposal to designate residential-only parking on Lakeview Avenue NE.

- Atlanta City Council — Zoning Committee — Wednesday, May 27 at 11:00 AM
A citywide ban on new self-storage facilities within the BeltLine Overlay District is among the major items scheduled for discussion, along with a large-scale rezoning of the Chattahoochee Avenue industrial corridor from heavy industrial to mixed use. The committee will also hear a Special Use Permit application for the Ansley Golf Club at 196 Montgomery Ferry Drive NE, proposed medical cannabis dispensary rules, and a cluster of single-family to duplex rezonings in Northwest Atlanta.

- Atlanta City Council — Finance/Executive Committee — Wednesday, May 27 at 1:30 PM
The committee is scheduled to consider the FY2027 budget and property tax rates, along with a proposal to ratify an executive order creating a FIFA World Cup "activation zone" in Downtown Atlanta from June 11 to July 19. Also on the agenda: a utility easement at Fire Station 26 to advance the Howell Mill Road Complete Street project, two neighborhood annexations, a potential surcharge on electronic city payments, and a proposed citywide food distribution trust fund.

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Permits

- 1072 W Peachtree St NE — A major mixed-use high-rise is working through phased certificate of occupancy permits, covering new apartments on floors 40–60 and amenity spaces on level 10. This tower is getting closer to welcoming its first residents.
- 75 5th St NW — Partial demolition permitted on the 5th floor — walls, ceilings, fixtures, and communications equipment all coming out. A significant interior overhaul is underway.
- 265 Ponce de Leon Ave NE — Demolition permit filed to tear out an existing bar and expand kitchen space, plus removal of restroom and office rooms. A restaurant reconfiguration is in the works here.
- 1315 Peachtree St NE — Back-to-back permits issued for new plumbing and duct/HVAC work at the same address. The scope of mechanical upgrades suggests a meaningful commercial buildout in progress.
- 400 Park Dr NE — A 56KW generator installation permitted at this Piedmont Park-area address. Significant backup power.
- 1110 W Peachtree St NW — Fire sprinklers being added and relocated as part of a larger renovation already in the system. Interior work continues.
- 1000 Spring St NW — New gas line installation permitted on the commercial side of Spring Street.

Six dead, dying, or hazardous tree removal permits were also filed across the residential areas — routine but worth knowing if you notice crews working near the canopy.

Road Work

Under Construction
- SR 13 Resurfacing (Fulton County) — Paving work is underway on SR 13 from SR 9 to North Fork Peachtree Creek — right through the heart of Midtown. The road last got a fresh surface in 2012, so this one is overdue. Expect lane restrictions and slower travel along this corridor while work is active.
- SR 3/Northside Drive Intersection Improvements at 14th Street & Hemphill Ave (Fulton County) — Active work is underway to reconfigure the complicated intersection cluster where Northside Drive (SR 3), 14th Street, and Hemphill Avenue all converge. The goal is a simplified layout with better signal flexibility. If you move through this area regularly — especially heading toward Georgia Tech — give yourself extra time and watch for shifting traffic patterns.
- Buford Spring Connector Tunnel Lighting Upgrade (Fulton County) — Crews are upgrading the tunnel lighting along the Buford Spring Connector at I-85 from old high-pressure sodium fixtures to LED. Mostly behind-the-scenes work, but expect occasional lane activity near the tunnel entrance.
- I-75 Lighting Upgrade from I-85 to Memorial Drive (Fulton County) — LED lighting upgrades are in progress along this I-75 stretch, which feeds directly into Midtown from the south. Overnight lane closures are typical for this type of work — plan accordingly if you're on the connector late at night.
- I-75 Tunnel Lighting at Ralph McGill Blvd & Baker Street (Fulton County) — Same LED upgrade program, now focused on the tunnels at Ralph McGill and Baker Street just south of Midtown. Two locations are being addressed under this project, so expect intermittent activity around both underpasses.

Pre-Construction
- Peachtree Street Reconstruction (North Ave to West Peachtree St) — GDOT plans to rebuild this 0.3-mile stretch of Peachtree Street, adding one 10-foot travel lane in each direction. This corridor is a daily artery for Midtown, so expect significant disruption once shovels hit the ground.
- SR 9 Utility Relocation (Fulton County) — Utility lines along SR 9 are slated for relocation between SR 9 South and Windsor Parkway. Utility work often precedes larger road projects, so this one is worth watching.
- SR 9 & 14th Street Realignment (Howell Mill Rd to West Peachtree St) — A full road transformation is planned along SR 9 and 14th Street. If you travel this corridor between Howell Mill and West Peachtree, this project will reshape how that stretch functions.
- SR 8 Median Work (Peachtree Street to Ponce de Leon Place) — Median improvements are coming to SR 8 in this stretch. Details are limited, but median work typically affects turn movements and pedestrian crossings.
- Atlanta Traffic Signal Enhancement Program — Phase I — Signal upgrades are planned at key intersections along Atlanta's High Injury Network, with full mast-arm replacements among the improvements. Midtown intersections are included in the scope, which should mean better signal timing and safer crossings once complete.
- The Stitch — Phase I (I-75/I-85 Capping) — The long-anticipated cap over the Downtown Connector moves closer to reality. This first phase involves a pedestrian bridge structure over the interstate, with direct implications for connectivity between Midtown and Downtown Atlanta.

Service Requests

Residents filed 10 service requests across the neighborhood this week, covering a mix of road, signal, and right-of-way issues.

- Potholes — Reported at 12th St & Peachtree St (two separate reports at this intersection) and along Piedmont Ave NE.
- Traffic Signal Repairs — Two non-emergency signal issues flagged at Peachtree St & Wall St and N Ave & Spring St. An emergency signal repair at Ponce de Leon Ave & Piedmont Ave has already been resolved.
- Downed Trees — Reported on Greenwood Ave NE and Penn Ave NE.
- Overgrowth/Right-of-Way — Visibility concerns logged on Spring St NW and Penn Ave NE.