Midtown: Blight Tax Comes for 1155 Peachtree

Hey Midtown! The city is finally putting real pressure on the gutted tower at 1155 Peachtree Street, with a blight tax penalty headed to a full Council vote Monday that could force the owner's hand after years of neighborhood frustration. And if you're stepping outside this weekend, Juneteenth brings the Parade, a 5K, and celebrations at the High Museum right to your doorstep, plus World Cup watch parties at Colony Square for good measure.

- News — The owner of Midtown's long-neglected BellSouth tower is staring down a $2.1M blight tax bill, new "No Turn on Red" signs are hitting key intersections, and Colony Square is going full soccer mode with free World Cup watch parties all summer.
- Business — Chef Jonny Rhodes just opened alonetogether near the Woodruff Arts Center — a restaurant and non-alcoholic bar that's already the most intriguing new addition to the arts district in a while.
- Events — Juneteenth is the anchor of the week, with the Parade and Music Festival at Piedmont Park on Friday, a 5K on Sunday, and celebrations at the High Museum — plus the ASO's Americana program, Blue Man Group at the Fox, and a full calendar running Monday through Sunday.
- Government — The full City Council votes Monday on the FY2027 budget and property tax rates, the blight tax on 1155 Peachtree Street, and new sidewalk safety rules — and a stalled $3.6M Midtown corridor improvement project remains stuck in committee.
- Construction — SR 13 resurfacing is still underway, the notoriously tangled Northside Drive and 14th Street intersection is under active reconstruction, and traffic signal repairs are hitting a string of major Midtown intersections all at once.

Let's dive in.

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NEWS

Gutted Midtown tower's owner faces possible blight tax bill of $2.1M
The owner of the former BellSouth headquarters in Midtown is staring down a potential $2.1 million blight tax bill as city officials turn up the heat on properties left to rot. For neighbors who've watched that gutted tower collect dust for years, this could finally be the pressure that forces the owner's hand toward compliance or redevelopment.

New "No Turn on Red" signs arrive in Midtown, Downtown Atlanta. Here's why.
Atlanta is installing "No Turn on Red" signs at key intersections across Midtown and Downtown in a push to make the streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists. If your commute runs through the neighborhood, expect some adjusted habits at the light and a little extra patience.

Fútbol on the Square: Midtown's Colony Square to host free festival, World Cup watch parties
Colony Square is going full soccer mode this summer, hosting a free community festival and outdoor World Cup watch parties right in the heart of Midtown. Neighbors near Ansley Park and Piedmont Park are practically steps away from the big screen; there's no good reason to watch alone at home.

World Cup Atlanta: Additional watch parties in metro Atlanta
Colony Square not your scene? Local organizers have lined up additional watch parties and celebrations across the metro as Atlanta embraces its most soccer-crazed summer on record. If you want to catch the matches out in the city with a crowd, this roundup is worth your time.

Atlanta's tax extension plan becomes issue in Fulton Commission chair runoff
Atlanta's proposed tax extensions have moved to center stage in the Fulton County Commission chair runoff, making an already consequential race even more so. Homeowners should pay attention as whoever wins this seat will have real influence over local property taxes and how infrastructure dollars get spent.

BUSINESS

alonetogether - opening - Chef Jonny Rhodes brings his acclaimed culinary vision to Midtown with alonetogether, a restaurant and non-alcoholic beverage bar steps from the Woodruff Arts Center — a welcome addition for the arts district crowd looking for something thoughtful to sip before or after the show.

EVENTS | Presented by

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Monday, June 15
- BASURA | Alliance Theatre
- Morning Money Mix June Edition | Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee
- SEKOU | Center Stage Theater

Tuesday, June 16
- Blue Man Group (Rescheduled from 1/24) | Fox Theatre
- Land Use Committee Meeting | Midtown Neighbors Association
- Weekly Walking Club | Piedmont Park

Wednesday, June 17
- Atlanta Symphony Orchestra - Americana - Barber, Bernstein, Copland | Atlanta Symphony Hall
- Safety Committee Meeting | Midtown Neighbors Association
- Alejandro Aranda | Center Stage Theater
- Virtual: Plant. Eat. Repeat. Workshop Series | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Block Printing: Summer Solstice Cards | Piedmont Park
- Drop-In Kids Gardening Activity | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Storybook & Sensory Bin Time | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Atlanta Braves x In The Wild Dating | Park Tavern

Thursday, June 18
- Midtown Movie Night: Bend it Like Beckham | 10th Street Park
- Cocktails in the Garden | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- How Hip Hop Made Atlanta: Atlanta's Hip Hop Geography | MODA
- Garden Grooves | Atlanta Botanical Garden

Friday, June 19
- Juneteenth Atlanta Parade & Music Festival | Piedmont Park
- Juneteenth Celebration at the High Museum of Art | High Museum of Art
- Friday Jazz at the High Museum of Art | High Museum of Art
- The Generations Tour Brings Together Three Iconic British Artists to the Fox Theatre, June 19 | Fox Theatre
- VIP Nights | Amy Sherald: American Sublime | High Museum of Art
- The Church at Center Stage Theater | Center Stage Theater
- Americana BBQ & World Cup Watch Party on the Sky Terrace | Epicurean Atlanta, Autograph Collection
- BLACK VOICES UNSCRIPTED | Whole World Improv Theatre Co

Saturday, June 20
- Green Market | Piedmont Park
- Kiefer Sutherland | Center Stage Theater
- Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience | Alliance Theatre
- Guided tasting of two of our award-winning whiskeys | ASW Distillery
- Garden Chef Demos: Pamela Askerneese-Henry | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Voice in the Garden | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Dad & Me Beach Sunset Acrylic Painting | Peachtree Branch Library

Sunday, June 21
- Juneteenth Atlanta 5k Freedom Run | Piedmont Park
- Father's Day Buffet at 5Church | 5Church Restaurant

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 — Finance/Executive Committee

The committee's most consequential action this week was recommending approval of the City of Atlanta's Fiscal Year 2027 budget along with the ad valorem millage rates that determine what property owners pay — covering the general levy, parks, bonded debt, education, and special service districts including the BeltLine and Atlanta Stitch. Equally significant, the committee unanimously backed the Atlanta Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative (NRI) Trust Fund, a sweeping economic development framework that extends the life of select Tax Allocation Districts to steer money toward affordable housing, community stabilization, and small business preservation in neighborhoods across the city. The committee also advanced new consumer protection rules for parking garages — covering rate disclosures, payment accessibility, and dispute resolution — forwarding them to the full Council without a formal recommendation, meaning the debate is far from over. On annexations, the committee approved bringing several properties on Woodland Avenue NE into city limits (and into the Atlanta school district), while holding two other annexation proposals — one near the Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam and one on Glynn Drive SE — for further review. A proposed $2.28 million water tank services contract with Davis Water Service was officially killed, and a $30,000 donation was approved, split between the Atlanta Fire Rescue Foundation and the Diaspora District. A $75,000 grant to HouseProud Atlanta, which funds no-cost home repairs for seniors aging in place, was held in committee and did not advance.

Atlanta City Council — Transportation Committee

Pedestrians scored a clear win at the June 10 Transportation Committee meeting, where members unanimously approved legislation requiring the Atlanta Department of Transportation to establish safe, temporary walking routes whenever construction or excavation blocks existing sidewalks — a change that affects anyone navigating a job site on foot. The committee also approved a ban on commercial cut-through truck traffic in the historic Cabbagetown Landmark District and new residential-only parking designations and restrictions at several locations around the city, giving local homeowners more control over street parking near their homes. On the infrastructure and funding side, the committee accepted a $6 million GDOT grant for street resurfacing and authorized a separate $3.27 million resurfacing contract with Blount Construction Company, delivering a combined $9.3 million boost for local roads. The airport also received a massive injection of capital — over $300 million in combined supplements covering on-call construction management contracts, Skytrain modernization, and program management at Hartsfield-Jackson. Two high-profile items remained stalled: a $3.6 million grant-funded improvement project on a major Midtown corridor from North Avenue to West Peachtree Street, and a proposal to install dedicated bike and motorized vehicle lanes along the Atlanta BeltLine, both held in committee for further review.

Atlanta City Council — Community Development/Human Services Committee

The committee's biggest vote was a unanimous 7-0 approval to spend nearly $7.9 million acquiring almost 30 acres on Randall Mill Road NW through The Conservation Fund, permanently protecting the land as forested open space — a significant commitment to Atlanta's tree canopy funded through the Tree Trust and Park Millage funds. The committee also unanimously approved a resolution requesting a blight tax penalty on the neglected commercial property at 1155 Peachtree Street NE, a tool the city uses to pressure owners of deteriorating properties into action; that item received favorable recommendations from both this committee and the Public Safety and Legal Administration Committee. On the land-use front, several properties on Sylvan Road and Cox Avenue were redesignated from industrial to high-density mixed-use, opening the door to dense apartment and retail development, while multiple neighborhood and BeltLine master plan updates — covering Peachtree Park, Edgewood, BeltLine Subarea 8, and the Collier Road corridor — were formally integrated into the city's Comprehensive Development Plan. The committee also advanced the Atlanta Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative and TAD extension framework, though the vote was not unanimous — Committee Member Michael Julian Bond voted against it and Chair Matt Westmoreland abstained. Proposed regulations establishing an Office of Short-Term Rentals, a permitting registry, and changes to the Short-Term Rental Commission were held in committee at the sponsor's request and did not move forward this week.

Atlanta City Council — City Utilities Committee

The committee approved a pair of water infrastructure investments at its June 9 meeting, including an $822,567 contract extension for the Greensferry Stream and Floodplain Restoration project — adding both funding and 280 days to complete the work — and a $2 million, nine-month extension with Salmons Dredging Corporation for on-call underwater diving services that keep the city's water system operational. A month-to-month software support contract for Solid Waste Survey and Billing systems was also extended at up to $364,000, keeping that back-office infrastructure running while bigger decisions get sorted out. On the policy front, the most-watched item — a proposed ordinance to adjust solid waste taxes, assessments, and service fees for homeowners — was held in committee so a public hearing can be scheduled, giving residents a chance to weigh in before any rate changes are finalized. A separate proposal to restore green infrastructure incentives and stormwater retention requirements that were stripped from city code in 2020 was also held for further review, while a first-reading proposal to acquire 12 parcels for a Valley of the Hawks Constructed Wetlands Project at just under $1.9 million was introduced but not yet voted on.

Atlanta City Council — Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee

The committee's headline decision was a unanimous 6-0 vote approving a nearly $3.5 million contract amendment with Axon Enterprise to give the Atlanta Police Department a counter-drone system capable of detecting, tracking, and mitigating unauthorized drone activity over the city — a significant expansion of APD's technological toolkit. The committee also approved a $500,000 settlement in a pending Fulton County lawsuit and authorized a resolution pushing for a blight tax penalty on the neglected commercial property at 1155 Peachtree Street NE, a measure that is now dual-referred and will also be considered by the Community Development/Human Services Committee. On criminal justice policy, a resolution passed requesting the Atlanta City Detention Center explore options to reduce detention of low-level, non-violent misdemeanor offenders — aimed at easing jail overcrowding and prioritizing space for more serious offenses. A proposed 180-day moratorium on new alcohol license applications in the Edgewood Corridor was held at the sponsor's request, and a proposal to lease office space for an APD Zone 6 precinct was also deferred, with both items now scheduled to return on June 15.

Atlanta City Council — Zoning Committee

The June 8 Zoning Committee session put Atlanta's ongoing industrial-to-residential transformation front and center, with multiple large-scale proposals on the table to convert heavy and light industrial sites into dense mixed-use developments. A 12.5-acre BeltLine-adjacent industrial tract is being considered for high-density mixed residential and commercial rezoning, and a pair of sweeping proposals would transition nearly two dozen Upper Westside parcels along Ellsworth Industrial Boulevard, Logan Circle, and Chattahoochee Avenue from heavy industrial to mixed residential commercial — potentially reshaping that part of the city. A contested 13.87-acre rezoning on Sylvan Road and Cox Avenue saw a split in recommendations, with the local NPU supporting it but both City Staff and the Zoning Review Board recommending denial, setting up a significant debate. A city-wide text amendment adding special use permit requirements and strict buffer zones for state-licensed medical cannabis dispensaries was also on the agenda, a change that could affect where dispensaries are permitted to operate relative to homes and schools. As with all zoning agendas, any item may be tabled, deferred, or withdrawn before a final vote is taken.

Fulton County Board of Commissioners — Special Called Meeting

Note: No minutes have been posted for this meeting; the following reflects what was scheduled on the agenda, and items may have been tabled, deferred, or otherwise not taken up.

Fulton County commissioners convened a Special Called Meeting on June 9 for one primary purpose: a major discussion on the county's Service Delivery Strategy (SDS), the state-mandated agreement that determines how Fulton County and its cities — including Atlanta, Sandy Springs, and Alpharetta — divide responsibility and funding for essential public services like water, sewer, police, fire protection, and parks. This agreement matters directly to property owners because it governs how tax dollars are allocated across jurisdictions and is specifically designed to prevent residents from being double-taxed when both the county and a city provide overlapping services. How these negotiations unfold could lay the groundwork for future shifts in property tax distributions and service delivery arrangements across the county. Because this was a special called meeting focused solely on this topic, no other business was on the agenda — and with no minutes yet posted, it is not yet known what, if anything, was formally decided.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

Atlanta City Council — Community Development/Human Services Committee
- 1155 Peachtree St NE — The committee approved a resolution requesting the city impose a blight tax increase on the owners of this neglected Midtown property.

Atlanta City Council — Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee
- 1155 Peachtree St NE — The committee approved a resolution initiating a blight tax penalty against the property owners of this long-neglected parcel, with the measure also moving to the Community Development/Human Services Committee.
- 1045 Piedmont Ave NE — A bodily injury claim stemming from a fall at this address was denied by the committee.
- Intersection of Piedmont Ave NE & 6th St NE — A property damage claim arising from a construction cut at this intersection was denied by the committee.

Meetings This Week
- Atlanta City Council — Committee on Council — Monday, June 15, 2026 at 11:30 AM
The committee is scheduled to take up proposed security measures for recreation center polling sites, potential changes to public comment procedures at City Council meetings, and several citizen appointments — including nominees to the BeltLine TAD Advisory Committee, the Atlanta Citizen Review Board, and the Housing Commission.

- Atlanta City Council — Monday, June 15, 2026 at 1:00 PM
The full council is scheduled to vote on the Fiscal Year 2027 budget and property tax rates, a proposed $7.85 million purchase of nearly 30 acres on Randall Mill Road NW for permanent forest preservation, and new rules requiring safe pedestrian detours during sidewalk construction. A blight tax increase is on the agenda for 1155 Peachtree Street NE in Midtown, where property neglect has drawn city attention.

- Fulton County Board of Commissioners — Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Commissioners are scheduled to consider a nearly $9 million election staffing contract, grants to convert 66 Downtown Atlanta apartments to affordable housing and fund a new 20-unit development in English Avenue, and site preparation funding for the Andrew Young International Institute for Peace and Reconciliation in Vine City. An update on the county's smart water meter rollout is also on the agenda.

CONSTRUCTION

Permits
- 265 Ponce de Leon Ave NE — Interior demo underway at what appears to be a bar, with the space being gutted to expand the kitchen. A kitchen-forward rebrand or new restaurant concept could be in the works here.
- 999 Peachtree St NE — Two separate permits pulled: an interior restroom fit-out with new lighting and branch power, and a fire sprinkler remodel on the 20th floor for law firm Chamberlain Hrdlicka. A busy building right now.
- 1331 Spring St NW — At least three of four applications filed for first-generation build-outs in vacant office suites. New tenants are fitting out raw space, which means this building is actively leasing up.
- 75 5th St NW — Back-to-back permits on the 11th floor: first a partial demolition of a work zone, then a buildout adding a new work room and storage. A tenant reconfiguring their footprint.
- 1072 W Peachtree St NE — Electrical phasing permit issued for a new multifamily building working toward its Certificate of Occupancy. This one is getting close to the finish line.
- 240 Ponce de Leon Ave NE — Major electrical infrastructure work: new conduit and wire running from the utility connection to an 800-amp disconnect. A significant power upgrade for whatever is coming to this address.

Road Work

Under Construction
- SR 13 Resurfacing (Fulton County) — Paving work is underway on SR 13 from SR 9 northward to North Fork Peachtree Creek. This corridor runs right through the heart of Midtown, so expect lane restrictions and delays along one of the area's busiest stretches. This road hasn't been resurfaced since 2012, so the rough ride will eventually be worth it.
- SR 3/Northside Drive Intersection Improvements at 14th Street & Hemphill Ave (Fulton County) — Active work is underway to untangle the notoriously awkward intersection cluster at Northside Drive, 14th Street, and Hemphill Avenue. The project will simplify the layout and improve signal flexibility — good news long-term, but expect disruptions at this busy western Midtown crossroads in the meantime.
- Buford Spring Connector Tunnel Lighting Upgrade (Fulton County) — Crews are upgrading the tunnel lighting along the Buford Spring Connector near I-85 from older high-pressure sodium fixtures to LED. Expect intermittent lane activity near the tunnel entrance affecting access to and from the connector.
- Bridge Preservation — Multiple Locations (Cobb, DeKalb & Fulton Counties) — A multi-county bridge preservation project is active, with work including co-polymer overlay, steel beam painting, and joint replacement at seven locations across Cobb, DeKalb, and Fulton counties. One Fulton location is within range of Midtown — keep an eye out for flagging operations if you're crossing any elevated structures nearby.

Pre-Construction

- Peachtree Street Reconstruction (North Ave to West Peachtree St) — GDOT plans to rebuild this 0.3-mile stretch with one 10-foot travel lane in each direction. If you walk, bike, or drive this corridor daily, this one hits close to home — literally.
- SR 9 / 14th Street Realignment (Howell Mill Rd to West Peachtree St) — A full road transformation is proposed along 14th Street and SR 9. Details are still limited, but a realignment of this magnitude on one of Midtown's main east-west connectors will have ripple effects across the grid.
- SR 8 Median Work (Peachtree Street to Ponce de Leon Place) — Median improvements are planned along this segment. Scope details are thin for now, but expect lane impacts when work eventually begins.
- Atlanta Traffic Signal Enhancement Program – Phase I — Signal upgrades are coming to intersections along Atlanta's High Injury Network, with full mast-arm replacements planned. Several of those targeted intersections are in and around Midtown. A long-overdue safety improvement, but construction will mean temporary signal disruptions.
- Williams Street Study (I-85 SB Ramp to North Ave) — This is scoping only — no construction yet — but GDOT is studying a 0.28-mile section of Williams Street as part of the broader I-75/I-85 Downtown Connector analysis. What comes out of this study could eventually reshape how traffic flows into the southern edge of Midtown.
- The Stitch – Phase I (I-75/I-85 Capping) — The big one. This pedestrian bridge and cap project over the Downtown Connector is funded and in pre-construction. Phase I will begin stitching Midtown back together over the interstate that split it decades ago. No start date locked in yet, but this is no longer just a rendering on a poster.

Service Requests

Midtown residents filed 20 service requests this past week, with traffic signal issues leading the pack. Traffic Signal Repairs are underway at a string of major intersections — Peachtree & 4th, W. Peachtree & 4th, 6th & Peachtree, 11th & Peachtree, 14th & Piedmont, and five additional locations across the area. Litter Removal requests came in along Penn Ave NE, Charles Allen Dr NE, and Spring St NW. Potholes were flagged on Beverly Rd NE (two spots), Spring St NW, and at the Friar Tuck & Beverly Rd intersection. Finally, an Overgrowth/Visibility Issue was reported at Williams St and 16th St.