BUSYBODY MIDTOWN
Welcome to your weekly update for Midtown. This week, we’re following significant infrastructure projects designed to make our streets safer for everyone and covering a new Omakase sushi pop-up.
Big Stories — We’re covering street safety upgrades, look back at a successful Oysterfest, and reflect on the legacy of the late Rev. Jesse Jackson
Local Business Updates — Chef Jorom Paler has launched a weekly residency at Larakin, bringing an intimate omakase sushi experience to the neighborhood.
Upcoming Events — The Fox Theatre prepares for massive crowds as Harry Potter and the Cursed Child begins its run. Other highlights include a symposium on Octavia Butler and various live music performances at Center Stage.
Local Government Discussion — Local leaders approved $90 million in bonds for the Woodruff Arts Center and are debating a new proposal to allow "Happy Hour" drink discounts citywide. You’ll also find updates on new mold remediation guidelines for renters.
Development & Construction Nearby — Major work is underway on the 10th Street bridge and the 15th Street extension project. We’re also watching several new permits for office expansions and the redevelopment of Fire Station 15.
Let’s dive in.
Table of Contents
BIG STORIES
Safety upgrades and Oysterfest
Street projects underway in Midtown to improve safety (February 20, 2026)
Significant infrastructure upgrades are moving forward across Midtown this month to improve walkability and cyclist safety. The projects include the installation of new bike lanes and wider sidewalks, as well as an extension of the local street grid to better manage traffic flow in high-density areas.
This Weekend was Atlanta's Iconic 2-Day Oysterfest In Midtown — Music, Drinks, & The Best Seafood In The ATL (February 19, 2026)
The 38th annual Steamhouse Lounge Oysterfest returned to the heart of Midtown this past weekend, bringing two days of live music and seafood to the neighborhood.
Rev. Jesse Jackson dies at 84: Georgia leaders, Atlanta officials reflect on civil rights giant's legacy (February 18, 2026)
The city is mourning the passing of civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson, a figure with deep historical and political ties to the Atlanta community. Leaders from across the state have spent the week honoring his contributions to social justice, with several memorial events expected to take place in the coming days.
LOCAL BUSINESS UPDATES
Mikasa Omakase sushi pop-up launches weekly residency at Larakin
Mikasa Omakase - opening - Chef Jorom Paler has launched a weekly sushi pop-up inside the Larakin wine bar, offering an intimate, high-end omakase experience on Sundays and Mondays. (February 20, 2026)
EVENTS
Harry Potter at the Fox, Black Artists in Music, and Octavia Butler symposium
If you have event venues you want covered here, let us know in the feedback form (bottom of this newsletter)! Always open to improvements.
Midtown will see a significant increase in foot traffic and local congestion this week as the Broadway production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child opens at the Fox Theatre. Residents should expect heavier-than-usual crowds and limited parking near Peachtree Street and Ponce de Leon Avenue during performance times.
Monday, February 23
- BAM! A Celebration of Black Artists in Music: Atlanta | SCADshow | 7:00 PM
- Open Mic Night | Laughing Skull Lounge | 8:00 PM
Tuesday, February 24
- 50 Years of Octavia E. Butler: A Daylong Symposium | The Historic Academy of Medicine | 2:00 PM
- Georgia State Panthers at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Baseball | Russ Chandler Stadium | 4:00 PM
- Community Game Night, Free Community Program! | Piedmont Park | 6:00 PM
- WWE - NXT Live | Center Stage Theater | 7:30 PM
- The Strumbellas | Center Stage Theater | 8:00 PM
Wednesday, February 25
- Connect and Learn: Space Travel with Chris Thompson | Piedmont Park | 6:00 PM
- Alliance Theatre presents Duel Reality | Alliance Theatre | 7:30 PM
- SZN4 - NEXT STOP: THE TOUR | The Loft | 8:00 PM
Thursday, February 26
- Best of Atlanta Comedy Showcase | Laughing Skull Lounge | 8:00 PM
- Sibelius Symphony No. 5 | Atlanta Symphony Hall | 8:00 PM
- Monster Energy Presents: Cash Cobain - Party with Slizzy | Center Stage Theater | 8:00 PM
- Candlelight: Coldplay & Imagine Dragons | The Wimbish House | 11:30 PM
Friday, February 27
- ECMSA: Bach's Lunch at First Presbyterian Church | First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta | 12:00 PM
- Northwestern Wildcats at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Baseball | Russ Chandler Stadium | 4:00 PM
- Kenny Wayne Shepherd | Atlanta Symphony Hall | 8:00 PM
- Amber Mark | Center Stage Theater | 8:00 PM
- Rebirth Brass Band | The Loft | 8:00 PM
Saturday, February 28
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child | Fox Theatre Atlanta
- Northwestern Wildcats at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Baseball | Russ Chandler Stadium | 2:00 PM
- High Spirits: Mod and Mixed - Groovy cocktails from the Space Age to Disco | High Museum of Art | 4:00 PM
- Best of Atlanta Comedy Showcase | Laughing Skull Lounge | 5:30 PM
- Lux Saturdays - Lux Soft Opening Weekend Launch! | 728 Monroe Dr NE suite c | 7:00 PM
Sunday, March 01
- Weekend Family Tour | High Museum of Art | 11:00 AM
- Northwestern Wildcats at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Baseball | Russ Chandler Stadium | 12:00 PM
- Dance Lab: Dance Canvas | High Museum of Art | 12:30 PM
- Elise Trouw - The Diary of Elon Lust Tour | The Loft | 7:00 PM
- Josh Levi | The Loft | 8:00 PM
LOCAL GOVERNMENT DISCUSSION
Woodruff Arts Center bonds, school facility plans, and updated APS safety rules
Meetings from the Past Week
Fulton County Schools - Board of Education
February 19, 2026
Big agenda items: The Board approved the 2026 Local Facilities Plan, which serves as the district's roadmap for school construction, renovations, and capital spending. They also adopted new K-12 textbooks for several subjects, approved the 2027-2028 meeting schedule, and authorized a single-source contract for the Infinite Campus student information system.
Other topics: The Board discussed revisions to graduation requirements and the selection process for Valedictorians and Salutatorians.
Atlanta Public Schools - Policy Review Committee
February 19, 2026
Big agenda items: The committee held discussions on several district-wide policies, including updated school safety protocols, regulations for visitors on school grounds, and student attendance and admission requirements. They also reviewed community service requirements for high school graduation.
Other topics: The committee discussed new financial procedures governing the Board Office.
Fulton County Board of Commissioners
February 18, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Big agenda items: The Board approved the issuance of up to $90 million in revenue bonds for improvements to the Woodruff Arts Center. They also considered a resolution to limit ICE and CBP activities at county facilities and a proposal to mandate that at least 2% of the FY2026 budget be dedicated to affordable housing and homelessness prevention.
Neighborhood detail: The Board authorized the issuance of $90,000,000 in revenue bonds for facility improvements at the Robert W. Woodruff Arts Center (1280 Peachtree Street NE). New county-wide technical standards for water and sewer infrastructure were also adopted, including stricter noise and odor controls for pump stations located near residential areas.
Other topics: Staff reported that the "Jail Maintenance Blitz" is 91% complete, and the Board extended the Reparations Task Force through the end of 2026.
Atlanta City Council
February 16, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Big agenda items: The Council passed a significant ordinance establishing mold remediation guidelines for residential properties to address substandard housing conditions. They also approved a mandate for push-button door activators on most new commercial and multi-family buildings to improve disability access and adopted the "Play Fair ATL" platform to ensure human rights and labor equity during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Neighborhood detail: The Council authorized the development of an interim Fire Station 15 on city-owned property at 1531 Piedmont Ave NE. Several large-scale rezonings for mixed-use and industrial-to-residential projects were approved for locations in West Midtown, Southwest Atlanta, and the Edgewood corridor.
Other topics: The Council voted to rename Fulton Street to "J. Lowell Ware Boulevard" and authorized a $135,000 donation for playground improvements at Deerwood Park.
Atlanta City Council - Committee on Council
February 16, 2026 at 11:30 AM
Big agenda items: The committee focused on administrative leadership, recommending appointments for the Water and Sewer Appeals Board, the Pension Investment Board, and the Atlanta Regional Commission Board of Directors.
Other topics: The committee discussed its internal goals for 2026 and approved a technical correction regarding the Identity Management System at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
Upcoming Meetings in the Next Week
Atlanta City Council - Zoning Committee
Monday, February 23, 2026, 11:00 AM
The committee will consider a major amendment to prohibit new self-storage and distribution centers along the Beltline and a density increase for the Historic West End. Other items include several residential rezonings and the annexation of residential parcels in Southeast and Northeast Atlanta.
Atlanta City Council - Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee
Monday, February 23, 2026, 1:00 PM
Legislation includes a proposal to allow "Happy Hour" drink discounts citywide and the creation of an outdoor "Entertainment District" in South Downtown. The committee will also review police reform resolutions and dozens of legal claims against the city.
Atlanta City Council - City Utilities Committee
Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 10:00 AM
Discussion focuses on $24 million for water infrastructure management and a proposal to delay the city’s "Cool Roofs" requirement until June 2027 to address supply chain issues. The committee will also vote on funding for flood protection at the RM Clayton Water Reclamation Center and temporary labor for park maintenance.
Atlanta City Council - Community Development/Human Services Committee
Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 1:30 PM
The committee will review the creation of a centralized Office of Short-Term Rentals to manage registration and enforcement, as well as a human rights plan for the 2026 World Cup. Other key items include a land lease for a new peace institute in Vine City and the potential renaming of the Kirkwood Urban Forest.
Atlanta City Council — Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 1:30 PM (agenda not yet posted)
Atlanta City Council - Transportation Committee
Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 10:00 AM
Key items include a proposal to increase on-street metered parking fees from $1.00 to $1.75 per half-hour and preparations for the 2026 World Cup. The committee will also discuss safety improvements for Peachtree Street and acquisitions for various sidewalk projects. Most notable to your neighborhood: safety and placemaking improvements along a 1.7-mile stretch of Peachtree Street between North Avenue and West Peachtree Street.
Atlanta City Council - Finance/Executive Committee
Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 1:30 PM
Financial items include $4.87 million for E911 system upgrades and contracts with Georgia Power and Comcast for World Cup-related Wi-Fi and smart lighting. The committee will also consider annexations of unincorporated DeKalb County land and alignment of city tax interest rates with state law.
Atlanta Board of Education — Monday, March 2, 2026, 2:41 AM (agenda not yet posted)
DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION NEARBY
Fire station redevelopment, Peachtree additions, and 15th Street extension
Permits
Ever wonder what’s behind those orange fences? Here’s a look at the latest construction and development activity around Midtown and Ansley Park:
170 10th St NE (Atlanta Fire Station 15 Site): This is a big one for the neighborhood. Plans are moving forward for the redevelopment of the old fire station into a mix of affordable and market-rate apartments.
1589 Peachtree St NE: Expect some heavy lifting near the early learning center. A permit was filed for a 23,000-square-foot, 4-story addition that includes new structural framing and underslab utilities.
1150 Spring St NW: A major $950,000 commercial alteration is officially in the works for this Spring St. location.
On the residential side, things are a bit quieter this week with 15 minor permits filed across the area, including two new residential pools and a few HVAC upgrades. Stay tuned for more updates as these projects progress!
Road Work
Keep an eye out while you’re driving around Midtown this week. There’s quite a bit of GDOT activity on our local streets and the nearby highways to navigate. Here is what is currently happening on the roads:
15th Street Extension (from SR 9 to Williams Street): This project is currently Under Construction, so expect to see crews on-site as they work on extending 15th Street two blocks west to Williams Street. This is a major multi-modal connection for the neighborhood, and active work means traffic impacts are happening now.
10th Street Bridge at I-75/I-85: This bridge reconfiguration is officially Under Construction. Crews are actively working to reconfigure travel lanes and add buffers to the barriers. Since this is right in the heart of our commute near Williams Street and Techwood Drive, definitely expect some delays.
I-85 Bridge Preservation (8 Locations in Fulton County): This project is Under Construction, involving bridge preservation work like applying polymer overlays and replacing joints. Since these locations are scattered along I-85 through the city, keep an eye out for lane closures on the highway.
SR 13 at Peachtree Road (Buford-Spring Connector): Work is Under Construction for a new roundabout at the SR 13 ramps. This is a privately funded design-build project, and with crews actively on-site, the limited access points near the connector are currently being modified.
SR 13 (from West of SR 9 to SR 9): Safety improvements are Under Construction along this stretch. You’ll see crews installing high-friction surface treatments and new curve warning signs, so watch your speed through these work zones.
Peachtree Street (from North Ave to West Peachtree Street): This roadway project has moved into the Construction Work Program phase. This means the project is funded and approved, but construction has not started yet. It won't affect your commute today, but with contracts being finalized, work to build new 10-foot travel lanes is imminent.
SR 9 (from SR 9 South to Windsor Parkway): This utility relocation project is also in the Construction Work Program phase. While construction hasn't officially started, the funding is in place, and we should expect to see crews beginning the relocation work soon.
Utility Work
Atlanta Watershed
- Road Closure on 10th Street NE for Sewer Rehabilitation — Expect a road closure at 97 10th Street NE (between Crescent Ave. and Juniper St. NE) for sewer rehabilitation work. The project began Tuesday, Feb. 19; residents and commuters should follow posted detours around the work zone.
Service Requests
Here is a look at the recent 311 activity across the neighborhood. It’s been a particularly busy week for road crews, especially for those of you navigating the streets around Ansley Park and Sherwood Forest.
- Potholes — Road repairs are the top priority this week, with a massive concentration of reports along Beverly Rd NE and the intersection of Beverly Rd and Friar Tuck Rd. Other trouble spots include Montgomery Ferry Dr, Charles Allen Dr NE, Spring St NW, 16th St NW, Juniper St NE, and the corner of 14th St and Piedmont Ave.
- Traffic Signal Repairs — Technicians have been alerted to signal issues at several key intersections, including Peachtree St at Peachtree Pl, 6th St, and North Ave, as well as West Peachtree at 3rd St, Juniper St at 13th St, and Piedmont Ave at 7th St.
- Loose Metal Plates — Reports of shifting or noisy metal plates came in for Charles Allen Dr NE and Peachtree St NW.
- Right of Way Maintenance — Requests were filed for litter removal along Piedmont Ave NE and to address overgrowth issues affecting visibility on Charles Allen Dr NE.
- Signage — A request for sign repair, replacement, or installation was submitted for Charles Allen Dr NE.
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Until next week,
Midtown Busybody
Disclaimer: We use advanced data retrieval and analysis techniques across hundreds of sources, and as such we may be prone to occasional error. Independently verify anything presented here with a second source, and please let us know if we got anything wrong via the feedback form.
