Presented By Green Box Homes

Hey, O4W / L5P / Candler Park! This week: Ponce City Market kicks off a monthlong 100th anniversary celebration with a free block party and commemorative ale, right as a new audit reveals the market itself owes the city on unpaid water bills. Meanwhile, the Beltline light rail vote is finally hitting City Council, Spread Bagelry and a taco/VR spot are moving into Common Ground, and the weekend's stacked with Rufus Wainwright, Lucinda Williams, and the Candler Park Tour of Homes.

- News — Ponce City Market turns 100 even as it lands on the city's $236M unpaid water bill list, and the Beltline light rail vote finally comes to Council.
- Business — Talat Market's team is bringing Thai street food and cocktails to Poncey-Highland, while Spread Bagelry and a taco/VR concept fill out Common Ground's former Illuminarium space.
- Events — Rufus Wainwright and Lucinda Williams headline a packed week that also brings Oktoberfest at The Grove, the Candler Park Tour of Homes, and the Estamos Aquí Fiesta.
- Government — The full Beltline light rail resolution and a $40M body camera expansion move forward while the Atlanta jail sale stays stuck in committee limbo.
- Construction — A $365K Briardale Ln addition and new Candler Park restaurant vent hood lead the permits.

Let's dive in.

NEWS

Ponce City Market Celebrates 100th Anniversary in Atlanta
Ponce City Market is marking 100 years since the Sears, Roebuck & Co. complex first opened in 1926, with developer Jamestown hosting a monthlong slate of community events and historic exhibits. The celebration includes a free block party and a commemorative ale honoring the building's history in the Old Fourth Ward.

Atlanta is owed $236M in water bills. Some very big names are on the list.
A new municipal audit found the Atlanta Department of Watershed Management is owed more than $236 million in unpaid customer balances. Ponce City Market in Old Fourth Ward is among the prominent named entities with delinquent accounts, prompting City Council scrutiny.

Atlanta City Council to vote on 22-mile Beltline light rail plan
The Atlanta City Council will vote on a resolution backing light rail around the full 22-mile Beltline loop and directing officials to clarify funding and construction timelines. The measure aims to protect reserved transit corridors, including high-density segments along the Eastside Beltline.

Price cuts galore for condos in shadow of Ponce City Market. What gives?
Nearly two years after launching sales, The Leon on Ponce is cutting prices across remaining inventory in its 74-unit Old Fourth Ward development. The reductions come at a building located steps from Ponce City Market and the Beltline.

Atlanta's e-bike rebate program is back, and thousands have already applied
Nearly 5,500 Atlanta residents have applied for the city's newly reopened e-bike rebate program ahead of the upcoming application deadline. The initiative provides vouchers meant to encourage multimodal commuting across intown neighborhoods.

BUSINESS

Talat Market team to open Thai street food bar Some Luck in Poncey-Highland — The duo behind Michelin-recommended Talat Market is opening a casual Thai street food and cocktail bar called Some Luck beneath Otto's in Poncey-Highland this October.

Activewear retailer ALO opens new location at Ponce City Market — Activewear brand ALO has opened a new storefront on the ground floor of Scout Living at Ponce City Market.

Common Ground adding tacos, virtual reality, and froyo to former Illuminarium space — New concepts including local taco shop Mar Y Masa and immersive venue Zero Latency are moving into the former Illuminarium space at Common Ground along the Eastside Beltline in Old Fourth Ward.

Philadelphia-based Spread Bagelry opening on Eastside Beltline in Old Fourth Ward — Known for its honey-boiled, wood-fired bagels, Spread Bagelry is opening in a portion of the former Illuminarium space at Common Ground.

EVENTS | Presented by

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Monday, September 21
- Atlanta Run Club: Monday Night Runs | Ponce City Market
- CPNO Monthly Meeting September | Candler Park
- Bob Log III, Rod Hamdallah, The Frigidaires at The EARL | The EARL

Tuesday, September 22
- Andrew Greer - "More Than a President" | Carter Presidential Library
- ¡Risas y Mas! | Dad's Garage
- Cinevision Vol. 3 | The Supermarket
- Botanical Builds | Monday Night Brewing - The Grove
- Rufus Wainwright at City Winery Atlanta | City Winery Atlanta
- MOONLARK: Poetic Jazz: Chaka Khan Tribute | Trade & Tempo

Wednesday, September 23
- Jay Buchanan | Moods Music
- Lavender Lens: Queer Film Screening | The Supermarket

Thursday, September 24
- Lucinda Williams | Variety Playhouse
- Elemental Spirits Co. Hosts Stir Crazy | Manuel's Tavern
- Ott | Aisle 5
- David Chaffetz Author Program | Jimmy Carter Presidential Library
- Anamanaguchi X Covet | The Masquerade
- Freddie Jackson | City Winery Atlanta

Friday, September 25
- Signals Across Vast Distances — Elizabeth Alexander | Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum
- Four Glasses | Dad's Garage
- CHICO BEAN | City Winery Atlanta

Saturday, September 26
- Oktoberfest at The Grove | Monday Night Brewing - The Grove
- SYML | Variety Playhouse
- Druid Hills Community Yard Sale | Druid Hills Civic Association Events
- Empowered Movement with Clarity Fitness | Imman Quarter
- Tour of Homes | Candler Park
- Dino Talk | Fernbank Museum of Natural History

Sunday, September 27
- Estamos Aquí Fiesta | Old Fourth Ward Skatepark/Historic Fourth Ward
- Atlanta Women's Film Festival 2026 | 7 Stages Theatre
- Gyedu-Blay Ambolley | Aisle 5
- Ultimate Rap League Presents Summer Madness (Ages 18+) | Variety Playhouse
- Barks & Bites: Beltline Doggie Crawl | Krog Street Market
- Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta Lawless Family Concert | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Monsieur Periné @ Center Stage | The Masquerade

GOVERNMENT | Presented by

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Note: our information comes from posted meetings documents (agendas and minutes when available) — latest source document hyperlinked to each meeting.

Past Week Roundup

Atlanta's council committees kept the budget and development pipeline moving this week. The Finance/Executive Committee approved refunding bonds for the Beltline, signed off on hosting the 2028 Olympic Torch Relay at no cost to the city, and cleared millions in HVAC, electrical, and architectural contracts, while holding a proposed $68 million sale of the Atlanta City Detention Center to Fulton County for further review. The Transportation Committee took up the full 22-mile Beltline light rail resolution covered in today's news section, along with a $71.3 million Plane Train car purchase and a Concourse D expansion cap now reaching $1.28 billion, though as an agenda-only meeting, no outcomes are confirmed yet. The City Utilities Committee considered a ban on data centers using drinking water for cooling, a new task force to study data center rules, and more than $46 million combined for street resurfacing and water infrastructure. The Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee approved a $40 million expansion of police body and fleet cameras, signed off on phased fire inspection fee hikes, and settled over $740,000 in legal claims, while again holding the jail sale proposal for more review. And the Zoning Committee approved a 180-day freeze on new multi-lot subdivisions in one council district, advanced a substitute version of the citywide zoning code rewrite, and backed historic landmark status for a southwest Atlanta neighborhood, sending several new mixed-use rezonings to the full council for a vote.

The Fulton County Board of Commissioners set the proposed 2026 General Fund millage rate at 8.87 mills, a move that sets the stage for public hearings before your property tax bill gets finalized. Commissioners also approved grant funding for a 54-unit affordable housing project and voted to urge state lawmakers to restrict over-the-counter kratom sales. A push to promote community gardens and local food resilience failed after two commissioners withheld their votes, and the board tabled a contentious plan to overhaul the county's ethics board and limit public comment to agenda items only. The board also approved renewed county employee health coverage, notably cutting Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield plans from the options, along with new maintenance and fuel contracts to keep county operations running.

Atlanta Public Schools kept things mostly behind closed doors and in early planning mode this week. The Board of Education's budget commission reviewed early revenue projections and funding priorities for the next two fiscal years but took no binding votes on spending or tax rates. A separate Policy Review Committee session discussed a draft policy on classroom use of artificial intelligence, but left it undecided with no vote scheduled yet. The full board also held a Special Called Meeting with all nine members present, but that gathering was limited to a closed executive session with no public votes or announcements. None of this week's school board activity touched contracts, construction, or policy changes you'll see take effect right away.

The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners had a packed agenda this week, though official minutes haven't posted yet, so outcomes remain unconfirmed. Commissioners took up a $15.85 million countywide road paving contract, a $17.9 million sewer improvement loan, and design contracts for new sidewalks and trail extensions across the county. The board also considered a data center moratorium tied to a new environmental health study, a proposed blasting safety ordinance, and a curbside composting pilot program. Rounding out the agenda were healthcare expansion contracts worth nearly $3 million for mobile and in-home care services, plus a long-pending countywide noise ordinance update and new restrictions on pet store animal sales.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

Atlanta City Council
- Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark — An agreement with Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. to install and maintain two public electric vehicle charging stations at the park was considered by the committee.
- 460 Decatur St SE — A proposed rezoning from light industrial to mixed residential commercial with a BeltLine overlay was considered by the committee.
- 478 Decatur St SE — A proposed rezoning from light industrial to mixed residential commercial with a BeltLine overlay was considered by the committee.
- 687 Angier Ave NE — A proposed rezoning of the site from light industrial and conditional commercial to mixed residential commercial with a BeltLine overlay was forwarded to the full City Council.
- 707 Angier Ave NE — A proposed rezoning of the property from light industrial and conditional commercial to mixed residential commercial with a BeltLine overlay was forwarded to the full City Council.
- 918 Austin Ave NE — A Special Use Permit application to authorize outdoor restaurant dining within 1,000 feet of residential zoning was forwarded to the full City Council.

Meetings This Week
- Atlanta City Council — Committee on Council | Sep-21, 11:30 AM | key topics: police presence at recreation center polling places, public comment rule changes, Ethics Board appointment of Felicia Moore
- Atlanta City Council | Sep-21, 1:00 PM | key topics: BeltLine light rail support, BeltLine Southside Trail Segment 6 funding, District 8 subdivision moratorium, short-term rental rules
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Board of Commissioners | Sep-22, 9:00 AM | key topics: data center moratorium study, countywide road paving, Shoal Creek sewer upgrades, Flat Shoals Parkway sidewalks
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Board of Commissioners - Zoning Meeting | Sep-24, 5:30 PM | key topics: residential rezonings on Chamblee-Tucker Road and Old Briarcliff Road, Champions Run subdivision expansion, Memorial Drive redevelopment
- Atlanta NPU — NPU-N | Sep-24, 7:00 PM | key topics: residential variances on Hardendorf Avenue and Kenyon Street, special event permit for Euclid Avenue, 2027 neighborhood bylaws

CONSTRUCTION

Permits
- 665 N Ave NE — Commercial electrical permit issued for a generator install. Routine infrastructure work, but expect some crew activity on site.
- 484 N Highland Ave NE — Fire alarm installation planned for the common areas of an existing apartment building. Low disruption, but a sign of ongoing upkeep in the Poncey-Highland corridor.
- 725 Ponce de Leon Ave NE — Existing fire alarm system getting modified to match a new tenant layout. Points to a commercial space prepping for a new occupant.
- 1165 McLendon Ave NE — Vent hood installation filed for a commercial kitchen. Likely a restaurant or food business gearing up in Candler Park.
- Clifton Rd — $50,000 HVAC overhaul for a single family home, four new systems with full ductwork and a new gas line. Closed permit, so the work's done, but it was a major mechanical upgrade.
- Clifton Rd — A second permit on the same stretch covers new construction electrical work at $50,000. Outdoor work tagged here, so nearby residents likely saw crews and equipment on site.
- 1784 N Decatur Rd NE — Level 3 plumbing renovation underway, touching domestic water, sanitary, and vent piping. This is inside a larger commercial building, likely part of a bigger interior overhaul.
- 1784 N Decatur Rd NE — Same building is also adding a cooling system over 5 tons. Combined with the plumbing work, this looks like a full mechanical refresh for the property.
- Briardale Ln — $365,000 addition to a single family home, adding a master bedroom, bathroom, and basement space. This is a serious renovation and one of the priciest permits in the area this cycle.

Road Work

Under Construction
- SR 42/US 23 @ SR 154 & @ Arkwright Place — Crews are converting the intersection of SR 42 / Moreland Avenue and Arkwright Place into a right-in/right-out setup, adding a median that blocks left turns in and out of Arkwright Place.
- SR 154 @ 7 Locations in DeKalb & 1 in Fulton, VRU Improvements — This project spans DeKalb and Fulton counties and adds pedestrian crossings along SR 154 / Memorial Drive, including a new mid-block crossing, a right-in/right-out conversion, and a restricted crossing U-turn between Hill Street and Pearl Street.
- SR 8 & SR 8 WE from SR 3 to SR 42 — GDOT is resurfacing this stretch of SR 8 in Fulton County to fix its low pavement condition score.
- I-75 @ Ralph McGill Blvd & @ Baker Street, Tunnel Lighting — Crews are swapping out old high-pressure sodium tunnel lights for LED fixtures at these two I-75 tunnels, with work that may also touch conduit and wiring in the tunnels.

Service Requests
- Overgrowth/Visibility Issues — Reported on Gordon Ave & DeKalb Ave, E Ave NE, and Bernina Ave NE. Crews have already cleared four of the five, with one still in progress.
- Traffic Signal Repairs — Emergency fixes hit Elizabeth St & Austin Ave, Whitefoord Ave NE & DeKalb Ave, Clifton Rd & DeKalb Ave, and Elizabeth St & Lake Ave, with three now closed out. A non-emergency repair at N Ave NE & Dallas St NE is also closed.
- Litter Removal — Crews are working through reports on Irwin St NE, Sterling St NE, and Oakdale Rd NE. One's done, two are still in progress.
- Potholes — Open requests on McGill Park Ave NE and at Iverson St & Mell Ave, both still in progress.
- Graffiti Removal — A request at Jackson St & Decatur St is in progress.

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Until next week,
O4W / L5P / Candler Park Busybody

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