O4W / L5P / Candler Park: Edgewood Ave Bars and a Self-Storage Ban

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Hey O4W, L5P, and Candler Park! Big week for the neighborhood, with two moves out of City Hall that could reshape how this part of Atlanta grows: a proposed moratorium on new Edgewood Avenue liquor licenses and Mayor Dickens' citywide ban on new self-storage projects. Meanwhile, Joystick Game Bar and Guac y Margys are both closing after a combined 23 years, and your Fourth of July weekend is absolutely packed. Read on for everything you need to know.

- News — A proposed liquor license freeze on Edgewood Ave is gaining urgency after a string of shootings, Mayor Dickens bans new self-storage citywide, and a Beltline trail connection is finally showing real progress.
- Business — Two neighborhood institutions are gone: Joystick (14 years) and Guac y Margys (9 years), while Ponce City Market welcomes a new mezcal bar and an Alo Yoga is on the way.
- Events — The Peachtree Road Race, PCM rooftop rodeos, and an America 250 celebration at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library highlight a jam-packed July 4th weekend.
- Government — Atlanta City Council held six sessions in one week, covering everything from a 9-0 bond vote to the Edgewood moratorium to a citywide storage ban, while NPU-N and NPU-M both met with packed agendas that include fall festival approvals and a key Highland Ave rezoning.
- Construction — PCM is getting some interior work done, Moreland at Arkwright is going right-in/right-out, and potholes are stacking up along the entire Boulevard corridor.

Let's dive in.

NEWS

Atlanta City Council urged to address ongoing safety issues in Edgewood Avenue nightlife district
Residents and community leaders are pressing the Atlanta City Council to take meaningful action on a pattern of violence that has plagued the Edgewood Avenue nightlife strip. The calls are adding urgency to the liquor license moratorium discussion, and making clear that for many neighbors, this is about more than just noise complaints.

Crews work to repair water main break along busy stretch of Sweet Auburn
A water main break at 339 Edgewood Avenue sent watershed crews scrambling last week, cutting service to businesses in the heart of Sweet Auburn. It's a frustrating but familiar story for a neighborhood whose aging infrastructure keeps struggling to keep pace with its resurgence.

Despite slow construction, Beltline connection's completion on horizon
The long-delayed project linking the Trolley Line Trail to the Atlanta Beltline is finally showing signs of progress, even if the pace has tested residents' patience. Once complete, the connection will be a genuine quality-of-life win for Moreland pedestrians.

Mayor Andre Dickens issues moratorium on new self-storage projects across Atlanta
Mayor Andre Dickens has signed an executive order halting new self-storage development across the city, a move that lands squarely in line with what neighborhood advocates in fast-growing corridors have been demanding for years. In areas where every vacant lot is a battleground between housing, retail, and dead-end storage units, this policy shift matters.

10 spectacular things to do this Fourth of July weekend in Atlanta
As Atlanta prepares to celebrate America's 250th anniversary, major festivities are set to take place all over the metro area, highlighted by the iconic Peachtree Road Race. If you're in town this weekend, get out and celebrate!

BUSINESS

Guac y Margys - closing - After nine years of tacos and margaritas, this neighborhood staple is shutting down its remaining locations, including its spot at SPX Alley along the Eastside Beltline — a tough loss for anyone who made it a post-walk ritual.

Joystick Game Bar - closing - Fourteen years is a good run for any bar, let alone one built around arcade cabinets and cheap beer, but the beloved gaming bar is calling it.

Alo Yoga - opening - The California-based athletic apparel brand is coming to Ponce City Market this fall, adding another retail anchor to a building that already has a gravitational pull of its own.

La Cueva - opening - A new mezcal cocktail bar has landed at Ponce City Market, pairing live music with Mexican botanas and heartier dishes, exactly the kind of place that turns a quick drink into a whole evening.

EVENTS | Presented by

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The Fourth of July falls on a Saturday this year, and our neighborhoods are at the center of the action. The Peachtree Road Race — America's largest 10K — rolls through just north of here on July 4th, so plan your morning accordingly if you're running, spectating, or just trying to get somewhere. The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library also has a day full of family-friendly activities celebrating America 250.

Monday, June 29
- Atlanta Run Club: Monday Night Runs | Ponce City Market
- AJ McQueen | City Winery Atlanta

Tuesday, June 30
- the Bonnevilles - The Redline North American Tour | Variety Playhouse
- Author Panel | Jimmy Carter Presidential Library
- Live Animal Encounter | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Bug Hunter / The Narcissist Cookbook + Jam Mechanics | The Masquerade

Wednesday, July 1
- Messing & Lehr | Dad's Garage
- Dino Talk | Fernbank Museum of Natural History

Thursday, July 2
- Y'allmark Christmas in July! | Dad's Garage
- Food & Street Art Tour on the Atlanta Beltline | 99 Krog St NE
- Live Animal Encounter | Fernbank Museum of Natural History

Friday, July 3
- Sweet Auburn Barbecue Serves Up Fourth of July Favorites and a Patriotic Drag Brunch | Sweet Auburn BBQ
- Only Improv in the Building | Dad's Garage
- Dice of Destiny | Dad's Garage
- Food & Street Art Tour on the Atlanta Beltline | 99 Krog St NE

Saturday, July 4
- 4th of July Parade and Block party! | Druid Hills Civic Association Events
- Rooftop Rodeo | Ponce City Market
- Summer Days: A Fourth of July Bash | New Realm Brewing
- TWO urban licks Celebrates America's TWO50th Birthday | TWO urban licks
- 4th Of July | Bantam Pub
- Fourth of July Family Day | Jimmy Carter Presidential Library
- Denise Kiernan | Jimmy Carter Presidential Library
- Food & Street Art Tour on the Atlanta Beltline | 99 Krog St NE
- Meet a Ranger | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Live Animal Encounter | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Peachtree Road Race | Lenox to Piedmont Park

Sunday, July 5
- Candler Park Soccer Watch Party | Candler Park
- Barks & Bites: Beltline Doggie Crawl | Krog Street Market
- Family Nature Walk | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Dino Talk | Fernbank Museum of Natural History

GOVERNMENT

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

Past Week Roundup

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners

At its June 23 meeting, the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners rejected two significant development proposals: a county-wide text amendment that would have established zoning standards and definitions for data centers in industrial and office districts, and a developer's request to rezone a parcel for a new 12-home subdivision. On the approvals side, commissioners passed an update to the county code that levies an excise tax on short-term rentals and clarifies related zoning provisions, with planning staff directed to report back in six months. A critical decision on the 2026 property tax millage rates and budget revisions was deferred to the Finance, Audit & Budget Committee until July 7, while proposed hikes to residential and commercial sanitation fees and stormwater utility rates were similarly punted to early July. More than $4 million in trail design contracts — including work on the South River Trail and North Fork Peachtree Creek Trail — were also deferred to the Public Works & Infrastructure Committee until July 14, meaning residents won't see movement on those projects for at least another month. On a positive note, the board approved a $1.2 million contract with Trusted Hands Senior Care to assist seniors with daily living needs, and signed off on an implementation plan for a day center supporting residents experiencing homelessness. A June 26 Committee of the Whole session was also on the calendar, though no documents or minutes from that meeting are available.

NPU-N

Neighborhood Planning Unit N held its monthly meeting on June 25, 2026, but because official minutes have not been posted, it is not yet known what was actually decided — any item on the agenda may have been approved, denied, tabled, or withdrawn. The published agenda included alcohol license applications for several local restaurants, including new licenses for two eateries and patio expansion requests for two existing neighborhood staples. Also on the docket were special event applications for the Candler Park FIFA World Cup Watch Party on July 5, the Reynoldstown Wheelbarrow Festival in September, and the Candler Park Fall Festival in October — all of which require NPU support to move forward. NPU-N members were also asked to weigh in on neighboring events including the Atlanta Hip Hop Day Festival and a series of major fall gatherings at Historic Oakland Cemetery. Additionally, the NPU announced adjusted year-end meeting dates to accommodate holidays, moving both the November and December meetings to Monday evenings. Residents who want to know how any of these items were actually voted on should check back once the City of Atlanta publishes the official minutes.

NPU-M

Neighborhood Planning Unit M met virtually on June 22, 2026, with a packed agenda, but because official minutes have not been posted, the outcomes of all votes remain unknown — items may have been approved, denied, deferred, or withdrawn. A headline zoning case was scheduled for consideration: a request to rezone a property on Highland Avenue NE from two-family residential (R-5) to Commercial Service (C-2), a shift that would open the door to retail or office uses on a currently residential stretch and has a public hearing before the Zoning Review Board tentatively set for August. Several new restaurant alcohol licenses were up for NPU review, along with ownership changes at existing establishments. The agenda was also heavy with summer and fall event applications, including the 12th Annual Cool Dads Rock Soapbox Derby Festival, the Edgewood Street Fair, the Sweet Auburn Music Festival, and the Atlanta Hip Hop Day Festival at Historic Fourth Ward Park. Residents concerned about any of these items should contact NPU-M Chairperson Kyle Kessler or watch for the official minutes to be released by the City of Atlanta.

Atlanta City Council

Atlanta's City Council and its committees were exceptionally busy this week, holding six separate sessions covering everything from bond financing to zoning to public safety. In a brief Special Called Meeting on June 24, the full Council voted unanimously 9-0 to approve $8 million in General Obligation bonds split evenly between FY2026 and FY2027, with both tranches placed directly with Huntington National Bank — a fast-tracked financing move sent immediately to the Mayor for signature. The Finance/Executive Committee took up a sweeping agenda that included a proposed resolution asking Fulton County to commit $200 million toward healthcare expansion on the Southside and Westside, a proposal to set FY2027 property tax rates across all city levies, and an ordinance that would allow the city to add surcharges on electronic payments — all of which were on the agenda but have not yet resulted in confirmed final outcomes at the full council level. The Transportation Committee reviewed a proposal to permanently close a segment of Jesse Hill Jr. Drive SE near Grady Hospital to create a pedestrian plaza, considered a resolution requesting renegotiation of the "More MARTA" transit agreement, and took up a $3.6 million state grant for Peachtree Street improvements and a $2.63 million safe streets design contract — all with minutes posted confirming the committee processed these items. The Community Development/Human Services Committee considered ordinances to codify free admission at all city pools, establish an Office of Short-Term Rentals, and fund a $250,000 transit-oriented study near the Ashby MARTA Station, while the City Utilities Committee reviewed a $2 million Chastain Park stream restoration transfer, a nearly $1.9 million wetlands land acquisition, and over $36 million in emergency water and sewer repair contract renewals. The Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee approved a $3.39 million land purchase from MARTA for a new Lindbergh-area EMS/Fire Station, passed a controversial 3-2 vote granting the CFO authority to require forensic audits of alcohol-licensed businesses under APD investigation, and ratified a retroactive lease keeping the APD Zone 6 precinct on Hosea Williams Drive — while holding in committee both the proposed Edgewood Corridor alcohol moratorium and a surveillance technology transparency ordinance. At the Zoning Committee, members voted 7-0 to recommend denial of an 11-acre Buckhead planned development rezoning, unanimously backed a citywide 180-day moratorium on new storage facility permits, and deferred a wave of duplex, mixed-use, and industrial rezoning cases back to committee for further review.

Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education

The Atlanta Public Schools Policy Review Committee met on June 23, 2026, but because official minutes have not been posted, no confirmed votes or final decisions are on record — all agenda items should be considered still under review. The committee was slated to approve a new Electronic Payments and Funds Transfer Policy and discuss updates to the Student Technology Use and Instructional Materials Policy, which governs how students interact with devices and digital content in classrooms. Perhaps most significant for neighborhood residents was a discussion on Facility Repurposing and Community Asset Stewardship — a policy that shapes what happens to vacant or underused school buildings, a question with direct implications for local neighborhoods where shuttered school properties sit. No specific properties or vote outcomes were documented in the available record, so residents with a stake in any of these issues should monitor the district for publication of official minutes.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

Atlanta City Council — Transportation Committee
- 0 Ponce de Leon Ave NE — A temporary construction easement (383 sq. ft.) on this DeKalb County parcel was discussed in committee, proposed to be granted to the Georgia DOT to support the Lullwater Creek Bridge Rehabilitation Project.
- 331 Elizabeth St NE — An encroachment agreement allowing an existing overhead canopy to extend into the public right-of-way above this address was considered by the committee.

CONSTRUCTION

Permits

- 675 Ponce de Leon Ave NE (Ponce City Market) — Multiple permits filed simultaneously: HVAC renovations, plumbing work, and fire sprinkler upgrades, all pending review. When a building pulls this many mechanical permits at once, a significant interior overhaul is underway. Worth watching.
- 619 Ponce de Leon Ave NE — Sprinkler heads added and relocated to code. Routine compliance work, but signals active occupancy prep on the corridor.
- 537 Ponce de Leon Ave NE — Electrical permit pending for a new illuminated sign, with dedicated conduit run from panel. Someone's getting ready to make themselves visible on Ponce.
- 644 N Highland Ave NE — Kitchen exhaust hood installation permitted. A new or refreshed food operation coming to North Highland.
- 400 Merritts Ave NE — Two electrical permits issued: one for a 40kW generator, one running power to a restroom facility in Central Park. The Throne Lab pop-up restroom situation at the park is getting a proper electrical hookup.

On the residential side, 35 routine permits filed across the area — mostly HVAC replacements, electrical updates, and minor home alterations, totaling around $38K. Nothing dramatic, just the usual summer upkeep.

Road Work

Under Construction
- SR 42 / Moreland Ave at Arkwright Place (Fulton County) — Intersection work is underway to convert this junction into a right-in/right-out configuration, with a new median eliminating all left turns. If you're cutting through this corner of Moreland, start practicing your U-turns now.
- SR 8 / Ponce de Leon Ave Resurfacing (Fulton County) — Resurfacing work is active along SR 8 from SR 3 to SR 42, a stretch that runs right through the heart of the neighborhood. Expect lane disruptions during work hours.
- SR 154 / DeKalb Ave Pedestrian & Safety Improvements (DeKalb + Fulton) — This multi-location project adds a mid-block pedestrian crossing, a right-in/right-out restriction, and a Restricted Crossing U-Turn (RCUT) between Hill Street and Pearl Street along DeKalb Ave. Heads up for anyone walking or biking this corridor — and drivers, expect some changed movement patterns.
- I-20 Lighting Upgrade, Capitol Ave to Flat Shoals Rd (DeKalb + Fulton) — Crews are swapping out old high-pressure sodium lights for LED fixtures along this I-20 stretch. Mostly a nighttime disruption risk, but watch for equipment and lane shifts near the Fulton/DeKalb line.
- I-75 Tunnel Lighting Upgrade at Ralph McGill Blvd & Baker St (Fulton County) — LED lighting upgrades are underway inside the I-75 tunnels near Ralph McGill. If this is part of your downtown commute, expect occasional lane squeezes.

Utility Work

Atlanta Watershed
- Sewer Lateral Repair on Moreland Avenue SE (Jun 23) — Emergency lane closure on Moreland Ave SE for a sewer lateral repair today and tomorrow 8-3.

Service Requests

Potholes are popping up across the Boulevard corridor — reports filed at Blvd SE & Auburn Ave NE, Blvd & Irwin St, Blvd & Auburn Ave, and John Wesley Dobbs Ave & Blvd, plus Moreland Ave & Euclid Ave and two additional locations. Traffic signals are also getting attention: non-emergency repairs requested at DeGress Ave & DeKalb Ave (two separate reports), N. Decatur Rd & Briarcliff Rd, Edgewood Ave & Blvd, and SR 42 (Briarcliff Rd) & St. Charles Pl, while emergency-level signal issues were flagged at Freedom Pkwy & North Ave, Highland Ave & Pkwy Dr, North Ave & Moreland Ave, and Moreland Ave NE. Overgrowth in the right of way was reported at Seminole Ave NE (twice), Somerset Terrace NE, and Euclid Ave & Sterling St. Litter removal requests came in along Ralph McGill Blvd NE and Airline St & Ezzard St. Two downed trees were reported — one on Hale St NE and one on Sterling St NE, the latter flagged as the property owner's responsibility. Finally, a sign repair or replacement was requested on Corley St NE.

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Until next week,
O4W / L5P / Candler Park Busybody

Disclaimer: We use advanced data retrieval and analysis techniques across hundreds of sources, and may be prone to occasional error. Independently verify information with a secondary source, and please let us know if we got anything wrong via the feedback form.

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