Hey, neighbors! A little this and that this week, from the brick-clad revival of a Sweet Auburn corner to a seven-story mixed-use building in permit review on Highland Avenue that's heavy on climate-controlled storage (interesting given the self-storage moratorium). Plus, Lucille's opens in Candler Park and local government delivered a busy week of votes.

- News — Sweet Auburn Grande is finally looking like something after 18 months, e-trike digital billboards are headed for the Beltline, and two trail upgrades — mile markers and a new volunteer portal — make the path a little safer and easier to support.
- Business — A landmark Edgewood Avenue building is waking up after years of vacancy, and Lucille’s opens in Candler Park.
- Events — American Football plays Variety Playhouse Thursday, Wax'N'Facts celebrates 50 years Sunday, and soccer watch parties, a Venezuela relief dinner, and the Halal Food Fest round out a packed week.
- Government — Atlanta City Council passed a 180-day self-storage moratorium and shut down a West Paces Ferry rezoning 13-0, while DeKalb approved higher property taxes, stormwater fees, and sanitation bills — and a busy week of committee meetings starts Monday.
- Construction — A seven-story storage-heavy building is in permit review on Highland Ave, Moreland Ave is losing left turns at Arkwright, and overgrowth on Arizona Ave NE drew four separate service requests this week alone.

Let's dive in.

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NEWS

Photos: Brick-clad redo of Auburn Avenue corner rounds into shape
A year and a half after breaking ground, Sweet Auburn Grande is finally looking like something. The project blends infill construction with adaptive reuse at a historic corner, aiming to bring new energy without erasing historic charm.

Flashy e-trike digital billboards are bound for Atlanta streets, Beltline
Atlanta's streets and the Beltline are about to get ads: e-trikes hauling digital billboard screens. Not totally sure we want our Beltline strolls to be “ad-supported”, but we’ll withhold judgement for now.

'Ecstatic' fans celebrate big France victory at Little Five Points watch party
Little Five Points is feeling the World Cup spirit after France's big tournament win. The area's business district did exactly what a great urban neighborhood should, pulling people together around the global event.

New Atlanta Beltline volunteer portal makes it easier for Atlantans to give back
The Atlanta Beltline has launched a new online portal designed to connect volunteers with opportunities faster and with less friction. If you've been meaning to get involved but never quite figured out where to start, this is your easiest on-ramp yet.

New mile markers on Atlanta Beltline aim to minimize emergency response times
The Beltline now has mile markers installed along the trail, giving emergency responders a precise way to locate someone in distress without guessing. It's a straightforward way to make the trail a little more safe.

Delivery Robots Can Move Faster on Atlanta Sidewalks After New July 1 Law
A new state law that took effect July 1 raised the top speed for autonomous delivery robots on Atlanta sidewalks from 4 mph to 7 mph. You'll still share the pavement with them, just at a slightly brisker pace than before.

BUSINESS

Edgewood Avenue Landmark Building - renovating - Construction is underway on a long-vacant, architecturally distinctive building on Edgewood Avenue where Old Fourth Ward meets Sweet Auburn.

Lucille's - opening - The gift shop focused on inclusivity and body positivity just opened on Clifton and McClendon; if you’re in or near the Candler Park area, go check it out!

EVENTS | Presented by

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Monday, July 13
- Atlanta Chefs Rally for Venezuela Earthquake Relief at Tio Lucho's | Tio Lucho's
- CPNO Board Meeting July | Candler Park
- Atlanta Run Club: Monday Night Runs | Ponce City Market

Tuesday, July 14
- Sunset Tree Tour: Atlanta Beltline Arboretum Eastside Trail | Inman Perk Coffee
- Karen Torghele | Jimmy Carter Presidential Library
- Goals + Glory: Semifinals | New Realm Brewing

Wednesday, July 15
- Open Mic Night | New Realm Brewing
- Trojan G.O.A.T. Semi Spectacle Watch Party | Brewhouse Cafe
- First Day Back & Ethel Meserve | Aisle 5

Thursday, July 16
- American Football - Band | Variety Playhouse
- Food & Street Art Tour on the Atlanta Beltline | 99 Krog St NE
- Welcome Y'all: 2026 Sunday Assembly Conference | The Supermarket
- Y'allmark Christmas in July! | Dad's Garage

Friday, July 17
- feeble little horse: bitknot tour | Variety Playhouse
- Tommy Davidson | City Winery Atlanta
- Olive d'Nightlife: Bingo After Dark | Wylie Hotel Atlanta
- Only Improv in the Building | Dad's Garage

Saturday, July 18
- Atlanta Summer Halal Food Fest – A Global Culinary & Cultural Experience | Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark
- Dexter and the Moonrocks | Variety Playhouse
- Plants on the Beltline | Common Ground
- Wowie Zowie | Dad's Garage
- TheatreSports | Dad's Garage
- Blooms Art Class: Dragons | Ponce City Market
- Sunset Sessions | New Realm Brewing
- Goals + Glory: Championship Match | New Realm Brewing
- Dinosaur Birthday Bash | Fernbank Museum of Natural History

Sunday, July 19
- Wax'N'Facts 50th Anniversary Concert | Variety Playhouse
- Barks & Bites: Beltline Doggie Crawl | Krog Street Market
- Family Nature Walk | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Wombo | Aisle 5

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

As covered in today's news section, the council approved a 180-day citywide moratorium on new self-storage facilities while the city revisits its zoning rules for them. Beyond that, the council voted 13-0 to deny a rezoning request near West Paces Ferry Road that would have replaced large-lot single-family land with a denser planned development, and approved a $62.9 million contract with Delta Air Lines for enabling work on a new Concourse E lounge at Hartsfield-Jackson. The committee also cleared the way for a November ballot measure asking Fulton County voters whether to continue the 1% educational sales tax (E-SPLOST), which directly affects your county tax bill and school funding. Two items that didn't cross the finish line yet: a proposal to establish a formal Office of Short-Term Rentals with a strict licensing registry, and a new policy allowing the city to force forensic financial audits of alcohol-licensed businesses during active police investigations, both of which were held in committee for further review.

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners

DeKalb homeowners will feel this week's meeting in their wallets: the Board approved the 2026 property tax millage rates and budget revisions, and signed off on fee increases for both stormwater utility and residential sanitation services, mainly to support a significant investment in affordable housing. On the environmental front, the Board extended a moratorium on new or expanded data centers in Districts 1 and 5, a move aimed at limiting heavy industrial development near residential areas. The Board also awarded a $20.5 million contract to Arcadis U.S., Inc. for construction management on a major expansion of the Snapfinger Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility, a long-term infrastructure investment that keeps the county's water systems up to capacity. Several contentious items got pushed to later dates, including a proposed ordinance regulating construction blasting near homes, a measure restricting pet shop sales of dogs, cats, and rabbits, and updates to the county's noise ordinance, all of which are now scheduled to return in committee within the next few weeks. A planned $4.1 million contract for trail design extensions near South River and Flakes Mill Road was also deferred and will come back on July 14.

DeKalb County Planning Commission

The Planning Commission wrapped up a busy July 7 session with a stack of zoning recommendations that now head to the Board of Commissioners for a final vote on August 13. The biggest residential decision was a 7-1 vote to recommend approval of a townhome rezoning on Chamblee-Tucker Road, with a 25% rental cap and a required rear buffer fence attached as conditions. The commission went the other direction on a proposed package store on Covington Highway, recommending denial 8-0, and also recommended against a pair of single-family subdivision proposals on Henrico Road, with two commissioners abstaining from both votes. Several home-based daycare applications cleared the commission with unanimous approval, each tied to strict conditions around facility distances and fencing requirements. County-initiated rezoning cleanup efforts along Henrico Road were deferred three full cycles and won't return until January 2027.

Meetings This Week
- DeKalb County School District — Board of Education | Jul-13 | key topics: $15M K-12 social studies curriculum purchase, $3M district-wide roofing repairs, new AI classroom policy, $750K lighting upgrade at Lakeside High School
- Atlanta City Council — Zoning Committee | Jul-13, 11:00 AM | key topics: 686 Highland Ave NE rezoning from R-5/BL to C-2/BL is on the agenda, 774–794 Ponce de Leon Ave NE mixed-use rezoning to MRC-3/BL is scheduled for review, self-storage citywide special-use-permit requirement, Peachtree Circle Historic District designation
- Atlanta City Council — Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee | Jul-13, 1:00 PM | key topics: alcohol license fee increases, forensic audit authority for licensed establishments, 1246 Ponce de Leon Ave NE property damage claim is on the agenda, Edgewood Corridor alcohol moratorium remains held
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Board of Commissioners | Jul-14, 9:00 AM | key topics: $233M Scott Candler Water Treatment Plant overhaul, data center development moratorium, N. Decatur Rd & Ridgewood Dr pedestrian crosswalk is scheduled for a vote, trail extensions for Michelle Obama Trail and South River Trail
- Atlanta City Council — City Utilities Committee | Jul-14, 10:00 AM | key topics: $1.77M Roswell Road utility prep for GDOT resurfacing, $15.6M Flint River Pump Station overhaul, $2M Chastain Park stream restoration, solid waste fee adjustments
- Atlanta City Council — Community Development/Human Services Committee | Jul-14, 1:30 PM | key topics: free city pool admission ordinance, $1M park security contract renewal, new youth community center at Center Hill Park, short-term rental office legislation remains held
- Atlanta City Council — Transportation Committee | Jul-15, 10:00 AM | key topics: Jesse Hill Jr. Drive pedestrian plaza near Grady Hospital, 0 Ponce de Leon Ave NE GDOT construction easement for Lullwater Creek Bridge rehabilitation is on the agenda, $2.89M unpaved roads paving contract, PATH 400 trail funding adjustment
- Fulton County Board of Commissioners — Board of Commissioners | Jul-15, 10:00 AM | key topics: 515 John Wesley Dobbs Ave NE HVAC overhaul is scheduled for a vote, 2026 property tax fast-track collection resolution, $9.5M North Fulton behavioral health facility grant, Roswell Road utility adjustments for GDOT resurfacing
- Atlanta City Council — Finance/Executive Committee | Jul-15, 1:30 PM | key topics: FY 2027 property tax rates including BeltLine special district levy, Plaza Theatre $12K alcohol license fee refund is on the agenda, 2028 Democratic National Convention coordination agreements, DeKalb annexations and Atlanta Public Schools boundary expansions

CONSTRUCTION

Permits

- 315 Highland Ave NE — A seven-story mixed-use building is in review. At 110,000+ square feet, it includes nearly 94,000 square feet of climate-controlled storage space. More details to come once the city finishes its review.
- 675 Ponce de Leon Ave NE — Multiple permits issued here in recent weeks covering electrical, plumbing, and fire sprinkler work. Looks like a tenant build-out is moving forward at PCM.
- 586 Candler Park Dr NE — Mary Lin Elementary is adding an outdoor classroom. Landscaping work is coming, so expect some activity around the school grounds.
- 978 N Ave NE — Highland School Lofts is replacing its front door. The project cleared historical review, so no structural work involved.
- 620 Pkwy Dr NE — Limited demolition is underway at this multifamily property, including walls, doors, and mechanical systems. Routine interior gut work, but worth knowing if you're nearby.

Beyond those, the week's remaining permits are mostly routine residential, including HVAC replacements, electrical updates, and water heater swaps across the area.

Road Work

Under Construction
- SR 42 / Moreland Ave at Arkwright Place (Fulton County) Crews are converting this intersection into a right-in/right-out configuration by installing a median that eliminates left turns in both directions.
- SR 8 Resurfacing from SR 3 to SR 42 (Fulton County) Repaving is underway along this corridor. Expect lane disruptions during active work hours.
- SR 154 Pedestrian Improvements, DeKalb and Fulton Counties Work is active at multiple locations along SR 154, adding a mid-block pedestrian crossing, a right-in/right-out, and a restricted crossing U-turn between Hill Street and Pearl Street.
- I-20 Lighting Upgrade from Capitol Ave to Flat Shoals Road (DeKalb and Fulton Counties) Crews are swapping out older HPS lighting for LED fixtures along this stretch of I-20. Work may include pole and conduit replacements, so watch for activity on the shoulders.
- I-75 Tunnel Lighting Upgrade at Ralph McGill Blvd and Baker Street (Fulton County) The tunnels here are getting an LED lighting overhaul. Expect some lane or shoulder work as crews replace conduit and wiring inside the tunnels.

Utility Work

Atlanta Watershed
- Stormwater Improvements Closing Lanes on Martin Street SE — Temporary lane closures are planned on Martin Street SE between Little Street SE and nearby cross streets for stormwater infrastructure work until July 24th. Plan for slowdowns if you're traveling through that stretch.

Service Requests

- Right of Way Overgrowth — Arizona Ave NE (4 reports), Glen Iris Dr NE, and John Lewis Freedom Pkwy at Ponce de Leon Ave NE
- Downed Trees — Oakdale Rd NE at N Ave, Ralph McGill Blvd at Central Park Pl, McGill Pl NE, Ralph McGill Blvd NE, and Somerset Ter NE
- Traffic Signal Repairs — Euclid Ave at Austin Ave, Grant St at Decatur St, and Edgewood Ave at Krog St, all in progress
- Litter Removal — Moreland Ave at Fairview Rd and DeKalb Ave at Krog St
- Sign Repair — Bonaventure Ave at N Ave
- Pothole — Fairview Rd NE at Moreland Ave (closed)

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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.