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Hey, Southwest Beltline! This week: the Beltline has finally locked down the last land it needs for the full 22-mile loop, and a Green Book hotel that once hosted Thurgood Marshall is now affordable housing. We've also got a paused $68 million jail sale, a packed weekend of music and sports, and a mixed-use project taking shape on Dill Avenue.

- News — The Beltline wraps up a two-decade land push, the WaluhaJe hotel becomes 102 affordable homes, and a new monument will honor the women who shaped Atlanta.
- Events — Charli xcx, the Jonas Brothers, and Weezer hit State Farm Arena, while Atlanta United, the Falcons, a teachers' 5K, and free Beltline fitness classes round out a busy week.
- Government — Fulton County has yet to adopt a tax rate, Atlanta City Council holds the $68 million detention center sale, and several Southwest rezonings are on the table, from Glenn Street to Murphy Triangle.
- Construction — A Dill Avenue building could add affordable housing and a small grocery, while a vape shop, pool projects, and SR 14 bridge work are also on the list.

Let's dive in.

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Atlanta Beltline secures final land to connect 22-mile loop
Atlanta Beltline officials said the agency completed nearly 200 closings, including about 90 property purchases and 230 easements, to secure the rights for the full 22-mile mainline trail. The 4.3-mile Northwest Trail is planned to run from Blandtown to the Lindbergh and Morosgo neighborhoods, and the full loop is scheduled for completion by 2030.

Shanequa Gay's new Beltline monument begins with the women and stories that shaped Atlanta
Atlanta Beltline Art selected Gay, a Spelman College professor, to create a sculpture for the greenspace between Jett Street and Western Avenue along the Westside Beltline Connector. A Sept. 23 symposium at Spelman College was the first public engagement for the project, and installation schedules have not yet been announced.

Historic Green Book hotel becomes affordable housing on Atlanta's west side
The WaluhaJe welcomed Black travelers during segregation and hosted future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. The historic property has been transformed into 102 affordable housing units with supportive services.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens says he's focused on implementing transit plans
The Atlanta City Council voted unanimously to implement light rail on the 22-mile Beltline corridor. In an interview after the Sept. 18 Atlanta Committee for Progress meeting, Dickens said it is time to move from planning to implementing transit, and described a closer relationship between the city and MARTA General Manager Jonathan Hunt, who was named to the role in August.

Citing unanswered questions, City Council delays vote to sell Atlanta's lockup
The council's Finance Committee delayed approving the proposed $68 million sale of the Atlanta City Detention Center to Fulton County, citing questions about funding, proposed renovations and the city's 182 corrections employees. Chief Financial Officer Mohamed Balla said the city spends about $30 million a year on corrections and that negotiations with the county are still underway.

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Monday, October 5
- Comedy with Ryan O’Flanagan | The Garden Club at Wild Heaven West End
- Better Read Than Dead Book Club: Assata | Offbeat Books
- Walk with Ease | Lee + White - Great Lawn
- Networking on the Atlanta Beltline with the YEC | Pittsburgh Yards
- Black Men Run Atlanta | Lee + White

Tuesday, October 6
- Charli xcx – Music, Fashion, Film Tour | State Farm Arena

Thursday, October 8
- Jonas Brothers: The Burning Up Tour All Over Again | State Farm Arena
- CocuSocial x MNG: Hands-on Cooking Class (MYO Sushi) | Lee + White
- Extrinsic, Xenobile, Fleshgrid, Bloodend | Boggs Social & Supply

Friday, October 9
- Sadness & Barbelith & Monterey. | Boggs Social & Supply

Saturday, October 10
- Black Girls Breathing with Jasmine Marie | Offbeat Books
- Atlanta United FC vs. FC Cincinnati | Atlanta’s Stadium
- Weezer – The Gathering | State Farm Arena
- We Love Teachers 5K | Herman Russell West End Academy & ATL Beltline
- ArtBeat Saturday (Youth) | Lee + White - Great Lawn
- Core + More | Pittsburgh Yards -- James Bridges Field
- Pittsburgh Community Market - March 7th to Oct 2026! | Pittsburgh Yards
- Raver Tots - The Ultimate Family Dance Party | Wild Heaven Beer: West End Brewery & Gardens
- Art Out Loud Open Mic Variety Show: Speak Your Truth Edition | Westview Maker Space
- Less Than Xero (Type O negative Tribute) + My God is the Sun (QOTSA Tribute) | Boggs Social & Supply

Sunday, October 11
- Atlanta Falcons v Baltimore Ravens | Atlanta’s Stadium

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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

Fulton County Board of Commissioners
The Fulton County commissioners held a quick, eight-minute special meeting on property taxes. They opened the required public hearing on the 2026 General Fund millage rate, and two residents spoke by Zoom. Commissioners didn't vote to adopt a rate, so your tax bill isn't settled yet. They also voted 4-0 to pull two items from the agenda, a renewal of the county's employee and retiree health insurance contract with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and the 2027 premium rates tied to it. Those items didn't get a discussion, so the health plan decisions for 2027 are still open.

Atlanta City Council
The Finance/Executive Committee voted unanimously to hold the proposed $68 million sale of the city detention center to Fulton County, which the news section above covers, and the measure comes back October 5. That committee also advanced a $325,000 donation to the Gateway Center for homeless services and a $438,005 weapons detection contract. The Transportation Committee approved a string of airport deals, including $4.9 million to extend rental car center maintenance and $640,000 for parking deck design. It also held three street abandonment proposals, plus a proposal for dedicated bike and vehicle lanes along the Beltline, so those fights continue. The Zoning Committee took up a citywide rule requiring a special permit for new self-storage facilities, a full rewrite of the zoning code, and several rezonings, including an industrial site that would shift toward mixed residential and commercial use. The City Utilities Committee took up rules to help residents dispute sudden water bill spikes, plus a $17.5 million transfer for a water storage tank and pump station. The Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee had surveillance technology oversight, vehicle booting fees, and fire inspection fee increases on its agenda. The Community Development/Human Services Committee met on the agenda only, since its minutes aren't published yet, and its list included a 12.6-acre park purchase, tougher tree protections, and a $7.75 million federal lead hazard grant.

Atlanta Public Schools
The Student Advisory Council held a general body meeting at the district's Center for Learning and Leadership. The record shows no formal minutes or votes. Students discussed the district's "Forward 2040" long-term plan, efforts to strengthen core instruction, and updates on the council's standing committees. The district made no decisions on school zoning, contracts, or taxes, so nothing from this session changes anything for your family yet.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

Atlanta City Council
- Ralph D. Abernathy Blvd SW — Temporary construction slope easements along several parcels were introduced on first reading to accommodate Phase II traffic signal enhancements.
- 1200 White St SW — A Comprehensive Development Plan amendment is being proposed to redesignate the parcel from Industrial to Industrial Flex to allow creative office and commercial uses.
- 570 & 574 Glenn St SW and 593 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd SW — The committee discussed a rezoning application to convert 4.56 acres from heavy industrial to mixed residential commercial to permit a new mixed-use development.
- 432 Inman St SW — A rezoning request was discussed to transition the site from single-family residential to neighborhood commercial within the Westview BeltLine overlay.
- Murphy Triangle (1089 Allene Ave SW, 1078 Biglin St SW, 1050 Murphy Ave SW, and 1100 Sylvan Rd SW) — The committee reviewed a proposed rezoning from light industrial to industrial mixed-use to align with the BeltLine Subarea 2 Masterplan.
- 1247 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd SW — The committee reviewed proposed changes of conditions under the site's Community Business District Conditional and BeltLine Overlay zoning.
- 1541 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd SW — A Special Use Permit application was considered to authorize a commercial recreation facility on the property.

Meetings This Week
- Atlanta Public Schools — Board of Education | Oct-05 | key topics: FY2027 property tax levy request, campus renovations at Booker T. Washington High, Towns Elementary property lease
- Atlanta City Council — Committee on Council | Oct-05, 11:30 AM | key topics: police presence at recreation center polling sites, public comment sign-up rules, city board appointments
- Atlanta City Council | Oct-05, 1:00 PM | key topics: self-storage special use permits, Hamilton E. Holmes park acquisition, Glenn Street and Ralph David Abernathy mixed-use rezonings
- Fulton County Board of Commissioners | Oct-07, 10:00 AM | key topics: 2026 property tax millage rate adoption, Camp Creek wastewater facility upgrades, deed theft discussion

CONSTRUCTION

Permits

- 918 Dill Ave SW: Three filings cover one 7,000 square foot, 1-story building. One adds 2 new floors of permanently affordable housing on top. Another turns suites inside into office space. The third converts the corner suite into a small-format grocery. All three are routed for review. If they clear, you'll get new homes, new workspaces, and a place to grab groceries in one building.
- 1298 Donnelly Ave SW: A Cloud 9 smoke and vape shop wants to move into an existing commercial building. The tenant improvement permit is routed for review.
- 950 Garibaldi St SW: Site work for a pool redevelopment, including new concrete paving. The city has asked for additional materials, so this one is paused for now. Expect some construction activity once it moves.
- 840 Woodrow St SW: A new swimming pool for a multifamily apartment property is routed for review. It ties back to an earlier development filing, so the project has been in the works for a while.
- 647 Lawton St SW: A homeowner is replacing a residential driveway after a waste management truck damaged it. If you live nearby, you'll likely hear some concrete work.
- 1402 Epworth St SW: A full electrical rewire of a duplex is issued. It includes a new 150 amp service, about 50 lights, switches and outlets, and several appliance hookups. It's a big overhaul for a small building.

Road Work

Under Construction
- SR 14 @ Beltline Westside Trail — The full length of the SR 14 bridge over the Beltline is being refurbished and reinforced with a concrete lining, extending under MARTA, the CSX railroad and Murphy Avenue.
- SR 14 from Norman Berry Drive to Csx #718047H — Resurfacing of SR 14 to improve the road's low pavement condition score.
- I-20 @ 2 Locs in Fulton County - Bridge Preventative — Bridge rehabilitation at two I-20 locations, including joint and bearing replacement, spall and crack repairs, and repainting of the steel beams.
- I-20 from Linkwood Road to I-85 - Lighting — Crews are swapping the old high-pressure sodium lights along this stretch for energy-efficient LEDs, and may also replace poles, conduit and wiring.

Service Requests
- Downed Trees: Six reports came in on Beecher St SW (two), Gaston St SW, Campbellton Rd SW, Manford Rd and Manor Pl, and Stokes Ave SW. If you drive these streets, watch for debris.
- Overgrown Right of Way: Five reports cover Sylvan Rd and Murphy Ave, Westview Dr and Langhorn St, Athens Ave SW, Holderness St SW, and Oakland Dr SW. Overgrowth on corners can block your view of oncoming traffic.
- Litter Removal: You'll find four reports along Ralph D Abernathy Blvd and Lee St, Joseph E Lowery Blvd SW and Ralph David Abernathy Blvd SW, Dorsey St SW, and Welch St and University Ave SE.
- Traffic Signal Repair: Two non-emergency reports came in for McDaniel St and Rockwell St, and for Donnelly Ave and Oakland Dr.
- Potholes: One report landed on N Olympian Way SW, but it falls outside city limits, so Atlanta won't handle it.

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Until next week,
Southwest Beltline Busybody

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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.