VaHi / Morningside: 404 Day Tragedy and the Return of Dogwood Fest

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Good morning, VaHi and Morningside! Grab your Zyrtec—the "yellow snow" has arrived just in time for the Dogwood Festival and farmers market season. We've also got the scoop on why our neighborhood hardware store is actually the heart of the community. Unfortunately, though, we have to break our “no crime and try to stay positive” rule and talk about the 404 Day tragedy at Piedmont Park this week.

- News — 404 Day tragedy at Piedmont Park and some recognition for both our local Ace Hardware and our favorite neighborhood nature preserve.
- Business — We say a shocking goodbye to a Piedmont Heights school
- Events — The legendary Dogwood Festival is finally back at Piedmont Park, but if crowds aren't your thing, there's everything from mid-week jazz jams to twilight garden strolls.
- Government — Local officials are busy greenlighting high-tech school bus cameras, a $7M jail scrub-down, and a much-needed cash infusion for our pothole-ridden streets.
- Construction — Between a duplex recovery on N. Highland and a swanky new roof office on Orme Circle, the neighborhood (and the I-85 lighting) is getting a major glow-up.

Let's dive in.

NEWS

1 person dead, at least 1 other injured in shooting at Piedmont Park following '404 Day' event (April 05, 2026) We don’t normally post about crime around here, but this tragedy in Piedmont Park is the talk of the neighborhood, and for good reason. In addition to the shooting (and not to minimize tragedy), residents in park-adjacent neighborhoods saw bumper-to-bumper traffic throughout the day. Let’s just hope this sparks some serious reflection from the city as we head into World Cup festivities.

A love letter to the Virginia-Highland Ace Intown Hardware (March 31, 2026)
If you've ever wandered into this North Highland staple for a single lightbulb and left with three new houseplants and a sense of inner peace, you're not alone. This tribute perfectly captures why we skip the big-box stores for a place where the staff actually knows your name (and where the tricky plumbing aisle is). It's basically our neighborhood's version of a community center, just with more mulch.

SPRING BREAK 2026: 5 quick escapes right in metro Atlanta that take you to beautiful places (April 02, 2026) Our very own Morningside Nature Preserve is getting some love. If you didn't join the mass exodus to 30A this week, don't panic—just find some nature for a quick mental reset without the five-hour traffic jam on I-75. Think less "airport chaos" and more "scenic afternoon" while the rest of the city is stuck in security lines.

BUSINESS

Midtown International School - closing - The neighborhood is still reeling after this Piedmont Heights staple suddenly announced it's shutting its doors. It's a tough break for the families and staff who called this campus home, leaving a pretty significant void in our local independent school scene. (March 31, 2026)

EVENTS

This is the one you've been waiting for—the legendary Atlanta Dogwood Festival returns to Piedmont Park this weekend! Clear your schedule for blossoms, art, and the inevitable hunt for the perfect festival snack, as one of our neighborhood's biggest traditions takes over the park.

Monday, April 06
- Spring Break Family Fun | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Well-Seasoned Chef Series: Registration Opens to Public | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Nina Garbus, Chevalier Figure, Sherrill 3, Ethan Pish | The Drunken Unicorn

Tuesday, April 07
- Weekly Walking Club | Piedmont Park
- Garden Playtime | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Drop-In Garden Tours | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Thekidszn with support from Pesodied + Varsity Boys | Smith's Olde Bar

Wednesday, April 08
- Wednesday Jazz Jam | Red Light Cafe
- Storybook & Sensory Bin Time | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Spring Break Family Fun | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Drop-In Garden Tours | Atlanta Botanical Garden

Thursday, April 09
- Garden Grooves | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Twilight in the Garden | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Max Diaz: Tarnation Tour with support from Nocturne's Kiss | Smith's Olde Bar
- Psychic Death, Whiphouse, Black Beach, Lashing | The Drunken Unicorn

Friday, April 10
- Atlanta Dogwood Festival - Friday | Piedmont Park
- Spring Break Family Fun | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- The Saint Cecilia with support from Weekend Evidence | Smith's Olde Bar
- Anthony Gomes | Smith's Olde Bar
- Dead Meadow | The Drunken Unicorn
- Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials | Blind Willie's Blues Club
- Tobiahs (21+ Event) | District Atlanta

Saturday, April 11
- Atlanta Dogwood Festival | Piedmont Park
- The Great Chair Hack of 2026 | Piedmont Park
- Tot Shabbat | Chabad Intown
- Nick Moss Band | Blind Willie's Blues Club
- Jarvis Taylor with special guests The Dammages, and Nero & MaryAnn | Smith's Olde Bar

Sunday, April 12
- Atlanta Dogwood Festival | Piedmont Park
- 🍑 VaHi Farmers Market | Virginia Highland District Association
- Allison Eide: THE idk TOUR wsg Jude Smith | Smith's Olde Bar

GOVERNMENT

Note: it’s an unusually quiet week as many governing bodies take spring break; if you’re new here, you can see what this section usually looks like in prior issues

Past Week Roundup

Atlanta Board of Education
The school board greenlit a broad wave of infrastructure and safety upgrades this spring. Most notably, they signed off on a decade-long deal to let the Inter Atlanta Football Club use and develop the fields at Howard Middle School—a move that likely ensures long-term maintenance for the greenspace. On the safety front, every yellow bus in the district is getting a high-tech makeover with new cameras designed to monitor student activity and catch traffic violations. The board also authorized a significant overhaul of the district's transit logistics hub (replacing the Metropolitan Transportation System) and a multi-site "design-build" contract that will kickstart renovations at several campuses across the city, including kitchen modernizations and HVAC upgrades. A shared parking agreement was approved to ease congestion near one of the district's busier campuses. To help keep teachers and staff from jumping ship, officials also approved a one-time "Appreciation Stipend" as part of a larger push to boost employee retention in a competitive market.

Fulton County Board of Commissioners
It was a heavy week for the county's checkbook, with commissioners focusing on public safety and essential social services. The board approved over $7 million for the county jail, specifically targeting "clinical grade" cleaning and long-overdue maintenance to improve sanitary conditions at the facility. In a win for local drivers, they also added $600,000 to the budget for neighborhood road paving and pothole patching through 2026. The board approved a lease renewal for a senior center, ensuring continued services for older residents in the county. While the board easily approved nearly $1 million to support survivors of domestic violence through legal aid, things got more complicated during the legislative session. A resolution to fund public education regarding voter IDs failed to pass after a split vote, and a request to ask the Governor to veto a specific House bill also fell through due to a lack of participation from several commissioners. Finally, the board set the stage for a special election to fill the vacant District 4 seat, finalizing the fees candidates will need to pay to get on the ballot.

CONSTRUCTION

Permits
- 1265 N Highland Ave NE — Repair work is finally starting on that duplex that had a very unlucky encounter with a large tree. We're talking framing, roofing, and interior fixes—glad to see this neighborhood staple getting some TLC.
- Orme Cir NE — Someone is leveling up their WFH game with a new office addition on an existing roof deck. We can only imagine how good those Morningside views are going to be from the desk.
- 414 Armour Cir NE — Goodbye, modular building! Demolition is underway to clear this spot out. It's the "out with the old" phase, so keep an eye out for construction crews in the area.
- 1925 Monroe Dr NE — The leasing office here is getting a "second generation" renovation. Fresh look, same prime location right near the park.
- 828 Highland Ln NE — Following some major water damage, this spot is getting the works: new cabinets, countertops, flooring, and tile. It's a big project, but it's going to look brand new when the dust settles.
- 1146 Sheridan Rd NE — A lot of behind-the-scenes movement here with electrical upgrades and a major plumbing shuffle involving nine new sinks. Someone's definitely reconfiguring the flow.

Road Work

Under Construction
- I-85 Lighting Upgrades (I-75 to north of Lenox Road) — Say goodbye to those dim, flickering orange glows. Crews are out replacing old high-pressure sodium bulbs with bright, energy-efficient LEDs. Expect to see bucket trucks and potential overnight lane closures along the northern edge of Lindridge-Martin Manor as they swap out poles and wiring.
- SR 13 Resurfacing (Buford Highway from SR 9 to Peachtree Creek) — Our suspensions can finally breathe a sigh of relief. This stretch hasn't been resurfaced since 2012 and has the "low OCI score" to prove it. Work is active to smooth things out, so keep an eye out for crews as you head toward the northern tip of Morningside.
- Buford Spring Connector Tunnel Lighting — If the tunnel under I-85 has felt a bit like a cave lately, help is on the way. They're currently upgrading the lighting to LED and fixing missing wiring. It should make that merge near Ansley Park much clearer and safer for your evening commute.
- SR 236 Signal Upgrades (DeKalb County) — Just over the line at Shepherds Lane, crews are modernizing the signals. Since it's right on the edge of the neighborhood, keep an eye out for technicians messing with the flow of traffic near the Lavista Road corridor.
- SR 9/Peachtree Road Resurfacing (Fulton County) — Heading north toward Buckhead? Maintenance crews are active on the stretch between SR 3 and Paces Ferry Road. It's another project aimed at fixing a failing road surface, so watch for lane shifts and fresh asphalt during off-peak hours.

Construction Work Program
- SR 13 at Monroe Drive Intersection Improvements — Big changes are coming to that awkward spot where Monroe hits the Buford-Spring Connector. GDOT is planning to convert this intersection into a multilane/hybrid roundabout, so start mentally preparing for some new traffic patterns on your way to Ansley Mall.
- I-85 Resurfacing from the Brookwood Interchange to North of SR 155 (Fulton & DeKalb) — This project spans both counties and is going to be a significant heads-up for your commute. They'll be smoothing out the pavement from where the Connector splits all the way up through DeKalb, which likely means some weekend lane-closure fun is in our future.
- I-85 at Piedmont Rd (SR 237) and I-285 at SR 13 Tunnel Lighting (Fulton & DeKalb) — Another multi-county project, this one focuses on upgrading the tunnel lighting. It's a "behind the scenes" fix, but it should make that dark stretch under the interchanges a lot clearer during late-night drives.
- SR 237 (Piedmont Rd) at the CSX Railroad Bridge — Right on the edge of Lindridge-Martin Manor, GDOT is gearing up to replace the bridge over the railroad tracks. Since Piedmont is a main artery for the neighborhood, this is definitely one to watch for potential detours.
- SR 237 (Piedmont Rd) Bridge Rehab and Replacement at Peachtree Creek — We've got a double-whammy coming to the northern end of the neighborhood. There are projects on the books for both a bridge rehabilitation and a full bridge replacement over Peachtree Creek, which could make the drive toward Lindbergh a bit of a squeeze.
- Atlanta BeltLine NE Trail (Lindbergh Center to I-85) — This is the big one for our local walkers and bikers! A 14-foot wide concrete shared-use path is in the works, stretching about 2.7 miles and including several spur trails to help us zip between Lindbergh and the I-85 corridor without needing a car.
- SR 237 (Piedmont Rd) at Lambert Dr — Expect some construction crews near the Buford Highway merge as they install new flush curbs. It's a minor tweak, but every bit of "operational improvement" helps in that high-traffic bottleneck.
- SR 237 (Piedmont Rd) at Lindbergh Drive — New traffic signals and pedestrian facilities are in the "Work Program" phase. This should make crossing the "Piedmont Speedway" on foot a lot less like a game of Frogger.

Service Requests
- Potholes — 12 reports including Johnson Rd NE, Sheridan Rd, Wessyngton Rd & Highland Ave, Armour Dr NE, and Cheshire Bridge Rd NE. Your suspension's worst nightmare is currently haunting about a dozen of our local streets.
- Traffic Signal Repairs — E Rock Springs Rd NE, 10th St NE, and the intersection of Monroe Dr & Amsterdam Ave. Drive safe out there while the city gets the lights back in rhythm.
- Sign Repair & Installation — Spotted on Vance Ave NE, N Highland Ave NE, and two requests at the corner of Ponce de Leon Pl NE & Drewry. Here's hoping for a little more clarity on our commutes.
- Loose Metal Plates — Two separate reports on N Highland Ave NE. That lovely "clack-clack" soundtrack for your morning drive is on the city's to-do list.
- Litter Removal — Crews are needed on Ponce de Leon Pl NE and at the Monroe Dr & Armour Dr junction. Let's keep the neighborhood looking like a postcard, shall we?
- Visibility & Overgrowth — Someone is tackling the wild greenery on Cumberland Rd NE so we can actually see around the corners again.
- Illegal Dumping — An investigation is underway at Drewry St & Highland Greenway. Friendly reminder: the curb is not a trash can.