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Hey, VaHi / Morningside! This week: the Atlanta Botanical Garden announced a $160 million expansion that'll give it direct Beltline access by 2028, and the Atlanta Symphony is bringing its free Piedmont Park concert back on September 9. Add in a City Council discussion over data center regulations, a $57M trash contract, and a Ponce salon turning into a clothing store, and there's plenty to catch up on.

- News — The Botanical Garden's big Beltline reveal, a free ASO concert announcement, and Atlanta Council's new push to rein in data centers.
- Events — From jazz jams and garden cocktails to MJQ shows and a vintage market, the week's calendar is stacked with music and outdoor fun.
- Government — Fulton weighs handing senior transit to MARTA, Atlanta Council locks in airport bonds and a $57M trash deal, and zoning committees tackle Upper Westside rezonings and self-storage rules.
- Construction — A Ponce salon is becoming a retail shop, Cheshire Bridge gets dueling HVAC upgrades, and I-85 is getting a corridor-wide LED lighting overhaul.

Let's dive in.

NEWS

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra returns to Piedmont Park for free concert on Sept. 9
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra's annual free community concert, themed "The City in the Forest," is set for Wednesday, September 9, and will feature classical selections from Beethoven, Mozart, and Vivaldi.

Atlanta Botanical Garden plans $160M Beltline expansion, direct access by 2028
The $160 million expansion will give the garden a direct connection to the Atlanta Beltline by 2028, making it the first major cultural institution with seamless Beltline entry and improving pedestrian and bicycle access for Midtown and Ansley Park.

Atlanta eyes new rules for data centers amid community concerns
Atlanta City Council members have introduced legislation to impose stricter regulations and roll back tax incentives for new data centers, citing concerns over energy usage, water demand, and environmental impacts.

Programs help break barriers to home ownership for eligible Atlanta residents
Atlanta Housing and HouseATL are offering down payment assistance programs providing tens of thousands of dollars to eligible first-time homebuyers across the city.

EVENTS | Presented by

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Monday, August 24
- AgLanta Eats: Neighbors + Flavors | Atlanta Botanical Garden

Tuesday, August 25
- Chophouse Booking Presents: Gasket | The Supermarket
- Garden Playtime | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Fig Season, Alley Rainy, Medievil Architecture, Perfect Emerald | MJQ Concourse

Wednesday, August 26
- In The Wild Atlanta: Fetch A Date Mixer | Park Tavern
- Wednesday Jazz Jam - Gordon Vernick Quartet | Red Light Cafe

Thursday, August 27
- Leannán Shi & Frigga Five | Smith's Olde Bar
- Healing Gems | MJQ Concourse
- Cocktails in the Garden | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Georgia Grown Dinners: Laura Orellana-Martin | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- BATA! BATA | MJQ Concourse
- The Supermarket and Videodrome Present: NUMBSKULL REVOLUTION | The Supermarket ATL

Friday, August 28
- Dr. Tyrone Jackson and Friends: Jazz on the Lawn | Callanwolde Fine Arts Center
- Homeschool Day | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Shows for Seedlings: Taiko & Dance: The Spirit of Okinawa with Mirai Kanai | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- GRAVAGERZ | District Atlanta
- Canaan Cox: We Out Here Tour with special guest DIANA | Smith's Olde Bar

Saturday, August 29
- Alannah McCready | Smith's Olde Bar
- Green Market | Dockside
- Sip & See: Water Gardening Demo | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Student Spotlight Showcase | The Creatorspace
- Frog Feeding | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Garden Chef Demos | Atlanta Botanical Garden

Sunday, August 30
- Bourbon & Brew Tour Experience | ASW Distillery
- Reclaimed ATL: Vintage and Artisan Market | The Supermarket ATL
- Where I Wanna Be: Album Release Show | The Supermarket ATL
- Ghalia Volt at Smith's Olde Bar | Smith's Olde Bar

GOVERNMENT

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
Commissioners voted to start negotiations with MARTA to fully fund and possibly take over operating Fulton's Senior Transportation Program, a move that could reshape how older residents get around the county. They also approved a bond deal with the Fulton DeKalb Hospital Authority to build a new Behavioral Health Crisis Center for indigent patients, a major step toward expanding mental health care access. The board approved a grant to stabilize the historic St. Mark AME Church before further structural damage occurs, and voted to fold two separate court technology funds into the county's general fund to centralize how that money gets managed. On the spending side, commissioners renewed a $2.4 million landscaping contract for county properties and approved a $1.6 million elevator overhaul at the Juvenile Justice Center. Finally, the board reappointed several top county officials, including the county manager and county attorney, following a closed executive session on pay.

Atlanta City Council
The council approved up to $1.3 billion in bonds for airport capital improvements and a $200 million refinancing package for Mercedes-Benz Stadium that will lower the city's annual debt payments. Members also voted 12-1 to adjust solid waste fees and backyard collection rules, then separately awarded a three-year, $57.2 million trash collection contract to Waste Management of Georgia. Two big infrastructure deals moved forward too, a $99 million fund for small-scale street and transit repairs across the city and a $25 million contract to renew aging drinking water infrastructure. As covered in today's news section, a proposal to create a data center task force got sent back to committee instead of passing outright. Separately, the Committee on Council advanced two mayoral board appointments but kept several reform proposals on hold, including a charter change requiring named sponsors on legislation, a push for an independent investigation into city contracts tied to Foris Webb III, and a proposed council civility pledge. Those held items mean residents will have to wait longer for any movement on council transparency and ethics rules.

Meetings This Week
- Atlanta City Council — Zoning Committee | Aug-24, 11:00 AM | key topics: Upper Westside industrial-to-mixed-use rezonings, Ponce de Leon mixed-use redevelopment, Peachtree Circle historic district overlay, citywide self-storage restrictions
- Atlanta City Council — Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee | Aug-24, 1:00 PM | key topics: $40M police camera and fleet equipment expansion, study on creating a 7th APD patrol zone, alcohol license fee schedule adjustments
- Atlanta City Council — City Utilities Committee | Aug-25, 10:00 AM | key topics: ban on municipal potable water for data center cooling, creation of a Data Center Task Force, Chastain Park stream restoration funding
- Atlanta City Council — Community Development/Human Services Committee | Aug-25, 1:30 PM | key topics: Comprehensive Development Plan amendments along Ponce de Leon Avenue and Decatur Street, Westside blighted property condemnations, afterschool program renewals
- Atlanta City Council — Transportation Committee | Aug-26, 10:00 AM | key topics: $7M in grants for BeltLine Southside Trail Segment 6, Buckhead neighborhood street resurfacing agreement, school traffic calming near Sarah Smith Elementary
- Atlanta City Council — Finance/Executive Committee | Aug-26, 1:30 PM | key topics: restrictions on tax delinquent data centers, FY2027 property tax rates, MOST water and sewer sales tax task force, Old Fire Station 22 lease

CONSTRUCTION

Permits
- 736 Ponce de Leon Ave NE — A salon is becoming a retail clothing store. The permit calls for minor interior changes only, so expect a quick turnaround before something new opens on Ponce.
- 1345 Piedmont Ave NE — Crews are installing a 200A panel to power ongoing construction work at the site. This is a signal that a bigger project is underway or coming soon.
- 2173 Piedmont Rd NE — A new fire alarm system is going in, complete with sprinkler monitoring and pull stations at every exit. That's a serious life-safety upgrade for whatever business occupies this building.
- Virginia Ave NE — A homeowner is expanding the front porch, converting the back porch into conditioned space, and adding an office above it plus a mudroom. It's a substantial residential addition that'll bring some construction noise to the block.
- 2124 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE and 2349 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE — Two separate HVAC swaps are happening along the corridor, with one property also upgrading its electrical to handle the new equipment. Routine maintenance, but worth knowing if you're nearby and hear compressor work.

Road Work

Under Construction
- I-85 from I-75 to N of Lenox Road, Lighting — Crews are swapping out old HPS lighting for energy-efficient LED fixtures along this corridor. The work may also include pole and conduit replacement.
- Buford Spring Connector at I-85, Tunnel Lighting — This project upgrades the tunnel's HPS lighting to LED fixtures, with possible conduit and wiring replacement as part of the scope.
- SR 236 / LaVista Rd & Shepherds Ln Signal Upgrade — Crews are upgrading traffic signals at SR 236 / LaVista Rd. This one's in DeKalb County.
- SR 9 from SR 3 to N of Paces Ferry Rd & SR 9 So — GDOT is resurfacing this stretch of SR 9 to fix a low pavement condition score.
- Bridge Preservation at 7 Locations in Cobb, DeKalb & Fulton — This multi-county project covers co-polymer overlays, steel beam painting, and bridge joint replacement at seven bridge sites, including spans on Moreland Ave and the US 41/SR 280 ramp in Cobb County.

Service Requests
- Potholes — Reported on Johnson Rd NE (two spots), Charline Ave NE, Northrope Dr NE, and Melante Dr NE. All five are in progress.
- Overgrowth and Visibility Issues — Crews are handling reports at Johnson Rd and Pasadena Ave, Lenox Rd NE, the Camilia Ln NE building, and Piedmont Ave NE. Two have already been resolved.
- Downed Trees — You'll find crews working on trees down at N Highland Ave NE, Rock Springs Rd and Monroe Dr, Sherwood Rd NE, and Lanier Blvd NE.
- Sign Repair and Replacement — Two requests came in for Virginia Cir NE, both still in progress.
- Litter Removal — Cedar Chase Ln NE and the Armand Rd and Armand Ct area got cleaned up, and both cases are closed.
- Traffic Signal Repair — The signal at Rock Springs Rd and Highland Ave is fixed.

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Until next week,
VaHi / Morningside 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.