VaHi / Morningside: Farmer's Markets and Big City Plans

Good morning, VaHi and Morningside neighbors! Spring has officially sprung, which means it's time to dust off your reusable totes for market season. We've also got the scoop on Mayor Dickens' massive reinvestment plan, a new wine spot hitting the Highlands, and the legendary yard sale you can't miss.

- Big Stories — From farmer’s market season to the Mayor's $5.5 billion neighborhood bet, we're tracking the big moves shaping our corner of the city.
- Local Business Updates — Get ready for wine pairings in the old Farm Burger spot and the best rooftop views for your next "out of office" afternoon.
- Upcoming Events — It's a massive weekend featuring the Green Market's return, the legendary VaHi Yard Sale, and enough garden parties to keep you busy until Monday.
- Local Government Discussion — We're breaking down the APS committee agenda, a major new hospital win for the county, and the City Council's plan to fix its empty chair problem.
- Development & Construction Nearby — Between a new ortho clinic on Highland and a total "glow-up" for the I-85 lights, here's everywhere the orange cones are migrating this week.

Let's dive in.

BIG STORIES

Your 2026 guide to Atlanta's local farmers markets (March 21, 2026)
If you need even more reason to grab a reusable tote, this deep dive into the city's market scene highlights why our neighborhood spots are the cream of the crop. From artisanal pastries to local honey that supposedly helps with those brutal Georgia pollens, it's time to start planning your weekend breakfast run. Honestly, is it even a Saturday if you didn't buy a $9 loaf of bread?

'The State Of Our City Is Strong': Atlanta Mayor's Annual Address Highlights Investments (March 19, 2026)
Mayor Dickens delivered his annual State of the City address this week, touting record investments in infrastructure, public safety, and affordable housing. For VaHi and Morningside, the headline numbers include continued BeltLine progress, expanded park maintenance, and the city's push to add more housing across intown neighborhoods. The speech painted a rosy picture of Atlanta's trajectory—worth keeping an eye on how much of it actually trickles down to our side of Piedmont Park.

Dickens' $5.5 billion Neighborhood Reinvestment plan hinges on extending Atlanta's TADs. Can they deliver? (March 18, 2026)
Mayor Dickens is betting big on a $5.5 billion plan to fix the "tale of two cities," but it all depends on some wonky tax-district extensions. If it works, it could mean a massive infusion of cash for infrastructure and affordable housing in our neck of the woods. It's an ambitious swing to make sure growth doesn't leave long-term residents behind—fingers crossed the math actually adds up.

Here are the 2026 T-shirt designs for the Northside Hospital Peachtree Road Race (March 18, 2026)
It's the most stressful vote of the year—picking the design for the shirt you'll sweat through this July. The five finalists for the 2026 race are out, and since thousands of runners will be collapsing in our backyard at Piedmont Park wearing these, you might as well have a say in what they look like. Some are definitely more "finish line chic" than others, so choose wisely.

LOCAL BUSINESS UPDATES

So. Fox - opening - The secret is officially out: the Kinship team just dropped a fresh confirmation that their new wine-forward restaurant is on track to take over the old Farm Burger spot this spring, and we are already eyeing the pairing menus.
(March 20, 2026)

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra - expanding - Our local maestros are striking a new chord with a major education expansion, pairing pros with students across the city to make sure the next generation of Mozarts has all the masterclasses they can handle. (March 21, 2026)

Atlanta's Top Rooftop Spots - opening - Just in time for the spring thaw, this freshly updated guide to the city's best rooftop patios has us ready to spend every waking hour dining al fresco with a view—and maybe a cocktail or two. (March 18, 2026)

UPCOMING EVENTS

Get your walking shoes and your shopping bags ready because it's a massive week for the neighborhood! Between the long-awaited return of the Green Market at Piedmont Park and the legendary VaHi Yard Sale, you'll definitely want to clear your calendar and soak up the local vibes.

Monday, March 23
- Community Game Night | Piedmont Park

Tuesday, March 24
- Introduction to Drawing in Colored Pencil | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Weekly Walking Club | Piedmont Park
- Garden Playtime | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Drop-In Garden Tours | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Yoga in the Park | Piedmont Park
- David Gans | Red Light Cafe

Wednesday, March 25
- Storybook Time | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Wine and Charoset Tasting | Chabad Intown
- Painted Animal Portraits: Paper + Penny | Piedmont Park

Thursday, March 26
- Garden Grooves | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Twilight in the Garden | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Acting Under the Influence - Moulin Booze | Red Light Cafe
- The Elements - Hypotheticals Album Release Show | Smith's Olde Bar
- KYBBA - Ages 21+ | District Atlanta

Friday, March 27
- Garden Party | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Olivia Wolf w/ Wyatt Edmondson + Conrad Moore | Smith's Olde Bar
- Annual Battle for the Brain & Daughters Against Alzheimer's | Smith's Olde Bar
- Variety Stomp, Nicholas Mallis, Feltie | The Drunken Unicorn
- Sultan + Shepard - Ages 21+ | District Atlanta

Saturday, March 28
- Ride the Rave | District Atlanta
- Meet Author Dr. Pamela Gurley | Virginia Highland Books
- Green Market Opens | Piedmont Park
- Tot Shabbat | Chabad Intown
- Strictly Liquid | SweetWater Brewing Company
- Jettee with Joual and We Hate Rowan | Smith's Olde Bar

Sunday, March 29
- VHCA's VaHi Yard Sale | Virginia Highland District Association
- Sons of Atlanta Vietnam War Memorial and Parade | Piedmont Park

LOCAL GOVERNMENT DISCUSSION

Atlanta Public Schools

Discussion from the Past Week

It was a quiet—perhaps too quiet—week for the folks over at APS. Between a committee meeting where most of the members went MIA and a commission meeting that kept its cards close to its chest, the district was heavy on "to-be-continued" vibes.

The Policy Review Committee gathered on Thursday, but it wasn't exactly a full house. In fact, only three of the nine voting members showed up, meaning they lacked the quorum necessary to actually pass anything. Despite the empty chairs, the agenda included several items that could affect your household—specifically, screen time. The committee had on its docket a review of limits on tablet usage for students to ensure "digital learning" doesn't just turn into staring at a screen until eyes glaze over.

Also on the agenda: graduation requirements, including whether the district should tweak the rules for community service hours. It's a classic "good on paper, tricky in practice" situation as they figure out how to track those hours without making it a bureaucratic nightmare for high schoolers. Other agenda items included tightening up student attendance policies (Policy JB) and some internal housekeeping regarding how the Board office handles its own financial procedures. Because no votes could be taken without a quorum, expect these topics to resurface once the full gang is back together.

Fulton County Board of Commissioners

Discussion from the Past Week

The big news this week is that South Fulton is finally getting a new hospital. In a unanimous 6-0 vote, the Board gave the green light to move forward with Phase Three of "Project Care," a massive partnership with Grady Health System to build a full-scale hospital facility. This isn't just about beds and bandages; the Board added a "friendly amendment" to ensure the Morehouse School of Medicine is baked into the plan, providing clinical training and faculty roles. After the closure of Atlanta Medical Center a few years back, this is a massive step toward fixing the "healthcare desert" south of I-20.

But here's the thing: while the hospital stole the spotlight, the County's checkbook was wide open for other things too. The Board approved over $2.7 million for IT upgrades—including a $2.3 million "PC Refresh" to buy new computers and laptops for county staff—and signed off on a 3% cost-of-living raise for retirees who were previously stuck in plans without automatic adjustments. They also showered some love on local culture, handing out $200,000 grants each to five major organizations, including the Chattahoochee Nature Center and Hammonds House.

Meanwhile, there was some musical chairs happening with the District 4 seat currently vacant. Since that seat (which covers parts of the city) is empty, the Board had to redistribute some high-profile assignments. Vice Chair Abdur-Rahman is now our representative on the Atlanta Beltline Board, Commissioner Thorne is taking over the OPEB Trust, and Commissioner Arrington is heading to the Stadium Authority.

Also worth noting: the public comment section was, as your nosiest neighbor would say, a lot. While many doctors showed up to support the new hospital, other residents used their mic time to complain about everything from the conditions at the Fulton County Jail to "chem trails" and data centers. On the legislative side, a plan to spend nearly $1 million on the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation was put on ice for now, as was a resolution regarding voter ID education.

Meetings in the Next Week
- Board of Commissioners March 27, 2026 at 10:00 AM. No agenda is available yet for this session.

Atlanta City Council

Discussion from the Past Week

In a meeting where the "Consent Agenda" was the star of the show, the Council breezed through dozens of items with unanimous 12-0 votes. While the efficiency was impressive, the substance of what they approved suggests the city is entering "get ready" mode. A major focus was prepping for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the Council greenlighting new rules for massive "wrap signs" on downtown buildings and extra funding for airport beautification. They also moved forward on infrastructure, putting money toward levee improvements and authorizing land acquisitions for new sidewalks on Chattahoochee Avenue and Mount Zion Road.

But the real drama happened in the Committee on Council, where the "nosy neighbor" energy was high. The committee is launching an independent investigation into nearly $1 million in consulting payments made to a former Municipal Clerk for work related to the Public Safety Training Center referendum—work that may or may not have actually happened. There is also a brewing "separation of powers" spat: the Council is tired of the Mayor's office having a say in who they hire for their own staff and is moving to reclaim that independence.

Also worth noting: the Council is trying to fix its "empty chair" problem. With 85 vacancies across various city boards, many committees can't even hold a meeting because they don't have enough members for a quorum. A new Charter amendment would allow the Council to step in and fill those seats if they stay empty for more than 60 days. Meanwhile, several performance audits—including one focused on the city's "Blight Tax"—were officially introduced and referred to committees for deep dives later this month.

Meetings in the Next Week
- Zoning Committee, March 23 at 11:00 AM: The committee will weigh a massive 36-acre industrial-to-residential rezoning on the Upper Westside and several proposals to increase housing density across the city.
- Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee, March 23 at 1:00 PM: This is the big "open container" talk—the city is looking to create a temporary entertainment district downtown for the World Cup. They are also reviewing claims involving 1420 Monroe Dr NE and infrastructure issues at 2175 Piedmont Rd NE.
- City Utilities Committee, March 24 at 10:00 AM: Expect talk about a 14,000-square-foot mural at the North Avenue Tunnel and a contract extension to maintain those fancy permeable pavers in nearby Southside neighborhoods.
- Community Development/Human Services Committee, March 24 at 1:30 PM: Following up on last week's introduction, the committee will begin the performance audit of the "Blight Tax" and review a $7.75 million grant to strip lead paint from older homes.
- Transportation Committee, March 25 at 10:00 AM: It's all about the money here, specifically a $1 billion contract for airport concourse widening, while councilmembers prepare to grill MARTA over the paused Eastside BeltLine light rail.
- Finance/Executive Committee, March 25 at 1:30 PM: The one that hits the wallet—the committee will take its first look at the FY2027 budget and set the property tax rates that will show up on your next bill.

DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION NEARBY

Permits
- 1048 N Highland Ave NE — Fixing more than just your posture! A new orthopedic clinic is moving into the neighborhood with a fresh interior design and all-new fixtures. We're keeping an eye on this "second generation" transformation in the heart of VaHi.
- 1700 Piedmont Ave NE — There's some serious "out with the old" happening near Ansley. They're demoing interior partitions in the basement and swapping out flooring. No word yet on the new tenant, but the sledgehammers are swinging.
- 1925 Monroe Dr NE — The leasing office at The Monroe is getting a "second generation" glow-up. Expect a little extra foot traffic and construction dust while they polish up their first impressions.
- 1824 Piedmont Ave NE — The first-floor art classroom is getting a total interior overhaul. We're hoping the renovation brings even more creative energy to this corner of the neighborhood.
- 1660 Johnson Rd NE — Heads up for a little extra hum in the air! They're setting up a fleet of Honda generators near the park, so prepare for some low-level industrial white noise this week.
- 1155 La Vista Rd NE — Safety is the name of the game in Lindridge-Martin Manor. A brand new wet manual standpipe and sprinkler system is being installed. It's not the flashiest update, but we always appreciate staying fire-safe.
- 1856 Piedmont Rd NE — More safety upgrades! New fire alarms are being wired up near the Cheshire Bridge side of things. Just a reminder that progress sometimes comes with a side of "beep-beep-beep" testing.

Road Work

Under Construction
- I-85 Lighting Upgrade (I-75 to North of Lenox Road) — GDOT is swapping out those old-school orange HPS lights for energy-efficient LEDs. If you're a night owl heading through the Brookwood Split or toward Lenox, watch for shoulder work and potential lane shifts while they install the new poles and wiring.
- SR 13 Resurfacing (Peachtree St to North Fork Peachtree Creek) — This stretch of the Buford Spring Connector through the Cheshire Bridge and Lindridge-Martin Manor area hasn't been paved since 2012. It's finally getting the smoothing over it desperately needs, so expect some orange cone activity on your way toward Midtown.
- Buford Spring Connector Tunnel Lighting — More LED upgrades are coming to the tunnel at the I-85 interchange. This should make that "cave" transition a lot brighter and safer once the new conduit and fixtures are in place.
- SR 236 & Shepherds Lane Signal Upgrade (DeKalb County) — Just over the line from Morningside, crews are working on signal upgrades at Lavista Road. Keep your eyes peeled for bucket trucks and workers near the intersection during the day.
- SR 9 Resurfacing (South of Paces Ferry to SR 3) — Peachtree is getting a facelift. While this is mostly on the Buckhead side, it's going to impact anyone in Ansley Park or Morningside who uses the main artery to get north. Watch out for crews working to improve that low OCI (pavement quality) score.

Construction Work Program
- SR 13 at Monroe Drive — Get ready for a total vibe shift at the Monroe and Buford Highway intersection. GDOT is planning to convert this into a multilane hybrid roundabout. It's currently in the "funded but not yet started" phase, so you've got time to practice your merging skills before the construction equipment arrives.
- I-85 from the Brookwood Interchange to SR 155 (Fulton & DeKalb) — This massive resurfacing and maintenance project spans from the Brookwood split all the way north into DeKalb. It's a major state-level project that hasn't kicked off yet, but once it does, it will definitely impact the "back way" into Morningside.
- Atlanta BeltLine NE Trail (Lindbergh Center to I-85) — This is a big win for our local walkers and bikers! A new 14-foot wide concrete path and several miles of spur trails are in the works to connect Lindbergh down toward our neck of the woods. It's funded and moving through the pipeline.
- SR 237 (Piedmont Rd) at Peachtree Creek & CSX Railroad — Heads up, Piedmont Road regulars: we're looking at two major bridge replacements—one over the creek and one over the CSX tracks. These are full replacements, not just patches, so expect this to be a major "check your Waze" zone once work begins.
- SR 237 (Piedmont Rd) at Lindbergh Drive & Lambert Drive — More tweaks are coming to the Piedmont corridor, including new traffic signals, better pedestrian facilities at Lindbergh, and curb work near Lambert. It's all about making that Lindridge-Martin Manor edge a little less chaotic.
- I-85 & I-285 Tunnel Lighting (Fulton & DeKalb) — This project spans the county line and aims to brighten up the tunnel stretches where I-85 meets Piedmont Road and I-285 hits Buford Highway. It's currently in the bidding/funding phase, so no closures just yet.

Service Requests
- Potholes — Reported on Piedmont Cir NE, Virginia Ave NE, N Highland Ave NE, and Park Dr NE. Your tires and suspension might need a little extra love (and a prayer) until these are patched up.
- Loose Metal Plate — There's a noisy one on Manchester St NE. Keep your ears open for that classic Atlanta "clunk-clunk" sound until the DOT gets it secured.