VaHi / Morningside: Juneteenth in the Park, and Beltline Hits 17 Miles

Hello, VaHi and Morningside neighbors! The Beltline just hit a milestone worth celebrating, with 17 continuous miles of connected trail, and right next door to us, Poncey-Highland is making a serious push for historic district status that could have real implications for how our neighborhoods handle development pressure. Add Juneteenth festivities at Piedmont Park, a City Council vote on the FY2027 budget, and a busy stretch of active construction, and there's plenty to dig into this week.

- News — Poncey-Highland's fight for historic status is one to watch closely, and the Beltline's 17-mile connected loop is finally, officially real.
- Events — The Juneteenth Atlanta Parade and Music Festival takes over Piedmont Park on Friday, with jazz, a film premiere, and Father's Day rounding out a packed week.
- Government — The full City Council votes Monday on the FY2027 budget and property tax rates, plus $9.3 million in street resurfacing cleared committee and a new sidewalk protection rule is headed to the floor.
- Construction — A tenant buildout is taking shape on N. Highland Ave, ADA upgrades are coming to Cheshire Bridge Road, and nine pothole reports are in progress across the neighborhood.

Let's dive in.

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NEWS

Poncey-Highland residents push for neighborhood to be designated historic site
Neighbors in Poncey-Highland are organizing to secure historic district status for their community — a move aimed squarely at protecting its architectural character as development pressure along the Beltline intensifies. If the effort succeeds, it could set a meaningful precedent for how adjacent neighborhoods like VaHi and Morningside navigate the same forces knocking at their doors.

The Atlanta Beltline now has nearly 17-miles of connected trails
The completion of a new Southside trail segment this past week created something that once felt years away: 17 continuous miles of Beltline trail linking the Eastside and Westside corridors in one unbroken loop. For anyone who's laced up their running shoes or loaded the bike rack on a Saturday morning, this is the milestone you've been waiting for.

World Cup Atlanta: Additional watch parties in metro Atlanta
Atlanta's World Cup summer keeps delivering, and local organizers have lined up additional watch parties across the metro for fans who want to experience the matches with a crowd. If your living room isn't cutting it, this roundup will point you toward somewhere it will.

Atlanta's tax extension plan becomes issue in Fulton Commission chair runoff
A proposed tax extension that could affect Atlanta homeowners has moved to the center of the Fulton County Commission chair runoff — making a race that might have felt distant suddenly very relevant. How this plays out could shape local property tax bills and the funding pipeline for infrastructure projects throughout the county.

EVENTS | Presented by

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Monday, June 15
- Monster Show For Monsters - A Variety Show (18+ Event) | Red Light Cafe

Tuesday, June 16
- Weekly Walking Club | Piedmont Park
- Garden Playtime | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Playboy Manbaby Live In Atlanta | The Drunken Unicorn

Wednesday, June 17
- Film Premiere "The Easy Kind' with Q&A from Elizabeth Cook | Tara Atlanta
- Atlanta Braves x In The Wild Dating | Park Tavern
- Block Printing: Summer Solstice Cards | Piedmont Park
- Wednesday Jazz Jam - Gordon Vernick Quartet | Red Light Cafe
- Storybook & Sensory Bin Time | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Drop-In Kids Gardening Activity | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Virtual: Plant. Eat. Repeat. Workshop Series | Atlanta Botanical Garden

Thursday, June 18
- Cocktails in the Garden | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Figure Drawing | Piedmont Park
- In The Wild: Nashville's Biggest Singles Party | Park Tavern
- Garden Grooves | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- BATA! BATA | MJQ Concourse

Friday, June 19
- Juneteenth Atlanta Parade and Music Festival | Piedmont Park
- TOURING ARTIST - The Peter Karp Band | Blind Willie's Blues Club
- Shows for Seedlings: Celebrate Juneteenth with Djoli Kelen | Atlanta Botanical Garden

Saturday, June 20
- Green Market | Piedmont Park
- "GAZE" - A Group Art Exhibition | The Supermarket ATL
- Garden Chef Demos: Pamela Askerneese-Henry | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Voice in the Garden | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Frog Feeding | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Tai Chi – Intermediate – Quarter III | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- MJQ SATURDAYS | MJQ Concourse

Sunday, June 21
- Father's Day "Bottle Your Own" Experience | ASW Distillery- Armour Dr

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 — Finance/Executive Committee

The committee's biggest action of the week was recommending approval of the City of Atlanta's Fiscal Year 2027 budget and setting the ad valorem millage rates that determine what residents pay in property taxes — votes that passed 6-0 and now head to the full Council. In an equally significant move, the committee unanimously backed the Atlanta Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative (NRI) Trust Fund, a broad economic development framework that extends the lifespan of select Tax Allocation Districts to channel money toward affordable housing, community stabilization, and small business preservation. The committee also advanced, without a formal recommendation, a new consumer protection ordinance for parking garages that would require transparent rate disclosures, accessible payment options, and a dispute resolution process — meaning the full Council will have to sort it out. On the spending side, a $2.28 million water tank services contract with Davis Water Service was officially killed, while a $30,000 donation was approved to split between the Atlanta Fire Rescue Foundation and the Diaspora District. A proposed $75,000 donation to HouseProud Atlanta — which funds no-cost home repairs for seniors — was held in committee and did not advance.

Atlanta City Council — Transportation Committee

The Transportation Committee had a productive week for pedestrians and local streets, passing a new ordinance that requires construction crews to provide safe, temporary walking paths whenever a project blocks an existing sidewalk — a change that will affect worksites across the city. The committee also approved more than $9.3 million for street resurfacing, including a $6 million GDOT grant and a separate $3.28 million contract with Blount Construction Company, meaning residents should see more repaved roads in the coming months. A parking ban was approved on Sherwood Road NE near Smith Park, and Lakeview Avenue NE was designated for residential-only on-street parking — both wins for neighbors who've raised access and safety concerns. On a larger scale, the committee authorized over $300 million in upgrades to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, covering construction management, the Skytrain modernization program, and program support services. Two high-profile items remain stuck: a $3.6 million Peachtree Street corridor improvement project and a proposal to install dedicated bike and vehicle lanes along the Atlanta BeltLine were both held in committee for further review.

Atlanta City Council — Community Development/Human Services Committee

The committee approved a $7.86 million acquisition of nearly 30 acres on Randall Mill Road NW, permanently protecting the land as forested open space using the Tree Trust Fund and Park Millage Fund — one of the larger conservation purchases the city has made in recent years. The committee also voted 7-0 to update Atlanta's Comprehensive Development Plan with four new neighborhood master plans, including the Peachtree Park Neighborhood Plan, the Edgewood Comprehensive Neighborhood Plan, the BeltLine Subarea 8 Master Plan, and the Collier Road Multimodal Study — documents that shape how growth and infrastructure are planned for years to come. On blight enforcement, the committee advanced a resolution requesting a tax penalty on the owners of a neglected Midtown property at 1155 Peachtree Street NE, which had also received a favorable recommendation from the Public Safety committee. Several major land-use changes were also approved, including redesignating properties on Sylvan Road and Cox Avenue from industrial to high-density mixed-use, while a city donation of land near Mechanicsville was accepted to support future affordable housing. However, the committee deferred a proposal to create an Office of Short-Term Rentals and establish a permitting registry — a closely watched item for neighborhoods grappling with Airbnb-style rentals — at the sponsor's request.

Atlanta City Council — City Utilities Committee

The Utilities Committee approved a $822,567 contract extension for the Greensferry Stream and Floodplain Restoration project, adding 280 days to the timeline and giving crews more time to complete environmentally sensitive stream work. A $2 million contract extension for on-call underwater diving services with Salmons Dredging Corporation was also approved, keeping critical maintenance capacity available for the city's water infrastructure through early 2027. The committee deferred two notable items: a proposed ordinance that would adjust solid waste taxes and service fees — and clarify who qualifies for backyard trash collection — was held for a future public hearing, giving residents a chance to weigh in before any rate changes take effect; and a separate proposal to restore green infrastructure and stormwater retention requirements that were removed from city code in 2020 was also held for further review. A first-reading proposal to acquire 12 parcels for the Valley of the Hawks Constructed Wetlands Project, at a cost of up to $1.89 million, was introduced but received no vote, meaning that purchase is still in its early stages.

Atlanta City Council — Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee

The committee's most notable action was a unanimous vote to approve a $3.5 million contract amendment with Axon Enterprise to equip the Atlanta Police Department with a counter-drone system capable of detecting, tracking, and neutralizing unauthorized drones over the city. The committee also approved a $500,000 settlement in the case of Stanley Mack v. Travis Gray, et al., resolving a pending lawsuit in Fulton County State Court. On community safety and blight, the committee voted to pursue a blight tax penalty on a neglected Midtown property and approved a resolution directing the Atlanta City Detention Center to explore ways to reduce the jailing of low-level, non-violent misdemeanor offenders — an effort aimed at easing overcrowding and keeping detention space focused on more serious cases. A proposed 180-day moratorium on new alcohol licenses in the Edgewood Corridor was held in committee at the sponsor's request, as was a proposal to lease space in a church on Hosea Williams Drive for an APD Zone 6 precinct; both are scheduled to return June 15.

Atlanta City Council — Zoning Committee

The Zoning Committee's June 8 meeting was packed with high-stakes rezoning proposals, though — because minutes have not yet been posted — it's important to note these were scheduled agenda items and any may have been tabled, deferred, or withdrawn before a vote was taken. Among the most consequential items on the agenda: a 12.5-acre industrial site was scheduled for a first reading to rezone to high-density mixed-use (MRC-3) along the BeltLine corridor, while a contested 13.87-acre light-industrial site on Sylvan Road was up for consideration despite city staff and the Zoning Review Board recommending denial. The Upper Westside saw major redevelopment pressure, with multiple properties along Ellsworth Industrial Boulevard and Logan Circle scheduled for public hearings to transition from heavy industrial (I-2) use to mixed residential and commercial zoning. A citywide text amendment was also on the agenda that would impose strict buffer zone requirements and a special use permit process for state-licensed medical cannabis dispensaries. Neighbors near two specific properties — one on Montgomery Ferry Drive NE and one on Roswell Road NE — were also set to see special use permit hearings for a private club and outdoor dining, respectively, both in proximity to residential areas.

Fulton County Board of Commissioners — Special Called Meeting

The Fulton County Board of Commissioners held a Special Called Meeting on June 9 focused entirely on one topic: the county's Service Delivery Strategy (SDS), a state-mandated agreement that determines how Fulton County and its cities divide responsibility — and cost — for services like water, sewer, fire protection, police, and parks. Because no minutes have been posted, it's not yet known what was decided; the meeting agenda indicates this was scheduled as a discussion, and any action taken may have been deferred or tabled. The stakes for residents are real: SDS negotiations directly shape municipal tax distributions and are designed to prevent homeowners from being double-taxed for services provided by overlapping local governments. How the county and its cities ultimately divide those responsibilities could influence future property tax bills and the quality of locally delivered services.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

Atlanta City Council — Zoning Committee
- 573 Amsterdam Avenue NE — A rezoning from R-4/BL to R-5/BL on this 0.229-acre Beltline-adjacent lot was heard by the Zoning Committee, with the proposal seeking to allow denser single-family development on the smaller lot configuration.

Meetings This Week
- Atlanta City Council — Committee on Council — Monday, June 15 at 11:30 AM, Atlanta City Hall, 55 Trinity Ave. The committee is scheduled to take up a resolution requesting certified law enforcement officers be stationed at city recreation centers used as polling places during major elections. Also on the agenda: a proposed ordinance that would change how residents sign up for public comment at council meetings, a charter amendment that would require all proposed city legislation to carry a named council sponsor, and appointments to the BeltLine TAD Advisory Committee, the Atlanta Citizen Review Board, and the Housing Commission.
- Atlanta City Council — Monday, June 15 at 1:00 PM, Atlanta City Hall, 55 Trinity Ave. The full council is scheduled to vote on adopting the Fiscal Year 2027 city budget and setting property tax rates across multiple levies, including general operations, debt service, parks, and special districts. Also on the agenda: a proposed ordinance to acquire nearly 30 acres at 3800 and 3910 Randall Mill Road NW for permanent forest preservation at a cost of roughly $7.85 million; a measure that would require safe pedestrian detours whenever sidewalks are blocked by construction; a blight-tax resolution targeting 1155 Peachtree Street NE; and a large mixed-use rezoning request for acreage at Sylvan Road and Cox Avenue that city planning staff and the Zoning Review Board have recommended for denial. Dozens of additional rezoning cases, annexations, and legal claim settlements are also on the docket.
- Fulton County Board of Commissioners — Wednesday, June 17 at 10:00 AM, Assembly Hall. Commissioners are scheduled to consider a nearly $9 million election-staffing contract for the General and Runoff elections later this year, along with grants aimed at converting 66 Downtown Atlanta apartments to affordable units and funding a new 20-unit affordable housing development in English Avenue. Also on the agenda: site-preparation funding for the Andrew Young International Institute for Peace and Reconciliation in Vine City, a preservation grant for the historic George Towns and Grace Towns Hamilton Homes, a $1.775 million cybersecurity contract to upgrade county firewalls, and a public works update on the countywide smart water meter rollout.
- Atlanta NPU — NPU-F — Wednesday, June 17 at 7:00 PM, virtual only. No agenda is available at this time.

CONSTRUCTION

Permits

- 609 Virginia Ave NE — New 2,136 SF clubhouse building filed for the existing residential community here. A proper amenity upgrade if it gets the green light.
- 1048 N Highland Ave NE — Two separate permits pulled: plumbing for sinks and toilets, plus a new dual 200-amp electrical service split between suites 1048 and 1050. Looks like a tenant buildout is taking shape — worth watching to see what moves in.
- 2321 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE — ADA parking and ramp upgrades accepted, tied to a previously approved site plan. Concrete work incoming; expect some disruption in the lot.
- 736 Ponce de Leon Ave NE — A wall between two suites is getting properly permitted after a past tenant apparently demolished it without authorization. The landlord is cleaning up the record.
- 1700 & 1824 Piedmont Ave NE — Back-to-back HVAC overhauls at two addresses on the same stretch of Piedmont, both issued the same day. Full demo of existing systems at both — mechanical noise likely for a stretch.
- 1109 Lanier Blvd NE — A full renovation and addition to an existing single-family home, with interior demolition on the lower level. Expect the usual construction-neighbor experience for nearby residents.
- 2173 Piedmont Rd NE — Fire sprinkler reconfiguration following removal of stairs and a conveyor belt inside — signals a notable interior gut of whatever this space was previously.

Elsewhere, the usual hum of residential life: 12 electrical permits, 7 HVAC swaps, 4 home additions, and 5 arborist permits for dead or hazardous trees across the neighborhood.

Road Work

Under Construction
- I-85 Lighting Upgrade (Fulton County) — Crews are replacing outdated high-pressure sodium lights with LED fixtures along I-85 between I-75 and north of Lenox Road, a stretch that runs just over a mile from the neighborhood. Expect some nighttime lane activity in that corridor.
- SR 13 Resurfacing (Fulton County) — SR 13 is getting a long-overdue repave between SR 9 and North Fork Peachtree Creek — it hasn't been touched since 2012. Active resurfacing work is underway, so watch for lane closures and rough pavement transitions if Peachtree is part of your daily route.
- Buford Spring Connector Tunnel Lighting (Fulton County) — The tunnel at the Buford Spring Connector and I-85 interchange is getting an LED lighting overhaul. Work may involve conduit and wiring upgrades inside the tunnel. If you use this connector heading toward Buckhead or Midtown, allow extra time during active work windows.
- SR 9 Resurfacing (Fulton County) — Peachtree Road (SR 9) is being resurfaced between SR 3 and north of Paces Ferry Road. This is a broader corridor project that could affect traffic flow feeding into the neighborhood from the north and south — worth keeping in mind if Peachtree is your go-to artery.

Pre-Construction

- SR 13 / Monroe Drive Intersection Overhaul (Fulton County) — GDOT plans to convert this busy intersection into a multilane/hybrid roundabout configuration. If you regularly cut through Monroe Drive between Ponce and Amsterdam, this one will eventually reshape how traffic flows through the heart of the neighborhood. No shovels in the ground yet, but it's funded.
- SR 237 / Peachtree Creek Bridge Replacement & Rehab (Fulton County) — Two separate bridge projects are queued up along SR 237 (Peachtree Road) where it crosses Peachtree Creek. One is a full replacement, the other a rehabilitation — both funded and awaiting construction. Expect future lane impacts near the creek crossing when work begins.
- SR 237 / CSX Rail Bridge Replacement (Fulton County) — The bridge carrying SR 237 over the CSX rail line in Atlanta is slated for replacement. A funded project that will eventually mean construction activity along that Peachtree corridor.
- SR 237 / Lambert Drive Curb & Signal Work (Fulton County) — Two smaller improvements are funded near the SR 237 / SR 13 / Lambert Drive area: flush curb installation and a new signal with pedestrian facilities at Lindbergh Drive and Way. Good news for walkers and cyclists in that stretch.
- BeltLine NE Trail: Lindbergh Center to I-85 (Fulton County) — A funded but not-yet-started segment of the Atlanta BeltLine's Northeast Trail — roughly 2.7 miles of 14-foot concrete shared-use path, plus about 2.1 miles of spur trails. This is a big one for active transportation in the area. When it breaks ground, it'll be a meaningful connection for Morningside and Piedmont Heights residents.
- I-85 Tunnel Lighting: SR 237 & I-285 / SR 13 Interchanges (Fulton & DeKalb Counties) — Lighting upgrades are funded for tunnels at two major interchanges just outside the neighborhood. Minor disruption when it starts, but a welcome safety improvement.
- I-85 Resurfacing: I-75/Brookwood to North of SR 155 (Fulton & DeKalb Counties) — A lengthy resurfacing project spanning from the Brookwood interchange through DeKalb is in the work program. If I-85 is part of your daily commute, this will eventually mean lane closures — likely overnight — along a significant stretch.

Service Requests

Potholes are getting attention across the area, with 9 reports filed along Cheshire Bridge Rd NE (two spots), E Rock Springs Rd NE, Monroe Dr NE, Cresthill Ave NE, the Piedmont Ave intersection, and several other locations — most are in progress.

Traffic signals are also on the radar: four non-emergency repair requests are open at E Rock Springs Rd NE, 14th St & Piedmont Ave, Monroe Dr & Park Dr, and Monroe Dr & Montgomery Ferry Rd. That last intersection also triggered an emergency signal repair, which has since been resolved.

On the greener side of things, overgrowth and visibility complaints were filed at Courtenay Dr & Greenland Dr, N Highland Ave NE, and Lenox Rd NE — all three marked resolved. Litter removal requests in the right of way are pending at Highland Ave & Saint Charles Ave and Frederica St NE.