VaHi / Morningside: Mo Ivory's Upset Win and 404 Day Solidarity

Before we get into it, just a heads up that we’re making some neighborhood changes across the board, and this area may be impacted. The change we’re considering is combining this newsletter with our “Midtown” edition. We know that Midtown is news-heavy, but our commitment is to maintain balanced coverage so that you don’t lose any of the local content you’re used to. If you’re vehemently opposed to that, however, let us know below:

Hey, VaHi and Morningside! Big week in local politics, with Mo Ivory pulling off one of the more surprising upsets Fulton County has seen in years, ousting Commission Chair Robb Pitts after nearly 20 years in office. Looking ahead, plenty of events to look forward to highlighted by the HBCU 5K this weekend.

- News — Mo Ivory's primary runoff upset leads the week, but don't miss the bureaucratic paperwork error that's left Atlanta and Decatur schools waiting on millions in voter-approved funds.
- Events — The HBCU 5K takes over Piedmont Park on Saturday, and there's a full week of Botanical Garden events, Supermarket ATL shows, and a World Cup watch party to fill your calendar.
- Government — City Council adopted the FY2027 budget and considered a $7.85 million greenspace purchase, while a rezoning request at 573 Amsterdam Avenue NE lands before the Zoning Committee today.
- Construction — A Take 5 Oil Change is headed to Piedmont Road, a new skincare concept is fitting out on N. Highland, and the 2.7-mile BeltLine NE Trail connecting our area to Lindbergh is in the preconstruction pipeline.

Let's dive in.

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NEWS

Teens Gather at Piedmont Park to Promote Peace
Young Atlantans took ownership of their city's safety last week, organizing a peace rally at Piedmont Park in the wake of the deadly 404 Day shooting. It's a powerful reminder that some of the most meaningful community responses can come from the youth.

Atlanta HBCU Alliance Hosts 19th Annual 5K Run/Walk at Piedmont Park
The Atlanta HBCU Alumni Alliance will bring runners, walkers, and community pride to Piedmont Park for its 19th annual 5K on June 27, awarding $12,000 in grants to local students along the way. Nineteen years in, this event has become exactly the kind of institution a neighborhood can be proud to host.

Mo Ivory Unseats Fulton County Commission Chair Robb Pitts
In a result that few saw coming, Mo Ivory defeated Robb Pitts — who has held the Commission Chair seat since 2009 — in the Democratic primary runoff. Whoever wins in November will shape Fulton County's budget, services, and property tax decisions for years to come, so pay attention.

Atlanta, Decatur schools owed millions in sales tax funds after paperwork error
A bureaucratic paperwork failure has left Atlanta Public Schools and City Schools of Decatur waiting on millions in E-SPLOST dollars — money voters approved specifically for school improvements and capital projects that was accidentally sent to DeKalb Schools instead. The error is being sorted out, but in the meantime, watch for any ripple effects on construction timelines or school budgets in your neighborhood.

The best ice cream shop in Georgia is a local ATL favorite that started as a small walk-up shop in East Atlanta
Morelli’s has come a long way from its humble walk-up window roots — the East Atlanta original, once visited by Conan O'Brien himself, has officially been crowned the best ice cream shop in Georgia. With locations now in Virginia Highland and Chattahoochee Food Works, there's really no excuse not to celebrate the news in person.

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Monday, June 22
- Educator Appreciation Evening | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- August Band | The Supermarket ATL

Tuesday, June 23
- The Southern Appalachian Mountains: The Apothecary of North America | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Weekly Walking Club | Piedmont Park
- Yoga in the Park | Piedmont Park
- Garden Playtime | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Hi, Why Are You? Live Show | The Supermarket ATL
- GOOOOOL! Haiti x Morocco | The Supermarket ATL

Wednesday, June 24
- Storybook Time | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Storybook & Sensory Bin Time | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Drop-In Kids Gardening Activity | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Collage Night - June | The Supermarket ATL
- Deconstruct and Reassemble - June Literary Open Mic | The Supermarket ATL
- Advanced Figure Drawing - June | The Supermarket ATL

Thursday, June 25
- Cocktails in the Garden | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Garden Mixology | Piedmont Park
- Garden Grooves | Atlanta Botanical Garden

Friday, June 26
- Pollinator Party | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Shows for Seedlings: Jammin Junebugs with Alyssa Easterly Miller | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Secret Aisle: A Magic and Comedy Show | The Supermarket
- Key Change Musical Improv | The Supermarket ATL

Saturday, June 27
- HBCU 5K Run Walk | Piedmont Park
- Green Market | Piedmont Park
- Georgia Grown Summer Fruits Celebration | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Plant. Eat. Repeat. Workshop Series | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Greenhouse and Nursery Tour | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- HAZMAT Fiddler Syncopation Bourbon Final Release | ASW Distillery
- In The Wild Turns Two! | Park Tavern
- Frog Feeding | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- SWEAT & SLAY SOCIAL | Brick House Strength & Conditioning
- Watch Party: Colombia v. Portugal | The Supermarket ATL

Sunday, June 28
- Kids 'N Crafts - June | The Supermarket ATL
- Face The Music - June Live Portrait Session | The Supermarket ATL

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

The full Council met June 15 and, with minutes posted, we can report on actual outcomes: the Council voted on adopting the city's Fiscal Year 2027 budget and setting property tax rates across general operations, debt service, parks, education, and special districts including the Atlanta Beltline and the Stitch — the most consequential annual decisions the Council makes, directly affecting what residents pay and what services they receive. The Council also considered a $7.85 million acquisition of nearly 30 acres of forested land for permanent greenspace preservation, funded through the Tree Trust Fund and impact fees. A new pedestrian safety ordinance was on the table that would require Atlanta's Department of Transportation to establish mandatory, safe temporary detour routes whenever sidewalk construction blocks pedestrian access — a practical quality-of-life measure for anyone navigating construction zones on foot. The Council also took up a wide range of rezoning cases, including a contested 13.87-acre mixed-use development on Sylvan Road where city planning staff and the Zoning Review Board recommended denial while the local NPU recommended approval, illustrating the tension between neighborhood priorities and city planning. Additionally, the Committee on Council, which met earlier that morning, considered a resolution requesting certified law enforcement officers be stationed at every city recreation center used as a polling place during major elections, proposed changes to how residents sign up for public comment at council meetings, and several board appointments including nominees to the BeltLine TAD Advisory Committee and the Atlanta Citizen Review Board.

Fulton County Board of Commissioners

The Fulton County Board of Commissioners held its second regular meeting of June on the 17th, and because only the agenda is available — not final minutes — the items below are scheduled but may have been tabled, deferred, or otherwise not acted upon. Affordable housing was a central theme: the Board was slated to vote on grants to convert 66 market-rate Downtown Atlanta apartments into dedicated affordable units, fund a new 20-unit affordable development in English Avenue, and support site preparation for the future Andrew Young International Institute for Peace and Reconciliation in Vine City. Civil rights preservation was also on the agenda, with a funding request to restore the George Towns and Grace Towns Hamilton Homes, two historic properties tied to Atlanta's Civil Rights history. On the technology side, commissioners were set to consider more than $5.2 million in contracts for cybersecurity upgrades — including a firewall replacement — and countywide telecommunications services with AT&T and Comcast, expenditures that affect how securely the county manages residents' data and keeps its systems running. Notably, a proposed nearly $9 million contract for temporary election staffing was removed from the agenda before any vote could be held.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

Atlanta City Council
- Sherwood Road NE (Smith Park) — A resolution was on the agenda to prohibit parking on both sides of Sherwood Road NE along the southeast side of Smith Park and to install warning signs.

Meetings This Week
- Atlanta City Council — Zoning Committee — Monday, June 22, 2026 at 11:00 AM
A packed land-use agenda is on tap, including a city-wide 180-day moratorium on new self-storage facilities, the proposed rezoning of over 20 acres of industrial land near the Beltline for dense mixed-use development, and multiple single-family to duplex conversions across Atlanta neighborhoods. Closer to home, a rezoning request at 573 Amsterdam Avenue NE — just off the Beltline near Piedmont Park — is scheduled to be heard, seeking to convert a single-family lot to duplex zoning.

- Atlanta City Council — Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee — Monday, June 22, 2026 at 1:00 PM
The committee is scheduled to consider a $3.39 million land purchase from MARTA to build a new EMS and Fire Station at Lindbergh City Center, along with a proposed ordinance that would allow the city's CFO to require forensic audits of alcohol-licensed businesses under active police investigation.

- Atlanta Public Schools — Board of Education — Tuesday, June 23, 2026
The board is scheduled to take up a draft Electronic Payments and Funds Transfer Policy, along with discussions on student technology use and a policy governing how the district manages underutilized or vacant school facilities — an item worth watching for anyone in neighborhoods with shuttered school buildings.

- Atlanta City Council — City Utilities Committee — Tuesday, June 23, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Proposed changes to solid waste fees and backyard trash collection eligibility are on the agenda, alongside a $2 million stream stabilization project at Chastain Park and more than $36 million in contract renewals for emergency repairs across the city's water and sewer system.

- Atlanta City Council — Community Development/Human Services Committee — Tuesday, June 23, 2026 at 1:30 PM
The committee is set to consider an ordinance that would codify free admission at all city pools and indoor natatoria, as well as a 20-year agreement with L.E.A.D., Inc. to build and operate a new community center near Center Hill Park. A formal Office of Short-Term Rentals — which would create a city registry and permitting requirements for Airbnb-style hosts — remains under consideration.

- Atlanta City Council — Transportation Committee — Wednesday, June 24, 2026 at 10:00 AM
New consumer protections for private parking lots and garages are on the agenda, along with a proposal to permanently close a block of Jesse Hill Jr. Drive SE near Grady Hospital for a pedestrian plaza. The committee is also scheduled to consider a resolution asking the Mayor to renegotiate the "More MARTA" transit agreement to better reflect current funding realities and neighborhood priorities.

- Atlanta City Council — Wednesday, June 24, 2026 at 12:30 PM
- Atlanta City Council — Finance/Executive Committee — Wednesday, June 24, 2026 at 1:30 PM
The committee is scheduled to consider setting the city's FY2027 property tax rates — a key step that will determine homeowners' upcoming tax bills — alongside a resolution requesting Fulton County commit $200 million toward healthcare expansion on Atlanta's Southside and Westside. A controversial property tax break at 1155 Peachtree Street, a Midtown construction site that has sat in disrepair since 2020, is also slated for scrutiny.

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Permits

- 1916 Piedmont Rd NE — A new Take 5 Oil Change is slated for construction here. Land development permit is pending, so ground hasn't broken yet, but a quick-lube chain is coming to Piedmont Road.
- 1402 N Highland Ave NE — Two permits filed for the same space: a demo permit for selective interior demolition, followed by a tenant fit-out for what appears to be a facial treatment studio. A new skincare or med-spa concept is moving into this retail bay on N. Highland.
- 2325 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE — Interior alterations with paint, décor updates, and modifications to mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and refrigeration systems. Routed for review, so not yet approved — but someone's refreshing a commercial space on Cheshire Bridge.
- 1900 Monroe Dr NE — A deck teardown and replacement with new decking and privacy fencing at this multifamily property. Minimal ground disturbance, no impervious coverage change — routine but worth noting if you're nearby during demo.
- 1700 Piedmont Ave NE — Fire alarm modifications tied to a basement renovation at this building. Work is permitted and underway.
- Pine Ridge Dr NE — Interior renovation of a guest suite and office area, including bathroom demo and rebuild. Residential-scale work, but flagged commercial — likely a home converted to professional use.

Elsewhere in the data: 53 residential permits filed across the area, heavy on electrical (11), HVAC (8), additions (7), and arborist work on dead or hazardous trees (7) — typical summer activity as homeowners tackle projects before the heat peaks.

Road Work

Under Construction
- I-85 Lighting Upgrade (Fulton County) — LED lighting is being installed along I-85 between I-75 and north of Lenox Road, replacing older high-pressure sodium fixtures. The corridor is about a mile from the neighborhood core — expect some nighttime lane activity along this stretch.
- SR 13 Resurfacing (Fulton County) — SR 13 is getting a long-overdue repave between SR 9 and North Fork Peachtree Creek. The road hasn't been resurfaced since 2012, so this one is welcome news — but budget extra time if Peachtree is part of your daily routine.
- Buford Spring Connector Tunnel Lighting (Fulton County) — The tunnel where the Buford Spring Connector meets I-85 is being relit with LED fixtures, with potential conduit and wiring work included. Construction activity near the connector can ripple into nearby surface streets, so heads up if you use that interchange.
- SR 9 Resurfacing (Fulton County) — Peachtree Street/Road (SR 9) is being resurfaced from SR 3 north to Paces Ferry Road. This is a significant corridor stretch — if SR 9 is your go-to for getting in or out of the neighborhood, allow for delays and check for lane closures before heading out.

Pre-Construction

- SR 13 / Monroe Drive Intersection Overhaul (Fulton County) — The state plans to convert the SR 13 and Monroe Drive intersection into a multilane/hybrid roundabout configuration. If you cut through this corridor regularly, this will be a significant change to how traffic flows — and a significant construction zone when it finally kicks off.
- SR 237 / Peachtree Creek Bridge Replacement (Fulton County) — Two separate funded projects target the SR 237 crossing over Peachtree Creek: a full bridge replacement and a bridge rehabilitation. Both are in the pipeline, which suggests a phased or coordinated effort. Peachtree Road drivers should keep this one on their radar.
- SR 237 @ CSX Railroad Bridge Replacement (Fulton County) — The existing rail overpass at the CSX crossing along SR 237 is slated for full replacement. Bridge projects on active rail corridors tend to be complex and disruptive once construction begins.
- I-85 Resurfacing from Brookwood Interchange to North of SR 155 (Fulton/DeKalb) — A multi-county resurfacing run along I-85 stretching from the I-75/Brookwood split into DeKalb. Overnight lane closures are typical for these jobs once they get moving.
- I-85 / SR 237 & I-285 / SR 13 Tunnel Lighting Upgrades (Fulton/DeKalb) — Lighting improvements are funded for tunnels at two major interchanges. Low-drama work in the long run, but tunnel jobs usually mean periodic closures during installation.
- Atlanta BeltLine NE Trail — Lindbergh Center to I-85 (Fulton County) — The most neighborhood-relevant project on this list. A 14-foot-wide concrete shared-use path stretching roughly 2.7 miles, plus about 2.1 miles of spur trails, is fully funded and in the pipeline. This is the missing link connecting the BeltLine northeast corridor — a big deal for pedestrians and cyclists in Morningside and surrounding areas once it breaks ground.

Service Requests

Potholes — Reported in progress at Highland View & Highland Ave, N Highland Ave NE, and Johnson Rd NE.

Downed Trees — Flagged at 10th St NE, Armand Rd & Cardova Dr, and Elkmont Dr NE.

Overgrowth/Visibility — Right-of-way maintenance requests filed for N Morningside Dr NE and Lenox Rd at Wildwood Rd.

Traffic Signal Repairs — Issues reported at Monroe Dr & Piedmont Ave and Highland Ave & Virginia Ave, plus an emergency signal repair at Ponce de Leon Ave & Frederica St.