Presented by Nailed-It Roofing

Hey, West Midtown / Collier Hills! This week: Georgia Tech officially opened its first new residence hall in half a century, Atlantic Station's new owners want your opinion on its future, and city council quietly refinanced Mercedes-Benz Stadium debt while dropping $99 million into street repairs citywide. Add a new toast-and-juice spot headed for Brickworks and a stack of rezoning cases creeping along Chattahoochee Avenue, and there's plenty to catch up on.

- News — Georgia Tech's new Peterson Residence Hall opens, Atlantic Station seeks resident input under new management, and a data privacy audit hits Atlanta's Flock cameras.
- Business — Toastique is bringing its toast-and-smoothie menu to Brickworks for its second Atlanta location.
- Events — Buddy Guy plays Symphony Hall, the Isley Brothers and O'Jays headline Chastain, and Tequila Fest lands at Chattahoochee Food Works.
- Government — Council refinanced stadium debt, unlocked $99M for street work, and advanced a stack of Chattahoochee Avenue and Ellsworth Industrial rezonings worth watching.
- Construction — A 10,000 sq ft bar build-out hits 11th Street, two commercial kitchens are taking shape on Howell Mill and Collier, and traffic signal work is coming to three Howell Mill intersections.

Let's dive in.

NEWS

Images: Georgia Tech's first new residence hall in decades has arrived
Georgia Tech has officially opened the Peterson Residence Hall, its first brand-new on-campus dorm project in half a century, an eight-story development that brings expanded student housing capacity along the western edge of Midtown.

Atlanta Media Company Extends Office Lease in West Midtown
An Atlanta-based media company has re-committed to its office footprint in West Midtown by extending its long-term lease, reinforcing the area's role as a commercial anchor for creative, technology, and media tenants.

Atlantic Station Under New Management, Seeking Public Input on Future
Atlantic Station has transitioned to new management, which is inviting neighborhood residents and visitors to share feedback on upcoming operational changes, tenant mixes, and public programming at the hub.

Atlanta heat doesn't stop Beltline crowds, Georgia Tech move-in volunteers
Georgia Tech students and volunteers braved high weekend heat index values during fall campus move-in, bringing heavy traffic and campus activity to surrounding Home Park and West Midtown streets.

Atlanta reviews police use of Flock Safety cameras amid advocacy pushback
Mayor Andre Dickens has directed a 30-day audit of the Atlanta Police Department's use of Flock Safety license plate readers following growing privacy scrutiny, a review affecting automated surveillance across core Atlanta neighborhoods.

BUSINESS

Gourmet All-Day Café Toastique Opening Second Atlanta Location in Brickworks — Toastique, known for artisan toasts, smoothie bowls, and cold-pressed juices, is opening its second Atlanta location at the Brickworks development in West Midtown.

Be the smartest person in the room. 1440 navigates 100+ sources to deliver a comprehensive, unbiased news roundup — politics, business, culture, and more — in a quick, 5-minute read. Completely free, completely factual.

Sign up now!

EVENTS | Presented by

Peace of Mind Recycling is your one stop shop for a convenient and affordable way to make sure your recyclables actually get… recycled! With Atlanta's city recycling services your guess is as good as ours in regards to what actually gets recycled. We document where we take your glass, metal, electronics & everything else so you can rest assured it's going to the good place 100% of the time.

Tuesday, August 18
- HAYLA | Terminal West
- Bluegrass Night | Ormsby's
- Lizzy Jane: Terminal West | Terminal West

Wednesday, August 19
- Dirty South Trivia | Ormsby's

Thursday, August 20
- Father | Actor's Express – King Plow Arts Center
- Buddy Guy 90 | Atlanta Symphony Hall
- UATL 404ward Culture Connect | The Interlock

Friday, August 21
- The Dirty Guv'nahs | Actor's Express – King Plow Arts Center
- Friday Night Live | Atlantic Green

Saturday, August 22
- Underground Springhouse w/ The Regulars | Actor's Express – King Plow Arts Center
- Creator's Market | Atlantic Station
- The Isley Brothers & The O'Jays | Chastain Park
- Tequila Fest 2026! | Chattahoochee Food Works
- Saturday Brunch | Ormsby's
- Squeeze at The Fox Theatre | Fox Theatre

Sunday, August 23
- Jon Batiste With Atlanta Pops Orchestra | Chastain Park
- Cooking Class: Sushi Making With Chef Jennifer at Taste Wine Bar and Market | Taste Wine Bar and Market

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 Public Schools Board of Education
The Atlanta school board moved forward on a new A.D. Williams Elementary School, approving construction management services to get the project built. Board members also signed off on a demolition bundle covering several former or surplus school sites, clearing the way for those properties to be repurposed down the line. On the money side, the board approved a Tax Anticipation Note to smooth out cash flow along with budget adjustments for both this year and next, plus final policy updates on tax allocation district investments and electronic payments. The board gave first reads to new policies on repurposing school facilities and student technology use, so expect final votes on those in a future meeting. Consent items included new playground equipment, security cameras, and body-worn cameras for fleet vehicles, all aimed at keeping schools safer and better maintained.

Atlanta City Council
The full council held a special meeting to lock in financing terms for new airport revenue bonds, a technical but important step that keeps Hartsfield-Jackson's capital projects funded. At the Finance/Executive Committee, members approved refinancing the public debt on Mercedes-Benz Stadium to lower the city's annual payments, and signed off on a land swap with Atlanta Public Schools along with several community grants. The Transportation Committee approved a $99 million fund for road and street construction citywide and a $4.5 million safety upgrade for Peachtree Street through Midtown, while holding a proposed crackdown on private parking lot pricing rules for further review. The Community Development/Human Services Committee approved over $3 million in job training grants and advanced a wave of land-use changes across Midtown, Westside, and Southside, while holding a proposal on minimum security standards for vacant properties. The City Utilities Committee approved a $57.2 million solid waste contract, a $25 million drinking water renewal project, and created a new task force to study data center regulations, while the Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee took up a plan to expand community policing officers citywide and reviewed two lawsuit settlements totaling $470,000 (minutes for this meeting aren't posted yet, so outcomes aren't confirmed). The Zoning Committee took up major rezonings for mixed-use apartments and retail along Ponce de Leon Avenue, Decatur Street, and Glenn Street, plus new citywide rules that would require special permits for self-storage facilities and medical cannabis dispensaries.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

Atlanta City Council
- 788 W Marietta St NW — An encroachment agreement allowing Bandwidth Infrastructure Group GA, LLC to attach a 6-inch conduit for micro fiber optic cable under the W. Marietta Street bridge was approved.
- 1325–1395 Chattahoochee Ave NW — A proposed rezoning from Heavy Industrial to Mixed Residential Commercial was reviewed and remains pending a Zoning Review Board hearing.
- Westhouse (1385 Collier Rd NW) — A Special Use Permit request to operate a commercial event venue exceeding 7,500 square feet serving alcoholic beverages was considered.
- 1405 Chattahoochee Ave NW and 1119–1369 Logan Cir NW — A proposed rezoning from Heavy Industrial to Mixed Residential Commercial was reviewed and remains pending a Zoning Review Board hearing.
- 1417 Chattahoochee Ave NW and 1119–1369 Logan Cir NW — A proposed rezoning from Heavy Industrial to Mixed Residential Commercial was reviewed and remains pending a Zoning Review Board hearing.
- 1425 Ellsworth Industrial Blvd NW — A proposed rezoning from Heavy Industrial to Mixed Residential Commercial for the Lumberyard Lofts site was held in committee.
- 1475 Ellsworth Industrial Blvd NW — A proposed rezoning from Heavy Industrial to Mixed Residential Commercial for the Lumberyard Lofts site was held in committee.

Meetings This Week
- Atlanta City Council — Committee on Council | Aug-17, 11:30 AM | key topics: law enforcement staffing at recreation center polling sites, updates to public comment procedures, councilmember civility pledge
- Atlanta City Council | Aug-17, 1:00 PM | key topics: airport revenue bond authorizations, Mercedes-Benz Stadium debt refinancing, municipal solid waste contract, Peachtree Safe Street engineering agreements
- Fulton County Board of Commissioners | Aug-19, 10:00 AM | key topics: Behavioral Health Crisis Center bond issuance, historic St. Mark AME Church preservation grant, FY2027 budget soundings

CONSTRUCTION

Permits
- 690 11TH ST NW — Tenant build-out permitted for a 10,000 sq ft bar and restaurant. Core and shell work is underway now, so expect construction noise and equipment on site while the space gets finished out.
- 1483 CHATTAHOOCHEE AVE NW — Permit filed to widen an internal drive aisle and connect two parking lots. This points to more traffic flow changes near the industrial corridor.
- 1175 CHATTAHOOCHEE AVE NW — Interior build-out permitted at the Complex development on Ellsworth Industrial. Another sign of new tenants moving into that stretch.
- 1968 MARIETTA RD NW — Fire loop and riser installation under review. Standard infrastructure work tied to a larger commercial project.
- 1050 HOWELL MILL NW — HVAC permit issued for four to five ton units plus a heat hood and condensate hood. Sounds like kitchen equipment going in, likely for a restaurant or food service space.
- 857 COLLIER RD NW — Plumbing permit issued for a dishwasher, floor drains, sinks, and a gas water heater. Commercial kitchen work here too.
- 35 COLLIER RD NW — Fire sprinkler system upgrade issued to add and relocate coverage per code. Routine but worth noting if you're near this address and see crews on site.
- 710 10TH ST NW, 887 HOWELL MILL RD NW, 1751 HOWELL MILL RD NW — All three got traffic signal electrical permits issued this week. Watch for possible lane closures or flaggers at these intersections while crews do the work.

Road Work

Under Construction
- I-75 Lighting Upgrade from Musket Ridge Drive to I-85 (Fulton County) — Crews are swapping old HPS lighting for energy-efficient LED fixtures along this stretch. The work also covers pole, conduit, and wiring replacement where needed.
- SR 3 / US 41 Intersection Improvements from Tech Pkwy to Hemphill Ave — This project reworks the intersection cluster where Northside Drive, 14th Street, and Hemphill Avenue meet. GDOT is simplifying the layout to give signal timing more flexibility.
- SR 9 Resurfacing from SR 3 to North of Paces Ferry Rd — GDOT's District Maintenance Office is repaving this section of SR 9 to fix its low pavement condition score.
- Buford Spring Connector at I-85 Tunnel Lighting (Fulton County) — Crews are replacing the tunnel's HPS lighting with LED fixtures, with conduit and wiring repairs included where the tunnel needs it.

Utility Work

Atlanta Watershed:
- Traffic Advisory: Full Road Closure on Marietta Road for Sanitary Sewer Main Replacement — Atlanta Watershed announced a full road closure at 2200 Marietta Rd. NW between La Dawn Lane NW for sanitary sewer main replacement work.

Service Requests
- Potholes — Reported on Ellsworth Dr NW, at Howell Mill Rd and Huff Rd, and on Brady Ave NW. Most are already in progress, and a couple on Brady Ave are already fixed.
- Traffic Signal Repairs — Crews are on it at Northside Dr and 14th St, plus Collier Rd and Northside Dr. One's done, the other's still in progress.
- Overgrowth Blocking Visibility — Flagged on Glenbrook Dr NW and at Ethel St and Hampton St. The Glenbrook issue's resolved, and the other's being worked on.
- Downed Tree — A report on Harper Rd NW got cancelled as a duplicate.

Want to sponsor us? Submit here

Want to alter your neighborhood selections? Submit here

Want to promote an event? Submit here

Until next week,
West Midtown / Collier Hills 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.