West Midtown / Collier Hills: A $75M Beltline Bet and a Storage Ban

Presented By Green Box Homes

Before we get into it, we have an announcement! We just launched a cross-neighborhood “week in review” edition that highlights the most important stories across all our neighborhoods, and are launching in the near future a “Downtown” edition and a “Southwest Beltline” edition! Re-choose your neighborhoods here if you want to sign up for any of those three.

Happy Fourth of July weekend, West Midtown and Collier Hills! A $75 million Beltline-adjacent redevelopment just cleared a critical financing hurdle, Mayor Dickens put a citywide freeze on new self-storage projects, and there's enough going on this week to keep you busy from Monday through Sunday. Let's get into it.

- News — A former tire recycling plant near the Beltline is getting a $75M makeover with a tax break secured, and Mayor Dickens just banned new self-storage development citywide — both stories matter for how this neighborhood grows.
- Business — Guac y Margys is closing both Atlanta locations, including the West Midtown spot at The Interlock that had become a reliable after-work staple.
- Events — The Peachtree Road Race headlines a jam-packed Fourth of July weekend, but there's also a whiskey throwdown, Trap Yoga, an indie market, soccer watch parties, and more running all week long.
- Government — City Council committees were busy: a $200M Southside hospital push, a self-storage moratorium, new parking lot consumer protections, and a rezoning battle brewing on Ellsworth Industrial Boulevard and Chattahoochee Avenue.
- Construction — First-generation buildouts are underway on Howell Mill, a mystery retail tenant is prepping on Huff Road, and signal repair requests are stacking up at several Marietta Boulevard intersections.

Let's dive in.

NEWS

Vacant West Midtown site set for massive transformation by 2028
Alta West Midtown, a nearly 250-unit mixed-use development, has cleared a critical hurdle after the Fulton County Development Authority approved a tax break to help get the project off the ground. The $75 million redevelopment is slated for completion by 2028 and will bring residential and commercial uses to a long-neglected patch of West Midtown. If the timeline holds, neighbors could be looking at a dramatically different streetscape within just a couple of years.

Fresh visuals: Boutique build at Georgia Tech nears pre-leasing stage
The 740 Techwood development near Georgia Tech is almost ready to start finding tenants, and new construction photos show the project taking real shape. It's a smaller-scale infill play, but boutique residential projects like this one add texture, and foot traffic, to corridors that could use both.

Mayor Andre Dickens issues moratorium on new self-storage projects across Atlanta
Mayor Dickens has signed an executive order putting the brakes on new self-storage development across the city in a move that will resonate loudly in fast-growing corridors like ours, where every vacant lot is a battleground between higher-value uses and the creeping beige monotony of climate-controlled storage. For neighborhoods pushing for housing and street-level retail, this is a meaningful signal from City Hall.

10 spectacular things to do this Fourth of July weekend in Atlanta
America turns 250 this weekend, and Atlanta is not treating it quietly. From the legendary Peachtree Road Race to festivities spread across the metro, there's no shortage of ways to mark the occasion, so if you're staying in town, there's zero excuse to spend the long weekend on your couch.

BUSINESS

Guac y Margys - closing - The Atlanta margarita bar is shutting down both of its remaining locations at the end of June, including the West Midtown spot at The Interlock that became a go-to for the after-work and weekend crowd.

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.

The Peachtree Road Race is back, and though it’s not in our area, it’s one of those events that deserves a shoutout no matter what neighborhood you’re in. The world's largest 10K draws tens of thousands of runners from Lenox Road down to Piedmont Park, so plan accordingly whether you're racing, cheering, or just trying to get somewhere by car.

Monday, June 29
- Run Social For Good | 670 Trabert Ave NW
- Industry Night | Chattahoochee Food Works
- ALL DAY WATCH PARTY | The Interlock

Tuesday, June 30
- Trap Yoga Tuesday | The Interlock
- Georgia's Largest Happy Hour TUESDAYS | Chattahoochee Food Works
- Soccer Watch Parties | Round Trip Brewing Co.
- ALL DAY WATCH PARTY | The Interlock

Wednesday, July 1
- Indie Market at Chattahoochee Food Works | Chattahoochee Food Works

Thursday, July 2
- Atlanta F.A.M. – Fashion, Art & Music | Chattahoochee Food Works

Friday, July 3
- Independence Weekend at Your 3rd Spot | Your 3rd Spot
- Great American Whiskey Throwdown | Kimpton The Shane Hotel

Saturday, July 4
- Red, White & Bullseyes this Fourth at Flight Club Atlanta | Flight Club Atlanta
- Peachtree Road Race | Lenox to Piedmont Park

- Independence Weekend at Your 3rd Spot | Your 3rd Spot

Sunday, July 5
- OFFICIAL F1® ARCADE SILVERSTONE WATCH PARTY | F1® Arcade Atlanta
- Sunday Famers Market | Chattahoochee Food Works
- Paint and Sip: Paint Night Done Right - Atlanta | Taste Wine Bar and Market
- Uncle Sugar The Northside - Sunday Night | Northside Tavern

- Independence Weekend at Your 3rd Spot | Your 3rd Spot

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 Finance/Executive Committee had a wide-ranging agenda on June 24th, anchored by a sweeping $200 million proposal asking Fulton County to partner with Morehouse School of Medicine to expand hospital and healthcare facilities on Atlanta's Southside and Westside. Homeowners will want to watch two items directly affecting their wallets: a proposed ordinance to set FY2027 property tax rates across the General Levy, school, parks, BeltLine, and Atlanta Stitch Special Service Districts, and a separate measure that would authorize the CFO to add a surcharge to electronic payments made to the city. On the public safety front, the committee considered an updated compensation plan for Atlanta Fire Rescue to bring firefighter pay in line with competitive standards — a key factor in recruitment and retention. Rounding out the agenda, the committee took up a $75,000 donation to HouseProud Atlanta to fund zero-cost home repairs for low-income seniors, free summer camp programming at Camp Best Friends for all city youth, and a pointed request for the Fulton County Chief Assessor to explain why a stalled, structurally compromised Midtown construction site at 1155 Peachtree Street is currently receiving a property tax break.

Atlanta City Council — Special Called Meeting

In a brisk 17-minute Special Called Meeting on June 24th, the City Council unanimously approved — by 9-0 votes across the board — a package of four ordinances authorizing $8 million in General Obligation bond financing split evenly between the FY2026 and FY2027 budgets. Each fiscal year received a $4 million bond appropriation, with an additional $150,000 set aside per year to cover issuance expenses, and both bond series will be placed directly with Huntington National Bank. No residents spoke during public comment, and all items were forwarded to the Mayor for immediate approval. While the specific projects these bonds will fund were not detailed at this meeting, General Obligation bonds are backed by the city's taxing authority — meaning they represent a formal long-term financial commitment on behalf of Atlanta taxpayers.

Atlanta City Council — Transportation Committee

The Transportation Committee tackled a packed slate of mobility items on June 24th, starting with a proposed ordinance that would create new consumer protections for drivers using private parking lots and garages — requiring clear rate disclosures, accessible payment options, data privacy limits, and formal dispute resolution processes for unfair ticketing or towing. The committee also considered permanently closing a block of Jesse Hill Jr. Drive SE near Grady Hospital to create a landscaped pedestrian plaza, a move that would be carried out in partnership with the Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority. On the transit front, a resolution was on the table formally requesting the Mayor to renegotiate the "More MARTA" Intergovernmental Agreement, with the goal of realigning expansion priorities to current funding realities. The committee also considered a $3.6 million state grant for road and safety improvements along Peachtree Street from North Avenue to West Peachtree Street, a $2.63 million engineering contract for the Pryor Street and Central Avenue Safe Streets Project, and an $824,000 construction contract for pedestrian mobility upgrades along Campbellton Road.

Atlanta City Council — Community Development/Human Services Committee

The Community Development/Human Services Committee covered significant ground on June 23rd, with several items touching quality of life across the city. A proposed ordinance would formally codify free admission at all City of Atlanta pools and indoor natatoria, locking in no-cost recreational swimming for residents. The committee also considered a 20-year agreement with L.E.A.D., Inc. to build and operate a new youth-focused community center on city-owned parcels near Center Hill Park, and a $250,000 contract with HKS, Inc. for a Livable Centers Initiative study around the Ashby MARTA Station to guide future transit-oriented development. On the housing side, the committee took up a $539,850 federal grant to fund Section 8 rental subsidies for 28 low-income families, as well as a long-pending ordinance to establish a formal Office of Short-Term Rentals with a city registry, platform verification requirements, and strict permitting rules for local hosts. Two companion ordinances proposing to rezone properties along Logan Circle and Chattahoochee Avenue NW from heavy industrial to Industrial Flex zoning — which would allow lighter, more neighborhood-compatible uses like creative offices and maker-spaces — remained held in committee pending a public hearing.

Atlanta City Council — City Utilities Committee

The City Utilities Committee had a substantial infrastructure-focused agenda on June 23rd, led by a proposed substitute ordinance that would restructure solid waste fees and clarify which residents qualify for an exemption from backyard trash collection charges — a change that could directly affect what many homeowners pay for garbage service. The committee also considered a $2 million transfer to fund stream stabilization and restoration work at Chastain Park Golf Course, alongside a separate $1.89 million acquisition of 12 parcels for a new constructed wetland designed to manage stormwater naturally. On the larger infrastructure front, more than $36 million in contract renewals were on the table to keep up with emergency and major mechanical repairs across Atlanta's water and sewer system, and a $15.57 million budget amendment was proposed for upgrades at the Flint River Pump Station. Rounding out the agenda, the committee took up two policy-driven ordinances: one establishing clear criteria for when property owners must connect to public sewer versus maintain a private septic system, and another restoring green infrastructure stormwater retention requirements that were stripped from city code in 2020.

Atlanta City Council — Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee

The Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee approved several consequential measures at its June 22nd meeting. Most notably, the committee voted 6-0 to authorize the city to purchase approximately 2.5 acres of MARTA-owned land for up to $3.39 million to build a new EMS and Fire Station in the Lindbergh City Center area — a significant addition to the city's emergency response infrastructure. In a closer 3-2 vote, the committee passed a controversial ordinance giving the Chief Financial Officer authority to require alcohol-licensed businesses to submit financial records for forensic auditing during APD investigations, with Councilmembers Boone and Lewis voting against. The committee also approved a retroactive lease with Israel Missionary Baptist Church for the APD Zone Six precinct through August 2027 at $102,000 annually, and signed off on two major lawsuit settlements totaling $520,000. On the other hand, both a surveillance technology transparency ordinance and a proposed 180-day moratorium on new alcohol licenses in the Edgewood Corridor were held in committee for further review.

Atlanta City Council — Zoning Committee

The Zoning Committee made several decisive moves at its June 22nd meeting, beginning with a unanimous 7-0 recommendation to deny a rezoning request that would have converted 11.185 acres at West Paces Ferry and West Wesley Roads in Buckhead from large-lot single-family to a Planned Development Housing designation. The committee also voted 7-0 to recommend a citywide 180-day moratorium on new permits for self-storage and secure-storage facilities — a measure introduced by Councilmember Dustin Hillis that reflects growing concerns about the proliferation of storage uses in urban neighborhoods. On the approval side, the committee greenlit an amended special use permit for the Ansley Golf Club on over 52 acres at 196 Montgomery Ferry Drive NE. A significant volume of other cases — including duplex conversions, a large industrial-to-mixed-use transition on Ellsworth Industrial Boulevard, and a BeltLine-area rezoning on White Street SW — were referred back to committee for additional review, effectively pausing those projects while deliberations continue.

NPU-D

NPU-D met virtually on June 23rd with a consequential agenda, though because official minutes have not yet been posted, it is not known which items were voted on, approved, denied, or tabled — and any items scheduled may have been deferred or withdrawn. The most significant scheduled business involved a developer's coordinated push for high-density mixed-use redevelopment at 1425 and 1475 Ellsworth Industrial Boulevard NW within the BeltLine Overlay, seeking rezoning to Mixed Residential and Commercial (MRC-3) with a floor area ratio of up to 7.2, along with companion variances to increase allowable height from 35 to 59 feet and eliminate required transitional yard buffers entirely. Also on the agenda was a request at 1151 Chattahoochee Avenue NW for a special exception to slash required onsite parking from 135 spaces to just 20 — a reduction that neighbors have raised concerns could push overflow parking onto surrounding residential streets. The NPU was also scheduled to hear subdivision applications for two properties on Collins Drive and Bernard Road NW, along with community updates from Bolton Academy, the Agape Center, and the Atlanta BeltLine.

Atlanta Public Schools — Board of Education

The Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education met on June 23rd, and while minutes are noted as available, the official record contains limited detail on vote outcomes or final decisions. The agenda featured a draft Electronic Payments and Funds Transfer Policy up for approval, a discussion of student technology use and instructional materials rules, and — most consequentially for neighborhood residents — a policy discussion on facility repurposing and community asset stewardship, which governs how the district manages vacant or underutilized school buildings. That last item matters directly to homeowners in areas where shuttered school properties sit, as district decisions on repurposing can shape what gets built — or stays dormant — in local neighborhoods. No specific school properties or street addresses were cited in the agenda materials, and confirmed vote counts and final policy determinations were not recorded in the available documents.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

Atlanta City Council — Community Development/Human Services Committee
- 1119, 1149, 1177, 1209, 1225, 1301, 1311, 1325, 1335, and 1369 Logan Circle NW & 1405 and 1417 Chattahoochee Ave NW — A companion ordinance (26-O-1322) was considered to redesignate these properties from heavy Industrial (I) zoning to Industrial Flex (IF), which would open the door to light industrial uses like creative offices, maker-spaces, and retail.
- 1325, 1379, 1389, 1391, and 1395 Chattahoochee Ave NW — These addresses were included in a separate but related ordinance (26-O-1321) proposing the same I-to-IF land-use shift, part of a broader effort to transition the Logan Circle and Chattahoochee Avenue corridor away from traditional heavy industrial uses.

Atlanta City Council — Zoning Committee
- 1425 and 1475 Ellsworth Industrial Blvd NW — The committee unanimously deferred a rezoning request for these two parcels (8.54 acres total) that sought to shift from heavy industrial and conditional multi-family zoning to Mixed Residential Commercial, referring the case back to committee for further review.
- 1579 Gates Place NW — The committee unanimously approved an amended zoning modification changing conditions within an existing Planned Development Housing (PD-H) subdivision at this address.

CONSTRUCTION

Permits

- 1750 Chattahoochee Ave NW — Interior renovation of an existing single-story commercial building shell. Scope suggests a tenant is getting ready to move in — watch this one on the Westside industrial corridor.
- 2195 DeFoor Hills Rd NW — Suite renovation underway with new millwork and entrance reconfiguration in an occupied space. Small-scale, but signals active tenant investment in the DeFoor Hills pocket.
- 1055 Howell Mill Rd NW — First-generation office suite buildout in progress for a new tenant. First-gen means raw space — someone is setting up shop from scratch on Howell Mill.
- 1121 Huff Rd NW — Gas line roughed in for future retail. The permit language ("future retail") means a space is being prepped before a tenant is even announced. Something's coming to Huff Road.
- 1000 Marietta St NW — Tenant conversion with cosmetic interior work: painting, floor refinishing, and light improvements. A new occupant is taking shape on Marietta Street.
- 1190 Huff Rd NW — TPO roof replacement on a commercial building. No structural changes, but expect some rooftop activity.
- 271 17th St NW — Interior modifications to the 12th floor of an existing office building, including a new copy room and storage. Routine, but the building is actively occupied and reconfiguring.
- 35 Collier Rd NW — Electrical permit tied to an interior tenant renovation. Minor, but worth noting for Collier Road neighbors.
- 1668 Howell Mill Rd NW — Comcast utility work on a pole along Howell Mill. Brief, minor disruption possible.

Beyond these, the area logged roughly 29 residential permits this period — a steady drumbeat of electrical, HVAC, and home improvement work spread across the neighborhoods, with no single cluster standing out.

Road Work

Under Construction
- SR 3/US 41 Intersection Improvements (Fulton County) — Signal and intersection upgrades at the cluster of Northside Drive, 14th Street, and Hemphill Avenue, aimed at improving traffic flow and signal flexibility. If you pass through this corridor regularly, expect periodic disruptions at these intersections.
- I-75 LED Lighting Upgrade (Fulton County) — Work is underway to replace outdated high-pressure sodium lighting with energy-efficient LED fixtures along a stretch of I-75 from Musket Ridge Drive to I-85. Pole and conduit replacements may be part of the scope — watch for nighttime lane activity.
- Bridge Preservation at Multiple Locations (Cobb, DeKalb & Fulton Counties) — A multi-county bridge maintenance project covering co-polymer overlay, steel beam painting, and joint replacement at seven locations across the region. The Fulton County components of this project may have localized impact on area routes.
- SR 9 Resurfacing (Fulton County) — Resurfacing work on SR 9 between SR 3 and north of Paces Ferry Road, targeting roads with low pavement condition scores. Expect lane restrictions during active paving operations.
- Buford Spring Connector Tunnel Lighting Upgrade (Fulton County) — LED lighting upgrades inside the Buford Spring Connector tunnel near I-85, with possible conduit and wiring work in the mix. Lane patterns inside the tunnel may shift during construction.

Service Requests

Five types of service requests are active across the area this week:

- Traffic Signal Repairs — Issues reported at four intersections: Elaine Ave & Marietta Blvd, Marietta Blvd & Coronet Way, and Bolton Rd & Barnett Dr.
- Overgrowth/Visibility — Two right-of-way visibility complaints filed for Northside Dr NW.
- Litter Removal — Right-of-way litter reported on Collins Ridge Dr NW and Walthall Ct NW.
- Pothole — Reported on Marietta Blvd NW.
- Sign Repair — A sign repair, replacement, or installation request filed for Foster St NW.

Want to alter your neighborhood selections? Submit here

Want to sponsor us? 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.

Kalshi: Trade every World Cup match. Who wins, who advances, who lifts the trophy. Official partner of Argentina's national team. Peer-to-peer, no house, get $10 free. Start Trading.