Presented By Neil Hediger Real Estate

Hey, West Midtown / Collier Hills! This week: Beltline officials dropped their long-awaited $3.5 billion light-rail proposal, and just down the road Microsoft's donated Westside land is getting a community celebration to kick off its next chapter. Also on deck: Nordstrom Rack locks in an October opening at Atlantic Station right as Lululemon quietly closes its Howell Mill doors.

- News — The Beltline's $3.5B rail plan, a Microsoft-land block party, and a new GM taking the reins at Atlantic Station.
- Business — Nordstrom Rack sets its October debut at Atlantic Station just as Lululemon shutters its West Midtown shop.
- Events — A Northwest Trail groundbreaking, the Hope in Motion 5K, and midweek markets keep the neighborhood busy through the weekend.
- Government — Fulton commissioners fund affordable housing and jail elevator upgrades while NPU-C and NPU-E sort through setback waivers and a stack of new liquor licenses.
- Construction — Two duplexes head to permitting, a precast parking garage rises on Chattahoochee, and Howell Mill trades a dental office for a med spa.

Let's dive in.

NEWS

Atlantic Station unveils new management team
Sean McIntosh has been named General Manager of Atlantic Station, returning to the property where he previously worked as assistant general manager from 2006 to 2013.

City announces big party on Westside land donated by Microsoft
The City of Atlanta and the Atlanta Urban Development Corporation will host a community celebration on Saturday, September 12, at the former Quarry Yards parcel donated by Microsoft, marking the next phase of planning for redevelopment, affordable housing, and park space in the area.

Beltline-adjacent 'Valley of the Hawks' project barrels ahead
Construction crews are transforming a long-blighted floodplain near the Atlanta Beltline just west of Midtown into a wetland restoration site featuring marshes, ponds, and walking trails intended to help manage stormwater flooding.

Atlanta officials considering Parking Bill of Rights to increase transparency for drivers
The Atlanta City Council is reviewing legislation sponsored by Councilmember James Dozier that would create a Parking Bill of Rights addressing surprise fines, confusing signage, and vehicle booting practices at private lots across the city.

Beltline officials propose $3.5 billion light-rail system for Atlanta
Atlanta Beltline officials released final recommendations from the Beltline Transit Study, outlining a $3.5 billion light-rail system with preferred route alignments meant to connect neighborhoods, improve access to major medical centers, and link with the wider regional transit network.

Atlanta Public Schools moves into next phase of redistricting plan
Atlanta Public Schools is advancing its district-wide redistricting process, working to balance facility capacity and enrollment numbers through potential boundary changes affecting families citywide.

BUSINESS

Nordstrom Rack sets October opening date at Atlantic Station — Nordstrom Rack will open its new 26,740-square-foot store at Atlantic Station on October 29, taking over the former DSW space along Atlantic Drive.

Athleisure retailer closes West Midtown location — Lululemon has permanently closed its West Midtown storefront on Howell Mill.

EVENTS | Presented by

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Tuesday, September 8
- Georgia Tech Volleyball vs. Oklahoma | O’Keefe Gymnasium
- Willow Avalon | Actor’s Express – King Plow Arts Center
- Trap Yoga Tuesday | The Interlock

Wednesday, September 9
- Bluegrass Open Jam | Ormsby's ATL
- Wellness Wednesdays: HIIT Like a Pro | The Interlock
- Plant Meetup Upper Westside Atl | Dr. Scofflaw's at The Works
- Wellness Wednesday | Atlantic Station
- Indie Market at Chattahoochee Food Works | Chattahoochee Food Works
- Pulse Run Club | Atlantic Station

Thursday, September 10
- Jervis Campbell | Actor’s Express – King Plow Arts Center
- Northwest Trail - Segment 3B Groundbreaking | 1575 Northside Dr NW, Atlanta, GA
- Atlanta F.A.M. – Fashion, Art & Music | Chattahoochee Food Works

Friday, September 11
- Hope in Motion 5K | Georgia Tech CRC

Saturday, September 12
- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Football vs. Tennessee Vols Football | George C. Griffin Track & Field Facility
- National Bourbon Month Tasting + Tour | ASW Exchange
- SOUND + VISION | LOOP
- TVBOO’s Business In The Front, Party In The Back | Actor’s Express – King Plow Arts Center
- Creator’s Market | Atlantic Station
- Grand Opening of Toastique in Atlanta in West Midtown (Brickworks) | Toastique
- Ivy Lab & Rohaan | The Goat Farm Arts Center

Sunday, September 13
- Top Perfumer Competition (No Experience Needed!) | The Creamery Studios
- Sunday Sweat Series | The Interlock
- Sunday Famers Market | Chattahoochee Food Works
- Bitchin Bajas | The Goat Farm Arts Center

GOVERNMENT | Presented by

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Note: our information comes from posted meetings documents (agendas and minutes when available) — latest source document hyperlinked to each meeting.

Past Week Roundup

Fulton County Board of Commissioners
Commissioners approved funding for 55 new affordable housing units combining single-family homes and multifamily apartments, part of a bigger push to add housing stock in historically underinvested areas. They also signed off on a $4.42 million contract to modernize nine elevators at the Fulton County Jail, a project that will take over 500 days to complete. Two intergovernmental agreements totaling roughly $1.7 million will fund water main relocations tied to road and trail improvements, showing how infrastructure upgrades often ride along with other public works projects. The board approved its 2026 Budget Soundings, an early step in shaping next year's county budget, and authorized $1.2 million in grant funded rental assistance through the Urban League of Greater Atlanta to help keep families housed. Together, these votes show the county investing heavily in both housing stability and aging infrastructure.

Atlanta Neighborhood Planning Units (NPU-C and NPU-E)
NPU-C and NPU-E both met this week to weigh in on zoning variances and business licenses before they head to city boards for final decisions, and minutes aren't yet posted for either meeting so these reflect what was on the agenda rather than final outcomes. NPU-C reviewed a request for a 17-foot retaining wall, nearly triple the normal limit, plus setback reductions and a front-yard parking pad on another property, alongside a new Thai restaurant and bar seeking an alcohol license. NPU-E took up a heavier zoning docket, including a front setback reduction paired with active recreation use, a side yard setback shrunk to just 1.5 feet, and a lot subdivision that would open the door to new infill construction. Both NPUs also fielded a wave of alcohol license requests tied to new restaurants and cafes opening nearby. NPU-E additionally reviewed major festival permits for Piedmont Park, including ONE Musicfest and several other large events that will bring temporary road closures later this year. These NPU votes are advisory, but they carry real weight in shaping what the city's zoning board and license review board ultimately decide.

Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education
The board approved a ground lease with the Atlanta Urban Development Corporation to redevelop the former Lakewood Heights School site into affordable housing, plus similar agreements covering four other surplus APS properties, signaling a broader strategy of turning unused school buildings into housing stock. Members also approved a real estate exchange and a new Joint Use Agreement with the city's Parks and Recreation department, which should expand shared access to recreational facilities across school and city properties. On the policy side, the board finalized new rules for repurposing underused facilities and updated guidance on student technology use, including artificial intelligence in classrooms. As covered in today's news section, the district is also moving forward with its broader redistricting process, which continues to shape conversations about how these facility decisions fit into the bigger picture for families citywide.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

Atlanta NPU
- Danny's Thai Kitchen and Bar (2250 Marietta Blvd NW) — An alcohol license for a new restaurant and bar location is on the agenda for review.
- Cafe in the City (935 Marietta St NW) — A new restaurant alcohol license is on the agenda for community review.
- Omma (950 W Marietta St NW) — New open-air cafe liquor license applications for Omma Main and Omma Mezzanine Bar are on the agenda for review and comment.

Meetings This Week
- Atlanta City Council — Committee on Council | Sep-08, 11:30 AM | key topics: first-come first-served public comment rules, police presence at recreation center polling sites, civility pledge for councilmembers
- Atlanta City Council | Sep-08, 1:00 PM | key topics: Upper Westside industrial rezonings on Logan Circle and Chattahoochee Avenue, private parking lot consumer protections, police fleet master lease

CONSTRUCTION

Permits
- 1175 Mecaslin St NW — New duplex permit routed for review. Expect a covered front porch, rear deck, roof balconies, and attached garages once construction gets going.
- 1053 Hampton St NW — Permit filed for a new 3-story attached duplex. It's still waiting on additional materials before it moves forward, but it signals more density coming to the area.
- 1280 Chattahoochee Ave NW — Big one to watch. This permit covers the vertical build-out of a precast parking garage, all above-grade work included. Expect construction noise and equipment traffic near the site for a while.
- 1959 Howell Mill Rd NW — A dental office is converting into a med spa. Another sign of Howell Mill's retail corridor shifting toward wellness and services.
- 660 11th St NW — Commercial tenant alteration approved and closed out at A1 Restaurant Building. If you've noticed changes at the space, this is why.
- 265 18th St NW — HVAC work just needs a final inspection before the space gets its Certificate of Occupancy. A new tenant or business is close to opening here.
- 1750 Chattahoochee Ave NW — Fire sprinkler system getting modified for a new tenant layout. Points to another business build-out in progress along this stretch.
- 441 16th St NW and 675 Northside Dr NE — Both permits cover new 200 amp overhead electrical service for Outfront Media billboards. Nothing dramatic, but you may see utility crews working overhead at these spots soon.
- 1121 Huff Rd NW — Low voltage electrical work issued for Building 100B at Novel. Routine tenant infrastructure work at the development.

Road Work

Under Construction
- I-75 from Musket Ridge Drive to I-85, Lighting Upgrade — Crews are swapping out old HPS lighting for energy-efficient LED fixtures along this corridor, with pole, conduit, and wiring replacement included in the scope.
- SR 3/US 41 from Tech Pkwy to Hemphill Ave, Intersection Improvements — This project reworks the intersection cluster where Northside Drive, 14th Street, and Hemphill Avenue meet, giving signal operations more flexibility.
- SR 9 Resurfacing from SR 3 to North of Paces Ferry Rd — GDOT's District Maintenance Office is repaving this stretch of SR 9 to fix a low OCI score on the current road surface.
- Buford Spring Connector at I-85, Tunnel Lighting Upgrade — Crews are replacing the tunnel's HPS lighting with LED fixtures, and the work may include fixing conduit and wiring issues along the way.

Utility Work

Atlanta Watershed:
- Traffic Advisory: Lane Closure near 2399 Bolton Road NW — A lane closure is beginning September 9 and going through the Spring near 2399 Bolton Road NW between Barnett Drive and Marietta Boulevard for utility work. Drivers should anticipate traffic delays in the area.

Service Requests
- Potholes — Reported on State St & 10th St, Howell Mill Rd NW, Huff Rd & Howell Mill Rd, and Ridgewood Rd NW. Crews are working through most of these, and one's already fixed.
- Visibility and Overgrowth Issues — Anne St NW and Chattahoochee Ave NW both racked up multiple reports. Most are marked solved, with one still in progress.
- Traffic Signal Repairs (non-emergency) — Northside Dr & Marietta St, Ferst Dr NW, and Moores Mill Rd & Warren Rd all need attention, with two still in progress.
- Sign Repair, Replacement, or Installation — Means St NW, Bibb St NW & Bankhead Ave NW, and State St & Tech Pkwy all have work in progress.
- Emergency Traffic Signal Repairs — Northside Dr & Marietta St had two separate Level 1 calls. Both are closed out.
- Graffiti Removal — A request is in progress at Boss St & Means St.

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Until next week,
West Midtown / Collier Hills Busybody

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