Hey, West Midtown and Collier Hills! Lots to cover this week. Mercedes-Benz is officially opening a $34 million technology center right in your backyard at Northyards. Meanwhile, Atlanta City Council made a significant move, voting unanimously to freeze all new self-storage development citywide for 180 days. Plenty more to cover below.

- News — The city is pressing Fulton County for $200M toward a new hospital on the Westside, delivery robots just got faster on your sidewalks, and Georgia Tech's Vahn Lackey went third overall in the MLB Draft.
- Business — Mercedes-Benz has opened a $34M software and engineering hub at Northyards, and build-your-own pizza chain &pizza is heading to The Interlock.
- Events — It's a packed week, from Bastille Day at Bar Blanc on Tuesday to the Georgia Trust's Stars & Stripes preservation gala at The Goat Farm on Saturday.
- Government — The city council froze new self-storage permits for 180 days, put a Fulton County education sales tax renewal on the November ballot, and this week's meetings take up major items including Ellsworth Industrial rezoning, FY2027 tax rates, and the 2028 DNC coordination agreement.
- Construction — A restaurant is getting its systems dialed in on 11th Street, a new tenant is building out space at Collier Road Market, and the Northside Drive intersection at 14th is actively under construction.

Let's dive in.

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NEWS

Atlanta asks Fulton County to contribute $200 million toward new hospital
The Atlanta City Council has passed a resolution calling on Fulton County to put $200 million toward a proposed new hospital. The new hospital would be just south of us towards West End.

Georgia Tech Catcher Vahn Lackey Picked No. 3 Overall at MLB Draft
Vahn Lackey, catcher for Georgia Tech, wound up as the third overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, reminding us of that our favorite neighborhood engineering school also churns out top tier athletic talent.

Universities rethink how to prepare students as AI redefines what it means to start a career
Emory and Georgia Tech are restructuring their academic programs and career services to help students compete as artificial intelligence reshapes entry-level work. Unsurprising to see our local universities be so forward-thinking.

Delivery Robots Can Move Faster on Atlanta Sidewalks After New July 1 Law
A new state law that took effect July 1 allows autonomous delivery robots to move up to 7 mph on Atlanta sidewalks, up from the previous 4 mph cap. You'll want to keep an eye out, because these little guys are now moving at a brisk jogging pace alongside pedestrians.

BUSINESS

Mercedes-Benz Technology Center - opening - Mercedes-Benz has opened a $34 million technology center at the Northyards development near Georgia Tech. The facility focuses on software and digital development for future vehicles.

&pizza - opening - The build-your-own pizza chain known for its oblong pies is coming to The Interlock in West Midtown.

EVENTS | Presented by

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Monday, July 13
- Industry Night | Chattahoochee Food Works

Tuesday, July 14
- Bastille Day at Bar Blanc | Bar Blanc
- Trap Yoga Tuesday | The Interlock
- Georgia's Largest Happy Hour TUESDAYS | Chattahoochee Food Works
- Soccer Watch Parties | Round Trip Brewing Co.

Wednesday, July 15
- Indie Market at Chattahoochee Food Works | Chattahoochee Food Works
- Wellness Wednesday | Atlantic Green
- Wellness Wednesdays: HIIT Like a Pro | The Interlock

Thursday, July 16
- Atlanta F.A.M. – Fashion, Art & Music | Chattahoochee Food Works

Friday, July 17
- Omma For Venezuela | Westside Paper
- TRUTH - The Road To Sound Haven | Terminal West
- Friday Night Live | Atlantic Green
- Meet Us @ The Movies: Turandot | LOOP

Saturday, July 18
- Stars & Stripes - Annual Preservation Gala | The Goat Farm Arts Center
- Belgians in The Garden | Bold Monk Brewing Co.
- The Strike plus special guest | Terminal West
- Mats and Matcha hosted by ATL Friends | The Interlock

Sunday, July 19
- Summer of Soccer Finale hosted by Patron | The Interlock
- Uncle Sugar The Northside - Sunday Night | Northside Tavern
- Sunday Farmers Market | Chattahoochee Food Works
- Paint and Sip: Paint Night Done Right - Atlanta | 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 City Council

As covered in today's news section, the council passed a resolution calling on Fulton County to contribute $200 million toward a new hospital. Beyond that, the council's biggest move was a unanimous 180-day freeze on new self-storage facilities citywide, giving the city time to rethink its zoning rules for these businesses before any new permits get issued. The council also approved a $62.9 million contract for Delta One Lounge construction at Hartsfield-Jackson and a $1.75 million agreement for Amazon Web Services cloud support across several city departments. On the ballot front, the Committee on Council unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement to hold a November 3 special election on whether to renew a 1% sales tax for Fulton County education spending, meaning you'll have a direct say on that one later this year. Two notable proposals were deferred and remain in committee: a short-term rental registration and enforcement office, and a policy that would let the city's CFO require forensic financial audits of alcohol license holders during police investigations.

Atlanta NPU

Both NPU-C and NPU-E held virtual meetings on July 7, and neither has posted minutes yet, so the items below are scheduled for consideration and may still be tabled, deferred, or withdrawn. Across both meetings, a proposed citywide ordinance would require medical cannabis dispensaries to obtain a special use permit before operating within state-mandated buffer zones near schools, churches, and residential areas, a change that could affect where these businesses can locate across the city. A separate citywide ordinance would adjust solid waste service fees and clarify who qualifies for exemptions from backyard trash collection charges, which could show up directly on your city bill. NPU-E's agenda also includes a vote on a historic district overlay for Peachtree Circle that would add design controls to exterior renovations and demolitions in that area, along with advisory votes on special event permits for a full calendar of Piedmont Park events ranging from the Atl Vegan Festival in July to ONE Musicfest in October. NPU-C is reviewing two residential zoning variance requests and routine alcohol license updates for a local convenience store and a Publix location.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

Atlanta City Council
- 1579 Gates Place NW (Dupont Commons, Phase 2, Lot 120) — The council approved amended conditions for this Planned Development Housing property, modifying the existing PD-H zoning terms for homeowner Margaret H. Gaddis in a unanimous 15-0 vote.

Meetings This Week
- Atlanta City Council | Jul-13, 11:00 AM | key topics: 1425 & 1475 Ellsworth Industrial Blvd NW mixed-use rezoning is on the agenda (8.54 acres, I-2 → MRC-3), Logan Circle / Chattahoochee Ave NW industrial-to-mixed-use rezonings will be heard, self-storage special-use-permit text amendment is scheduled for consideration, Peachtree Circle Historic District designation is up for a vote
- Atlanta City Council | Jul-13, 1:00 PM | key topics: forensic audit authority for alcohol-licensed businesses is on the agenda, alcohol license fee increases will be heard, $385K+ in federal homeland security grants for APD and Fire Rescue are scheduled for consideration
- Atlanta City Council | Jul-14, 10:00 AM | key topics: $1.77M Roswell Road utility prep ahead of GDOT resurfacing is on the agenda, $2M Chastain Park stream stabilization is scheduled for a vote, $15.6M Flint River Pump Station overhaul will be heard
- Atlanta City Council | Jul-14, 1:30 PM | key topics: Logan Circle / Chattahoochee Ave NW land-use redesignations are on the agenda, free public pools ordinance will be heard, $1M parks security contract renewal is scheduled for consideration, new Center Hill Park youth community center is up for a vote
- Atlanta City Council | Jul-15, 10:00 AM | key topics: Jesse Hill Jr. Drive pedestrian plaza conversion is on the agenda, $2.89M unpaved roads paving contract is scheduled for a vote, PATH 400 trail funding adjustment will be heard
- Fulton County Board of Commissioners | Jul-15, 10:00 AM | key topics: 2026 property tax fast-track collection resolution is on the agenda, Roswell Road utility adjustments ahead of GDOT resurfacing will be heard, $9.5M North Fulton behavioral health center grant is scheduled for a vote
- Atlanta City Council | Jul-15, 1:30 PM | key topics: FY 2027 property tax rates are scheduled for consideration, 2028 Democratic National Convention coordination agreement will be heard, proposed ban on marketing spending from city special funds is on the agenda

CONSTRUCTION

Permits

- 101 DeFoors Landing NW — Tree damage restoration underway on an existing dwelling. Work covers bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, roof, chimney, gutters, and electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems. This one's substantial.
- 1325 Logan Cir NW — Interior demo permit accepted to open up an existing warehouse. No structural changes, but expect some noise while walls come down.
- 1082 Huff Rd NW — A 7,400-square-foot TPO retrofit roof is in the works. New metal decking goes over the existing metal roofing panels. A solid midsize commercial roofing job.
- 1385 Collier Rd NW — Interior tenant finish permit filed for vendor space inside the Market Building. This one's routed for review and covers roughly 2,000 square feet of buildout for a new tenant move-in.
- 189 5th St NW — Full third-floor HVAC buildout permitted at an existing commercial building. Two new split systems going in, with existing ductwork getting rerouted.
- 690 11th St NW — Gas line work permitted covering a kitchen cook line, rooftop HVAC units, patio heaters, and water heaters. Sounds like a restaurant getting its systems dialed in.
- 950 W Marietta St NW — A commercial HVAC permit is pending for a new commercial project. Details are thin, but the "new" classification means something's going up.

Beyond these, there are nearly 50 additional commercial permits in the pipeline, mostly electrical, low-voltage, and multi-family work. On the residential side, 27 permits came through this week, led by HVAC replacements and a handful of additions and alterations.

Road Work

Under Construction
- SR-3/US-41 Intersection Improvements (Fulton County) Work is underway at the cluster of Northside Drive, 14th Street, and Hemphill Avenue. GDOT is simplifying the intersection layout to give signals more flexibility.
- I-75 LED Lighting Upgrade, Musket Ridge Drive to I-85 (Fulton County) Crews are replacing the old high-pressure sodium lights along this 1.8-mile corridor with LED fixtures. Pole and conduit work may be part of the scope.
- SR-9 Resurfacing, SR-3 to North of Paces Ferry Road (Fulton County) GDOT is resurfacing SR-9 to bring the road surface back up to standard. Expect lane restrictions and rough transitions at the work zone edges until paving wraps up.
- Buford Spring Connector Tunnel Lighting Upgrade (Fulton County) Crews are swapping out the tunnel lighting at the I-85 connector for LED fixtures. Conduit and wiring work is part of the job.

Service Requests

Roads took the most heat this week. Potholes turned up across the area, with reports filed on Longwood Dr NW (two separate spots), Fernleaf Ct NW, the Perry Blvd and Marietta St intersection, 10th and Northside Dr, Ellsworth Dr NW, and one additional location.

Traffic signals also generated a busy week for crews. Emergency-level repairs were completed at Marietta St and Peachtree St, Bolton Rd and Barnett Dr, and Moores Mill and Bolton Rd. Non-emergency signal issues are still being worked through at 14th St NW and Techwood Dr, Marietta St and Northside Dr, Bolton Rd at Barnett Dr, and Moores Mill Rd at Bolton Rd.

A few other items round out the week. A downed tree at Northside Dr and Marietta St is in progress, as is an overgrowth issue on Marietta Rd NW blocking right-of-way visibility. A sign repair or replacement request is also active on Defoors Ferry Rd NW.

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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.