West Midtown / Collier Hills: Wayfair Opens and a $200M Sidewalk Fix

Hello, West Midtown and Collier Hills neighbors. Between Georgia Tech’s strategic new land grab and a massive $200 million commitment to fix our sidewalks, the footprint of our district is shifting beneath our feet. We're also diving into the debut of the Wayfair flagship and a high-stakes week for local government, so let’s get into it.

- News — Georgia Tech’s $31 million Coca-Cola site acquisition, a $200 million windfall for sidewalks, and a milestone in the city’s rapid-housing push.
- Business — Wayfair’s massive new flagship is officially open at Howell Mill, joined by a sophisticated new Indian dining concept in Atlantic Station.
- Events — It’s a high-energy week featuring a heavy rotation of Georgia Tech home games, a draft watch party at The Works, and plenty of live music.
- Government — While Fulton County moves forward with a billion-dollar jail project, the City Council is weighing a new entertainment district for the World Cup.
- Construction — New demo permits in Blandtown and major intersection upgrades on Northside Drive highlight a busy week for local infrastructure.

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Let’s dive in:

NEWS

Georgia Tech to acquire building, park space long owned by Coca-Cola
Georgia Tech is finalizing a $31 million deal to take over Coca-Cola’s North Avenue property, a strategic acquisition that will effectively push the campus footprint further toward the edge of West Midtown. This isn't just about more office space; it’s a major institutional expansion that includes new parkland and will likely reshape the flow of traffic and development near the North Avenue corridor for years to come.

Atlanta Department of Transportation invests $200 million in sidewalk safety, improvements
The city is finally putting serious money where our feet are, committing $200 million to repair the crumbling sidewalks that make walking in West Midtown and the Marietta Street Artery a bit of a gamble. This investment from the "Moving Atlanta Forward" program is targeted at making our streets actually navigable, which is a welcome relief for anyone tired of navigating the obstacle course of cracked pavement and sudden dead ends.

In quest to end homelessness, city delivers 500th rapid-housing unit
The city just marked a significant milestone in its housing strategy by delivering its 500th rapid-housing unit designed to transition residents off the streets and into stability with unprecedented speed. While many of these developments are rolling out in neighboring intown areas, the success of this modular approach is quickly becoming the blueprint for how the city plans to handle the visibility of homelessness near our primary commercial and residential corridors.

BUSINESS

Ikara - opening - Atlantic Station’s dining landscape continues to shift toward upscale regional flavors with the debut of this fine-dining Indian concept inside the Twelve Midtown hotel, where guests can choose between a casual lounge experience and a dedicated 30-seat room for a nine-course tasting menu.

Wayfair - expanding - Bringing a major retail anchor back to The District at Howell Mill, the e-commerce giant has officially opened its 150,000-square-foot flagship, a massive tactile playground where shoppers can test out digital-first furniture in person and visit an on-site cafe.

Shaw Contract - opening - This commercial flooring brand has unveiled a sprawling new 8,700-square-foot showroom in West Midtown, moving into a glass-walled space designed to serve as a warm, modern hub for the local architecture and design community.

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EVENTS

It’s a high-energy week for West Midtown as Georgia Tech plays host to major home series at both the diamond and the softball field. Between the draft watch parties at the Food Works and a stacked live music calendar at Terminal West and Northside Tavern, there are plenty of reasons to get out and enjoy the spring weather this week.

Monday, April 20
- Industry Night | Chattahoochee Food Works

Tuesday, April 21
- Dinner & a Movie | 42 West
- Work & Wine Hours | Taste Wine Bar and Market
- Georgia’s Largest Happy Hour | Chattahoochee Food Works
- Date Night Special | Taste Wine Bar and Market

Wednesday, April 22
- Ladies Night: Self Pour Wine Tasting | Taste Wine Bar and Market
- Indie Market at Chattahoochee Food Works | Chattahoochee Food Works
- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Softball vs. Furman Paladins | Shirley C. Mewborn Field

Thursday, April 23
- Portfolio & "Un-posted" Zine Showcase | Georgia Tech
- Draft Watch Party | Chattahoochee Food Works
- Atlanta F.A.M. – Fashion, Art & Music | Chattahoochee Food Works
- Taste Night: A Free Sampling Series | Taste Wine Bar and Market
- Superchunk w/ Rosali | Terminal West

Friday, April 24
- Cash's Juke Joint ft. Angel Ocasio, Jr. | Northside Tavern
- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Softball vs. Florida State | Shirley C. Mewborn Field
- Georgia Tech Baseball vs. Wake Forest | Mac Nease Baseball Park at Russ Chandler Stadium
- Live Jazz Friday's Spring Sessions | Taste Wine Bar and Market
- Nikita, The Wicked w/ Neumonic | Terminal West

Saturday, April 25
- Unlimited Gourmet Taco Tasting Experience | Chichería Mexican Kitchen
- Bubbles & Boards: Self Pour Wine & Mimosas | Taste Wine Bar and Market
- Georgia Tech Baseball vs. Wake Forest | Mac Nease Baseball Park at Russ Chandler Stadium
- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Softball vs. Florida State | Shirley C. Mewborn Field
- Hasan Raheem | Terminal West

Sunday, April 26
- Sunday Farmers Market | Chattahoochee Food Works
- Sushi Making With Chef Jennifer | Taste Wine Bar and Market
- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Softball vs. Florida State | Shirley C. Mewborn Field
- Georgia Tech Baseball vs. Wake Forest | Mac Nease Baseball Park at Russ Chandler Stadium
- Uncle Sugar: Live at Northside Tavern | Northside Tavern

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

The Board of Education held a series of committee meetings on April 16, 2026, focusing on financial oversight and long-term planning. The Audit Committee officially appointed Board Vice-Chair Dr. Ken Zeff as its new chair, placing him in charge of the district’s internal financial watchdogs. The committee also reviewed a deep-dive audit into student extracurricular spending to ensure that funds meant for sports and clubs are being used correctly. Simultaneously, the Budget Commission began the framework for the 2027 fiscal year. While no tax rates were set, officials discussed staff pay raises and federal funding levels—key factors that will eventually determine the district’s budget and its impact on local property taxes. On the policy front, the board moved forward with updated financial procedures for its own administrative offices and advanced a new policy for how school counselors advise students on their academic paths. They also began reviewing whether to tighten student attendance rules and adjust high school graduation requirements, though these student-focused changes are still in the discussion phase.

Fulton County Board of Commissioners

The Board of Commissioners had a massive infrastructure and policy agenda scheduled for its April 15, 2026 meeting. Headlining the session was a proposal to authorize up to $1.36 billion in revenue bonds for the Fulton County Jail Improvement project, a significant move toward financing a major overhaul of the county's detention facilities. Also on the agenda was a plan to expand paid parental leave for county employees from eight weeks to 12 weeks, potentially increasing the county’s competitiveness as an employer. For those tracking local housing, the board considered a grant for a new 120-unit affordable housing development and discussed $500,000 in funding to keep the Summer Youth Internship Program running. Other scheduled items included a series of agreements for developers to maintain stormwater infrastructure and funding for senior programming, including computer classes and dining services. Because official minutes for this meeting have not yet been posted, these items are listed as they appeared on the agenda; outcomes may include items being approved, delayed, or amended.

Meetings This Week
- Atlanta City Council — Committee on Council — April 20, 2026 at 11:30 AM
The committee will consider City Charter amendments aimed at filling long-standing board vacancies and increasing legislative accountability by requiring primary sponsors for all new laws. Members are also scheduled to discuss a resolution for an independent investigation into specific city contracts and appoint representatives to the FY 2027 Budget Commission.

- Atlanta City Council — April 20, 2026 at 1:00 PM
The full council is scheduled to vote on a $1 billion expansion for Airport Concourse D and the creation of a temporary downtown "entertainment district" to allow public alcohol consumption during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Also on the agenda is the formal introduction of the FY 2027 budget and a new master plan update for Beltline Subarea 8 in Northwest Atlanta. An establishment at 690 11th Street NW is seeking a permit to sell alcohol in a space exceeding 7,500 square feet.

CONSTRUCTION

Permits
- 1235 Chattahoochee Ave NW — A new culinary retail and demonstration space is coming to The Works. "Food Workshop" (Suite 126) filed for an interior buildout of a white-box space to create a "culinary retail space and demonstration kitchen."
- 1396 Howell Mill Rd NW — Sewer plug permit filed for a commercial demolition. This is often the first formal step toward clearing a site; expect activity soon on this high-traffic Blandtown corner.
- 538 Ethel St NW & 1180 State St NW — The trend of luxury densification in Home Park continues with two new duplexes permitted. The Ethel Street project is particularly ambitious, featuring rooftop porches and balconies.
- 1150 Collier Rd NW — Significant interior renovations are underway for this multi-family complex. The permit covers a total overhaul of interior finishes, including all-new insulation, drywall, doors, and trim.
- 1385 Collier Rd NW — New EV charging stations are being installed in the parking lot near the busy Defoor Avenue intersection.
- 2030 Defoor Ave NW — Infrastructure update: Southern Company is swapping out microwave antennas and associated equipment. You may see crane activity or utility crews near the site during the swap.
- Tree Canopy Updates — Keep an ear out for chainsaws: 9 permits were issued this week for the removal of dead, dying, or hazardous trees across the district, primarily concentrated in the woodier pockets of Springlake and Underwood Hills.

Road Work

Under Construction
- SR 3/Northside Drive Intersection Improvements — Operational improvements are underway at the Northside Drive, 14th Street, and Hemphill Avenue cluster. The project is simplifying these intersections to improve signal flexibility and traffic flow near Georgia Tech and Home Park.
- SR 9 Resurfacing (Fulton County) — Maintenance crews are resurfacing SR 9 (Northside Drive/Howell Mill area) from SR 3 to north of Paces Ferry Road. Expect lane closures and delays as they work to improve the roadway's surface score.
- I-75 Corridor Lighting Upgrades — Work continues to upgrade lighting to energy-efficient LEDs on I-75 between Musket Ridge Drive and I-85. This project involves replacing poles and conduit, which may cause overnight shoulder or lane closures affecting the Collier Hills and Loring Heights commute.
- Bridge Preservation (Cobb, DeKalb & Fulton Counties) — A multi-county bridge maintenance project is active at seven locations, including work on bridge joints and steel beam painting. While spanning several counties, this work impacts major connector routes used by West Midtown commuters.
- Buford Spring Connector Tunnel Lighting — Existing tunnel lighting at I-85 is being upgraded to LED fixtures. Expect periodic work within the tunnel area affecting the eastern edge of the district near Atlantic Station.

Pre-Construction
- Marietta Blvd Reconstruction (Coronet Way to Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy) — A scoping study is underway for the total reconstruction and resurfacing of this heavy-traffic corridor between Blandtown and the Artery.
- Marietta Blvd Shared-Use Path (SR 8 to Coronet Way) — Plans are moving forward to build a shared-use path along Marietta Blvd, providing a much-needed pedestrian and bike link through the industrial district.
- Marietta Road Bridge Replacement (at CSX Tilford Yard) — The aging bridge over the former rail yard is slated for a total replacement. The new structure will include fresh pavement and continuous 5-foot sidewalks on both sides.
- Northside Drive (SR 3) Roadway Enhancement (I-75 SB Ramp to Holmes St) — This project will implement a "road diet" on the I-75 overpass, reducing the section to one northbound and two southbound lanes to manage merging traffic more safely.
- 14th Street Transformation (Howell Mill Rd to W Peachtree St) — A major realignment and "road transformation" is planned for this primary West Midtown artery to improve the flow between Howell Mill and the Downtown Connector.
- Moores Mill Road Roundabout (at I-75 NB Ramps) — To fix the bottleneck near Westover Plantation, GDOT is planning a two-lane roundabout at the intersection of Moores Mill Rd and the I-75 northbound ramps.
- Peachtree Road (SR 9) Bridge Replacement (over CSX Railroad) — The bridge on the Collier Hills/Brookwood border is set for replacement. The new design will maintain the standard five-lane traffic flow.
- Northside Drive Realignment (Marietta St to 8th St) — A significant project will construct a new path for Northside Drive from south of Marietta Street to 8th Street, featuring four travel lanes and improved intersections.
- Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy (SR 8) Pedestrian Upgrades — New bicycle and pedestrian facilities are in the works for the stretch of SR 8 connecting the Proctor Creek Greenway to the Atlanta BeltLine.
- SR 9 Utility Relocation (Peachtree Rd) — Early-stage utility relocation is planned for the SR 9 corridor near Windsor Parkway, a precursor to future roadway improvements.

Service Requests
- Potholes — Eight reports this week, including Collier Rd NW, Sunbury Pl NW, Dellwood Dr NW, and the intersections of Bolton Dr NW/Marietta Blvd NW and 17th St/Market St.
- Traffic Signal Repairs — Technicians were called to seven signal issues (both emergency and routine) at Northside Dr (intersections with 14th St and Deering Rd), 17th St/Market St, Marietta St NW, and the junction of Bolton Rd/Moores Mill Rd.
- Right of Way Maintenance — Litter removal on Morris St NW and Northside Dr NW, along with a visibility/overgrowth issue at Warren Rd and Defoors Ferry Rd.
- Illegal Dumping — Investigators were called to Howell Mill Rd NW and the corner of Chattahoochee Ave NW and Morris St NW.
- Downed Trees — Falling debris reported at Golfview Rd NW and the intersection of Warren Rd and Defoors Ferry Rd.
- Loose Metal Plates — Two reports of rattling or unsecured plates on Barnes St NW and Bohler Rd NW.
- Sign Maintenance — Repair and installation requests at the intersections of McKinley Rd/Norfleet Rd and Fairmont Ave/English St.