West Midtown / Collier Hills: Westside Paper Fills Up, and West Midtown's Zoning Future Is on the Table

PSA: we’ll be publishing on Tuesday next week, because Memorial Day.

Hey, West Midtown and Collier Hills! It's a big week on multiple fronts. The Westside Paper development just locked in 70,000 square feet of new leases, signaling that this corridor's transformation is very much for real, and city hall has a slate of votes Monday that could reshape what gets built along Logan Circle and Chattahoochee Avenue. There's plenty to dig into below, including a new cocktail bar landing on Howell Mill in June and a busy stretch of road and signal work that may already be affecting your commute.

- News — Westside Paper's 70,000-square-foot leasing milestone headlines the week, alongside Atlanta health officials already building protocols for next month's FIFA World Cup surge.
- Business — A new cocktail bar called Incognito is set to open on Howell Mill Road in early June, and a Georgia Tech-born sports tech startup is getting its well-deserved moment in the spotlight.
- Events — Atlanta Jazz Fest returns to Piedmont Park across the highway this weekend, Terminal West is stacked all week with live acts including Kiesza and Uncle Lucius's 20th anniversary tour, and the Sunday farmers market and a Memorial Day weekend celebration rounding things out.
- Government — Monday's full council meeting is a big one — votes on 1515 Howell Mill Road's outdoor sales permit, a BeltLine maintenance contract, and a potential industrial-to-mixed-use reclassification along Logan Circle and Chattahoochee Avenue are all on the table.
- Construction — Crazy Cuban's old space on 14th Street is becoming an Asian restaurant, traffic signals are getting repair requests at a half-dozen intersections, and a string of major road projects — from a Northside Drive realignment to a Moores Mill roundabout — are either underway or queuing up.

Let's dive in.

NEWS

Underwood Hills NA Discusses Traffic and Park Improvements
The Underwood Hills Neighborhood Association's latest meeting covered familiar frustrations — traffic on the local corridor — alongside something more hopeful: an application for a Park Pride grant that would fund refurbishment of the lower playing field at Underwood Hills Park. If the grant comes through, it's a tangible win for one of the neighborhood's most-used green spaces.

Westside Paper Project Secures 70,000 Square Feet of New Leases
Seventy thousand square feet of new leases is no small number — and it signals that the Westside Paper development is very much for real. The project continues to push the old industrial corridor near Blandtown and the Marietta Street Artery toward its new identity as a serious office and retail destination.

Atlanta Health Officials Ramp Up Safety Plans for 2026 FIFA World Cup
The World Cup arrives next month, and Atlanta's public health community isn't waiting around — medical professionals are already locking in protocols around heat exposure, infectious disease, and food safety. West Midtown and Atlantic Station residents should plan for a genuine surge in foot traffic, transit congestion, and the general controlled chaos that comes with hosting the planet's biggest sporting event.

Selig Executive Recognized for Shaping West Midtown's Real Estate Landscape
Christine Curry of Selig Enterprises has earned a spot on the Atlanta Business Chronicle's 40 Under 40 list, recognized for her work managing the capital behind some of West Midtown's most consequential development. Selig is the firm responsible for The Works and other mixed-use projects that have fundamentally reshaped what Berkeley Park and Blandtown look and feel like — so her influence on this corner of Atlanta is anything but abstract.

BUSINESS

Incognito - opening - Botanico Hospitality Group is bringing this cocktail bar and "modern chic dive bar" to 1025 Howell Mill Road, with doors expected to open in early June — think refined mixology paired with bites from the El Santo Gallo truck, which is exactly the kind of neighborhood addition Howell Mill doesn't need to be told twice about.

VETTEX - notable - This Georgia Tech-born sports technology startup, which makes performance arm sleeves now worn by professional athletes, got a well-deserved spotlight this week — a reminder that the West Midtown innovation district isn't just a real estate talking point, but a place where classroom ideas actually grow up.

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EVENTS

Monday, May 18
- Yot Club | Terminal West

- Industry Night | Chattahoochee Food Works

Tuesday, May 19
- Georgia's Largest Happy Hour TUESDAYS | Chattahoochee Food Works

- Aaron Cline Hanbury | Atlanta History Center

Wednesday, May 20
- Indie Market at Chattahoochee Food Works | Chattahoochee Food Works

- Kiesza | Terminal West

- Party with the Past: Georgia Public Broadcasting Studios | Atlanta History Center

- Homeschool Day: Atlanta in 100 Objects | Atlanta History Center

Thursday, May 21
- Atlanta F.A.M. – Fashion, Art & Music | Chattahoochee Food Works

- Culture Wars | Terminal West

Friday, May 22
- Le Youth: Terminal West | Terminal West

Saturday, May 23
- Memorial Day Weekend Celebration | Your 3rd Spot

- Atlanta Jazz Festival | Piedmont Park

- Georgia Symphony Orchestra: 75th Anniversary Concert | Atlanta Symphony Hall

Sunday, May 24
- Memorial Day Weekend Celebration | Your 3rd Spot

- Sunday Famers Market | Chattahoochee Food Works

- Uncle Lucius: The 20th Anniversary Tour | Terminal West

- Paint and Sip: Paint Night Done Right - Atlanta | Taste Wine Bar and Market

- Uncle Sugar The Northside - Sunday Night | 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 City Council — Zoning Committee

The Zoning Committee's May 11 meeting was a busy one for land-use decisions across the city, with several major residential rezonings moving forward. The committee unanimously approved a 24.7-acre planned development on County Line Road and cleared a 13-acre rezoning from industrial to multi-family residential near Johnson Road — both significant shifts that signal continued pressure to convert underutilized land into housing. On the other hand, the committee effectively blocked a proposed community center on Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway by "filing" the application — council shorthand for closing it without approval — following a negative recommendation from the local NPU. Two items directly relevant to this area were left unresolved: a Special Use Permit for a large alcohol-serving establishment on Marietta Street was referred back to committee for further review, and an outdoor sales permit at a Howell Mill Road address was filed and denied outright. Residents with a stake in those proposals will have more time to weigh in before any final decision is made.

Atlanta City Council — Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee

The Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee met May 11 and approved a $4.89 million contract extension for citywide demolition and asbestos abatement services — a practical but expensive necessity as the city continues to clear aging and blighted structures. The committee also authorized settlements on 14 lawsuits and legal claims, including a $400,000 payout in the case of Linnet Carty v. City of Atlanta, while unanimously denying 25 separate property-damage and injury claims from residents involving potholes, manholes, and sidewalk incidents. A lease for the Atlanta Police Department's Zone 6 precinct on Hosea Williams Drive was advanced at roughly $102,000 per year through 2030, keeping that precinct operational in its current location. A proposed 180-day moratorium on new alcohol licenses in the Edgewood Corridor — a high-profile item for that neighborhood — was held at the sponsor's own request and will return for future consideration.

Atlanta City Council — City Utilities Committee

The City Utilities Committee authorized more than $100 million in water and sewer infrastructure spending at its May 12 meeting, the bulk of it aimed at repairing Atlanta's long-troubled sanitary sewer system through a series of contract amendments and new funding authorizations totaling roughly $70 million across multiple vendors. The committee also approved $7.5 million for a small water meter replacement project, which affects billing accuracy for residential and small-business customers across the city. A $24 million change order was greenlit to add a new phase to the ongoing Peachtree Creek infrastructure project, expanding the scope of work already underway. Two items were deferred: a $4.13 million software maintenance contract for the Watershed Management billing system was held for further review, and a request to waive standard flood elevation requirements for a residential property on Oldfield Road remained stalled while the committee sought additional information.

Atlanta City Council — Community Development/Human Services Committee

The Community Development/Human Services Committee met May 12 with a wide-ranging agenda, though official minutes have not yet been posted — meaning outcomes for every item below are unconfirmed and any of them may have been approved, denied, deferred, or withdrawn. Among the most consequential items scheduled was a proposal to redesignate several properties on Logan Circle NW and Chattahoochee Avenue NW from Industrial to High-Density Mixed-Use, a change that would open the door to large-scale development in that corridor. Also on the agenda were votes to formally adopt the Collier Road Multimodal Study and a $1.05 million BeltLine maintenance contract renewal, along with a resolution on installing dedicated bike and motorized vehicle lanes on the BeltLine trail. A proposal to create a new Office of Short-Term Rentals — which would require platforms like Airbnb to verify city permits — was also scheduled for consideration, a move that would have broad implications for property owners citywide.

Atlanta City Council — Transportation Committee

The Transportation Committee's May 13 meeting produced a mix of approvals and deferrals on infrastructure items big and small. The committee unanimously recommended abandoning a portion of Gilmer Street SE to Georgia State University, effectively transferring former public right-of-way into the university's campus — a move that permanently removes that street from the public network. The city is also set to accept $6.4 million in state road maintenance grants following a unanimous committee vote, providing a near-term infusion for street repairs citywide. A resolution to commission a feasibility study on converting TSA security screening at Hartsfield-Jackson to a private model passed 5-0, though the study itself would only inform a future decision rather than make the switch. Several neighborhood-level projects were put on hold, including a $3.6 million Peachtree Street improvement grant, an $824,000 pedestrian safety contract for Campbellton Road, and Councilmember Norwood's resolution calling for dedicated bike and motorized lanes on the Atlanta BeltLine — giving residents more time to engage on that last, particularly contentious proposal.

Atlanta City Council — Finance/Executive Committee

The Finance/Executive Committee moved several notable items forward at its May 13 meeting, including a unanimous vote to sell a parcel of city-owned land on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to GDOT for $114,000 as part of the I-285/I-20 West Interchange reconstruction — a major regional project that will reshape traffic patterns on Atlanta's west side. The committee also approved a $200,000 donation to the Piedmont Park Conservancy and $70,000 in community grants through the District 5 C.O.R.E. program, directing funds toward park investment and nonprofit services respectively. Two of the meeting's highest-stakes items, however, were held without a vote: the proposed FY2027 city budget and the accompanying property tax rates — including levies for the general fund, schools, and special districts like the BeltLine and the Stitch — will require further deliberation before the new fiscal year begins. A long-awaited updated compensation plan for Atlanta Fire Rescue personnel was also held, continuing a delay that has implications for the department's ability to recruit and retain firefighters.

Atlanta City Council — Special Called Meeting

The Atlanta City Council convened a Special Called Meeting on May 13 with a single, urgent purpose: locking in the financial terms for a new series of water and wastewater Sustainability Bonds before market conditions shifted. Eight council members present voted unanimously to approve the supplemental pricing ordinance, which sets the final interest rates, maturity dates, and principal amounts for the bonds — a technical but consequential step that determines how much the city will actually pay to borrow money for utility infrastructure improvements. The council then voted immediately to send the ordinance to the Mayor "post-haste," signaling that speed was essential to capturing favorable rates. For residents, these bonds fund the ongoing overhaul of Atlanta's water and sewer systems, which have been subject to federal consent decrees for decades — so getting the financing terms right has long-term implications for both service quality and future utility rates.

Atlanta Public Schools — Board of Education Policy Review Committee

The APS Policy Review Committee met May 14 and gave final approval to two updated district policies: one formalizing how the district manages student counseling and career planning pathways, and another tightening rules around employee credit card use and purchasing — a fiscal accountability measure meant to ensure tighter oversight of district spending. Two significant topics were discussed but not voted on, meaning they will return to a future meeting: proposed limits on student screen time during the school day, and an update to how the district handles electronic funds transfers. The committee also received a status briefing on district-owned surplus properties — land and buildings the district is no longer actively using — a discussion that often precedes decisions to sell or redevelop those assets, which can have direct impacts on neighborhoods where vacant school properties sit.

Fulton County Board of Commissioners — Special Called Meeting

The Fulton County Board of Commissioners called a Special Meeting on May 12 focused exclusively on the county's Service Delivery Strategy — a mandatory agreement under Georgia law that determines how the county and its municipalities divide up responsibility for services like fire, police, and infrastructure, and ensures residents aren't double-taxed for services they don't receive. Because minutes have not been posted, it is not yet confirmed whether any formal action was taken; the item may have been discussed, tabled, or voted on. The Service Delivery Strategy has real stakes for city residents: how it's structured affects which government entity is responsible for delivering services in your area and how property tax dollars are divided between county and city governments. Residents should watch for the posted minutes to learn whether the board reached any conclusions or simply opened a longer negotiation process.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

Atlanta City Council — Zoning Committee
- 1515 Howell Mill Rd NW — A Special Use Permit application for an outdoor sales area at this address was unanimously filed by the committee.
- 665 Marietta St NW — A Special Use Permit for a large alcohol-serving establishment (over 7,500 sq. ft.) was referred to committee, deferring a final vote to a future meeting.

Meetings This Week
- Atlanta City Council — Committee on Council — Monday, May 18 at 11:30 AM
The committee will consider a resolution requesting certified law enforcement at Atlanta Recreation Centers used as polling sites, and a separate resolution authorizing outside counsel to independently investigate city contracts and administrative actions involving Foris Webb, III. Also on the agenda: appointments to the Budget Commission ahead of FY2027 planning, a proposal to dissolve inactive city boards, and a charter amendment that would require a council member to serve as primary sponsor on most legislation.

- Atlanta City Council — Monday, May 18 at 1:00 PM
The full council will take up a wide-ranging agenda including rezonings, infrastructure deals, and public safety. A new APD Zone 6 precinct lease, a land sale to GDOT for the I-285/I-20 interchange reconstruction, and a $1.05 million Beltline maintenance renewal are all scheduled for votes. A Special Use Permit request for outdoor sales at 1515 Howell Mill Road NW and a change-of-conditions request for a lot in the Dupont Commons subdivision at 1579 Gates Place NW are also on the agenda.

- Atlanta City Council — Community Development/Human Services Committee — Monday, May 18 at 1:00 PM
A sweeping set of land use changes in West Midtown is on the agenda, with proposals to reclassify multiple properties along Logan Circle NW and Chattahoochee Avenue NW from Industrial to High Density Mixed Use — a shift that would open the door to apartment and mixed-use development in those corridors. The committee will also consider a Beltline safety resolution calling for dedicated bike and motorized vehicle lanes, a sliding-scale summer camp fee proposal that would make camps free for children who qualify for free or reduced lunch, and an ordinance to create a new Office of Short-Term Rentals.

- Fulton County Board of Commissioners — Wednesday, May 20 at 10:00 AM
Commissioners are scheduled to consider a resolution requesting the Sheriff decline certain misdemeanor bookings to address jail overcrowding, alongside a plan to improve jail staffing and hiring. Also on the agenda: $5.3 million in community services grants to local nonprofits, a MARTA quarterly briefing, a resolution backing small business support in South Downtown ahead of the 2026 World Cup, and a challenge to the constitutionality of a state law that would mandate nonpartisan elections for Fulton County officers starting in 2028.

CONSTRUCTION

Permits

- 290 14th St NW — A fire-damaged restaurant space that was home to Crazy Cuban is being gutted and rebuilt as a new Asian restaurant. Full commercial renovation permit filed.
- 2058 DeFoor Ferry Rd NW — A chain coffee shop is moving into the freestanding building here, with interior remodeling and an exterior repaint to match brand colors underway. Permit routed for review.
- 35 Collier Rd NW — Interior suite reconfiguration for new respiratory therapy staff offices, including conference room and break room buildout. Permit issued.
- 1385 Collier Rd NW — A previously white-boxed assembly space is being readied for a new tenant. No additional construction scope, just occupancy review — meaning a new business may be close to opening.
- 1375 Seaboard Industrial Blvd NW — Warehouse rack shelving installation permitted, consistent with ongoing industrial/logistics activity along the Marietta Street Artery corridor.
- 500 Means St NW — Interior-only renovation of a commercial unit at this West Midtown address. Additional materials requested, so still in review.
- 1000 Northside Dr NW — Back-to-back electrical and plumbing permits issued for what appears to be a new commercial tenant buildout — 28 lights, 29 outlets, and 4 sinks going in.

Elsewhere, six arborist permits for dead or hazardous trees were filed across the residential areas, along with routine HVAC, electrical, and miscellaneous work on single-family homes throughout the neighborhood.

Road Work

Under Construction
- SR-3/US-41 Intersection Improvements (Fulton County) — Active work underway at the intersection cluster of Northside Drive, 14th Street, and Hemphill Avenue. GDOT is reconfiguring the geometry to simplify the crossing and add signal timing flexibility — good news long-term, but expect disruptions near Tech Parkway in the meantime. Home Park and Georgia Tech commuters, this one's close to home.
- I-75 LED Lighting Upgrade (Fulton County) — Crews are replacing aging high-pressure sodium lights with LED fixtures along a 1.8-mile stretch of I-75 between Musket Ridge Drive and I-85. Pole and conduit replacements are also in scope. Most of this work happens at night, so late-night drivers may encounter lane closures along this corridor.
- Bridge Preservation — Multiple Locations (Cobb, DeKalb & Fulton Counties) — A multi-county bridge maintenance project is underway covering seven locations, with Fulton County sites in the mix. Work includes co-polymer overlay, steel beam painting, and bridge joint replacement. Specific local spans haven't been disclosed, but keep an eye out for flagging operations or lane restrictions on elevated roadways nearby.
- SR-9 Resurfacing (Fulton County) — Resurfacing is active on SR-9 (Peachtree Road) from SR-3 northward to Paces Ferry Road. The roadway scored low on GDOT's pavement condition index, so the work is overdue — but expect rough transitions and lane shifts while it's ongoing.
- Buford Spring Connector Tunnel Lighting (Fulton County) — LED lighting upgrades are underway inside the Buford Spring Connector tunnel at I-85. Conduit and wiring work is also included. This is a bit farther from the core neighborhood but affects anyone using I-85 as a cut-through — reduced visibility during work windows is possible.

Pre-Construction

Marietta Boulevard Corridor (Coronet Way to Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy) — Two separate projects are queued up for this stretch. One is a scoping study for full reconstruction and resurfacing of the corridor; the other would add a shared-use path along the same segment. Both are in early stages, but together they signal a meaningful overhaul of Marietta Blvd on the northwest edge of the area — worth keeping tabs on if this is part of your routine.
- Marietta Road Bridge Replacement (Thomas St to W Marietta St) — The existing Marietta Road bridge over the former CSX Tilford Yard is slated for full replacement, with new pavement, curb and gutter, and 5-foot sidewalks on both sides. No construction start yet, but when it does kick off, expect significant disruption for anyone cutting through this corridor.
- SR 3/US 19 Reconfiguration at I-75 (near Holmes St) — A lane reduction project on the I-75 overpass that would slim the roadway down to one northbound lane, two southbound lanes, and an added northbound receiving lane. If you use this stretch of Northside Drive or US-19 to access the interstate, keep this one on your radar.
- Northside Drive Realignment (Marietta St to 8th St) — A new Northside Drive alignment is planned between Marietta Street and 8th Street, adding two northbound and two southbound lanes with upgraded intersections at each end. A notable change for anyone navigating the west side of Midtown.
- Moores Mill Road Roundabout at I-75 NB Ramps — A two-lane roundabout is planned at the intersection of Moores Mill Road and the I-75 northbound ramps. If you use this interchange to get on or off the highway, the approach and flow of traffic here will change considerably once work begins.

Service Requests

Traffic signals are seeing the most action this week, with non-emergency repair requests filed at Marietta Rd & Bolton Rd (two separate reports), Howell Mill Rd NW & 14th St NW, Bolton Rd NW, Marietta Blvd NW, and Northside Dr NW & 11th St NW. Emergency signal repairs were also reported at Marietta St NW & Means St NW and Barnes St & 14th St — the Means/Marietta intersection generated multiple reports across both categories.

Potholes have been flagged at four locations: Ridgewood Ter NW, Howell Mill Rd & Huff Rd, Barnes St NW, and 10th St NW — all currently in progress. A sign repair or replacement request was also filed on Marietta Rd NW.