West Midtown / Collier Hills: World Cup is Here

Hey, West Midtown and Collier Hills! Slower week for news in our area, but big week for the city with the World Cup here. What we’ll cover: Atlanta City Council made a major call on what gets built along the Beltline, and that long-frustrating tangle at Northside Drive, 14th Street, and Hemphill Avenue is finally seeing some work. Plus, with the World Cup in full swing and Atlanta as a host city, we've got your local watch party options covered.

- News — Children's Healthcare and Georgia Tech are building tools to protect kids online, and the Fulton County Commission Chair race just got sharper at a recent candidate forum.
- Events — Round Trip Brewing is your spot for World Cup soccer Thursday, Trap Yoga returns to The Interlock Tuesday, and ASW Exchange closes out the week with a National Bourbon Day tasting and tour Sunday.
- Government — Atlanta City Council voted unanimously to ban self-storage facilities in the Beltline Overlay District, and a packed week of committee meetings ahead covers everything from a $3.5M police drone system to the FY2027 city budget.
- Construction — The Northside Drive/14th Street/Hemphill intersection is getting a long-overdue operational overhaul, and a new tenant buildout permit just landed on Commerce Drive — plus residents filed 27 service requests, including eight traffic signal complaints at two busy crossings.

Let's dive in.

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NEWS

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Georgia Tech partner to improve teen safety on social media
Two of Atlanta's most respected institutions are teaming up to tackle one of modern parenting's thorniest problems: keeping kids safer online. The partnership will develop concrete digital tools and guidelines for parents, and with Georgia Tech operating right in our backyard, West Midtown families have a stake in watching this research unfold.

Fulton County election: Pitts and Ivory clash at Atlanta forum
Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts and challenger Natalie Ivory went head-to-head at a recent candidate forum, trading sharp words over county budgets and infrastructure priorities. This race is closer to home than it might seem as whoever controls the Commission Chair shapes the services and spending decisions that touch this neighborhood directly.

Where to watch the World Cup around Atlanta
The wait is over. The World Cup is here, and Atlanta is one of the host cities at the center of it all. Whether you bleed soccer or can barely name a team, the energy around this tournament is worth stepping out for, and Atlanta Magazine has your guide to the best spots in the city to soak it in.

EVENTS | Presented by

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Monday, June 8
- Industry Night | Chattahoochee Food Works

Tuesday, June 9
- Jessica Baio - The Other Side Tour | Terminal West
- Trap Yoga Tuesday | The Interlock
- Tiki Week | Firemaker Brewing Co
- Georgia's Largest Happy Hour TUESDAYS | Chattahoochee Food Works

Wednesday, June 10
- Indie Market at Chattahoochee Food Works | Chattahoochee Food Works
- Wellness Wednesdays: HIIT Like a Pro | The Interlock

Thursday, June 11
- Watch Soccer at Round Trip Brewing | Round Trip Brewing
- Atlanta F.A.M. – Fashion, Art & Music | Chattahoochee Food Works

Friday, June 12
- Water Memory (Jala Smriti) | Ferst Center for the Arts at Georgia Tech
- Rosebud Baker | Uptown Comedy Corner

Saturday, June 13
- Gurl 2 Girl Market | The Interlock
- Saturday Night Sets : DJ Series | Chattahoochee Food Works

Sunday, June 14
- National Bourbon Day Tasting + Tour | ASW Exchange
- Create Custom Candles With Instructor Jocelyn - Candle Making Class by Classpop! | Taste Wine Bar and Market
- Sunday Famers Market | Chattahoochee Food Works
- Westside Market | The Interlock
- 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

Fulton County Board of Commissioners

Note: Only the agenda is posted for this meeting — outcomes below are drawn from the meeting summary provided, but items may have been tabled, deferred, or otherwise not acted upon as described. The board is scheduled to take up a sweeping set of public safety, health, and infrastructure items at its June 3 meeting, with the biggest ticket being an eight-year, $15.5 million non-competitive contract with Motorola Solutions to upgrade the county's ASTRO P25 digital radio system — a deal that reportedly drew a dissenting vote from Chairman Robert Pitts over the non-competitive nature of the award. On health, a $12.6 million contract renewal with Grady Health System is on the agenda to expand operations at the Fulton County Behavioral Health Crisis Center, and a $1.5 million spending increase with Common Courtesy would extend ride-sharing transportation services to residents aged 60 and older. Three affordable housing and historic preservation grant proposals — including funding to convert 66 market-rate units to affordable housing and to build a new 20-unit affordable development in English Avenue — were deferred at the sponsor's request and will return for a future vote. Rounding out the agenda, commissioners are set to approve a $1.6 million water meter purchase for Public Works and a $360,000 environmental maintenance contract for the Morgan Falls Landfill.

Atlanta City Council

The full Council and its Committee on Council both met June 1, producing a substantial batch of confirmed outcomes across zoning, infrastructure, and procedural reform. Most consequentially for development, the Council voted unanimously 13-0 to ban self-storage facilities within the Beltline Overlay District, a move aimed at keeping that corridor available for active, mixed-use development rather than low-employment storage warehouses. On the infrastructure side, the Council approved a $1.26 billion bond budget amendment for water and wastewater capital projects, along with $20 million for sanitary sewer repairs and $8.52 million for asphalt paving — investments that touch streets and pipes across the city. The Council also reprogrammed $735,000 in federal HOME funds to lock in affordable units at the Sweet Auburn Grande development, and authorized a $1.05 million contract renewal with Atlanta Beltline, Inc. for park and greenspace maintenance. Notably, the FY2027 city budget and proposed property tax millage rates were sent back to the Finance/Executive Committee for more review rather than receiving a final vote. Meanwhile, the Committee on Council unanimously approved new public comment and proclamation procedures for Council meetings, while deferring two more contentious items — a proposal to station certified law enforcement officers at recreational polling places and a resolution calling for an independent investigation into city contracts involving Foris Webb, III.

Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education

Minutes are posted for the June 1 Board of Education meeting, confirming that the board took up a full slate of consequential items affecting district finances, student life, and school facilities. The board was scheduled to take a final vote on adopting the FY2027 budget — covering the General Fund, SPLOST Fund, Nutrition Fund, and Student Activity Fund — which sets school funding levels and directly shapes local property tax distributions. On student policy, the board considered authorizing the purchase of Yondr cell-phone pouches, a potential signal of a district-wide move toward locking phones during the school day. Facility investments were also on the table, with Construction Management at Risk contracts proposed for building and site improvements at Midtown High School and Maynard Jackson High School, two of the district's largest campuses. The board also weighed purchasing 22 new school buses and 13 service vehicles for Facilities, Transportation, and Safety departments, alongside a public safety radio signal enhancement to improve first-responder communications inside school buildings.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

Atlanta City Council
- 665 Marietta Street NW — The Council approved a Special Use Permit (U-26-05), 13-0, allowing alcohol sales and consumption at this commercial venue, which exceeds 7,500 square feet.

Meetings This Week
- Atlanta City Council — Zoning Committee — Monday, June 8, 2026 at 11:00 AM
The committee is scheduled to hear a range of rezoning cases, including a proposed city-wide text amendment on medical cannabis dispensaries and several industrial-to-residential conversion proposals across Atlanta. A rezoning proposal for 1425 & 1475 Ellsworth Industrial Boulevard NW — an 8.5-acre site in the Upper Westside — is on the agenda, with Crescent Acquisitions, LLC seeking to transition the property from heavy industrial to mixed residential and commercial (MRC-3).

- Atlanta City Council — Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee — Monday, June 8, 2026 at 1:00 PM
The committee will consider a proposed $3.5 million counter-drone detection system for the Atlanta Police Department, a $500,000 civil lawsuit settlement, and a retroactive lease extension to keep the Zone 6 Police Precinct at its Kirkwood location through 2030. A resolution requesting a 180-day moratorium on new alcohol licenses in the Edgewood Corridor remains held in committee.

- Fulton County Board of Commissioners — Special Called Meeting — Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Commissioners are convening a special session to discuss the county's Service Delivery Strategy, the state-mandated agreement that determines how Fulton County and its cities coordinate and fund essential services — including water, sewer, fire, and parks — and helps prevent residents from being double-taxed for overlapping services.

- Atlanta City Council — City Utilities Committee — Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at 10:00 AM
The committee is scheduled to consider a proposed $1.88 million land acquisition to build the "Valley of the Hawks" constructed wetlands for stormwater management, along with a solid waste rate study and a potential ordinance adjusting trash service fees. Councilmembers are also expected to weigh reinstating green infrastructure requirements for developers to reduce neighborhood flooding.

- Atlanta City Council — Community Development/Human Services Committee — Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at 1:30 PM
The committee will consider a proposal to spend up to $7.85 million to permanently protect nearly 30 acres of forested land along Randall Mill Road NW, along with a $4.5 million funding adjustment for a new Chastain Park gym and a land donation in Mechanicsville earmarked for affordable housing. A land-use shift for properties along Logan Circle NW and Chattahoochee Avenue NW — from heavy industrial to Industrial Flex — is also scheduled to be heard.

- Atlanta City Council — Transportation Committee — Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at 10:00 AM
The committee is scheduled to vote on a proposed ban on heavy commercial truck cut-throughs in Cabbagetown, a new ordinance requiring temporary pedestrian walkways when construction blocks sidewalks, and more than $9.3 million in road resurfacing contracts. A $43.8 million modernization program for the Hartsfield-Jackson SkyTrain is also on the agenda. Right-of-way maintenance agreements for parcels at 0 Northside Drive and 1575 Northside Drive are scheduled for a vote.

- Atlanta City Council — Finance/Executive Committee — Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at 1:30 PM
The committee is set to take up the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 city budget and property tax rates, covering the general levy, parks, bonded debt, and special service districts including the Atlanta BeltLine and the Atlanta Stitch. Also on the agenda: a consumer protection ordinance targeting predatory parking lot practices and three separate annexation proposals that would bring additional unincorporated properties into Atlanta city limits and the Atlanta Public Schools zone.

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Permits

- 1705 Commerce Dr NW — Commercial alteration filed for a new tenant buildout. Someone's moving in; details pending review.
- 1082 Huff Rd NW — A 7,400 sq ft TPO roof retrofit is in the works at this Blandtown-area commercial property. Existing metal roof panels stay; new membrane goes on top. Expect some noise during installation.
- 1491 Northside Dr NW — Re-roof permit filed, switching to TPO membrane. No structural changes, but roofing work is roofing work.
- 375 18th St NW — A pair of permits (electrical and miscellaneous) filed for what looks like a retail refresh — TV wall relocation, new end caps and focal displays. A store in the area is rearranging its floor.
- 450 14th St NW — Fire sprinkler system reconfiguration underway in a commercial space near Atlantic Station. Housekeeping work, but a sign the space is being actively prepped or turned over.

The bulk of this week's volume is residential HVAC, electrical, and fire sprinkler work — the usual background hum of a dense urban neighborhood keeping up with aging systems.

Road Work

Under Construction
- SR 3/US 41 Intersection Improvements (Fulton County) — Operational upgrades underway at the busy cluster of Northside Drive, 14th Street, and Hemphill Avenue. Work focuses on simplifying the intersection layout and improving signal flexibility — a long-overdue fix for one of the area's more frustrating chokepoints. Expect active work zones and possible signal timing changes as this moves forward.
- I-75 Lighting Upgrade (Fulton County) — LED lighting is being installed along a roughly 1.8-mile stretch of I-75 between Musket Ridge Drive and I-85, replacing older high-pressure sodium fixtures. Mostly overnight-friendly work, but lane restrictions are possible.
- SR 9 Resurfacing (Fulton County) — Repaving is active on SR 9 (Peachtree Road) from SR 3 northward to Paces Ferry Road. Chosen specifically because of the road's low pavement condition score, so the rough surface you've been dodging is finally getting addressed. Watch for lane shifts and flagging operations.
- Bridge Preservation at Multiple Locations (Cobb, DeKalb, and Fulton Counties) — A multi-county bridge maintenance push includes co-polymer overlay, steel beam painting, and joint replacement at seven sites across the region. Some work touches Fulton County locations — watch for periodic lane closures near bridge structures on area corridors.
- Buford Spring Connector Tunnel Lighting (Fulton County) — LED upgrades are underway inside the Buford Spring Connector tunnel near I-85. Work may involve conduit and wiring replacement alongside the fixture swap. Tunnel lane restrictions are possible during active work periods.

Pre-Construction

- Marietta Boulevard Corridor (Coronet Way to Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy) — A scoping study is underway to plan future reconstruction and resurfacing of this stretch of Marietta Boulevard. Nothing is being built yet, but decisions made now will shape what the corridor looks like when work eventually begins. Worth watching if you travel this route regularly.
- Marietta Boulevard Shared-Use Path (Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy to Coronet Way) — A planned project would add a shared-use path along this same Marietta Boulevard stretch, along with other improvements. Cyclists and pedestrians, this one's for you — still pre-construction, but it's funded and moving forward.
- Marietta Road Bridge Replacement (Thomas Street to W. Marietta Street) — The existing Marietta Road bridge over the former CSX Tilford Yard is slated for full replacement, including new pavement, curb and gutter, and 5-foot sidewalks on both sides. A significant rebuild for a well-traveled crossing — expect disruption when construction eventually kicks off.
- Northside Drive Realignment (Marietta Street to 8th Street) — Plans call for a new alignment of Northside Drive with two northbound and two southbound lanes, plus improved intersections at Marietta Street. If you cut through this corridor between Midtown and West Midtown, this project will eventually change how you navigate it.
- I-75 Roundabout at Moores Mill Road — A two-lane roundabout is planned at the I-75 northbound ramps and Moores Mill Road. If you use this interchange to access the Collier Hills or Wildwood areas from the highway, the flow of that on/off ramp experience is going to look very different once this is built.

Service Requests

Residents filed 27 service requests across the area this past week. Here's what's been reported:

- Potholes — Ten reports filed across the area, with Carroll Dr & Zadie St drawing two complaints. Other locations include Chattahoochee Ave NW, Howell Mill Rd NW, Howell Mill Rd & 17th St, and Callaway Dr, among others.
- Emergency Traffic Signal Repair — Eight reports flagged signal problems at two busy intersections: Marietta St NW & Ted Turner Dr NW (four reports) and 14th St NW & State St NW (three reports). The volume of reports at these locations suggests the issues were persistent before resolution.
- Overgrowth & Visibility — Five reports of right-of-way vegetation blocking sightlines, filed at DeFoor Ave NW, Zadie St & Carroll Dr, Huff Rd NW, Huff Rd & Boyd Ave, and Marietta St. All five have been resolved.
- Traffic Signal Repair (Non-Emergency) — Reports at 14th St NW & State St NW and Marietta Blvd NW & Bolton Dr NW.
- Litter Removal — A right-of-way litter complaint was filed along Chattahoochee Ave NW.
- Downed Tree — A tree down was reported at Northside Dr & Marietta St.