Atlanta News
- Amtrak ‘excited’ by potential of new Atlanta intercity rail hubatlanta.urbanize.city Amtrak ‘excited’ by potential of new Atlanta intercity rail hub
Passenger rail corporation isn't disclosing intown site at risk of unrelated development
Amtrak ‘excited’ by potential of new Atlanta intercity rail hub Josh Green Wed, 07/03/2024 - 10:37 As first reported on these pages last month, Amtrak’s general and legislative annual report for fiscal year 2025 includes a request for nearly $30 million in federal funding to secure a development site for a new intercity rail hub in Atlanta—and to start the process of building it.
Officials with America’s National Railroad Passenger Corporation have now responded to our inquiries to praise Atlanta’s potential as a strategic hub location, but they aren’t divulging where it could possibly be built in the city.
Amtrak has pinpointed intown Atlanta for a new station that could cost hundreds of millions of dollars and, eventually, reestablish the city as the important rail hub it historically was. It’s part of Amtrak’s ambitious national growth spurt and hiring spree. According to Amtrak’s report, some of the Atlanta land in question is “at imminent risk of development,” but the location is referred to only vaguely as being in downtown Atlanta.
Whether “downtown” in this case actually means downtown Atlanta, or is a general reference to more urban parts of the city, isn't yet clear.
In response to questions regarding to the potential hub’s location and development process, Amtrak officials supplied a statement Tuesday that reads, in part, “We are excited to work with local, state, federal, and railroad partners to help secure a site for an improved and expanded Amtrak station in Atlanta.”
Being that three Atlanta-anchored rail corridors have been accepted into the Federal Railroad Administration’s Corridor Identification and Development program, “a new [Atlanta] station could support existing service as well as future expansion,” Amtrak’s statement continues. “Securing funding will support the initial planning and design, and advance the project toward creating a new station to meet the needs of customers and is worthy of a major metropolitan region.”
[!](https://atlanta.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/1140w/public/2024-07/Southeast_Region_map_900x900.jpg?itok=a7q3yIX3 "Courtesy of High Speed Rail Alliance") Courtesy of High Speed Rail Alliance
As revealed in June, Amtrak’s $29.9 million grant request for “Atlanta Hub” would support property acquisition to preserve future railroad right-of-way and "ensure that the Hub station site can be connected with existing main line track,” per the report. The funding would also help cover early phase prerequisites such as engineering and work to have the project cleared under the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA.
But that funding would only be a start. Amtrak estimates the new Atlanta facility would cost roughly $700 million once needed infrastructure investments are factored in. That includes new trackage to separate passenger service from freight operations.
Amtrak has signaled interest in recent years to reestablish Atlanta as a predominant railroad hub, with routes fingering out to Charlotte, Nashville, Macon, Montgomery, Birmingham, Savannah, and other cities. Today, just one Amtrak line serves Atlanta—the New York City-to-New Orleans Crescent.
Amtrak’s report states the modernized new station would boost the customer experience on the Crescent route and link Atlanta with new intercity passenger trains to cities small and large—Chattanooga, Greenville, SC, Memphis, and Meridian, MS are all named—in addition to the airport.
The grant request isn’t tied to any proposals already moving through the FRA’s Corridor Identification and Development program process, but it’s compatible with that effort, per Amtrak.
In 2022, the Atlanta City Council passed a resolution urging Amtrak to consider downtown as a viable location for a rail hub; at the time, the $5-billion Centennial Yards megaproject was considered the leading alternative, with the Armour Yards district near Lindbergh also being mentioned.
In April, Armour Yards was revealed as one of four locations where Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens wants to see BeltLine-connected MARTA infill stations built in coming years, though how those would be funded remains a question mark.
Meanwhile, Centennial Yards has seen fencing erected this week to restrict Gulch parking access and begin development of its next phase, an 8-acre entertainment district scheduled to be operational in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as the AJC reports.
Atlanta’s current Amtrak station, as the report details, was built in 1918 in what was then a suburban setting, designed for a small number of passengers. Other drawbacks include no parking, no connections to local transit, an undersized waiting room, and poor access from the station building to its single platform below, which is a particular challenge for disabled passengers, the report notes.
The request for Atlanta funding came as part of $4 billion in Amtrak grant requests for base needs and modernization of its system as passenger numbers are on the uptick. According to CEO Stephen Gardner, Amtrak is on pace to grow its ridership to 66 million annual passengers—more than doubling peak ridership in pre-pandemic 2019—by 2040. In fiscal year 2025, Amtrak expects ridership to reach nearly 35 million.
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Subtitle Passenger rail corporation isn't disclosing intown site at risk of unrelated development
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- Celebrating Culture and Innovation: Cadillac’s Electrifying Presence at ABFFatlantadailyworld.com Celebrating Culture and Innovation: Cadillac's Electrifying Presence at ABFF | Atlanta Daily World
Cadillac took center stage at this year’s American Black Film Festival (ABFF), weaving together culture, innovation, and electric energy in a series of memorable experiences. The festival-goers were treated to an array of captivating events that showcased Cadillac’s dedication to supporting Black cu...
From the Atlanta Daily World:
! Cadillac took center stage at this year’s American Black Film Festival (ABFF), weaving together culture, innovation, and electric energy in a series of memorable experiences. The festival-goers were treated to an array of captivating events that showcased Cadillac’s dedication to supporting Black culture while spotlighting their cutting-edge electric vehicles. Juanita Slappy, Head of Multicultural Marketing … Continued
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- After widespread opposition, MARTA decides to pause Five Points Station renovationsaportareport.com After widespread opposition, MARTA decides to pause Five Points Station renovation - SaportaReport
Read After widespread opposition, MARTA decides to pause Five Points Station renovation by Maria Saporta for SaportaReport here.
From the Saporta Report:
! MARTA announced Wednesday it is pausing the controversial project to renovate the Five Points MARTA Station.
The post After widespread opposition, MARTA decides to pause Five Points Station renovation appeared first on SaportaReport.
- Atlanta's first e-bike rebate initiative called roaring successatlanta.urbanize.city Atlanta's first e-bike rebate initiative called roaring success
Tally of nearly 9,000 applicants indicates strong interest across city, project leaders report
Atlanta's first e-bike rebate initiative called roaring success Josh Green Wed, 07/03/2024 - 11:52 Leaders of Atlanta’s first e-bike rebate program say it’s generated an impressive wave of interest from diverse applicants across the city.
According to the Atlanta Regional Commission, 8,888 people—or more than 2 percent of the city’s entire adult population—applied for e-bike rebates of up to $2,000 prior to the program’s June 23 deadline for the first round of awards.
ARC, which is administering the program, says the first batch of 413 recipients for discounts on electric bicycles has now been picked via lottery, with selectees currently being notified.
Three-quarters of the $500,000 in rebates issued are going to Atlantans with low-to-moderate incomes, according to ARC officials.
The Atlanta City Council in January approved a $1 million investment to establish the city’s e-bike rebates—the first in Georgia, and just the third for any city in the Southeast—as a means of providing more affordable transportation options, thinning out traffic congestion, and improving air quality in the city.
Income-qualified Atlanta residents are eligible to receive $1,500 rebates for standard e-bikes, or $2,000 for larger cargo e-bikes with additional room for passengers, groceries, or other loads. (Americans generally spend around $2,000 on their first e-bike purchase, according to eBicycles, though cheaper and much more expensive models are out there.)
The rebates are capped at one per City of Atlanta resident, and all e-bikes must be bought from a participating, brick-and-mortar local bike shop, with a dozen of them to choose from.
In a program update, ARC officials report that bike shop owners throughout the city “say they’ve been flooded with interest in the program … [and] some customers who heard about the program were even persuaded to buy an e-bike without even applying for a rebate.”
Of the nearly 9,000 applicants so far, 44 percent reported being income-qualified, meaning they earn at or below 80 percent of the metro’s median household income. The program’s income limit varies, based on the size of households, but starts at $60,200 for individuals.
According to ARC data, neighborhoods on Atlanta’s west and south sides saw the largest share of income-qualified applicants, with about 30 percent of them reporting they don’t own a vehicle, compared to 7 percent of other applicants.
About 44 percent of those applicants said they mostly wanted an e-bike to commute to work, versus 30 percent of the general applicant pool.
[!](https://atlanta.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/1140w/public/2024-07/e-bike%20rebate%20Atlanta%20Regional%20Commission%20.png?itok=rXlIzgep "Courtesy of Atlanta Regional Commission") Courtesy of Atlanta Regional Commission
If you weren’t picked in the first lottery round, hope isn’t lost.
According to ARC officials, another application window is tentatively scheduled to open by late August (with selections the following month), followed by another window in the fall. More details over here.
According to Propel ATL, a local nonprofit that advocates for safe pedestrian and bike infrastructure in the city, a rebate program of $5 million would have been needed to ensure that all applicants to date would have had a 50/50 shot at being picked via lottery.
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Subtitle Tally of nearly 9,000 applicants indicates strong interest across city, project leaders report
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- Jessica Nabongo Ignites Inspiring Conversations at Coffee & Cadillacsatlantadailyworld.com Jessica Nabongo Ignites Inspiring Conversations at Coffee & Cadillacs | Atlanta Daily World
A breakfast conversation at the Cadillac Lounge during the American Black Film Festival brought together cultural icons for a morning of inspiring discussions. Among the notable attendees was world traveler Jessica Nabongo, who had just returned from Paris after joining Cadillac for the OPTIQ reveal...
From the Atlanta Daily World:
! A breakfast conversation at the Cadillac Lounge during the American Black Film Festival brought together cultural icons for a morning of inspiring discussions. Among the notable attendees was world traveler Jessica Nabongo, who had just returned from Paris after joining Cadillac for the OPTIQ reveal. The event, aptly titled “Coffee & Cadillacs: Lights, Camera, Action!” … Continued
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- Civil Rights Act Of 1964 Passed 60 Years Ago, But Trump And Republican Majority Supreme Court Could Reverse Progressatlantadailyworld.com Civil Rights Act Of 1964 Passed 60 Years Ago, But Trump And Republican Majority Supreme Court Could Reverse Progress | Atlanta Daily World
In the summer of 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The most sweeping legislation on civil rights since Reconstruction made it illegal for anyone in America to face discrimination on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. The act also outlawed voting sc...
From the Atlanta Daily World:
! In the summer of 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The most sweeping legislation on civil rights since Reconstruction made it illegal for anyone in America to face discrimination on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. The act also outlawed voting schemes to prevent Black people from voting … Continued
The post Civil Rights Act Of 1964 Passed 60 Years Ago, But Trump And Republican Majority Supreme Court Could Reverse Progress appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.
- Cop Who Fatally Shot Tamir Rice Resigns From New Police Job Amid Backlashatlantadailyworld.com Cop Who Fatally Shot Tamir Rice Resigns From New Police Job Amid Backlash | Atlanta Daily World
Photo: Getty Images Timothy Loehmann, the former Cleveland officer who shot and killed 12-year-old Tamir Rice in 2014, has resigned from his new police job in West Virginia amid backlash over his hiring. In a statement to NBC News, White Sulpher Springs Mayor Kathy Glover announced that Loehmann had...
From the Atlanta Daily World:
! Photo: Getty Images Timothy Loehmann, the former Cleveland officer who shot and killed 12-year-old Tamir Rice in 2014, has resigned from his new police job in West Virginia amid backlash over his hiring. In a statement to NBC News, White Sulpher Springs Mayor Kathy Glover announced that Loehmann had resigned from the police department. “As … Continued
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- The Memorial Foundation Assembles Faith Leaders, Social Justice Advocates For ‘King Conversations’atlantadailyworld.com The Memorial Foundation Assembles Faith Leaders, Social Justice Advocates For 'King Conversations' | Atlanta Daily World
As a part of its Faith and Freedom Initiative, The Memorial Foundation, led by Harry Johnson, Sr., announced its upcoming King Conversations: Modern-Day Faith Leaders Advancing Social and Economic Justice event on Monday, July 8, 2024, in Washington, DC. The one-day event will feature some of the co...
From the Atlanta Daily World:
! As a part of its Faith and Freedom Initiative, The Memorial Foundation, led by Harry Johnson, Sr., announced its upcoming King Conversations: Modern-Day Faith Leaders Advancing Social and Economic Justice event on Monday, July 8, 2024, in Washington, DC. The one-day event will feature some of the country’s most prominent clergy, elected officials and social … Continued
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- Alliance’s 56th season engages audiences in hopeful conversationwww.artsatl.org Alliance’s 56th season engages audiences in hopeful conversation - ARTS ATL
The Alliance Theater's 56th season includes a feast of world premieres, many focused on the great leaders who shaped Atlanta
Arts Atlanta:
For its 56th season, the Alliance Theatre will feature six world premiere...
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- Exclusive: Family Pursues Justice Against Middle School Coach Who Allegedly Strangled 13-Year-Old Student, Causing Him To Pass Outatlantadailyworld.com Exclusive: Family Pursues Justice Against Middle School Coach Who Allegedly Strangled 13-Year-Old Student, Causing Him To Pass Out | Atlanta Daily World
Atlanta Public Schools (APS) is being held to the fire after an incident involving a teacher allegedly strangling a child occurred back in May. Chennault Legal & Consulting Group has taken up the case for the family of 13-year-old Tavoris Johnson, a former student at Crawford Long Middle School, fo...
From the Atlanta Daily World:
! Atlanta Public Schools (APS) is being held to the fire after an incident involving a teacher allegedly strangling a child occurred back in May. Chennault Legal & Consulting Group has taken up the case for the family of 13-year-old Tavoris Johnson, a former student at Crawford Long Middle School, following the traumatic incident which took … Continued
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- Atlanta Barbershop Owner Says He Was Misled By Republican Political Event, Trump Campaign Respondsatlantadailyworld.com Atlanta Barbershop Owner Says He Was Misled By Republican Political Event, Trump Campaign Responds | Atlanta Daily World
After hosting a Trump event last week, an Atlanta barbershop owner is now alleging he was misled about the political nature of the event. It’s now resulted in a significant downturn in business since. Rocky Jones, the owner of Rocky’s Barbershop in Buckhead, claims he was approached by a friend to ...
From the Atlanta Daily World:
! After hosting a Trump event last week, an Atlanta barbershop owner is now alleging he was misled about the political nature of the event. It’s now resulted in a significant downturn in business since. Rocky Jones, the owner of Rocky’s Barbershop in Buckhead, claims he was approached by a friend to host a roundtable for … Continued
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- ‘Project 2025’ Trends After Taraji P. Henson’s Comments At BET Awardsatlantadailyworld.com 'Project 2025' Trends After Taraji P. Henson's Comments At BET Awards | Atlanta Daily World
Photo: Getty Images Taraji P. Henson’s call to the BET Awards audience to do their research ahead of the 2024 presidential election appears to have been successful. On Sunday (June 30), Henson hosted the 2024 BET Awards at Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, where she urged the audience to stay informed...
From the Atlanta Daily World:
! Photo: Getty Images Taraji P. Henson’s call to the BET Awards audience to do their research ahead of the 2024 presidential election appears to have been successful. On Sunday (June 30), Henson hosted the 2024 BET Awards at Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, where she urged the audience to stay informed on new laws and … Continued
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- Jamie Foxx Opens Up About Mysterious Illness in Atlanta and Current Health Status [Video]atlantadailyworld.com Jamie Foxx Opens Up About Mysterious Illness in Atlanta and Current Health Status [Video] | Atlanta Daily World
Following a recent sighting of actor/comedian Jamie Foxx, the 56-year-old star is sharing more information on the mysterious and serious illness that landed him in the hospital in Atlanta last year. The actor explained to the fans that the condition that lead to a prolonged hospital stay followed by...
From the Atlanta Daily World:
! Following a recent sighting of actor/comedian Jamie Foxx, the 56-year-old star is sharing more information on the mysterious and serious illness that landed him in the hospital in Atlanta last year. The actor explained to the fans that the condition that lead to a prolonged hospital stay followed by months of physical therapy admits that … Continued
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- Exclusive: Latoya Jordan, Attorney Turned Entrepreneur, Reveals How Marble Wines Celebrates The Brilliance And Resilience Of Womenatlantadailyworld.com Exclusive: Latoya Jordan, Attorney Turned Entrepreneur, Reveals How Marble Wines Celebrates The Brilliance And Resilience Of Women | Atlanta Daily World
With the 4th of July and countless other summer activities on the horizon, Marble Wines presents the ideal companion for wine lovers to savor while lounging by the pool or celebrating with family and friends. Co-founded by Latoya Jordan, Marble Wines is a minority and women-owned company that believ...
From the Atlanta Daily World:
! With the 4th of July and countless other summer activities on the horizon, Marble Wines presents the ideal companion for wine lovers to savor while lounging by the pool or celebrating with family and friends. Co-founded by Latoya Jordan, Marble Wines is a minority and women-owned company that believes in and celebrates the brilliance and … Continued
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- YSL Trial On Hold, Judge Ural Glanville Faces Recusal Following Secret Meeting With Witnessatlantadailyworld.com YSL Trial On Hold, Judge Ural Glanville Faces Recusal Following Secret Meeting With Witness | Atlanta Daily World
The drama continues in the YSL trial 100 days after its initial start. Judge Ural Glanville announced that the trial will be put on hold until another judge decides if he should be recused. The motion to have Glanville removed from the trial came from Young Thug’s attorney Brian Steel who spoke out...
From the Atlanta Daily World:
! The drama continues in the YSL trial 100 days after its initial start. Judge Ural Glanville announced that the trial will be put on hold until another judge decides if he should be recused. The motion to have Glanville removed from the trial came from Young Thug’s attorney Brian Steel who spoke out on June … Continued
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- Hammonds House Museum Receives $100k Grant from The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Artsatlantadailyworld.com Hammonds House Museum Receives $100k Grant from The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts | Atlanta Daily World
Hammonds House Museum has received a $100k grant from The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts to help support their exhibitions and programming from the summer of 2024 through the summer of 2026. Upcoming exhibitions will include art from the Hammonds House Museum permanent collection and art...
From the Atlanta Daily World:
! Hammonds House Museum has received a $100k grant from The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts to help support their exhibitions and programming from the summer of 2024 through the summer of 2026. Upcoming exhibitions will include art from the Hammonds House Museum permanent collection and artwork by national and international artists of African American descent … Continued
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- Mielle Organics Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary, Releasing Exclusive Athleisure Collaboration With Actively Blackatlantadailyworld.com Mielle Organics Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary, Releasing Exclusive Athleisure Collaboration With Actively Black | Atlanta Daily World
Mielle Organics, a trailblazing name in the haircare industry, is marking its 10-year anniversary with an exciting new partnership. The brand’s founder, Monique Rodriguez, recently unveiled a collaboration with the athleisure brand Actively Black, alongside the introduction of the exclusive “Mielle...
From the Atlanta Daily World:
! Mielle Organics, a trailblazing name in the haircare industry, is marking its 10-year anniversary with an exciting new partnership. The brand’s founder, Monique Rodriguez, recently unveiled a collaboration with the athleisure brand Actively Black, alongside the introduction of the exclusive “Mielle Pink” Pantone shade. Reflecting on the brand’s journey, Rodriguez shared, “Starting a decade ago … Continued
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- Mother and Son Team Ink 7-figure Deal for Hair Care and Beauty Suppliesatlantadailyworld.com Mother and Son Team Ink 7-figure Deal for Hair Care and Beauty Supplies | Atlanta Daily World
The Clevealnd-Canton-Akron, Ohio area is among the best-kept Black lifestyle secrets in the Midwest. Enclave after enclave of middle-class Blacks are enjoying relatively good standards of living in the northeast region of the state. With an African American population of only slightly more than 10 p...
From the Atlanta Daily World:
! The Clevealnd-Canton-Akron, Ohio area is among the best-kept Black lifestyle secrets in the Midwest. Enclave after enclave of middle-class Blacks are enjoying relatively good standards of living in the northeast region of the state. With an African American population of only slightly more than 10 percent, minority business owners are managing to thrive in the … Continued
The post Mother and Son Team Ink 7-figure Deal for Hair Care and Beauty Supplies appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.
- City: New 'Blight Tax' crackdown to boost Atlanta neighborhoodsatlanta.urbanize.city City: New 'Blight Tax' crackdown to boost Atlanta neighborhoods
Tax will give "greater leverage in persuading [absentee] owners to clean up their property or sell"
City: New 'Blight Tax' crackdown to boost Atlanta neighborhoods Josh Green Tue, 07/02/2024 - 11:13 Is a vacant, crumbling house or rotting industrial property bringing your Atlanta street down? A new measure recently introduced by city leaders, if approved, will aim to do something about that.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and District 3 city councilmember Byron Amos have partnered to introduce legislation that would create a “Blight Tax” as a means of cracking down on absentee landlords—including corporations—and neglected properties throughout the city.
The proposal would allow Atlanta municipal courts to hike tax bills by up to 25 times more than current tax rates for properties considered blighted albatrosses that further disinvestment in neighborhoods.
The Blight Tax ordinance would authorize city officials to take advantage of a program approved by Georgia voters in recent years that’s meant to persuade property owners to redevelop or remediate blighted real estate, according to a city announcement.
Broadly speaking, the tax penalties have the potential to “fundamentally [change] the economics of neglectful land speculation” across Atlanta. Similar measures have been implemented around Georgia and other states as a “surgical, judicial enforcement tool” applied to vacant, neglected properties that could have otherwise sat vacant for decades, dragging down local communities, per city officials.
[!](https://atlanta.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/1140w/public/2022-02/City%20of%20Refuge%20The%20345%20Affordable%20housing%20Bankhead.png?itok=9GS2VMp5 "Google Maps") Condition of Bankhead's long-vacant Danzig Hotel in 2020, prior to its redevelopment as affordable housing project The 345. Google Maps
[!](https://atlanta.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/1140w/public/2023-03/The%20345%20City%20of%20Refuge%202.jpg?itok=aNXWOATe "Courtesy of City of Refuge") The 345 project's March 2023 ribbon-cutting. Courtesy of City of Refuge
Some key points regarding the potential Blight Tax:
- The program would not apply to any property that’s occupied. (Last thing the city wants is to involuntarily displace residents.)
- In hopes of further incentivizing home and property owners, any blighted property that gets remediated and returned to a productive use could be eligible for a discounted tax rate once the work is finished.
- Large-scale properties that significantly impact neighborhoods would be special cases. Those property owner would first have to agree to a “detailed redevelopment plan that addresses neighborhood objectives around connectivity, transportation, and public amenities that benefit the entire community,” per the city announcement.
Amos, the councilmember, said the issue hits close to home in District 3, which covers sections of Midtown, the Marietta Street Corridor, and Westside neighborhoods such as Vine City and English Avenue.
The district’s residents “have for too long been subjected to neglected, blighted properties whose owners are content to wait to cash in,” Amos said in a prepared statement. “The Blight Tax will give us much greater leverage in persuading these owners to clean up their property or sell them to a better steward who will.”
Dickens called the new policy another means of rooting out negligent property owners in Atlanta. “[It] will equip the city with a powerful tool for cracking down on corporate, absentee owners,” said the mayor, “who treat property as a cheap investment vehicle rather than part of the fabric of our communities.”
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[!](https://atlanta.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/1140w/public/2024-07/Vacant%20Atlanta%20home%20shutterstock%202018_1412502203.jpg?itok=EowH9NXt "Photo by Andriy Blokhin/Shutterstock") Photo by Andriy Blokhin/Shutterstock
[!](https://atlanta.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/1140w/public/2022-02/City%20of%20Refuge%20The%20345%20Affordable%20housing%20Bankhead.png?itok=9GS2VMp5 "Google Maps") Condition of Bankhead's long-vacant Danzig Hotel in 2020, prior to its redevelopment as affordable housing project The 345. Google Maps
[!](https://atlanta.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/1140w/public/2023-03/The%20345%20City%20of%20Refuge%202.jpg?itok=aNXWOATe "Courtesy of City of Refuge") The 345 project's March 2023 ribbon-cutting. Courtesy of City of Refuge
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- Forthcoming Atlanta BeltLine section sees fresh pavement, bridgesatlanta.urbanize.city Forthcoming Atlanta BeltLine section sees fresh pavement, bridges
Westside Trail Segment 4 will complete multi-use path between SW ATL, downtown
Forthcoming Atlanta BeltLine section sees fresh pavement, bridges Josh Green Tue, 07/02/2024 - 09:35 A relatively short but important leg of the Atlanta BeltLine loop that will stitch together numerous neighborhoods west of downtown has recently made significant progress.
Atlanta BeltLine Inc. reports that all five bridges along the forthcoming Westside Trail Segment 4 have seen steel framework installed, with concrete also poured on four them.
Meanwhile, the 1.3-mile trail section has been paved from where it currently ends at Lena Street (alongside the Washington Park greenspace) up to its first of several elevated sections in blocks north of there. All walls needed for Segment 4 have also been poured, according to BeltLine officials.
Once finished, Segment 4 will connect Washington Park up to Bankhead and Historic Westin Heights, creating the longest BeltLine section to date—6.5 miles—in conjunction with the rest of the Westside Trail, the connector trail that shoots out of downtown, and the Southside Trail’s first finished segment.
[!](https://atlanta.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/1140w/public/2024-07/Westside%20Trail%20Segment-4_Photo-by-ABI-Staff_2024-06-27-5-1-1024x768.jpg?itok=J9sdMlYn "via Atlanta BeltLine Inc. ") Steel handrails being installed on an elevated leg of Segment 4 last week. via Atlanta BeltLine Inc.
[!](https://atlanta.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/1140w/public/2024-07/Westside%20Trail%20Segment%204.png?itok=SJTazFcW "Atlanta BeltLine Inc. ") Scope of the Westside Trail section in question (circled in red) with completed BeltLine sections around it. Atlanta BeltLine Inc.
Along with bridges and a 14-foot-wide concrete pathway, Segment 4 will include a fiber duct bank, vertical connections to neighborhood streets, security cameras, and lighting, alongside storm drainage and management systems that include green infrastructure.
With its elevated pathways and new bridges, the project has been described by BeltLine leaders as especially complex.
BeltLine officials also reported in recent days the project’s fiber duct bank is finished between Lena Street and Washington Manor Drive—a little less than hallway toward its full length—and that stone walls under the Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway underpass are being installed now.
[!](https://atlanta.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/1140w/public/2024-07/Westside-Trail-Segment-4_Photo-by-ABI-Staff_2024-06-27-6-1-1024x768.jpg?itok=5KCaK1NI "via Atlanta BeltLine Inc. ") Looking south toward Washington Park, where steel handrail sections were being installed along the Westside Trail a week ago. via Atlanta BeltLine Inc.
The north-south trail section, situated directly west of Midtown and downtown, will incorporate a section of historic rail bed called the Kudzu Trail. In places, it will include views to downtown landmarks such as Mercedes-Benz Stadium over the roofs and treetops.
According to BeltLine officials, Segment 4 remains on pace to open next summer.
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• Washington Park news, construction (Urbanize Atlanta)
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Westside Trail Westside Trail Segment 4 Beltline Atlanta BeltLine BeltLine Construction Westside BeltLine Connector PATH Foundation Westside Bankhead English Avenue Maddox Park
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[!](https://atlanta.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/1140w/public/2024-07/Westside-Trail-Segment-4_Photo-by-ABI-Staff_2024-06-27-6-1-1024x768.jpg?itok=5KCaK1NI "via Atlanta BeltLine Inc. ") Looking south toward Washington Park, where steel handrail sections were being installed along the Westside Trail a week ago. via Atlanta BeltLine Inc.
[!](https://atlanta.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/1140w/public/2024-07/Westside%20Trail%20Segment-4_Photo-by-ABI-Staff_2024-06-27-5-1-1024x768.jpg?itok=J9sdMlYn "via Atlanta BeltLine Inc. ") Steel handrails being installed on an elevated leg of Segment 4 last week. via Atlanta BeltLine Inc.
[!](https://atlanta.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/1140w/public/2024-07/Westside%20Trail%20Segment%204.png?itok=SJTazFcW "Atlanta BeltLine Inc. ") Scope of the Westside Trail section in question (circled in red) with completed BeltLine sections around it. Atlanta BeltLine Inc.
Subtitle Westside Trail Segment 4 will complete multi-use path between SW ATL, downtown
Neighborhood Washington Park
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- Review: ‘Babble Lab’ breaks up narrative to make tantalizing alphabet soupwww.artsatl.org Review: ‘Babble Lab’ breaks up narrative to make tantalizing alphabet soup - ARTS ATL
In the Alliance world premiere of one-woman show "Babble Lab," writer and actor Autumn Ness reminds us that our ideas start off as sounds
Arts Atlanta:
Whoever said that spectacle and depth are mutually exclusive must not have...
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- Atlanta Mayor Dickens Orders Cops Not Issue Citations to Unhoused, Identifying Long-term Viable Solutions Insteadatlantadailyworld.com Atlanta Mayor Dickens Orders Cops Not Issue Citations to Unhoused, Identifying Long-term Viable Solutions Instead | Atlanta Daily World
Atlanta’s mayor Andre Dickens is vowing to protect unhoused persons in the city despite the recent US Supreme Court ruling that allows cities to ticket people for sleeping outside. The popular 34-year-old mayor said that in Atlanta there would be no such citations issues and that he and the city con...
From the Atlanta Daily World:
Atlanta’s mayor Andre Dickens is vowing to protect unhoused persons in the city despite the recent US Supreme Court ruling that allows cities to ticket people for sleeping outside. The popular 34-year-old mayor said that in Atlanta there would be no such citations issues and that he and the city continue to work on more … Continued
The post Atlanta Mayor Dickens Orders Cops Not Issue Citations to Unhoused, Identifying Long-term Viable Solutions Instead appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.
- Forging partnerships to close the racial wealth gap in Atlantasaportareport.com Forging partnerships to close the racial wealth gap in Atlanta - SaportaReport
Read Forging partnerships to close the racial wealth gap in Atlanta by Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta for SaportaReport here.
From the Saporta Report:
! By Kaela Hammond and Lauren Thomas Priest, program officers, Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta The racial wealth gap in Atlanta is staggering. For every $1 of wealth the average Black family in Atlanta holds, the average white family in Atlanta holds $46. As a result: Wealth determines many factors in our lives—where we can afford […]
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- Five candidates to face off for City Council at-large seatsaportareport.com Five candidates to face off for City Council at-large seat - SaportaReport
Read Five candidates to face off for City Council at-large seat by Delaney Tarr for SaportaReport here.
From the Saporta Report:
!person dropping paper on box The race for Atlanta City Council’s vacant at-large Post 3 seat is off with five qualifying candidates vying for the role. The Post 3 seat opened up in March 2024 when sitting council member Keisha Waites stepped down as required by law to run for the Fulton County Clerk of Superior and Magistrate Courts. On […]
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- President Obama, Democrats Support President Biden Following Disappointing Debate Against Trumpatlantadailyworld.com Barack Obama, Democrats Support President Biden Following Disappointing Debate Against Trump | Atlanta Daily World
The fallout from last week’s debate between President Joe Biden and Donald Trump continues to impact the Democratic party. During the anticipated debate, President Biden appeared sluggish at times and combined talking points. And Trump failed to answer questions and often spewed misinformation. Ther...
From the Atlanta Daily World:
! The fallout from last week’s debate between President Joe Biden and Donald Trump continues to impact the Democratic party. During the anticipated debate, President Biden appeared sluggish at times and combined talking points. And Trump failed to answer questions and often spewed misinformation. There were no real winners when the voters are considered, but Democrats have … Continued
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- Metro Atlanta’s position as a Fortune 500 company city finally clearsaportareport.com Metro Atlanta’s position as a Fortune 500 company city finally clear - SaportaReport
Read Metro Atlanta’s position as a Fortune 500 company city finally clear by Maria Saporta for SaportaReport here.
From the Saporta Report:
! At long last, we know without question how metro Atlanta ranks as a hub for Fortune 500 companies.
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- Kai Lin Art tells five artists’ storieswww.artsatl.org Kai Lin Art tells five artists’ stories - ARTS ATL
Five painters and printmakers show work in “Narratives” at Kai Lin Art, prompting questions about what stories artists tell.
Arts Atlanta:
Capturing stories, thoughts and moments in life can be an artist’s way...
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- ($) How to Get Voters the Facts They Need Without a Trump Jan. 6 Trialwww.nytimes.com Opinion | How to Get Voters the Facts They Need Without a Trump Jan. 6 Trial
An evidentiary hearing in federal court could lay out previously undisclosed information.
From the New York Times:
An evidentiary hearing in federal court could lay out previously undisclosed information.
- Go Fourth – Peachtree Road Race finish – 2023saportareport.com Go Fourth - Peachtree Road Race finish - 2023 - SaportaReport
Read Go Fourth - Peachtree Road Race finish - 2023 by Kelly Jordan for SaportaReport here.
From the Saporta Report:
! To see fuller versions of the photos, click on any image and swipe right or left.
The post Go Fourth – Peachtree Road Race finish – 2023 appeared first on SaportaReport.
- Clarence Thomas’ In Laws: ‘Other Qualities Made Up For Him Being Black’atlantadailyworld.com Clarence Thomas' In Laws: 'Other Qualities Made Up For Him Being Black' | Atlanta Daily World
Photo: Getty Images Comments made by family members of Ginni Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, surrounding how they felt about her marrying her husband have resurfaced, per Atlanta Black Star. The remarks came from a 1991 article by the Washington Post headlined “The Nominee...
From the Atlanta Daily World:
! Photo: Getty Images Comments made by family members of Ginni Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, surrounding how they felt about her marrying her husband have resurfaced, per Atlanta Black Star. The remarks came from a 1991 article by the Washington Post headlined “The Nominee’s Soul Mate.” During the decades-old interview, Ginni … Continued
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- Serena Williams Set To Premiere ESPN Docuseries Ahead Of Hosting The ESPYSatlantadailyworld.com Serena Williams Set To Premiere ESPN Docuseries Ahead Of Hosting The ESPYS | Atlanta Daily World
In 2023, tennis legend Serena Williams announced the production of a new ESPN series, “In the Arena: Serena Williams.” The network has revealed that the docuseries will air on July 10, just a day before Williams is slated to host this year’s Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly (ESPYS) Awards. T...
From the Atlanta Daily World:
! In 2023, tennis legend Serena Williams announced the production of a new ESPN series, “In the Arena: Serena Williams.” The network has revealed that the docuseries will air on July 10, just a day before Williams is slated to host this year’s Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly (ESPYS) Awards. This highly anticipated project is an … Continued
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- WCKL’s 50th anniversary celebrations continue year-long festivities with WCLK@50, ‘Great Day in Atlanta’ photosaportareport.com WCKL’s 50th anniversary celebrations continue year-long festivities with WCLK@50, ‘Great Day in Atlanta’ photo - SaportaReport
Read WCKL’s 50th anniversary celebrations continue year-long festivities with WCLK@50, ‘Great Day in Atlanta’ photo by Allison Joyner for SaportaReport here.
From the Saporta Report:
! The city’s oldest radio station recently celebrated its 50th anniversary at Symphony Hall during the Atlanta Jazz Festival. For five decades, WCKL has broadcast classical and contemporary jazz and gospel music as a way to foster community engagement, artistic expression and musical education. The concert series, called WCLK@50, saluted the NPR affiliate with a retrospective […]
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- For an embattled press, debate generates more conclusions than curiositysaportareport.com For an embattled press, debate generates more conclusions than curiosity - SaportaReport
Read For an embattled press, debate generates more conclusions than curiosity by Tom Baxter for SaportaReport here.
From the Saporta Report:
! For those who consider themselves the first recorders of history, this is an uncomfortable moment in American political history.
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- Celebrating National Homeownership Month with Westside Future Fundsaportareport.com Celebrating National Homeownership Month with Westside Future Fund - SaportaReport
Read Celebrating National Homeownership Month with Westside Future Fund by Westside Future Fund for SaportaReport here.
From the Saporta Report:
! As we commemorate National Homeownership Month, Westside Future Fund (WFF) takes pride in celebrating the strides we’ve made in transforming lives and communities through our Home on the Westside (HOTW) program. Last year, we celebrated significant milestones that underscore our commitment to providing high-quality housing and financial stability to residents with deep ties to the historic Westside […]
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- Emory University’s Center for AI Learning initiates statewide education toursaportareport.com Emory University’s Center for AI Learning initiates statewide education tour - SaportaReport
Read Emory University’s Center for AI Learning initiates statewide education tour by Emory University for SaportaReport here.
From the Saporta Report:
! Emory University’s Center for AI Learning, in partnership with Rowen Foundation and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, is conducting a statewide tour this summer titled “AI + You: Save Time, Earn More and Thrive with AI.” The educational initiative, which brings free short courses to local communities, seeks to demystify artificial intelligence, empower Georgians with the skills […]
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- Three-Dimensional Thinkingsaportareport.com Three-Dimensional Thinking - SaportaReport
Read Three-Dimensional Thinking by Lance Russell for SaportaReport here.
From the Saporta Report:
! When the State of Georgia greenlit the Western and Atlantic railroad line and marked its terminus point just south of the Chattahoochee River, most observers recognized the impact that the new technology would have on Georgia’s commercial trade. It seems quaint by today’s standards, but almost no one at the time recognized that a world […]
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- Push to save 'last free parking lot in Little Five Points' heats upatlanta.urbanize.city Push to save 'last free parking lot in Little Five Points' heats up
Converting property to paid parking would pinch businesses, impact neighborhoods, detractors argue
Push to save 'last free parking lot in Little Five Points' heats up Josh Green Mon, 07/01/2024 - 13:34 Little Five Points community leaders are banding together in hopes of saving the cost-free status of a tucked-away parking lot they say is vital for the neighborhood’s business vitality and vibrancy.
According to the Little 5 Points Business Association, the circa-1950 property is the last free parking option left for visitors, locals, and employees at the hip, funky shopping, dining, and entertainment district east of downtown Atlanta.
The alleyway lot in question is located off Euclid Avenue, behind longtime L5P businesses that include Criminal Records, Crystal Blue, The Porter, and dive bar Yacht Club, among others.
[!](https://atlanta.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/1140w/public/2024-07/Little%20Five%20Points%20parking%20lot.png?itok=6lH6E6y4 "Google Maps") General location of the L5P free parking lot in question off Euclid Avenue, at Inman Park's border. Google Maps
Because of its secluded (and free) status, the parking lot has become a crucial “sanctuary” for L5P guests and employees who would otherwise “have to pay absurd amounts to park [up to $25 at peak times] or invade the neighborhood streets,” according to the association. A stream of through-traffic entering and exiting the lot also helps to act as a vehicle burglary deterrent, creating what the business association calls the safest parking lot in the district.
But that could soon change.
Parking company Park Place Parking has applied with the City of Atlanta for a special use permit to begin charging for parking in the lot behind the Euclid Avenue businesses. According to L5P leaders, who are asking the city to deny the application, the matter is set to be voted on at today’s Atlanta City Council meeting. The application was previously rejected 6-to-1 by NPU-N.
According to an email provided to Urbanize Atlanta, a petition calling for the parking lot to remain free has gathered more than 1,800 signatures.
[!](https://atlanta.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/1140w/public/2024-07/Little%20Five%20Points%20parking%20lot%202.png?itok=VtGpzAgl "Google Maps") The tucked-away parking lot in question in winter 2021. Google Maps
Neighborhood leaders say the lot has been free for many decades, and as such, aligns with a L5P Mobility Study that was previously approved by the city council.
“This is not an empty downtown lot that should be developed,” Kelly Stocks, L5P Business Association president, wrote in the email. “This is a small hidden old alleyway lot that the community depends on. This is a community issue.”
According to the association, “price gouging” at other L5P parking lots has caused “dire financial consequences” for the district’s businesses, which have seen foot traffic and nightlife decline as customers spend more money to park that would have gone to local stores and restaurants.
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Little Five Points Amir Farokhi L5P Paid Parking Atlanta Parking Lots Candler Park Inman Park L5P Mobility Study NPU-N Atlanta Controversies Little 5 Points Business Association
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[!](https://atlanta.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/1140w/public/2024-07/Little%20Five%20Points%20parking%20lot.png?itok=6lH6E6y4 "Google Maps") General location of the L5P free parking lot in question off Euclid Avenue, at Inman Park's border. Google Maps
[!](https://atlanta.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/1140w/public/2024-07/Little%20Five%20Points%20parking%20lot%202.png?itok=VtGpzAgl "Google Maps") The tucked-away parking lot in question in winter 2021. Google Maps
Subtitle Converting property to paid parking would pinch businesses, impact neighborhoods, detractors argue
Neighborhood Little Five Points
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- Kidneys Donated By Black Americans More Likely To Be Thrown Away: Reportatlantadailyworld.com Kidneys Donated By Black Americans More Likely To Be Thrown Away: Report | Atlanta Daily World
Photo: Getty Images Kidneys donated by Black Americans are more likely to be discarded due to a flawed system based on race, according to a report. Black Americans are three times more likely to develop kidney failure than their white counterparts. While accounting for only 12 percent of the U.S. po...
From the Atlanta Daily World:
! Photo: Getty Images Kidneys donated by Black Americans are more likely to be discarded due to a flawed system based on race, according to a report. Black Americans are three times more likely to develop kidney failure than their white counterparts. While accounting for only 12 percent of the U.S. population, 35 percent of Americans … Continued
The post Kidneys Donated By Black Americans More Likely To Be Thrown Away: Report appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.
- Renderings: Slick concept unveiled for latest Portman Midtown toweratlanta.urbanize.city Renderings: Slick concept unveiled for latest Portman Midtown tower
Nature-inspired design bound for noted chef’s Sozou at mixed-use Spring Quarter project
Renderings: Slick concept unveiled for latest Portman Midtown tower Josh Green Mon, 07/01/2024 - 11:24 Exactly what Portman will bring to the table(s) at its multi-pronged Midtown development spanning a full city block continues to come into clearer focus.
Officials with the veteran Atlanta development firm recently provided fresh renderings and details pertaining to dining concept Sozou, which will bring renowned chef Fuyuhiko Ito back to the city and incorporate designs described as a fusion of modern elegance and natural elements. (Chef Ito called the Spring Quarter concept an “entirely new dining experience for Atlanta” in a recent statement.)
Portman has brought on international design firm PMTA Studio and Lazzoni Furniture Atlanta to design a restaurant that aims to push the boundaries of modern Japanese cuisine. It’ll be situated at the ground level of topped-out 1020 Spring, the office tower component of the broader project.
Expect 22-foot ceilings and a palette of earthy materials that will include stone, marble, wood, ceramic, and porcelain to emphasize a connection to nature. A bar near the open-air entrance will aim to blur lines between indoors and outdoors, while a dedicated sushi counter will allow guests to see chefs at work. At the mezzanine level, two private dining rooms—Sakura and Hana—will be intended for special occasions.
[!](https://atlanta.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/1140w/public/2024-07/Spring%20Quarter%20Sozou_05.jpg?itok=g8wM263O "Courtesy of Portman") Plans for ground-level exterior elements and 22-foot ceiling heights at the 1020 Spring tower's Sozou. Courtesy of Portman
[!](https://atlanta.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/1140w/public/2024-07/Spring%20Quarter%20Sozou_01.jpg?itok=dO88z90J "Courtesy of Portman") Designs planned for Sozou's bar area and entry. Courtesy of Portman
Portman’s schedule calls for opening Sozou in spring next year.
Above the main dining space on 1020 Spring’s eighth floor, another concept by the same chef—Omakase at ISHIN by Ito—is planned as a 14-seat experience for private guests in a space that emphasizes Midtown skyline views.
Dotan Zuckerman, Portman’s head of retail development, called Ito’s return to Atlanta “a significant gain for the city's culinary scene.”
The Sozou uncloaking follows more recent, restaurant-related news at other facets of Spring Quarter.
[!](https://atlanta.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/1140w/public/2024-07/Spring%20Quarter%20Ishin%20by%20Fuyuhiko%20Ito.jpg?itok=d75jwD-3 "Courtesy of Portman") Interiors planned for the elevated Omakase at Ishin by Fuyuhiko Ito on the project's eighth floor. Courtesy of Portman
[!](https://atlanta.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/1140w/public/2024-07/Ishin%20left%20and%20Sozou%20Spring%20Quarter.png?itok=vHQv_-ma "Courtesy of Portman") Ishin (left only) and Sozou designs. Courtesy of Portman
A Louisiana-based “urban Mexican” concept called Habaneros has signed on to take a 3,900-square-foot space at the base of the project’s 30-story Sora apartments, officials announced in May. Habaneros plans to open at the 370-unit residential tower’s ground level in summer 2025, with patios overlooking 10th Street.
At the heart of the project, Steve Palmer, Indigo Road Hospitality Group founder, has been tapped to convert the full historic H.M. Patterson Home and Gardens into a 25,700-square-foot, morning-to-night dining space. The Charleston-based company is behind local concepts such as West Midtown’s O-KU, Avalon’s Oak Steakhouse, and Colony Square’s Sukoshi.
Find more context and rendering previews in the gallery above.
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• Midtown news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)
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1000 Spring Street NW Portman Chapel Sora at Spring Quarter 1000 Spring Spring Quarter 1020 Spring Philip Trammell Shutze Portman Holdings Portman Residential National Real Estate Advisors 10th Street Fogarty Finger Cooper Carry JE Dunn H.M. Patterson House Midtown Alliance Connector Atlanta Development Atlanta Construction Spring Hill Chapel H.M. Patterson & Sons-Spring Hill Chapel Atlanta Restaurants Atlanta History Adaptive-Reuse Development Adaptive-Reuse Historical Preservation Historic Atlanta Kimley-Horn Kimley-Horn & Associates Sozou Chef Fuyuhiko Ito Noriyoshi Muramatsu Studio Glitt PMTA Studio Lazzoni Furniture Atlanta
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[!](https://atlanta.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/1140w/public/2024-07/Spring%20Quarter%20Sozou_05.jpg?itok=g8wM263O "Courtesy of Portman") Plans for ground-level exterior elements and 22-foot ceiling heights at the 1020 Spring tower's Sozou. Courtesy of Portman
[!](https://atlanta.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/1140w/public/2024-07/Spring%20Quarter%20Sozou_01.jpg?itok=dO88z90J "Courtesy of Portman") Designs planned for Sozou's bar area and entry. Courtesy of Portman
[!](https://atlanta.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/1140w/public/2024-07/Spring%20Quarter%20Ishin%20by%20Fuyuhiko%20Ito.jpg?itok=d75jwD-3 "Courtesy of Portman") Interiors planned for the elevated Omakase at Ishin by Fuyuhiko Ito on the project's eighth floor. Courtesy of Portman
[!](https://atlanta.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/1140w/public/2024-07/Ishin%20left%20and%20Sozou%20Spring%20Quarter.png?itok=vHQv_-ma "Courtesy of Portman") Ishin (left only) and Sozou designs. Courtesy of Portman
[!](https://atlanta.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/1140w/public/2024-04/1020%20Spring%20Portman%205.jpg?itok=xmTEgB-g "Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta ") As seen in May, 1020 Spring's construction crane joined several others in surrounding Midtown blocks. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta
[!](https://atlanta.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/1140w/public/2022-09/Exterior%20-%20West%20Elevation%201020%20Spring%20Portman%20offices.jpg?itok=wFLi9wfK "Courtesy of Portman ") Latest rendering depicting the 1020 Spring office's west facade. Courtesy of Portman
[!](https://atlanta.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/1140w/public/2022-09/Spring%20Quarter%201020%20Spring%20Portman%20offices%20-%20C4.jpg?itok=EoSZIqoD "Courtesy of Portman") Courtesy of Portman
[!](https://atlanta.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/1140w/public/2023-11/Spring%20Quarter%20Level%208%20Terrace%20Skyline.JPG?itok=-WqFprD0 "Courtesy of Portman") The 1020 Spring building's eighth-floor terrace where an omakase concept is planned. Courtesy of Portman
Subtitle Nature-inspired design bound for noted chef’s Sozou at mixed-use Spring Quarter project
Neighborhood Midtown
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- Rare ITP logistics hub opens near historic downtown, finds successatlanta.urbanize.city Rare ITP logistics hub opens near historic downtown, finds success
Chamblee International Logistics Park project now 50 percent leased, developers report
Rare ITP logistics hub opens near historic downtown, finds success Josh Green Mon, 07/01/2024 - 09:37 Despite recent turbulence in the industry on a national scale, one of the first industrial developments of its kind to be built inside Atlanta’s Interstate 285 Perimeter in more than a decade is quickly attracting tenants, according to project officials.
Stonemont Financial Group, an Atlanta-based real estate investment firm that specializes in industrial development, has signed its third sizable lease at Chamblee International Logistics Park since the Class A project finished construction near the city’s historic downtown in February.
The latest deal—a 45,000-square-foot lease with Aramark Refreshments—brings the rare new ITP logistics hub to about 50 percent leased, according to Stonemont and its venture partner Seven Oaks Company.
The four-building, 236,000-square-foot complex took shape at 3311 Catalina Drive, about a half-mile from MARTA's Chamblee station and just north of the area's airport, DeKalb-Peachtree Airport.
Fronting both Chamblee Tucker Road and Chamblee Dunwoody Road, the 30-acre site was previously vacant, and project heads have said 6 acres were left empty for future development.
[!](https://atlanta.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/1140w/public/2022-06/Chamblee%20industrial%20park%20site%20.png?itok=SaCtaMxM "Courtesy of Stonemont Financial Group") The 30 acres where Chamblee International Logistics Park has come together (shown prior to construction), just north of the area's airport. Courtesy of Stonemont Financial Group
[!](https://atlanta.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/1140w/public/2024-07/3311%20Catalina%20Drive%20Chamblee-047.jpg?itok=i4z3dVgZ "Courtesy of Stonemont Financial Group ") Courtesy of Stonemont Financial Group
Aramark Refreshments—a food services and facilities provider, and subsidiary of Aramark—will lease the entirety of Building 4 at the industrial park. Previously signed leases totaled 17,128 square feet in Building 1, and 50,720 square feet in Building 2.
The project marked one of the first Class A industrial properties to take shape ITP over the past 10 years, according to Stonemont officials. David Kaplan, the company’s vice president, called the Chamblee address “one of the most desirable locations inside the I-285 perimeter” and “a rare find for an industrial complex of this size” in an announcement.
Beyond airport access, other aspects working in the project’s favor include Chamblee’s relatively low home prices and population growth, along with quick access to I-285 and I-85, according to Stonemont.
Industrial leasing across metro Atlanta stayed relatively healthy in the first quarter of this year. According to Stonemont’s tally, 7.2 million square feet of space was signed, with 74 percent of that being new deals. The company remains bullish on Georgia, with more than 2 million square feet of industrial development under construction or recently finished in the state, include a three-building project in Locust Grove that broke ground this month, marking one of the only projects of its size to move forward in 2024, per officials.
In Chamblee, the development team also included Ware Malcomb architects, civil engineering firm Kimley Horn and Associates, and general contractors Catamount Constructors.
[!](https://atlanta.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/1140w/public/2024-07/lead%203311%20Catalina%20Drive%20Chamblee%20.png?itok=CtYuF9WJ "Courtesy of Stonemont Financial Group") Courtesy of Stonemont Financial Group
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3311 Catalina Drive Chamblee Chamblee International Logistics Park Industrial Development Industrial Park Stonemont Financial Group DeKalb-Peachtree Airport Chamblee Tucker Road Seven Oaks Company Kimley-Horn & Associates Catamount Constructors Ware Malcomb Industrial Locust Grove Industrial Parks Aramark Refreshments Interstate 285 I-285 Wilson Hull & Neal Aramark
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[!](https://atlanta.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/1140w/public/2024-07/3311%20Catalina%20Drive%20Chamblee-047.jpg?itok=i4z3dVgZ "Courtesy of Stonemont Financial Group ") Courtesy of Stonemont Financial Group
[!](https://atlanta.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/1140w/public/2022-06/Chamblee%20industrial%20park%20site%20.png?itok=SaCtaMxM "Courtesy of Stonemont Financial Group") The 30 acres where Chamblee International Logistics Park has come together (shown prior to construction), just north of the area's airport. Courtesy of Stonemont Financial Group
[!](https://atlanta.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/1140w/public/2024-07/lead%203311%20Catalina%20Drive%20Chamblee%20.png?itok=CtYuF9WJ "Courtesy of Stonemont Financial Group") Courtesy of Stonemont Financial Group
Subtitle Chamblee International Logistics Park project now 50 percent leased, developers report
Neighborhood Chamblee
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