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Roswell inks deal to create 50-acre city park from family estate Josh Green Thu, 06/26/2025 - 11:01

For the second time this year, Roswell has allocated significant resources toward beefing up the city’s roster of greenspaces. 

City officials this week entered a purchasing agreement with private landowners to buy 24 acres at 365 Hardscrabble Road, a family estate property near Roswell High School. 

Plans call for combining the acreage, formerly owned by the Estate of Edwin Spruill, with an adjacent 25 acres the city already owns to create a roughly 50-acre public park space. 

The greenspace, envisioned as a “new cornerstone of recreation and community engagement,” will be called “Edwin and Nelda Spruill Park” to honor the longtime owners’ commitment to the city and legacy, according to Roswell officials. 

alt The Edwin and Nelda Spruill Park site (top left) in relation to Roswell and Alpharetta downtowns. Google Maps

alt Full scope of the future park property in question, at left, as seen in July. Google Maps

The future park site—drastically wide-open by Georgia’s thickly wooded standards—is located about four miles north of Roswell's historic downtown. Alpharetta City Center is roughly five miles to the east.

The city has agreed to purchase the 24 acres for $7.5 million and expects to close on the deal within about three months of the Roswell City Council’s approval. 

alt Courtesy of City of Roswell

alt Entry to the Spruill estate today. An overview of a large open property north of Atlanta near many houses where a 50-acre new park is planned soon.

Next steps call for long-term planning efforts that will determine the park’s layout and amenities. 

City officials describe the deal as a major land acquisition that will significantly expand Roswell’s park offerings, preserve open space, and boost the North Fulton County city’s quality of life. 

In February, Roswell city officials broke ground on a $4.8-million upgrade at popular East Roswell Park that will produce better trail connectivity and ADA access, a bigger dog park, a new playground, stormwater management, and other improvements, per city officials. 

alt Where the 50-acre greenspace will take shape north of Roswell's historic district. Google Maps

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• Roswell news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta) 

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Hardscrabble Road at Chaffin Road Edwin Spruill Mayor Kurt Wilson City of Roswell Roswell Georgia OTP Atlanta Suburbs Atlanta Parks Parks and Rec Edwin and Nelda Spruill Park Roswell News Roswell Parks Roswell High School

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alt The Edwin and Nelda Spruill Park site (top left) in relation to Roswell and Alpharetta downtowns. Google Maps

alt Courtesy of City of Roswell

alt Full scope of the future park property in question, at left, as seen in July. Google Maps

alt Entry to the Spruill estate today. An overview of a large open property north of Atlanta near many houses where a 50-acre new park is planned soon.

alt Where the 50-acre greenspace will take shape north of Roswell's historic district. Google Maps

Subtitle Fulton County city envisions site as future “cornerstone of recreation and community engagement”

Neighborhood Roswell

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Image An overview of a large open property north of Atlanta near many houses where a 50-acre new park is planned soon.

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Photos: Next Beltline trail opening—with attached brewery—on tap soon Josh Green Wed, 06/25/2025 - 15:19

The recently unveiled Westside Trail Segment 4 won’t be the Beltline’s only new trail debut this summer. 

A section of the Beltline’s Northwest Trail a few blocks from Atlantic Station is set to officially open in coming weeks, coinciding with the grand opening of Monday Night Brewery’s The Grove project. 

The Grove, an adaptive-reuse taproom and leafy outdoor space, is situated along a poured, relatively short section of Northwest Trail Segment 3 that extends west from Northside Drive to Trabert Avenue, near Atlanta Waterworks. It's not yet connected to other finish Beltline pieces. 

Monday Night Brewing, founded in 2011, got its start in a formerly abandoned warehouse on dead-end Trabert Avenue that’s now adjacent to The Grove. The original taproom will be kept for private events and expanding beer production.

An opening celebration for both the Beltline and The Grove will take place sometime in August, according to brewery heads. 

alt How The Grove's outdoor space is coming together along a poured section of Northside Trail Segment 3. Courtesy of Monday Night Brewing

alt Inside the adaptive-reuse brewery space today. Courtesy of Monday Night Brewing

Live music and other events, a communal hangout space, food offerings, and a fresh slate of beverage options is on tap for The Grove. The Berkeley Park building was previously used as a storage warehouse, according to 2024 filings.  

The adjacent Beltline section in question will eventually span 1.2 miles, starting near Monday Night Brewing’s original location and crossing under Interstate 75 at Tanyard Creek. According to Beltline officials, design work on Segment 3 is finished, permitting is in progress, and a construction manager has been hired to help map out scheduling, budgeting, and construction logistics. 

Joel Iverson, Monday Night Brewing cofounder, said The Grove aims to create “an everyday experience” where guests can “connect with friends, meet new people, and enjoy fresh beer, great food, and good vibes,” according to an announcement. Along with its two Atlanta locations (another Beltline-adjacent brewery operates at the Lee + White district), Monday Night Brewing has outposts in Birmingham, Knoxville, Nashville, and Charlotte.

A hiring fair for the new Atlanta hub is planned next month. 

alt The section of Northwest Trail Segment 3 in question, per the Beltline's most recent mapped construction update. (Westside Trail Segment 4, at left, is also now finished.)Atlanta Beltline Inc.; May 2025

alt The brewery's proximity to the 22-mile mainline Beltline loop doesn't get much closer. Courtesy of Monday Night Brewing

Key features of The Grove will include: 17,000 square feet of outdoor communal space (beneath 62 preserved and freshly planted native trees) with multiple fire pits; a 7,400-square-foot taproom with seasonal cocktails; an outdoor amphitheater for community gatherings and live music; two Italian-built ovens for house-made pizzas; a 20-foot outdoor LED TV screen on a hillside; and 30 taps for the largest offering of beers at any Monday Night Brewing location. 

A new morning setup (think: coffee, pastries, and breakfast sandwiches) will also be offered. 

For patrons not arriving by Beltline, Monday Night Brewing reps say three different lots will provide ample free parking. 

Swing up to the gallery for more context and construction progress photos. 

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Berkeley Park news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta) 

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670 Trabert Ave. The Grove Brewery 1500 Northside Drive Monday Night Brewing Gensler Atlantic Companies The Grove Beltline Atlanta BeltLine Northwest Trail Atlanta Breweries Adaptive-Reuse Development Adaptive-Reuse Adaptive-Reuse Project Kimley Horn Kimley-Horn Kimley-Horn & Associates

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alt The section of Northwest Trail Segment 3 in question, per the Beltline's most recent mapped construction update. (Westside Trail Segment 4, at left, is also now finished.)Atlanta Beltline Inc.; May 2025

alt The full planned route of the Beltline's Northwest Trail (in purple), with the original Monday Night Brewing facility and the recent expansion (blue circle). A former carpet business (red star) fronts Northside Drive. Google Maps; ABI

alt How the Monday Night Brewing brewhouse is tucked beside the Northwest Trail corridor. Kimley-Horn, via BeltLine DRC

alt How The Grove's outdoor space is coming together along a poured section of Northside Trail Segment 3. Courtesy of Monday Night Brewing

alt The facility in question is tucked behind these buildings fronting Northside Drive. Google Maps

alt The brewery's proximity to the 22-mile mainline Beltline loop doesn't get much closer. Courtesy of Monday Night Brewing

alt Inside the adaptive-reuse brewery space today. Courtesy of Monday Night Brewing

alt Courtesy of Monday Night Brewing

alt Courtesy of Monday Night Brewing

alt Courtesy of Monday Night Brewing

alt Courtesy of Monday Night Brewing

alt Plans for the project that emerged in 2024. Kimley-Horn/Gensler, via BeltLine DRC

Subtitle Monday Night Brewing's The Grove to include live music, community space, food options, giant outdoor TV

Neighborhood Berkeley Park

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Image A large indoor and outdoor brewery space in an old building with many trees and patio areas beside a wide street near a retaining wall under hazy skies in Atlanta.

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Monday Night Brewing

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R.I.P. Decatur planters; Waymo whoa; lively new district near The Benz? Josh Green Wed, 06/25/2025 - 10:56

**DECATUR—**Days are officially numbered for metro Atlanta’s most beloved and lampooned traffic-calming measure.

Come July 22, City of Decatur officials will start auctioning off the nearly 200 rainbow-colored planters along West Howard Avenue that have inspired adoration, disdain, and roughly a zillion WTF reactions from drivers new to the area over the past six years. (As any PATH trail patron will attest, you can’t say the funky planters haven’t been effective, though.) 

Proceeds from online and in-person auctions for the planters, as Decaturish reports, will go toward honoring Beacon Hill—the historic settlement of newly freed slaves located where the planters generally are today. Efforts to permanently replace the planters have been underway for more than four years. 

alt One sampling of nearly 200 planters that line West Howard Avenue, creating a one-lane buffer between cars and the multipurpose PATH trail. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Replacing the planters will be a $1.9-million project with permanent landscapes that narrows the busy road as a safety measure, expected to finish by early 2026, per the website. 

For a deep dive on the planters’ origins, intent, COVID-era fandemonium, and rather hilarious infamy, check out our 2021 feature story over here

alt Gas station customers have complained the planters cause themselves to be run over.Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

CITYWIDE— Jaguar I-PACE taxis with no human being behind the wheel have officially hit the streets of Atlanta. Uber users can now order dozens of Waymo vehicles operating throughout the ATL via UberX, Comfort, or Comfort Electric options in the app, as Axios reports this week (after braving a driver-free test drive). 

The near future could see hundreds of Waymo cars operating in a 65-mile radius around the city—with driverless Hyundai Ioniqs, which are made in Georgia, in the pipeline for deployment down the line. (How do you know it’s yourWaymo rolling down Peachtree Street? Atop the car, a digital dome will glow with the customer’s initials who ordered it.) Uber brass told Axios other markets, such as Austin, have proven that jobs for Atlanta’s current Uber drivers won’t be impacted, as app users continue to request taxis with flesh-and-blood operators behind the wheel. 

Sound like you too, ATL?   

DOWNTOWN—Could another food and beverage district rise up near downtown Atlanta’s stadiums on the heels of Centennial Yards and The Center (formerly CNN Center)? The crystal ball says, for now, maybe. 

The Georgia World Congress Center Authority is spending $1 million (so far) on engineering studies to see if a low-rise retail hub (think: the streets of Avalon or The Battery) would be feasible on the grass-topped concrete parking structure known as International Plaza, according to the AJC. Today that area basically serves as a front yard for Mercedes-Benz Stadium and GWCC, adjacent to State Farm Arena.  

alt International Plaza's grassy expanse in relation to Mercedes-Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena (bottom right). Shutterstock

GWCCA officials are consulting with Centennial Yards developers CIM Group on potential plans for the district, which would feature a mix of sit-down restaurants and grab-and-go eateries for visitors and residents. International Plaza’s footprint is 110,000 square feet, and engineering reports are scheduled to be wrapped by the end of next month. If deemed feasible, the project wouldn’t move forward until after 2026 FIFA World Cup matches conclude; instead, per the newspaper, the goal would be to have the district built and operational in time for Atlanta’s next Super Bowl in early 2028. 

Early indications are that existing infrastructure won’t be able withstand development much taller than two stories, maximum. 

The plaza redo would essentially be a Plan B, replacing more ambitious plans announced last year for redeveloping the Home Depot Backyard into a mixed-use district on the Georgia Dome’s old footprint, per the AJC. GWCCA intends to keep the Backyard in place for game day and event parking uses, now that Centennial Yards has gobbled up a significant chunk of downtown’s tailgating zone. 

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• Downtown news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)

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ATL News Roundup Downtown Atlanta Mercedes-Benz Stadium Georgia World Congress Center Georgia World Congress Center Authority CIM Group Centennial Yards Downtown Development The Benz Waymos Decatur Planters Street planters Alternate Transportation Alternative Transportation Decatur News driverless cars self-driving Home Depot Backyard

Subtitle Real estate, architecture, and urban planning news from around Atlanta

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Image A photo of a large angular stadium and a tall glassy building under blue and orange skies and many roadways in Atlanta Georgia.

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Nearly 400-home community moves forward off Interstate 20 Josh Green Tue, 06/24/2025 - 15:29

Developers behind multifamily communities with hundreds of new apartments around Covington have recently applauded an influx of jobs in eastern metro Atlanta, to include growth from companies such as Takeda, Archer Aviation, and Rivian Automotive, the latter of which is scheduled to break ground on a $5-billion facility with 7,500 jobs (eventually) next year. 

Other builders are now following suit. 

Alpharetta-based Edison Real Estate Partners is moving forward with infrastructure work on a large project called Dobbs Landing, citing the Covington submarket’s rapid growth. 

Residential plans call for a mix of 387 standalone houses and townhomes spread across a 110-acre site where Crowell Road meets Harold Dobbs Road. 

The property in question is west of Covington’s historic downtown, about 30 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta.

alt The 110-acre Dobbs Landing site in relation to Interstate 20 and downtown Covington (right). Google Maps

Edison recently secured a $34.9-million construction financing loan from Concord Summit Capital. The developer plans to use loan proceeds to complete lot development across the residential portion of Dobbs Landing. 

Edison has inked an agreement to sell the finished lots to an unnamed, national homebuilder, according to Concord Summit reps.  

Founded in 2022, Edison is a development and residential real estate investment platform focused on Southeast markets considered high-growth and supply-constrained. It’s completed more than $2 billion in residential and commercial transactions to date, per company officials 

According to blueprints, there will be more to Dobbs Landing than places to live. 

alt Full scope of Dobbs Landing plans, with future commercial space shown in red and common space for trails and nature in green. Interstate 20 is shown at top. Courtesy of Concord Summit Capital/ Edison Real Estate Partners

The Newton County Planning Commission approved mixed-use plans for the project totaling nearly 214 acres in summer 2022. The breakdown called for 133 townhomes and 254 single-family houses at that time, along with commercial spaces, preserved wetlands, and wooded areas, according to The Covington News. 

Blueprints indicate a future county trail system will also snake through the site. 

Covington's TV and film history tracing from The Dukes of Hazzard and In the Heat of the Nightto Vampire Diaries has earned the city the nickname "The Hollywood of the South," which other developers have pointed to as an additional perk. 

alt Dobbs Landing site in the context of eastern metro Atlanta. Google Maps

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Covington news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta) 

Tags

Crowell Road at Harold Dobbs Road Covington Newton County Newton County Planning Commission Mixed-Use Development Concord Summit Capital Edison Real Estate Partners Caballero Holdings OTP Eastern Suburbs Covington Town Center Covington Center Rivian

Images

alt The 110-acre Dobbs Landing site in relation to Interstate 20 and downtown Covington (right). Google Maps

alt Full scope of Dobbs Landing plans, with future commercial space shown in red and common space for trails and nature in green. Interstate 20 is shown at top. Courtesy of Concord Summit Capital/ Edison Real Estate Partners

alt Dobbs Landing site in the context of eastern metro Atlanta. Google Maps

Subtitle Mix of houses, townhomes planned for 110-acre site in growing Covington

Neighborhood OTP

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Image An image showing a large mix of housing with many twisty streets and ponds near an interstate east of Atlanta.

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Land buy spares Kennesaw Mountain property threatened with development Josh Green Tue, 06/24/2025 - 12:27

A section of land bordering one of the most visited and historically significant Civil War sites in the Southeastern U.S. has been spared from metro Atlanta’s sprawl. 

National nonprofit Trust for Public Land has closed on the acquisition of 21.4 acres of property adjacent to Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park that was previously targeted for residential development, officials announced today. 

Instead of OTP housing, the acreage will become part of a larger, cohesive park under National Park Service ownership and remain permanently preserved for conservation, public recreation, and historical education purposes, according to TPL. 

The undeveloped land will help retain the area’s rural feel and safeguard any archaeological treasures related to the Civil War hidden underground, per TPL officials. The property also includes a pond—considered an important water source for fighting forest fires—that was used by helicopters for fire suppression in March. 

alt The acreage in question (orange) in relation to today's Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. Courtesy of Trust for Public Land

The Cobb County park now spans 2,923 acres and is the only National Park Service property commemorating the Atlanta Campaign of 1864. It features three battlefield areas, 11 miles of preserved Civil War earthworks, picnic areas, and more than 18 miles of trails. 

“This acquisition isn’t just about adding acreage—it’s about preventing the fragmentation of this irreplaceable landscape and keeping it from being lost to suburban development,” George Dusenbury, Georgia state director for Trust for Public Land, said in a statement. 

alt Overview of Cobb County housing and the nearly 3,000-acre Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield.Shutterstock

TPL is no stranger to Kennesaw Mountain land preservation.

In the early 2000s, the agency added roughly 50 acres to increase continuity and expand access to the park. That was followed in 2008 when TPL bought 34 acres with a lake, fields, and forests from longtime residents the Hensley family. 

TPL in 2013 also added a 42-acre property called Hays Farm to the park. That features Nodine’s Hill, which includes Union entrenchments, cannon placements, and rifle pits. 

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Cobb County news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)

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900 Kennesaw Mountain Drive Kennesaw Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Cobb County OTP Atlanta Suburbs Atlanta History Historical Sites Atlanta Historical Sites Civil War National Park Service Civil War History Civil War sites Atlanta Parks Atlanta Hikes Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park Land and Water Conservation Fund National Park Foundation Trust for Public Land

Images

alt Overview of Cobb County housing and the nearly 3,000-acre Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield.Shutterstock

alt The acreage in question (orange) in relation to today's Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. Courtesy of Trust for Public Land

Subtitle Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park to grow by 21 acres, per Trust for Public Land

Neighborhood Kennesaw

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Image A photo of a green old mountain at sunset outside Atlanta Georgia surrounded by many tree and houses.

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Big shakeup inbound for ATL airport dining, shopping options Josh Green Tue, 06/24/2025 - 10:50

Pre- and post-flight dining and shopping options at the world’s busiest airport could look quite different soon. 

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has picked awardees for contracts to convert 30 food, beverage, and retail spaces totaling roughly 34,000 square feet at concourses and other public spaces at the aviation hub. 

Redeveloping the retail spaces is part of a broader, phased program to modernize the airport’s concessions infrastructure called ATLSkypointe. 

The recent picks came as part of phase three and are described by airport officials as a “significant step” toward refreshing the ATL visitor experience for more than 100 million annual visitors. 

alt Shutterstock

No new retailers expected to set up shop at the airport were specified by name. (Any suggestions, Atlanta?) 

The solicitation process conducted by the city’s Department of Procurement was described as “robust and competitive.” Contracts ultimately went to two longtime airport partners and their joint venture teams, according to an announcement today.

The smaller of the two airport retail packages was awarded to Paradies Lagardère and its partners. It includes 10 food and beverage locations dotted around concourses A, B, and C, totaling roughly 15,000 square feet. 

That package aims to deliver “an innovative mix of customer-driven concepts, blending nationally recognized brands, beloved local Atlanta eateries, and elevated dining experiences that reflect the vibrancy of the city,” per airport officials. 

Consisting of two packages, the larger contract will include 20 retail locations with a combined 19,000 square feet in the airport’s Domestic Atrium and throughout concourses T, A, B, and C. That went to Hudson by Avolta and its JV team, ATL P3R1 Concessions Partners and ATL P3R2 Concessions Partners. 

The goal with that retail refresh is to bring the airport “globally recognized lifestyle brands, tech-forward travel essentials, and curated local artisan goods, all designed to enhance the travel experience for ATL’s global audience,” according to the announcement. 

No timeline for construction or estimated retail openings was specified. We’ve asked for more information and will update this story should that come. 

“With each new phase, we are continuing to reimagine what’s possible in an airport environment, offering our passengers a world-class mix of flavors, retail, and local culture,” Ricky Smith, Airport General Manager, said in a prepared statement. “I’m proud of the progress we’ve made and excited about what’s still to come.”

alt Shutterstock

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Atlanta airport 'oasis' wins international design award(Urbanize Atlanta) 

Tags

ATLSkypointe Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Atlanta Airport Atlanta Airport Restaurants ATL Airport Paradies Lagardère Hudson by Avolta Concessions Redevelopment Plan Atlanta Airport News Airport News

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alt Shutterstock

alt Shutterstock

Subtitle Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport awards contracts for 30 redeveloped retail spaces

Neighborhood Southside

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Image An image of a large and busy airport with many people hustling about near shops and eateries.

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At long last, people-friendly Jackson Street Bridge redo is happening Josh Green Mon, 06/23/2025 - 17:44

After more than a decade of brainstorming, planning, and pulling funds together, the long-sought upgrade for one of Atlanta’s most iconic selfie meccas is set to begin soon. 

According to the City of Atlanta Department of Transportation and Atlanta Downtown Improvement District, a joint groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled the morning of July 8 for Jackson Street Bridge’s people-friendly makeover. 

The bridge has long served as one of Atlanta’s most popular destinations for wedding photos, Insta posts, The Walking Dead tourism, and anything else involving skyline photography.

Initially floated in 2014, the idea for redoing the bridge has been refined with neighborhood input over the years. In 2019, Colorado-based advocacy group PeopleForBikes awarded Atlanta a $10,000 grant to help make the miniature park—or “parklet”—happen on the bridge, dotted with shrubs, trees, and interesting, functional seating.

The project was voted by Urbanize Atlanta readers as the top “wish list” item of 2022, back when it appeared on the cusp of happening, per city officials at the time. (False alarm). 

alt The revised Jackson Street placemaking plan that was once expected to move forward in 2021, per city officials.Department of City Planning; Atlanta City Studio

Liliana Bakhtiari, Atlanta City Council member (District 5), told Urbanize Atlanta in March last year her office had allocated $300,000 toward the Jackson Street Bridge project to fully finance it. The Atlanta Downtown Improvement District then stepped in to help with the bidding process for construction companies to implement changes on the bridge and nearby streets. 

As part of the Department of City Planning’s Placemaking Program, the project will reconfigure traffic and bike lanes along Jackson Street to increase safety and vibrancy. 

The bridge’s parklet would be a wide pedestrian area with seating, ADA access, an array of plantings in raised planters, and possibly bike racks, city officials have said. 

A new protected cycle track would extend from the PATH Foundation’s Freedom Park Trail to the Baker-Highland Trail, better linking Old Fourth Ward with downtown.

The project completed the permitting process in 2021 with both Atlanta’s and Georgia’s departments of transportation. Renew Atlanta funds are expected to foot most of the bill, officials said at that time.

Below, find before/after glimpses of what’s now planned for Jackson Street Bridge, according to ATLDOT’s most recent renderings, beginning just south of the bridge at Cain Street, near the PATH Foundation trail:

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Jackson Street Bridge Arcadis Georgia Department of Transportation PeopleForBikes Bike Lanes Atlanta Department of Transportation Highland Avenue PATH Foundation Freedom Parkway Trail Baker-Highland Trail John Lewis Freedom Parkway Alternative Transit Alternative Transportation Alternate Transportation Atlanta Bike Infrastructure Bike Infrastructure Atlanta Downtown Improvement District Old Fourth Ward Construction

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alt An early concept from 2014 that articulated some ideas for improving the popular destination.Department of City Planning; Atlanta City Studio

alt A 2018 concept with a small plaza, benches, and landscaping, plus narrowed vehicular travel lanes.David DiGioia rendering, via Department of City Planning; Atlanta City Studio

alt The revised Jackson Street placemaking plan that was once expected to move forward in 2021, per city officials.Department of City Planning; Atlanta City Studio

Subtitle Hooray!

Neighborhood Old Fourth Ward

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Image A collage of many different scenes around Atlanta, mostly outdoors and involving development.

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6-building affordable housing venture near ATL airport officially a go Josh Green Mon, 06/23/2025 - 15:56

The stage is officially set for a sizable affordable housing project along a corridor near Atlanta’s airport where College Park leadership expects an influx of investment soon. 

City officials and project leaders held a formal groundbreaking ceremony last week for Blue Sky Apartments, a 180-unit affordable housing venture situated on Godby Road, just south of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. 

The six-building project will be reserved for families earning between 40 and 70 percent of the area median income. A centralized clubhouse with a pool and playground area is also in the mix, according to city officials.

Blue Sky’s breakdown calls for 53 one-bedroom units, 72 with two bedrooms, and 55 with three bedrooms. 

alt Planned layout of six-building Blue Sky Apartments in College Park. Courtesy of City of College Park

alt The Godby Road corridor where Blue Sky Apartments is under construction, in the context of the airport and other southside landmarks. Google Maps

According to College Park officials, the project marks one of the first milestones in broader efforts to reinvigorate the Godby Road corridor with inclusive developments and smart growth. 

Construction schedules call for completing Blue Sky next year. 

Blue Sky is structured as a Low-Income Housing Tax Credit transaction. It’s financed through bonds issued by the Housing Authority of College Park, tax credit equity syndicated by Hudson Housing Capital and Advantage Capital, and debt financing from Bank of America and Lument, per city officials.  

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs allocated tax credits for Blue Sky. 

alt Courtesy of City of College Park

alt Al McRae, Bank of America’s Atlanta market president, speaks during Blue Sky’s recent groundbreaking ceremony.Warren Bond Photography

Tracie Arnold, College Park Ward 3 councilwoman, said during the recent ceremony the Blue Sky project will mark a trend in the growing section of her district. 

“We are ushering in a season of renewal that prioritizes smart growth, inclusive development, and opportunity for all,” said Arnold. “The energy around Godby Road is building.” 

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• College Park, East Point news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta) 

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2431 Old National Parkway College Park Godby Road Kimley-Horn Blue Ridge Atlantic Kimley-Horn & Associates Smith Welch Webb & White Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Warren Bond Photography City of College Park Hudson Housing Capital Advantage Capital Bank of America Lument Georgia Department of Community Affairs Affordable Housing affordable apartments affordable housing

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alt The Godby Road corridor where Blue Sky Apartments is under construction, in the context of the airport and other southside landmarks. Google Maps

alt Rendering of the six-building rental community at the College Park site today. Photo via Smith, Welch, Webb & White

alt Al McRae, Bank of America’s Atlanta market president, speaks during Blue Sky’s recent groundbreaking ceremony.Warren Bond Photography

alt Planned layout of six-building Blue Sky Apartments in College Park. Courtesy of City of College Park

alt Courtesy of City of College Park

Subtitle College Park’s Blue Sky development part of broader Godby Road corridor reimagining efforts

Neighborhood College Park/East Point

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Image An image of a large construction site where affordable housing is being built near the Atlanta airport with much red dirt under blue skies.

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Photo tour: First new Beltline section of '25 highlights beauty, problems Josh Green Mon, 06/23/2025 - 12:51

As of today’s official Westside Trail ribbon-cutting, Atlanta Beltline connectivity has never been better. But while the project’s newest segment is a vital link between earlier trails, neighborhoods, and even downtown, it’s also a study in contrasts. 

The Westside Trail’s only missing piece—the 1.3-mile Segment 4—is officially open for runners, cyclists, walkers, and anyone else not traveling by motorized vehicle, marking a “major milestone” for the broader project, as officials recently said.  

It provides a wooded section shaded by towering trees, views of vast templates for planned development, seating and shade structures, and easy-to-navigate connections to surface streets. But it also lends a front-row seat to residential blight like no Beltline pathway before it. 

alt North view from Segment 4, with the Azalea Gardens community at right. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

The Segment 4 opening means 6.8 miles of contiguous, mainline Beltline pathway has now been pieced together, the longest stretch to date. The finished Westside Trail connects neighborhoods around the loop from Huff Road in Blandtown down to Pittsburgh Yards, directly south of downtown. 

The Westside Trail’s newest section is also now linked with the 1.7-mile connector trail that spokes out of downtown, providing a route to the city's commercial core.

alt Latest construction progress map for the Beltline's 22-mile loop, with the 1.3-mile Westside Trail's Segment 4 (now complete) at left.Atlanta Beltline Inc.

The Beltline and its city partners have ambitious plans to build an influx of housing—to the tune of 3,300 units, eventually—on parcels just west of the new trail section, north of Joseph E. Boone Boulevard.

Elsewhere, as this photo essay illustrates, existing (and crumbling) multifamily projects just east of the new trail are clearly also in need of attention. 

Segment 4 broke ground in March 2023. Today it includes bridges and other elevated structures, a fiber duct bank, vertical connections to several neighborhood streets, security cameras, and lighting, alongside storm drainage and management systems with green infrastructure. Part of Segment 4 was opened last fall, but a gap of nearly a mile remained. (Find a tour of that earlier section here.) 

Pedal up to the gallery for a look at the Westside Trail’s last crucial piece to be filled in, starting from its northern end. 

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Beltline news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)

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Beltline Atlanta BeltLine Bankhead English Avenue Washington Park Grove Park Westside Trail Westside Trail Segment 4 Alternate Transportation Alternative Transportation Astra Group BeltLine Construction Atlanta Beltline News BeltLine News

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alt We begin at the juncture where the Westside Beltline Connector now allows for a left, southward turn onto the Westside Trail. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt Heading south on Westside Trail Segment 4, now open to the public. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt Handrails and ramp infrastructure nearing Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt Looking back north toward new lighting and a retention pond beside Segment 4. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt Crossing beneath Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway NW. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt Ramp infrastructure on the southern side of Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt A brick warehouse complex, at right, where the 24/7 Moving company operates. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt Unseen at left is the 15.5-acre property, 1060 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway, where Star Metals developer Allen Morris Company has completed rezoning. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt A more open section of Segment 4, just east of Maddox Park. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt A shade structure overlooking part of downtown's skyline. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt An empty, brick-clad apartment community along Neal Place NW, just east of the trail. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt View to properties at right that include City of Atlanta Department of Transportation facilities and a sanitation substation. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt East view over the Neal Place apartments toward Midtown. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt A pleasantly wooded (and shaded) section of the new trail near Joseph E. Boone Boulevard. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt The western section of the Azalea Gardens apartment complex, vacant and in disrepair, neighbors Segment 4 at left. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt An elevated section of the Westside Trail nearing Joseph E. Boone Boulevard. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt Looking east over Azalea Gardens apartments. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt North view from Segment 4, with the Azalea Gardens community at right. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt New signals and pedestrian safety infrastructure where Segment 4 meets Joseph E. Boone Boulevard. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt Segment 4's connection to Joseph E. Boone Boulevard bike lanes, looking east toward Vine City's Cook Park. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt Heading south again, between Joseph E. Boone Boulevard and Mobile Street/Mayson Turner Road.Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt Concrete bench seating and future landscaping spaces. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt Looking back north toward Joseph E. Boone Boulevard. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

alt We end where Segment 4 connects with a section finished last fall. Washington Park is ahead on the left, and the Lee + White district is three miles south of this point. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Subtitle Finished Westside Trail now links downtown to Southwest Atlanta neighborhoods, key streets

Neighborhood Bankhead

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New use on tap for Atlanta's iconic The Biltmore building Josh Green Fri, 06/20/2025 - 13:41

For the next growth spurt at futuristic Tech Square, Georgia Tech officials are looking to a storied part of Atlanta’s past.  

Georgia Tech recently announced plans to reimagine The Biltmore, a 1920s Midtown landmark originally operated as a hotel and apartments, into another facet of Tech Square that’s meant to foster innovation and launch entrepreneurs.

According to school officials, the revitalized Biltmore—aka, the Biltmore Innovation Center—will house more than 100,000 square feet of research space, startup accelerators, and offices considered crucial to Georgia Tech’s ecosystem for innovation. 

Standing 11 stories at 855 W. Peachtree St., The Biltmore was originally developed in 1924 by William Candler, son of Coca-Cola executive Asa Candler, and was converted to offices in 1999. The Biltmore was acquired by the Georgia Tech Foundation in 2016, when plans first came to light for eventually incorporating it into Tech Square, which is finishing its third new-construction phase across the street for a scheduled 2026 debut. 

alt The Biltmore's West Peachtree Street facade in relation to Tech Square's high-rise phase three (at left) across the street. Georgia Tech/Biltmore Innovation Center

alt Georgia Tech/Biltmore Innovation Center

Georgia Tech says the building’s conversion will be part of its ambitious plans to make Atlanta a top-five tech hub in the U.S. (We aren’t already?) 

“This is more than a building,” said Georgia Tech president Ángel Cabrera in a prepared statement, “it’s a launchpad for Atlanta’s future.”

Specifically, plans call for the Biltmore to house the following, as described by Georgia Tech: 

  • CREATE-X Headquarters – Georgia Tech’s flagship student startup accelerator boasting more than 600 startups already launched, a combined valuation exceeding $2.4 billion, and plans to launch 1,000 startups annually;
  • Quadrant-i –Turning Georgia Tech research into real-world startups by supporting inventors with guidance on finding customers, building teams, and bringing ideas to market;
  • Office of Technology Licensing– Helping companies around the world commercialize revolutionary research developed at Georgia Tech and accelerating the global impact of Georgia Tech innovations through strategic technology transfer;
  • VentureLab– Offering comprehensive entrepreneurial and commercialization training. VentureLab is home of the Southeast hub for the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps;
  • Startup Scaling Platform–Providing space, mentorship, programming, and funding to help scale early-stage startups from their first customer to their first 100 customers;
  • Corporate Engagement Office – Bringing startups and strategic industry partners together;
  • Venture Investment Hub–Hosting local and national venture capital firms alongside Georgia Tech and scores of locally founded startups.

No timeline for The Biltmore’s conversion was specified in a recent announcement. We’ve asked Georgia Tech officials for more details and will update this story should they come. 

alt Shutterstock

alt Georgia Tech/Biltmore Innovation Center

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855 W. Peachtree St. NW The Biltmore Georgia Tech Tech Square Ángel Cabrera Georgia Department of Economic Development Georgia Tech Foundation CODA Midtown Atlanta Atlanta Tech Georgia Tech Development Biltmore Innovation Center CREATE-X

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alt The Biltmore's West Peachtree Street facade in relation to Tech Square's high-rise phase three (at left) across the street. Georgia Tech/Biltmore Innovation Center

alt Shutterstock

alt Georgia Tech/Biltmore Innovation Center

alt Georgia Tech/Biltmore Innovation Center

Subtitle Georgia Tech plans to remake 1920s Midtown landmark into next facet of growing Tech Square

Neighborhood Georgia Tech

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Futuristic, statement-piece people bridge opens near Atlanta's airport Josh Green Thu, 06/19/2025 - 11:10

The City of College Park now counts a can’t-miss, sculptural piece of people-friendly infrastructure that links two popular destinations and helps keep pedestrians and cyclists out of vehicle traffic. 

Spanning 200 feet across four-lane Camp Creek Parkway, the Global Gateway Connector Bridge is now open as a connection between downtown College Park and Georgia International Convention Center—a key part of a broader multi-use trail initiative in the area. 

According to project engineers STV, the suspension bridge is punctuated by an 80-foot-tall steel basket-handle arch that required five cranes to lift and install in September. 

Other components include dramatic lighting at night, a suspended deck, and custom fence detailing and architectural rails. 

alt Courtesy of STV

The bridge project, situated a few hundred feet from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, cost $13.7 million, including work on support walls and improvements to nearby multi-use trails, according to STV. (Despite inflation, the cost was still less than half of downtown Atlanta’s controversial serpentine bridge structure deluxe.) 

STV officials joined College Park dignitaries in cutting the proverbial ribbon for the Gateway bridge on Tuesday. 

The project's connecting, 1.08-mile trail begins downtown at the intersection of John Wesley Avenue and West Main Street before heading toward the convention center. 

alt Immensity of the bridge structure is shown while under construction in College Park. Courtesy of STV

alt Where the Gateway trail project terminates in downtown College Park after crossing Camp Creek Parkway. The airport is shown at bottom right. Google Maps

The 10-foot-wide connector pathway was designed to optimize bicyclist and pedestrian safety—a Camp Creek Parkway bypass for people not in cars, basically—while providing access to schools, markets, and medical clinics in the area. It also serves to connect College Park’s downtown MARTA station to the convention center and, in theory, the long-planned Six West development, a massive proposal spanning more than 300 acres that’s been likened to a southside version of Atlantic Station. 

The Atlanta Regional Commission covered the cost of more than 80 percent of the Gateway project’s design and construction. The rest was paid for via TSPLOST and College Park’s general fund, project officials previously said. 

Josh Stamm, a STV senior engineer, said in a prepared statement the complex design and installation of the Gateway resulted in “both a visual landmark for the City of College Park and a crucial infrastructure upgrade” that now provides a “seamless pedestrian link.”  

alt Courtesy of STV

alt Projected look of the Global Gateway Connector Bridge in early renderings. Courtesy of STV Incorporated

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John Wesley Avenue at West Main Street College Park Gateway Pedestrian Bridge and Trail Project Georgia International Convention Center ATL Skytrain Automated People Mover STV Incorporated College Park Gateway 6 West Alternative Transportation Atlanta Bike Lanes Atlanta Multiuse Trails Pentagon 540 Vanasse Hangen Brustlin ECS Southeast Prime Engineering C.W. Matthews Contracting Co. Mayor Bianca Motley Broom Six West Six West Development Global Gateway Connector Global Gateway Connector Bridge Southside Atlanta Bridges

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alt Where the Gateway trail project terminates in downtown College Park after crossing Camp Creek Parkway. The airport is shown at bottom right. Google Maps

alt Courtesy of STV

alt Immensity of the bridge structure is shown while under construction in College Park. Courtesy of STV

alt Courtesy of STV

alt Projected look of the Global Gateway Connector Bridge in early renderings. Courtesy of STV Incorporated

alt Courtesy of STV Incorporated

Subtitle 200-foot pedestrian, cyclist structure links College Park to Georgia International Convention Center

Neighborhood College Park/East Point

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Poll: How confident are you NHL hockey will return to metro Atlanta? Josh Green Wed, 06/18/2025 - 14:33

It’s been a big week for professional hockey. The Florida Panthers just repeated as champs. And more importantly, from a regional perspective, Forsyth County has made its blueprints and desires for the NHL’s return to metro Atlanta officially official. 

Does it mean the NHL in north metro ATL is a sure thing? Not by a long shot.   

But according to Vernon Krause, the car dealership entrepreneur turned developer who’s behind megaproject proposal The Gathering at South Forsyth: “We’re closer than we’ve ever been to bringing NHL hockey back to our region."

Krause was reacting last week to the Forsyth County Commission’s vote to approve definitive documents outlining plans and agreements for The Gathering. But the projected $3-billion mixed-use development anchored by an NHL-suitable arena won’t move forward—at least not without substantial, $350-million county tax incentives—without a pro hockey franchise.

alt The Gathering at South Forsyth; designs, SCI Architects

Krause first announced plans to lure the NHL to the prosperous, north OTP suburb in early 2023. The latest county vote, as he sees it, was crucial for bringing The Gathering vision to life. Next steps including a meeting with NHL brass and collaborations with local and state shareholders in Georgia. 

“Our team is more energized than ever as we prepare to meet with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to discuss possible expansion,” Krause said in a statement. “We own the land in a robust and growing market with a development that will include an NHL-caliber arena ready to be built.”

Alfred John, Forsyth County Commission chairman, said the board’s decision marks “a monumental period for Forsyth County and passionate hockey fans in the area.”

Bettman, the NHL commissioner, said during a news conference in May that Atlanta’s past two failures to keep NHL franchises here (the Flames and Thrashers) won’t count against the region, should an expansion move forward. He acknowledged the league has talked to “a couple of groups” striving to bring the NHL back to the metro, noting that Atlanta is a different market than when both previous teams fled north, in 1980 and 2011, respectively. 

alt Where the Gathering at South Forsyth arena and other buildings would be located next to Ga. Highway 400. The Gathering at South Forsyth; designs, Nelson

However, the NHL boss said there's currently no timetable for ownership groups to submit applications, and the league hasn’t entered a formal expansion phase. The NHL reportedly won’t even vote on an expansion beyond its current 32 teams until ongoing negotiations for a collective bargaining agreement conclude.  

In another twist last month, the Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau voted to fund a $150,000 study that will examine the viability of turning the moribund North Point Mall and surrounding parking lots into a pro-grade arena—one that could thrive when hockey isn’t in season. (That analysis is expected to take about five months.) Last year, a group called Alpharetta Sports & Entertainment Group comprised of city officials and influential sports figures announced their intention to lure pro hockey to the mall site. 

The Gathering calls for swapping 100 acres of empty land near the Fulton County line with a Battery-style mix of uses, from hotel and housing to an array of retail. About $1 billion of the estimated $3 billion price tag would go toward the cornerstone arena, which would also stage concerts and events. 

But all of the above falls apart if the NHL should snub the ATL. Which begs the question, dear readers: 

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Subtitle Forsyth County developer: “We’re closer than we’ve ever been to bringing NHL hockey back to our region”

Neighborhood Forsyth County

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