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MARTA wants your 2 cents on bus network expansion, overhaul Josh Green Thu, 01/23/2025 - 14:33 Over the next month, metro Atlantans can play an important role in helping shape the future of transit across this growing region, according to MARTA officials.  

MARTA has scheduled more than 30 chances for the general public to weigh in on the agency’s draft NextGen Bus Network plan, a far-reaching, multi-county effort to provide thousands of more Atlantans with streamlined, modernized, and more efficient bus services.

The series of in-person and virtual meetings kick off with an open house at 10 a.m. Saturday at MARTA’s headquarters in South Buckhead.

Other meetings this month will be dotted across the metro, from Alpharetta and Decatur to the City of South Fulton.

The NextGen Bus Network plan is described as a strategic redesign of more than 100 bus routes across metro Atlanta’s “rapidly changing landscape.” MARTA’s goal is to make its bus system faster and smarter—prioritizing access to jobs, education, essential services, and communal hubs— as the region evolves, per officials.

One new feature would be 12 on-demand service zones—dotted across metro counties—that would extend bus routes into lower-density areas MARTA doesn't currently reach.

Under the draft plan, all bus routes and on-demand zones would see service seven days a week. That would eliminate “peak-only service hours to meet riders’ diverse schedules,” per MARTA.

MARTA's current bus network (left) versus the draft NextGen Bus Network plan. MARTA

Some other NextGen Bus Network highlights, according to a breakdown provided this week by MARTA:  

• Expanding frequent service areas from five corridors to 18, making it easier for riders to reach destinations;
• Increasing 20-minute service routes from nine existing routes to 13 planned routes for shorter wait times and quicker trips;
• Streamlining fixed bus routes from 113 to 79 to create a simpler and more navigable network, with minimal impact on current service areas;
• Offering greater accessibility for residents and workers, with 95,000 more people and 103,000 additional jobs within close reach of frequent transit service that runs every 15 minutes or better. (Additionally, 143,200 more residents will have access to service running every 30 minutes or better.)

Public engagement events will conclude with another open house at MARTA headquarters on Saturday, Feb. 22. In between will be a variety of in-person options, plus virtual meetings that include “lunch and learn” sessions designed to accommodate midday, work-week schedules, per MARTA.

According to MARTA, public comments and insights collected through the period of meetings and events will refine the NextGen Bus Network plan. 

Below is a rundown of the first week of public meetings. Find a complete schedule (and RSVP) right here.  

MARTA

MARTA has also created an online survey to collect public feedback, which will be open through March 9.

Find a more detailed version of the above maps at this link.

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MARTA's current bus network (left) versus the draft NextGen Bus Network plan. MARTA

Subtitle 30 chances scheduled to weigh in on multi-county NextGen Bus Network plan

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Atlantic Station adding 5 new concepts as 2025 unfolds Josh Green Tue, 01/21/2025 - 11:55 From the parking decks to one of its larger entertainment spaces, Atlantic Station is putting a fresh foot forward as it prepares to mark its 20th anniversary in 2025.

The 138-acre district today announced five new food, entertainment, and services concepts that have opened at Atlantic Station or are scheduled to debut soon. Collectively the businesses bring diversity and “a fresh flair, offering guests new retail experiences that support the needs of the community,” reads an announcement.

After opening in 2005, Atlantic Station has grown to include nearly 8 million square feet of mixed-use development, including more than 523,000 square feet for retail, restaurants, and entertainment, plus two hotels, hundreds of apartments and condos, and roughly two million square feet of offices.  

“We’re always introducing new and exciting experiences to keep our neighborhood vibrant and engaging,” noted Giovanni Silva, Atlantic Station’s general property manager, in today’s announcement.

The five additions are summarized below, beginning with those that have opened:

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Dirty Horse Paint Protection and Auto Detailing 

Location: Parking Level P3

The car care company opened in early December and offers Atlantic Station visitors “a full suite of services, from meticulous detailing to ceramic coatings, vinyl wraps, and paint protection films,” per district reps.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday; and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

…
Yonutz 

Location: 232 19th St. NW, Suite 7110; now open

The first Georgia location of this “viral sensation” offers what’s called the “SMASHED™ Donut and Yonutz SMASHED™ Shake” that combines donuts and ice cream, plus mini donuts, gourmet ice cream, and gluten-friendly options.

Hours: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 8 a.m. to 12 a.m., Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday.

Shutterstock

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Bowlero = Lucky Strike Entertainment 

Location: 261 19th St.

Scheduled for the first quarter of 2025, the Bowlero space previously occupied by sports and restaurant concepts will be rebranding to Lucky Strike Entertainment. The move “promises to bring a fresh, vibrant energy to Atlantic Station, ensuring unforgettable experiences for visitors of all ages,” per district reps.

… 

Candleporium Fragrance House 

Location: 232 19th St. NW, Suite 7130

Set to open this month near Lush Nail Bar, the dual-concept will feature a retail space and custom candle-making bar. Reads the official description: “The meticulously curated retail area showcases a selection of premium candles from both local and national high-end brands, while the candle-making process is fun, intimate, therapeutic, and unique to each guest experience.”

Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday; and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday.

Eastern edge of 138-acre Atlantic Station, in relation to Midtown. Shutterstock

… 
Munster Cravings 

Location: Beside Atlantic Grill

Set to open in the first quarter of 2025, this made-from-scratch cookie concept with locations at Chattahoochee Food Works and in Tucker will bring “freshly baked-to-order treats like peanut butter and jelly, peach cobbler, butter waffle, and cinnamon roll, alongside timeless favorites such as chocolate chip and snickerdoodle,” along with seasonal flavors and vegan options.

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Eastern edge of 138-acre Atlantic Station, in relation to Midtown. Shutterstock

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Subtitle "Each business brings a fresh flair," district leadership reports

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For Mall West End, beginning of the end has begun Josh Green Fri, 01/17/2025 - 14:25 After a run that spanned more than 50 years, West End’s shopping mall is slated to close by the end of January.

According to developers The Prusik Group and BRP Companies, the demolition and construction phase is on the horizon for Mall West End, a suburban-style shopping enclave and longtime community cornerstone that’s struggled in recent years with vacancies like many traditional malls.

The mall is set to be replaced in coming years with a multifaceted project called One West End, which will include some 1.7 million square feet of development and cost in the ballpark of $450 million.

The initial phase is scheduled to debut in about three years.

Before the mall locks up for good this month, developers say four longtime tenants are being relocated to a temporary onsite location at 850 Oak St. that will allow them to continue operating throughout the entirety of One West End’s development.

Those businesses—apparel store The Burning Sands, Dendera Cosmetics, True Hair, and American Deli—will be allowed to open in fresh, permanent retail spaces once development is complete, according to project officials.

Meanwhile, a Planet Fitness location situated near the middle of the 12-acre site will continue operating where it stands during phase one of construction, per officials.

The most recent proposed redevelopment of parking lots at Oak and Dunn streets. Prusik Group/BRP Companies; One West End

Broader look at proposed mid-rise construction and a new through-street where Mall West End currently stands. Prusik Group/BRP Companies; One West End

BRP Companies and The Prusik Group, both New York City-based real estate companies, closed on Mall West End’s property in October for an undisclosed price. 

Those firms are redeveloping the retail center in partnership with the City of Atlanta, Atlanta Beltline Inc., and Atlanta Urban Development Corporation, a local nonprofit entity that aims to develop underused public land into mixed-income housing.

The mall originally opened in 1973, replacing a commercial district and numerous West End houses.

One West End’s first components are scheduled to open in 2028, leveraging the site’s proximity to downtown, MARTA, the Beltline, and Atlanta University Center, among other attractions. Developers have said upcoming rounds of community input will help shape what the project becomes.

Key facets of the redevelopment are set to include roughly 125,000 square feet of retail with a grocery store, local boutiques, a fitness center, and food-and-beverage options. At least 10,000 square feet of commercial space that leases at affordable rates will also be in the mix for qualified local small businesses, along with 12,000 square feet of medical office space, per the city.

Other sections would see a 150-room hotel built, plus roughly 900 units of mixed-income rental housing.

According to city officials, 70 percent of those rentals would be reserved as workforce housing, while 20 percent would rent at 50 percent of the area median income or less, and 10 percent at 80 percent AMI.

Elsewhere would be student housing and communal perks that include bike parking, a public greenspace, resident lounges, and activated streetscapes, per the city.

General scope of the 1970s mall property and its 12 acres, with MARTA rail shown at right. Google Maps

Three earlier visions for a mall site revival in West End fell apart, including a slightly smaller proposal (1.5 million square feet of total development) from The Prusik Group and BRP.  

The development team has vowed to contribute at least $500,000 to a fund that will help qualifying commercial tenants with rent credits and tenant improvement allowances.

Funding for the deal includes $19 million in acquisition financing provided by Merchants Capital, plus a $5 million acquisition loan from Atlanta Urban Development and another $5 million from Beltline coffers, city officials have said.

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General scope of the 1970s mall property and its 12 acres, with MARTA rail shown at right. Google Maps

The Prusik Group and BRP Companies' vision for Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard (fist revealed in 2022) is included with new marketing materials. Prusik Group/BRP Companies; One West End

How residential would be stacked over neighborhood amenities at One West End. Prusik Group/BRP Companies; One West End

The most recent proposed redevelopment of parking lots at Oak and Dunn streets. Prusik Group/BRP Companies; One West End

Broader look at proposed mid-rise construction and a new through-street where Mall West End currently stands. Prusik Group/BRP Companies; One West End

Subtitle 1970s community cornerstone set to close this month, be replaced with $450M "One West End"

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BREAKING: Beltline cancels planned redevelopment of Murphy Crossing Josh Green Fri, 01/10/2025 - 14:38 One of the most closely watched and potentially consequential redevelopment projects around the 22-mile Atlanta Beltline loop will not be moving forward as planned.  

Beltline officials confirmed today in a project update to Urbanize Atlanta the organization has issued a notice of termination for the sale of Murphy Crossing in Southwest Atlanta’s Oakland City.

The Beltline had intended to sell the 20-acre, formerly industrial site alongside the Westside Trail to Culdesac Inc., an Arizona-based firm known for innovative approaches to infill development that put walkability and community at the forefront.

Beltline leadership selected Culdesac and Atlanta-based Urban Oasis Development as finalists to remake the coveted but long-idle Murphy Crossing site in September 2022; the Beltline and Invest Atlanta Board officially approved the development team in March last year, ostensibly clearing the way for concrete planning and permitting to begin. Hopes for redevelopment were also heightened by fresh, more detailed renderings for a transit-connected Murphy Crossing that emerged last summer

The most detailed image released to date for Murphy Crossing's potential scope and connectivity to the Beltline and MARTA. Culdesac; Urban Oasis Development; Atlanta Beltline Inc.

But negotiations for Murphy Crossing’s sale and redevelopment have been fraught with what Beltline leaders called “significant challenges” in an email to Urbanize today.

“Since 2022, tightening conditions in the capital markets arena for commercial real estate, particularly for mixed-use and multifamily developments, contributed to changes to the project and delays in pre-development activities,” the Atlanta Beltline Inc. update reads. “These delays and project changes, among other things, have prevented the parties from coming to final terms.” 

The scope of Murphy Crossing’s latest redevelopment plans, prior to the contract termination, had potential to fundamentally change the area, which is connected to both a growing Beltline segment and east-west MARTA line. At last check, a potential six-phase buildout of Murphy Crossing could have seen more than 1,100 residential units and more than 180,000 square feet of commercial space built under I-Mix zoning. That classification allows for dense economic development—combining commercial, residential, and even jobs-producing industrial uses on a single property—in underserved neighborhoods around the city.

Murphy Crossing once operated as the Georgia Farmers Market and currently includes about a dozen warehouses and other buildings across its 20 acres.

Beltline officials in today’s announcement said they remain committed to redeveloping Murphy Crossing into more active, fruitful uses in Southwest Atlanta—but when that might begin to happen with construction wasn’t specified.

Beltline leaders plan to keep pushing forward planning, entitlement, and predevelopment work for Murphy Crossing as the development team changes. A stakeholder committee meeting for the property will held sometime in February to discuss next steps in the redevelopment process, per Beltline officials.

“We will continue to advance our work to realize a high-density, mixed-use, equitable development project on this site,” noted Beltline president and CEO Clyde Higgs, “that will meet the needs of our Oakland City, Adair Park, Capitol View, and Bush Mountain residents.”    

“Our priority is fulfilling our fiduciary responsibility to the public and delivering on the promises made throughout the many community engagement activities for this site,” added Dennis Richards, Jr., the Beltline’s vice president of housing policy and development. “[We’ll] continue with the planning and development of this site, and we look forward to sharing our next steps with the public in the coming weeks.”  

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Subtitle Sale to Arizona-based Culdesac firm terminated for closely watched Southwest Atlanta property

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Underground Atlanta set to welcome legendary MJQ this month Josh Green Wed, 01/08/2025 - 16:14 As of this month, two of Atlanta’s most legendary nightlife venues will have officially pulled up stakes on the eastside and relocated to downtown.

Like the Masquerade before it, beloved nightclub staple MJQ Concourse has completed renovations and is set to open to the general public in Underground Atlanta at 11 p.m. on Jan. 22.

MJQ has operated on Ponce de Leon Avenue in Virginia-Highland for nearly 30 years, but after the Jan. 22 opening at Underground, the venue’s current subterranean space will permanently close. (RIP).

MJQ’s opening will mark the first public use for Underground’s iconic former Dante’s Down the Hatch space in more than 25 years.

In an announcement today, Underground officials called the move a “historic transition” that will create “a unique fusion of two Atlanta institutions” that thoughtfully preserves character.  

Entrance to the former Dante's Down the Hatch restaurant and nightclub, as seen during a property tour in August 2021.Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

The design for MJQ’s new digs was inspired by sci-fi and cyberpunk aesthetics and incorporates some of Dante’s elements. (As this tour in 2021 proved, the former Dante’s fondue and jazz emporium was a veritable time capsule, with its ship, crocodile pit, and menagerie of hanging bottles still in place.)

MJQ’s space is described as “an immersive atmosphere inspired by Blade Runner and Mad Max, creating a futuristic, sci-fi ambiance” with “hidden nooks for mingling and relaxation.” Other components include an arcade area and “snack corner” that pays homage to the diverse food offerings of Buford Highway, per project leaders.  

As for libations, MJQ’s cherished lower drink prices will carry over ($3 beer and $6 cocktail specials each night), alongside boozy slushies for what MJQ ownership calls a retro, playful touch. Entry on opening night will also be free.

The same DJs and sound system from MJQ’s Virginia-Highland location will be transferred to the Underground venue in an effort to preserve its essence.

Dante’s opened in the early 1970s and shuttered in 1999 as Underground’s post-Olympics slide took hold. The successor location in Buckhead closed in 2013 to allow for high-rise development, and the concept’s originator, Dante Stephenson, died in 2020 at age 84.

“Carrying the torch of such an iconic nightclub that is rooted in Atlanta’s nightlife history is an honor, and I’m excited to lead the charge on this next iteration,” Ryan Purcell, an MJQ co-owner with Ryan Murphy, said in a prepared statement.

MJQ will join Underground’s ongoing live-work-play revitalization and a broader entertainment portfolio that includes The Masquerade and venues such as Future.

Collectively, those Underground tenants hosted more than 3,000 shows in 2024 alone, according to the property’s owners.

“Ever since purchasing Underground, the most asked question was what we would do with the Dante's Down the Hatch space,” said Shaneel Lalani, CEO of Underground’s owner, Lalani Ventures. “MJQ was a perfect fit… [that] will serve as a cornerstone of our entertainment district, complementing our vision for a 24-hour downtown Atlanta.”

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Entrance to the former Dante's Down the Hatch restaurant and nightclub, as seen during a property tour in August 2021.Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Subtitle Nightclub replaces iconic, mothballed Dante's Down the Hatch space with sci-fi, cyberpunk aesthetics

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6 Atlanta development stories to watch in 2025 Josh Green Fri, 01/03/2025 - 14:07 With a new administration on the horizon, the WFH zeitgeist still kicking, and a housing shortage that won't subside, the arena of real estate development promises to be interesting in 2025.

As always, the City of Atlanta should be knee-deep in it all. 

It’s tough to whittle down, with so much happening in so many corners of metro Atlanta. (That’s a good thing.) But below are a half-dozen picks for development stories that should play out in fascinating ways all throughout this brand new year. 

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6.  The Stitch gets (more) real

After years of big talk and retooled plans, downtown Atlanta’s highway-capping park proposal achieved in recent days what similar concepts in the city have not: It made public an extremely detailed master plan. (Officially it’s a draft version, pending more rounds of public input and Atlanta City Council’s stamp of approval.)  

Yes, The Stitch’s initial phase isn’t expected to see actual cranes and bulldozers until sometime in 2026. But the plan for actually putting it together should be set in concrete in coming months. Could it eventually spur Eastside Trail-like private development nearby? Project leaders seem to think so.

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5. More transit—at long last

To the delight of urbanists far and wide, MARTA’s first new transit line since the Sandy Springs MARTA station opened—way back in the year 2000—is scheduled to start rolling this year.

The five-mile bus-rapid transit route—christened MARTA Rapid Summerhill—will link downtown to neighborhoods such as Summerhill and Peoplestown before ending near the Beltline’s Southside Trail (and 11 stories of new affordable housing) at a station called Carver.

Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

MARTA officials have said construction on the BRT line and adjacent infrastructure (see above) will wrap up this spring, with passenger service opening later in 2025.

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4. 850 new residences near Piedmont Park

Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

If Atlanta’s marquee greenspace starts to feel a bit more populated in 2025, it’ll be no mystery as to why.

Two high-rise residential ventures with three towers total have entered the home stretch of construction in blocks just west of Piedmont Park, expanding the skyline in that section of Midtown.

The first project to start opening, 32-story Modera Parkside, includes 361 apartments (priced from $1,794 monthly) and 3,400 square feet of street retail, about two blocks from the park. Officials with developer Mill Creek Residential have said Modera Parkside is on pace to finish construction in the third quarter of 2025.

Just up the street, the two-tower 1081 Juniper St. project led by Charleston-based developer Middle Street Partners has topped out, with expectations to start opening sometime in early 2025, developers have said.

The larger North tower climbed to 400 feet in 2024, offering 320 units across 37 stories; the South tower topped out at 380 feet, with 34 stories, larger floorplans, and what’s designed to feel more like a boutique offering of only 167 units, the development team has said.

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3. Will Buckhead Village’s growth spurt actually happen?

Remember 2023, when developers’ plans called for Buckhead Village to look like a mini version of Midtown’s crane fest, with more than 1,200 new multifamily residences in the pipeline?

Those plans appear to be in jeopardy as 2025 unfolds. 

Of three proposed high-rises steps from the heart of Buckhead Village's shops and eats, only Chicago-based developer CA Ventures’ 340 East Paces Ferry Road project is under construction. That’s well on its way to stacking up 22 stories with 483 luxury rentals, next door to the Kimpton Sylvan hotel.

Where the 22-story building's retail is expected to meet East Paces Ferry. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Across the street, another company based in greater Chicago, Harbor Bay Ventures, has planned a 20-story, mixed-use tower that would claim an empty lot and be partially constructed of mass timber. About a block south of that site, New York-based Tidal Real Estate Partners has said it plans to build a 21-story project that would consume nearly a full block of the village. All low-rise properties at that site are currently vacant and boarded up (to the chagrin of some neighbors), awaiting demolition.

But more than a year after they were approved, both of the latter projects have yet to move forward.

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2. A true Atlanta skyscraper’s continued rise

A rough, in-house approximation of how the 730-foot building will stand out among other newer construction near West Peachtree Street. Urbanize Atlanta

We’re borrowing this one from the 2024 outlook, because projects of this scale take time, and the anticipation is more palpable than ever.

Devoted Atlanta development watchers have waited more than 15 years for another high-rise to truly change the city’s skyline. And by all indications, that should start happening in 2025.

With construction cranes standing tall and most wider base floors in place, all signs point to Rockefeller Group’s 60-story skyscraper 1072 West Peachtree making a definitive mark over Midtown this year. The mixed-use venture will be the city’s tallest new building since 1992.

Not since Sovereign Buckhead—a condo tower built in 2008 as the tallest residential building in Georgia history—has one structure promised to make such a visual impact over Atlanta.

West Peachtree Street view of Rockefeller Group’s planned 60-story Midtown project.Rockefeller Group; Brock Hudgins Architects; TVS

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1. Key Beltline pieces on docket

In the grand scheme of things, the Beltline’s 22-mile loop might still be rather choppy, from a functionality standpoint, for at least another year and ½.

But in the near term, Beltline enthusiasts have much to look forward to.

First on the docket, Atlanta Beltline Inc.’s 2025 construction schedule calls for the full opening of Westside Trail Segment 4 sometime this spring. That will create roughly 6.5 miles of contiguous trails between downtown and Pittsburgh Yards, when the Westside Beltline Connector is factored in.

In other words, the ability to use the Beltline to access downtown jobs and attractions from a multitude of Southwest and Westside Atlanta neighborhoods—without ever entering a city street—should become reality this year.

Progress on the 22-mile, multipurpose trail corridor and related projects as of November. Atlanta BeltLine Inc.

Following delays caused by issues with underground utilities, the debut of Southside Trail Segments 4 and 5 between Glenwood Park/Grant Park and Boulevard is on tap for this fall. That will provide a connected Beltline route from blocks just south of Zoo Atlanta all the way up to southern Buckhead. Finally.

Also in the offing for this fall is the opening of Northwest Trail Segment 5, a .7-mile section extending toward Buckhead from Marietta Boulevard and Huff Road.

On a related (positive) note, the Beltline opened other key sections of trail in 2024. Those included almost half of Westside Trail Segment 4 and the immediate hit among walkers, joggers, and cyclists that was the Northeast Trail’s full connection through Piedmont Park.

So Happy New Year, ATL. Let’s make this one grand.

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Subtitle From Buckhead to Bankhead, outlook calls for a fascinating year ahead

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Project with several uses floated for vacant Cabbagetown sites Josh Green Fri, 01/03/2025 - 10:36 Memorial Drive’s impressive development boom over the past decade could continue on a Cabbagetown corner that’s seen little activity this century.

A for-sale row of properties where Memorial Drive meets Tye Street has been primed for redevelopment with several uses, according to Keller Williams Realty Intown Atlanta listings.

The .17-acre corner property—vacant for well over 15 years—is directly across the street from Grindhouse Killer Burgers’ Memorial Drive location.

It’s half a dozen blocks west of the Beltline’s Eastside Trail, and just east of Oakland Cemetery, with protected bike lanes installed last year on Memorial Drive at the doorstep.

The Memorial Drive properties' proximity to the Beltline (at right) and Oakland Cemetery (left). Google Maps

The Cabbagetown corner lot in question as viewed from Tye Street. Google Maps

A Keller Williams listing posted last month indicates that property (690 Memorial Drive) would be included with the neighboring one (678 Memorial Drive) in the $595,000 asking price.

Property records indicate 678 Memorial Drive is a 1940s commercial building once used as an appliance store next to the vacant lot.

The property’s current owners have begun the planning process to redevelop the sites into a mixed-use project. According to listings, those plans call for 20 multifamily units, three commercial spaces, four townhomes, and what’s described as a “versatile-use center.”

The multifamily addition to the neighborhood would be a rarity for Cabbagetown, where no residential development of considerable size has delivered since the 764 Memorial condos and townhomes half a decade ago.

Next door, to the east, a 1.2-acre property formerly occupied by Cummin Landscape Supply remains vacant today.

Listings note that a parking variance will be required to successfully see the new Memorial Dive proposal through, and that “detailed plans [are] provided within the documentation” included with a sale. 

The empty Memorial Drive corner lots in question. Google Maps

Listings indicate this commercial building, a former used appliance store that's been empty for several years, is included in the deal. Google Maps

The properties are located in the Maynard Jackson High School cluster (Parkside Elementary and Martin Luther King Jr. Middle schools) and are called an “exceptional opportunity” in the historic neighborhood overall.  

Any wishlist items, at the dawn of a new year, for exactly what you’d like to see happen here?

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The Memorial Drive properties' proximity to the Beltline (at right) and Oakland Cemetery (left). Google Maps

The Cabbagetown corner lot in question as viewed from Tye Street. Google Maps

The empty Memorial Drive corner lots in question. Google Maps

Listings indicate this commercial building, a former used appliance store that's been empty for several years, is included in the deal. Google Maps

Subtitle Any wishlist items for parcels along Memorial Drive?

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All hail Old Fourth Ward, your 2024 tournament champion! Josh Green Thu, 01/02/2025 - 14:23 After two weeks of spirited competitions, the Best Atlanta Neighborhood 2024 tournament has come to a close, and Old Fourth Ward has officially triumphed as this year's victor!

Nearly 4,500 votes came in across all contests in the 16-seed tourney. That goes to show how Atlanta is truly a patchwork of wonderful neighborhoods and ITP places, a city brimming with neighborhood pride.

In taking the 2024 crown, Old Fourth Ward is only the second Atlanta neighborhood to become a REPEAT champ in this hallowed, criteria-free competition, following West End’s triumphs in both 2015 and 2017.  

Here’s a quick recap of Old Fourth Ward’s difficult path to glory in this year’s competition:

Round 1:Escorted Adair Park to the door

Elite Eight:Edged Summerhill

***Final Four:***Soundly defeated neighboring Inman Park

Championship: Bumped out EAV

As usual, Beltline-connected O4W’s happenings this year were numerous. Two high-rise hospitality concepts—New City’s diamond-patterned Forth hotel and the Scout Living tower over Ponce City Market—opened in 2024, as rare for-sale condos debuted nearby at The Leon on Ponce. Elsewhere on Ponce, a Complete Streets overhaul came together as an effort to improve pedestrian and bike connections between Boulevard and John Lewis Freedom Parkway. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Civic Center redo edged toward groundbreaking, and the relatively affordable evolution of Boulevard continued to rise—to name just a few highlights of another busy year in this booming intown nabe.

Throughout the end of 2024 and now 2025, Old Fourth Ward proved itself exceptionally proud and capable of rallying support.

Here’s permission to keep on bragging, O4W, all year long!

The Golden Urby Chalice of Champions 2024.

…

The hallowed pantheon of Best Atlanta Neighborhood tournament winners:

***2011:***Inman Park

***2012:***Old Fourth Ward

***2013:***Kirkwood

***2014:***Reynoldstown

***2015:***West End

***2016:***East Atlanta

***2017:***West End (again)

2018-2020:(forced hiatus)

2021:Mozley Park

2022:Avondale Estates

2023: Hapeville

2024: Old Fourth Ward

...

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The Golden Urby Chalice of Champions 2024.

Subtitle Booming intown neighborhood prevails in fourth annual Best Atlanta Neighborhood tourney

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Report: More than 90 percent of Atlanta apartments were rented in 2024 Josh Green Thu, 01/02/2025 - 12:11 Despite another hot year for multifamily development that saw a record 2,200 new residences added in Midtown alone, Atlanta remained a relatively competitive market for renters in 2024, according to a new analysis.

RentCafe, a national apartment search platform, studied the 139 largest U.S. markets for a year-end “Hottest Rental Markets” analysis and ranked them using five key metrics for rental competitiveness.

The findings concluded that new housing hasn’t exactly eased competition in most markets.

In the City of Atlanta (excluding suburban markets), the overall supply of apartments grew by 1.83 percent across 2024—or slightly behind the 2 percent growth rate the city had logged the previous year.

Meanwhile, the city’s apartment occupancy rate dropped by 1 percent, but remained relatively strong at 90.9 percent overall.

Renters faced less competition in 2024—seven people vying for the same vacant apartment, versus nine people the year before—as lease renewal rates ticked up slightly to 60 percent.  

Apartments on the market in the City of Atlanta stayed vacant for 44 days on average, per the RentCafe analysis.

Analysts studied Yardi Systems apartment data pertaining to market-rate, large-scale multifamily properties with at least 50 units. Apartment buildings deemed fully affordable were not counted, per RentCafe.

Many of the Midtown high-rise rentals shown here in December 2022 delivered last year, continuing a multifamily boom. Urbanize Atlanta

The five metrics included: the percentage of rentals occupied; number of days apartments stayed vacant; the share of apartments completed in 2024; the number of prospective renters competing for an apartment; and the percentage of renters who renewed leases.

Meanwhile, Atlanta’s suburbs saw an even higher occupancy rate (92.2 percent, or down .5 percent from 2023) with a full two-thirds of renters (65.9 percent) deciding to stay put.

The sheer amount of new apartments in Atlanta's ’burbs was described as “robust” in 2024—a 4.31 percent increase, up significantly from 2.88 percent the previous year.

Both the City of Atlanta and suburban markets saw a year-over-year increase in what’s called the Rental Competitiveness Index score: 69.2 for the city, and 66.9 for the suburbs. (The national average, for context, is 74.4, but most markets haven’t logged as much new product as Atlanta’s.)

Considering all the factors above, Atlanta was ranked as the 53rd hottest rental market in the U.S. for 2024, followed by the city’s suburbs in 60th place. 

Hmmm.

RentCafe

...

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Many of the Midtown high-rise rentals shown here in December 2022 delivered last year, continuing a multifamily boom. Urbanize Atlanta

Subtitle City’s stock of rentals grew by nearly 2 percent, though fewer renters vied for deals, analysis finds

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MARTA to temporarily halt Atlanta Streetcar services Josh Green Thu, 01/02/2025 - 10:36 A new year has barely dawned, but already it’s shaping up to be eventful for Atlanta’s transit agency.

Just days after marking its 10-year anniversary as Atlanta’s first new streetcar since President Harry Truman’s administration, as the AJC recently noted, the Atlanta Streetcar’s 2.7-mile Downtown Loop will be out of service for several days this month to allow for time-sensitive Georgia Power work to take place.  

MARTA announced this week that streetcar services will be suspended between Jan. 13 and 17. The closure will allow Georgia Power crews to make emergency repairs on Carnegie Way. Meanwhile, city contractors and utility companies will use the five-day break to conduct adjustments and any necessary repairs near the streetcar’s tracks, according to MARTA.

Expect services to resume at 8:15 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 18.

The Atlanta Streetcar's initial Downtown Loop spans 2.7 miles and passes numerous attractions. Shutterstock

MARTA plans to run its shuttle vans—wrapped to look similar to the streetcar vehicles—along the streetcar’s downtown route as utility work is underway. Those shuttles were also deployed when the streetcar system was shut down to repair all four of its vehicles in late 2022.  

President Carter visitation shuttles 

MARTA has also detailed plans for ushering Atlantans to and from a days-long visitation for the only U.S. President from Georgia.

The body of President Jimmy Carter will lie in repose from 6 p.m. Jan. 4 (this Saturday) to 6 a.m. January 7 (Tuesday) at The Carter Presidential Center.

Carter, who died at age 100 on Dec. 29, will then be taken to Washington, D.C. for memorial services.

MARTA will provide free direct bus service from the King Memorial rail station to The Carter Center for anyone wishing to pay tribute at the visitation. Rail service to the station will operate continuously for 60 hours, MARTA recently announced.

From there, the free shuttles will depart to The Carter Center every three to five minutes all day and night, beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday.

Officials note The Carter Center will offer no public parking, so attendees to Carter’s visitation must take the shuttle bus—unless they plan to walk, ride a bike, or take a ride-share service and be dropped off nearby.

Regular rates for MARTA’s rail service will apply.

MARTA Mobility services will operate every 15 to 20 minutes from King Memorial station, but local buses will be rerouted. (Find reroute details here.)

Prior to his presidency, Carter served two terms as a Georgia State Senator and as the state’s 76th governor from 1971 to 1975—during which voters passed a 1 percent sales tax to fund MARTA’s operations, as transit officials noted.

“MARTA is especially grateful for [Carter’s] leadership in bringing public transportation plans to fruition in metro Atlanta,” said Collie Greenwood, MARTA general manager and CEO, in a prepared statement. “We are proud to help pay tribute to him.”

...

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Subtitle Transit agency also planning free bus shuttles to Jimmy Carter's visitation, where no parking is offered

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Best Atlanta Neighborhood 2024, Championship: Old Fourth Ward vs. East Atlanta Josh Green Tue, 12/31/2024 - 13:10 After nearly 4,000 votes, it all comes down to this, Atlanta.

With two weeks of hard-fought faceoffs in the books, two contestants have risen above the rest to sniff Mount Olympus. Both are relatively strong bets this year, in terms of seeding. But only one can be proclaimed the greatest in Urbanize’sfourth-annual Best Atlanta Neighborhood tournament.

Will it be the higher-seeded powerhouse Old Fourth Ward? Or the feisty, funky, proud place that is East Atlanta?

Without further ado ... Welcome to The Championship! 

This being the final contest, voting will be open until 3 p.m. Thursday, allowing anyone who’s actually on vacation sufficient time to chime in.

We ask that you keep the tourney fun, fair, and positive as one great intown neighborhood surges to everlasting glory—with the whole city (and beyond) watching.

Now, let’s go!  

...

(3) Old Fourth Ward

Round 1:Escorted Adair Park to the door

Elite Eight*: Edged Summerhill*

Final Four: Soundly defeated neighboring Inman Park

Views to Midtown over Fourth Ward Project's three-building first phase.

Beltline-connected Old Fourth Ward has been a hotbed of supersonic growth for what seems like ages. As usual, O4W happenings this year were too numerous to list here, but a few highlights: Two high-rise hospitality concepts—New City’s diamond-patterned Forth hotel and the Scout Living tower over Ponce City Market—drew back their curtains in 2024, as rare for-sale condos debuted nearby at The Leon on Ponce.

Speaking of Ponce, a Complete Streets overhaul came together as an effort to improve pedestrian and bike connections between Boulevard and John Lewis Freedom Parkway. Elsewhere, the Atlanta Civic Center redo edged toward groundbreaking, and the relatively affordable evolution of Boulevard continued to rise. Nonetheless, this eastside powerhouse hasn’t claimed the (nonexistent) trophy in one of these contests since 2012. But could that change in ’24?

…

(4) East Atlanta

Round 1: Breezed by College Park

Elite Eight: Narrowly slipped past downtown

Final Four: Overcame West End

Courtesy of Adams Commercial Real Estate

Usually a tough out in criteria-free, year-end neighborhood tourneys (and the overall Champion in 2016), East Atlanta garnered enough reader nominations to land a strong No. 4 seed. Which makes sense, given the buzz around several EAV projects this year—and what could have been the most rollicking East Atlanta Strut festival to date in September.

Artist Greg Mike transformed a 1980s church into a modern-gothic temple to creativity, while commendably old-school designs for mixed-use development on a small scale came to light on a vacant East Atlanta corner. Elsewhere, frequent village investors Pellerin Real Estate are bringing an infill project (see above) with dozens of new homes to a site where little more than a void in EAV’s vibrancy existed before. As always, East Atlanta remained a proud and diverse community that embraces the weird and shuns too much polish. But was it the best neighborhood this city has to offer in 2024?    

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Subtitle Who deserves to be crowned Atlanta's greatest neighborhood this year? Vote now!

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Downtown's highway-capping Stitch project unveils master plan Josh Green Tue, 12/31/2024 - 11:11 Downtown Atlanta’s grand plan to reconnect neighborhoods by constructing greenspace atop freeway lanes is now spelled out in more detail than ever before.

Eight years after Central Atlanta Progress initially unveiled its ambitious Stitch proposal, the highway-capping park project has officially made public its draft master plan—as detailed across nearly 1,000 pages of historical context, site analysis, phased plans, and enough visuals to make an urbanist wonk’s head spin.

Project spearheads Central Atlanta Progress and Atlanta Downtown Improvement District say the tentative master plan is the result of 18 months of work and input from more than 6,000 stakeholders. It lays out a roadmap for three phases of the Stitch park project, including land-use policies, key development sites (to include affordable housing), and both short and long-term transportation upgrades.

The Draft Stitch Master Plan’s daunting 927 pages is laid out in a way that’s actually fairly easy to consume. “A community equity lens was applied to each focus area,” notes a CAP and ADID summary, “to drive an approach that is inclusive of different community members.”

Overview of the three-phase Stitch proposal and potential related development sites. The area has the capacity to handle 16,000 new housing units at a variety of income levels, project leaders have said. Courtesy of Atlanta Downtown Improvement District

Courtesy of Atlanta Downtown Improvement District

Stitch’s initial phase (now envisioned as 5.7 acres) has secured about $200 million needed to build it, mostly from a federal Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods grant. That calls for capping the highway between Peachtree and Courtland streets and upgrading connections to existing street corridors.

The master plan will be considered a draft document unit it’s adopted by the Atlanta City Council. According to project leaders, that’s expected to happen sometime in spring next year.  

But first, CAP and ADID officials will be accepting public commentary on the draft master plan until Feb. 28. Instructions for commenting can be found at the bottom of this page.

Planned connectivity for the Stitch's first phase. Courtesy of Atlanta Downtown Improvement District

Project leaders are predicting 2025 will be a “big year” for the Stitch proposal overall, with phase one designs ongoing and public meetings and presentations in the works to discuss those design choices.

Construction on the initial phase is scheduled to begin sometime in 2026.

The first phase is envisioned as the green heart of the project, with pathways, native gardens, a plaza, shade structures, pavilions, a playground, restrooms, and other features where a gash in downtown’s urban landscape exists today.

Components of phase 1, as currently planned. Project leaders' schedule calls for breaking ground on this section in 2026. Courtesy of Atlanta Downtown Improvement District

Phases two and three, tentatively scheduled to begin construction in 2029 and 2033, respectively, will require a variety of additional funding sources. Those could include state and federal grants, commitments from the City of Atlanta, philanthropy, and “real estate value capture,” according to project leaders.

Current projections call for 14 acres of new public space being created over the downtown Connector—finishing in roughly 12 years, or sometime in 2036, pending funding.

Another highway-capping proposal, the Connector Park concept in Midtown, officially bowed out of the running for local, federal, and philanthropic funding in July. Meanwhile, design and fundraising work for Buckhead’s highway-topping HUB404 project is ongoing. 

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Overview of the three-phase Stitch proposal and potential related development sites. The area has the capacity to handle 16,000 new housing units at a variety of income levels, project leaders have said. Courtesy of Atlanta Downtown Improvement District

Components of phase 1, as currently planned. Project leaders' schedule calls for breaking ground on this section in 2026. Courtesy of Atlanta Downtown Improvement District

Planned connectivity for the Stitch's first phase. Courtesy of Atlanta Downtown Improvement District

Courtesy of Atlanta Downtown Improvement District

Subtitle Public commentary phase for Connector park will be open for several weeks

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