Atlanta News

From WABE Local News:

A federal judge in Atlanta is set to rule on a complaint filed by a group of 133 international college students who say the administration of President Donald Trump illegally […]

From the Saporta Report:

Why this work and the conversations it inspires matter now more than ever: For all that separates us, food connects us. The food we grow, share, eat and even what we throw away, is at the heart of every culture. At a time when food systems are increasingly at risk, strengthening those connections can inspire […]

The post Cocktails and Castoffs Atlanta: A return to the garden appeared first on SaportaReport.

California-inspired, 7-building retail hub bound for Alpharetta Josh Green Fri, 04/25/2025 - 08:14

A north OTP retail project with designs that set it apart from humdrum suburban shopping nodes is coming near the growing heart of Alpharetta, project leaders announced Thursday. 

Officials with Dallas-based global real estate firm Lincoln Property Company say the seven-building, 43,700-square-foot retail development will anchor a rising mixed-use community called The Gathering near both Avalon and Alpharetta City Center. 

Dubbed “The Shoppes at The Gathering,” the retail hub will include buildings ranging from 4,225 to 8,400 square feet for either single or multiple tenants, with designs inspired by “the casual architectural elegance found in Napa Valley,” according to Lincoln officials. 

Beyond shops and eateries, components will include a lawn area designed for events and live music, with high visibility along Haynes Bridge Road, per officials. Alpharetta’s plans call for weaving a section of the Alpha Loop multi-purpose trail through The Gathering eventually. 

What patrons arriving at The Shoppes at The Gathering will see, according to the project's lone available rendering. Courtesy of Lincoln Property Company

The site is just north of Ga. Highway 400’s exit 9, about a mile south of downtown Alpharetta. Part of the North Point Overlay District, it’s surrounded by regional attractions and landmarks that include Avalon, Ameris Bank Amphitheater, and North Point Mall, where plans for luring an NHL franchise appear to be on ice but redevelopment momentum continues. 

According to Lincoln officials, site work on The Shoppes at The Gathering is underway, and vertical construction is slated to start this fall. The full project is expected to deliver in the fourth quarter of 2026. 

“The development’s proximity to downtown Alpharetta offers walkability in a traditionally suburban market,” said Tony Bartlett, Lincoln’s executive vice president and Atlanta market leader, in an announcement. “[That] will help us curate the development and attract best-in-class local and national retailers and eateries looking to expand their footprint or enter this growing market.”

The Gathering's site location in relation to downtown Alpharetta, Avalon, and other landmarks. Google Maps

Beyond the retail flank, The Gathering (formerly called Morrison Park) calls for 144 townhomes and 37 detached single-family lots, according to the city. Longtime intown developer Brock Built is building the residential component across two phases. 

Available townhomes at The Gathering start in the $620,000s. That buys two bedrooms and three and ½ bathrooms (and a single garage space) in 1,644 square feet. Standalone home plans there currently climb north of $1.5 million. 

“Homeowners and prospective buyers want a connected, amenity-rich community, and having walkable retail right outside their front door makes this one of the most desirable places to live in Alpharetta,” added Brock Built’s Adam Brock. 

According to Lincoln officials, leasing for The Shoppes at The Gathering will be handled by Franklin Street and Centennial.

Closer to Atlanta’s core, Lincoln is most recently known for developing the Echo Street West project in English Avenue, where the company offloaded the office portion in late 2024. 

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• Alpharetta news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta) 

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11470 Haynes Bridge Road The Shoppes at The Gathering Franklin Street Centennial Lincoln Property Company Lincoln Haynes Bridge Road and Morrison Parkway Fuqua Development Northwinds Summit Fuqua Downtown Alpharetta Brock Built Homes Kimley-Horn & Associates Ahrens Design Group Kimley-Horn Niles Bolton Associates Morrison Park Ga. Highway 400 Avalon Ameris Bank Amphitheatre 360 Tech Village Northwinds Pope and Land Alpharetta News Alpharetta Development OTP Atlanta Suburbs

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What patrons arriving at The Shoppes at The Gathering will see, according to the project's lone available rendering. Courtesy of Lincoln Property Company

The Gathering's site location in relation to downtown Alpharetta, Avalon, and other landmarks. Google Maps

Subtitle The Shoppes at The Gathering to join large offering of townhomes, standalone houses near downtown

Neighborhood Alpharetta

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From the Saporta Report:

“In film school, they always tell you, show don’t tell,” said filmmaker Serena Dykman. But with her last few projects, Dykman has been rethinking that entire concept.  Her new short film “At See” follows a group of blind travelers aboard a cruise accompanied by their guide dogs. The film will play at this year’s Atlanta Film […]

The post ‘At See’ offers a new way to experience the world appeared first on SaportaReport.

From WABE Politics News:

Over the last few years, state lawmakers in Georgia and across the country have filed hundreds of bills focused on the transgender community. Even as Georgia and other Republican-led states […]

From the Atlanta Daily World:

A bond resolution essential to advancing a mixed-used development slated to usher in affordable housing in southwest Atlanta was unanimously approved by the Develop Fulton Board of Directors on April 22, 2025. The transformative development, located on Woodrow Street SW in Atlanta, reflects a $76.76 million project led by 840 Woodrow Apartments Owner, LLC (Induced … Continued

The post Develop Fulton Board Unanimously Approves Mixed-Use Redevelopment in Southwest Atlanta appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From the Atlanta Daily World:

The award-winning Children’s Entrepreneur Market, a nonprofit initiative committed to empowering children through entrepreneurial experiences, has announced markets in the Atlanta area in 2025. Please let us know if you would like to cover an upcoming market or schedule an interview with a child entrepreneur and/or someone from our team. The Children’s Entrepreneur Market is … Continued

The post Children’s Entrepreneur Market Announced in Atlanta Area appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From the Atlanta Daily World:

Michelle Obama is speaking out about one of the most talked-about moments of her post–White House life: why she chose not to attend Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration. In a candid conversation on the latest episode of her podcast “Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast” — co-hosted by her brother Craig Robinson — the former First Lady said that … Continued

The post Michelle Obama Opens Up About Why She Skipped Trump’s Inauguration appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From the Atlanta Daily World:

New budget would cut CDC by 44 percent and “would be a travesty for the quality of women’s health care and maternal health” Gov. Brian Kemp refused again today to weigh in on the Trump administration’s steep cuts and their negative impacts on Georgia. To date, the only time Kemp has gone on the record … Continued

The post Brian Kemp Still Silent as Next Round of Trump’s CDC Cuts Target Maternal Health appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From WABE Politics News:

This coverage is made possible through a partnership between WABE and Grist, a nonprofit environmental media organization. Shrimp are the quintessential Georgia seafood: the central ingredient of a lowcountry boil, […]

From the Saporta Report:

Kendall Rae Johnson is not your typical 9-year-old. She has been known as Georgia’s youngest certified farmer, and she is reshaping the way children and their communities see agriculture. Kendall is becoming a national name after appearances on Good Morning America, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and other programs.  She grows produce, she raises bees and […]

The post Nearly 10-year-old farmer’s passion has made her a teacher and entrepreneur appeared first on SaportaReport.

From the Saporta Report:

Dire wolves have not walked this Earth for over 10,000 years; the closest they’ve come to being seen by people has been through the popular “Game of Thrones” series by HBO. In other words, they’re extinct.  At least, they were. Colossal Bioscines, a genetic engineering company started in 2021, has been dominating headlines and social […]

The post De-extinction: A colossal waste of time, or a key step forward in conservation just in time for Earth month? appeared first on SaportaReport.

Images: Grand vision for Piedmont Park's future officially unveiled Josh Green Thu, 04/24/2025 - 15:43

If you adore Atlanta’s marquee greenspace today, just imagine if—or when—all of this comes to fruition. 

Following more than 30 public engagement events, 1,500 surveys from Atlantans, and extensive fundraising efforts that netted more than $3 million, Piedmont Park’s first Comprehensive Plan in 25 years was officially uncloaked during a landmark event today. 

More than 500 guests, stakeholders, and park supporters gathered for The Piedmont Park Conservancy’s 28th Annual Landmark Luncheon—an event that took in another $500,000 in contributions. Coined “The Big Reveal,” the unveiling of the comprehensive plan outlined how Atlanta’s most-visited park could expand and evolve in coming years, in terms of functionality, access, and some truly unique features. 

The plan, as designed by Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects, calls for a major park expansion at Piedmont Avenue and Monroe Drive, a restored Lake Clara Meer with sweeping boardwalks, a nature-based feature called the Clear Creek Walk, and a redesigned Active Oval. (A smaller feature that’s among our personal favorites: the Meadow Overlook with a picnic shelter and concessions, overlooking downtown and Midtown skylines near Park Tavern.) 

Doug Widener, Piedmont Park Conservancy president and CEO, called the plan “the most ambitious roadmap we’ve seen in decades” in an announcement. 

Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects; courtesy, Piedmont Park Conservancy

Funding for actually implementing the grand vision is pending, but according to architects, the initial phase of design and construction will likely be at The Commons—that is, the expansion of the northern edge of the site, where Piedmont Avenue and Monroe Drive meet—and along Clear Creek. 

“If fundraising goals are achieved,” notes the report, “the first phase of implementation is expected to start in 2027 with completion in 2029.”

The full Comprehensive Plan—a bona fide utopia for urban-planning wonks—is here. We’ve cherrypicked some detailed highlights below, with more images in the gallery above.   

Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects; courtesy, Piedmont Park Conservancy

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Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects; courtesy, Piedmont Park Conservancy

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Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects; courtesy, Piedmont Park Conservancy

Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects; courtesy, Piedmont Park Conservancy

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Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects; courtesy, Piedmont Park Conservancy

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Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects; courtesy, Piedmont Park Conservancy

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Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects; courtesy, Piedmont Park Conservancy

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Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects; courtesy, Piedmont Park Conservancy

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• Midtown news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta) 

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Piedmont Park Piedmont Park Conservancy Piedmont Park Comprehensive Plan Atlanta Parks Atlanta Parks and Recreation Parks and Recreation Atlanta Greenspaces Midtown Parks Midtown Projects Park Tavern Piedmont Park Expansion Piedmont Park Upgrades Beltline Atlanta BeltLine Northeast Trail Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architecture

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Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects; courtesy, Piedmont Park Conservancy

Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects; courtesy, Piedmont Park Conservancy

Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects; courtesy, Piedmont Park Conservancy

Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects; courtesy, Piedmont Park Conservancy

Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects; courtesy, Piedmont Park Conservancy

Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects; courtesy, Piedmont Park Conservancy

Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects; courtesy, Piedmont Park Conservancy

Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects; courtesy, Piedmont Park Conservancy

Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects; courtesy, Piedmont Park Conservancy

Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects; courtesy, Piedmont Park Conservancy

Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects; courtesy, Piedmont Park Conservancy

Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects; courtesy, Piedmont Park Conservancy

Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects; courtesy, Piedmont Park Conservancy

Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects; courtesy, Piedmont Park Conservancy

Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects; courtesy, Piedmont Park Conservancy

Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects; courtesy, Piedmont Park Conservancy

Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects; courtesy, Piedmont Park Conservancy

Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects; courtesy, Piedmont Park Conservancy

Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects; courtesy, Piedmont Park Conservancy

Subtitle "The Big Reveal" highlights Piedmont Park Conservancy’s 28th Annual Landmark Luncheon

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From WABE Local News:

Over the past three years, data suggest, 57% of Americans have experienced a significant loss. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, grief is a natural response to […]

From the Atlanta Tribune:

The East Point Police Department and Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta seek the public’s help in locating a suspect wanted for a murder that occurred in East Point, Georgia. Crime Stoppers Atlanta is offering up to a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and indictment of alleged shooter, Justin Hodges. On April 15th, 2025, […]

The post Updated Crime Stoppers Reward appeared first on Atlanta Tribune.

From the Atlanta Tribune:

Rather than respond to the real demands of tenants who spoke out during April 21’s City Council meeting, tenants at Chelsea Gardens received notices of condemnation of the property in only one week’s time. On Monday, April 21, tenants and community members went to city hall to demand that the evictions stop, and that the […]

The post College Park Officially Condemns Chelsea Gardens, Threatens Criminal Charges appeared first on Atlanta Tribune.

From the Atlanta Tribune:

State Representative Carl Gilliard (D-Savannah) urges descendants of the Original 33 to contact his office. “Since the introduction and passage of HB 303, the Original 33 Memorial Act, we have heard from more relatives of the Original 33, and we want to ensure that we are able to reach out to every family member who […]

The post Rep. Carl Gilliard Urges Descendants of the Original 33 to Contact His Office appeared first on Atlanta Tribune.

From the Atlanta Tribune:

APRIL 23 1856—One of the greatest inven­tors in American history, Granville T. Woods, is born in Columbus, Ohio. During his life he received 65 patents for electrical, mechan­ical and communications devic­es. Among his inventions was an advanced telephone transmitter. The transmitter was so advanced that the Alexander Graham Bell Company purchased the rights to it […]

The post This Week In Black History April 23-29, 2025 appeared first on Atlanta Tribune.

From WABE Local News:

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) announced Thursday the arrest of a 19-year-old who allegedly carried an AR-15 rifle on a Georgia college campus, prompting reports of an active shooter. […]

Arts Atlanta:

Isadora Pennington has come aboard as ArtsATL’s new Senior Editor for art+design and dance. Longtime Senior Editor Gillian Renault retired on April 18. Her dedication and vast knowledge of Atlanta’s art scene, and her regal presence, will be missed. She will continue to write for ArtsATL, where we value her insight and expertise, especially regarding...

Doraville's made-from-scratch downtown takes key step, eyes start date Josh Green Thu, 04/24/2025 - 13:34

The City of Doraville’s quest to create its own distinctive, transit-connected, multifaceted downtown district has spanned more than 20 years. At long last, that project’s development is all systems go.

City leaders relay this week a groundbreaking ceremony is planned for June to kick off construction of Doraville City Center, an effort to establish a new identity and gathering spot for the ITP city like Sandy Springs, Alpharetta, Suwanee, and so many other metro Atlanta places before it. 

As a final step, Doraville officials have inked contracts with Choate Construction Company and McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture to help lead development of what's been in planning phases since 2005.  

The 13-acre city center will reflect “our city’s bold vision for the future and the values of our diverse, growing community,” reads this week’s announcement. 

Conceptual plans for how the centralized downtown could look and function for Doraville—claiming municipal buildings and other underused or undeveloped parcels—first came to light in the fall of 2023. 

Plans for an upgraded central boulevard, Park Avenue, between apartments and retail. HGOR/Flippo Civil Design; via City of Doraville

Broad view of 13 acres of parcels Doraville owns for redevelopment in relation to Spaghetti Junction (bottom right), Interstate 285, and other landmarks. Google Maps

The site in question involves 13 acres the city owns and has been exploring how to better activate. The properties are bound by New Peachtree Road and Central Avenue, just north of Buford Highway and northwest of Spaghetti Junction near Assembly Atlanta. 

MARTA’s Doraville station is located across New Peachtree Road from the site.

Plans call for a new City Services building, multifamily housing, a public library, retail and dining spaces, a park, and a space for creators, all “designed with sustainability and community in mind,” per the city. 

The development team previously selected by Doraville also includes developer Kaufman Capital, HGOR, and Flippo Civil Design.

According to plans presented by HGOR planners and architects in 2023, the heart of the project would be comprised of two components: a central greenspace spanning roughly 10,000 to 12,000 square feet (similar to the size of Alpharetta City Center’s green) and dotted with low-rise retail buildings, likely topped with restaurant patios. 

Another key facet would be the three-story community building with city offices and chambers, the library, community space, and a coworking component, per designers.

Spanish steps-style elements leading to the centralized green, which would be placed atop stormwater retention infrastructure at the slopped site. HGOR/Flippo Civil Design; via City of Doraville

Rooftop retail with a view over the green to the proposed community building. HGOR/Flippo Civil Design; via City of Doraville

Elsewhere will be hundreds of multifamily units, more commercial space, and a 15-foot-wide public trail to help tie it all together. City plans have indicated a boutique hotel could also eventually be built. 

According to documents issued by the city in December, the initial $32-million phase of development—the green square and municipal building with a new City Hall and library, among other uses—will be built first as a “driver” for private development. Once those components are nearly finished, the residential, retail, and other commercial uses will be poised to move forward, likely over a period of several years, per the city. 

In the gallery above, find a rundown of where Doraville’s made-from-scratch city center will materialize, and what it could entail in coming years.

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• Doraville news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta) 

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New Peachtree Road at Central Avenue Kaufman Capital HGOR Flippo Civil Design City of Doraville ITP MARTA Assembly Atlanta Doraville MARTA Station Spaghetti Junction Downtown Doraville McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture Choate Construction Doraville City Center

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Broad view of 13 acres of parcels Doraville owns for redevelopment in relation to Spaghetti Junction (bottom right), Interstate 285, and other landmarks. Google Maps

General location of the city-owned parcels in question, excluding the church property and others fronting Buford Highway. Google Maps

HGOR/Flippo Civil Design; via City of Doraville

The view near Buford Highway looking toward New Peachtree Road. HGOR/Flippo Civil Design; via City of Doraville

Plans for an upgraded central boulevard, Park Avenue, between apartments and retail. HGOR/Flippo Civil Design; via City of Doraville

Spanish steps-style elements leading to the centralized green, which would be placed atop stormwater retention infrastructure at the slopped site. HGOR/Flippo Civil Design; via City of Doraville

Plans for a versatile, communal stage, at right. HGOR/Flippo Civil Design; via City of Doraville

The 15-foot-wide multi-use pathway, at right, in relation to the central green. HGOR/Flippo Civil Design; via City of Doraville

HGOR/Flippo Civil Design; via City of Doraville

Rooftop retail with a view over the green to the proposed community building. HGOR/Flippo Civil Design; via City of Doraville

Subtitle Placemaking project near Spaghetti Junction has been two decades in the making

Neighborhood Doraville

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From the Saporta Report:

Fulton County approved a $76.8 million mixed-use development project that’s intended to spur economic growth in southwest Atlanta and address affordable housing needs.  Develop Fulton, the county’s development authority, has approved a bond resolution that will bring residential living and commercial space to 840 Woodrow Street near the Atlanta BeltLine.  Led by Woodfield Acquisitions, a […]

The post $76.8M redevelopment with affordable housing coming to southwest Atlanta appeared first on SaportaReport.

From the Atlanta Daily World:

The Georgia NAACP and The Rockdale County NAACP are appalled and heartbroken by the deeply disturbing incident at a Rockdale County school, where a water fountain was defaced with a sign reading “White Only.” This isn’t just an act of ignorance—it’s a chilling echo of our nation’s darkest chapters. It is a stark reminder that … Continued

The post Georgia NAACP Statement on Rockdale County Schools “White Only” Water Fountain Incident appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From the Saporta Report:

Spelman College opens Mary Schmidt Campbell Center for Innovation & the Arts Spelman College recently announced the opening of the Mary Schmidt Campbell Center for Innovation & the Arts.  The new building designed by Studio Gang, the international architecture and urban design firm led by Jeanne Gang, will provide students at the historically Black college […]

The post Reporter’s Notebook: New Building at Spelman, Georgia Tech honors former president Carter, Decatur breaks ground on historic square transformation appeared first on SaportaReport.

From the Saporta Report:

In March 2024, the Governor’s Office, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) and the Criminal Case Data Exchange Board (CDX) launched Georgia’s first statewide automated victim notification (AVN) system, VINE Appriss.  The cutting-edge platform was designed to unify Georgia’s 159 counties judicial data for consistent and accurate jail notifications and empower victims. The CJCC was […]

The post Keeping the VINE automated victim notification system funded is imperative to justice and victim safety appeared first on SaportaReport.