Atlanta News

From the Atlanta Daily World:

Free Family Event to Raise Awareness of Black Maternal Health & Empower Families  Saturday, April 12 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.    The Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Inc. (BMMA), in partnership with the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Constituent Services and 4Kira4Moms are excited to present the 2025 Atlanta Black Maternal Health Walk & Block Party this Saturday, April 12, … Continued

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From the Atlanta Daily World:

by J. Pharoah Doss False options plague public debate, leading to pointless discussions. A Fox News anchor recently questioned the border czar about whether illegal entry into the country was considered a “crime or misdemeanor.” The border czar knew the anchor meant to say “misdemeanor or civil infraction,” so it was easy for him to … Continued

The post J. Pharoah Doss: Anthony Mackie’s success story? appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From the Atlanta Daily World:

The Power Circle Masterclass Forum: Women of Influence & Impact was a tremendous success, welcoming over 100 women who showed up with grace, purpose, and unity — even after a major venue change within just 24 hours. Hosted by Dr. Kim McNair, Founder of the Business Women Empowerment Project, Inc. (BWEP) and creator of the … Continued

The post Power Circle Masterclass Forum Celebrates a Powerful Evening of Connection and Leadership appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From the New York Times:

The authorities said that the killings appeared to have stemmed from a domestic dispute. Investigators in Perry, Ga., said the four victims, who ranged in age from 2 to 82, were related.

From the New York Times:

Fuertes lluvias, vientos dañinos y peligrosas inundaciones han asolado el Sur y el Medio Oeste durante días, matando al menos a 18 personas.

From WABE Local News:

Detectives in central Georgia have been questioning a “person of interest” after three adults and a child were found dead at residence over the weekend, police said. All four victims […]

From the Saporta Report:

If there’s one thing we’ve learned in our first year at The Melody, it’s this: lasting change only happens when you treat the whole person. If you only provide housing without mental health support, the housing won’t last. And if you only offer mental health care without housing, it’s nearly impossible for someone to heal. […]

The post The Melody: A Year of Learning, Healing, and the Only Way Forward appeared first on SaportaReport.

Project along Proctor Creek eyes finish after 5 years of construction Josh Green Mon, 04/07/2025 - 16:05

Following several years of construction, a residential project billed as a relatively affordable path to homeownership northwest of downtown is slated for completion in coming months, having closed more than 160 homes. 

Plans call for the Stanley Martin Homes project, Westside Bend at Proctor Creek, to feature 216 townhomes and standalone houses arranged around a park and communal clubhouse on James Jackson Parkway, in northwest Atlanta neighborhood Monroe Heights.

Prices for the 47 remaining units start at $359,990. 

Including site work, construction has been underway at the formerly wooded property—situated just north of Coretta Scott King Young Women's Leadership Academy, and south of Whittier Mill Village—for more than five years. The new eight-building Populous Westside apartment project is located practically next door. 

According to Micci A. Naegele, a Stanley Martin neighborhood sales manager, Westside Bend is on pace to finish construction this fall, with just two more townhome buildings left to be built. 

The Blanche facades at the Westside Bend project. Photo by James Mauro/jmaurophoto. Courtesy of Stanley Martin Homes

The project's 1335 James Jackson Parkway location in relation to downtown Atlanta. Google Maps

The breakdown calls for 169 townhomes and 47 single-family houses overall—and 165 of those have closed to date. 

The lower-end pricing at $360,000 buys a two-bedroom, two and ½ bathroom townhome with 1,573 square feet. Thirty-three of those remain available, per Naegele.  

Elsewhere, prices between $440,000 to $480,000 buy standalone homes. Those have either three or four bedrooms and three and ½ bathrooms in between 2,129 and 2,455 square feet, with 14 remaining overall, Naegele said. 

(Another consideration: Townhome HOA fees require a one-time contribution of $2,000 and monthly outlay of $260, which covers all aspects of upkeep outside the homes, from exterior maintenance and streetlight power to landscaping. Single-family home HOA fees—$1,000 up front, and $210 monthly—cover the same, except for home exterior maintenance.)

Closings at Westside Bend began about three years ago. 

The community is positioned next to the winding banks of Proctor Creek but located due west of where the completed, three-mile Proctor Creek Greenway currently ends. (A fourth phase of the trail, totaling $4.5 million, was included on the Moving Atlanta Forward TSPLOST/bond package approved by voters in 2021.)  

Beyond the central park and nearby creek, communal amenities are expected to include a pool with cabanas (opening this summer), fire pit, and pocket-park greenspaces. Townhomes features quartz countertops, living-room fireplaces, lower-level flex spaces, and half-covered decks off the main living levels.

Sample interiors for a Blanche floorplan. Photo by James Mauro/jmaurophoto. Courtesy of Stanley Martin Homes

Overview of construction progress today. Stanley Martin Homes

The location is promoted as being convenient to everything from four interstates and Truist Park to the newish Westside Park, the city’s largest greenspace.  

Head to the gallery above for more context, floorplans, and images. Find a virtual tour of a model unit over here. 

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• Images: Spelman College's new 'front porch' is rather fantastic(Urbanize Atlanta) 

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1334 James Jackson Parkway NW Westside Bend at Proctor Creek Monroe Heights Stanley Martin Homes Atlanta Townhomes Atlanta Development Atlanta Construction Atlanta Homes for Sale Proctor Creek Upper Westside Proctor Creek Greenway Coretta Scott King Young Women's Leadership Academy

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The project's 1335 James Jackson Parkway location in relation to downtown Atlanta. Google Maps

Overview of construction progress today. Stanley Martin Homes

The Blanche facades at the Westside Bend project. Photo by James Mauro/jmaurophoto. Courtesy of Stanley Martin Homes

Sample interiors for a Blanche floorplan. Photo by James Mauro/jmaurophoto. Courtesy of Stanley Martin Homes

Photo by James Mauro/jmaurophoto. Courtesy of Stanley Martin Homes

Photo by James Mauro/jmaurophoto. Courtesy of Stanley Martin Homes

Top-level layout for The Blanche plan. Stanley Martin Homes

Stanley Martin Homes

First-floor layout for The Blanche floorplan at Westside Bend at Proctor Creek. Stanley Martin Homes

Subtitle Westside Bend at Proctor Creek community counts mix of more than 200 homes

Neighborhood Westside

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Westside Bend at Proctor Creek

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From the Saporta Report:

This year’s General Assembly got off to a late start due to inclement weather, and ended unexpectedly with a number of issues still unresolved. In times as dangerous these, what more could a sensible lawmaker ask for?

The post Foreshortened session, resignation and long-awaited PSC races signal a political reset appeared first on SaportaReport.

From the Saporta Report:

What a uniquely Atlanta tale. Atlanta-born playwright Alfred Uhry was honored at the Temple on March 30 – weaving together several strands of religious and racial history and prejudice. Uhry is an acclaimed author and playwright who has won two Tonys, an Oscar and the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for dramatic writing. He is best known […]

The post The past is present in Alfred Uhry’s plays about Atlanta appeared first on SaportaReport.

From the Saporta Report:

To see fuller versions of the photos, click on any image and swipe right or left.

The post Views on Bank of America Plaza – various dates appeared first on SaportaReport.

From the Saporta Report:

In the lore of Atlanta’s history, there is a story about an organization that called itself, “The Pioneer Citizens of Atlanta.”

The post Pioneer Citizens appeared first on SaportaReport.

From WABE Local News:

Public library officials in Georgia are bracing for how federal cuts could impact local libraries after President Donald Trump signed an executive order seeking to eliminate the Institute of Museum […]

From WABE Local News:

Tiger Woods was playing golf with Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley ahead of the Masters two years ago when Ridley mentioned the club’s soon-to-be-announced project to renovate a municipal course […]

From the Saporta Report:

Heather Fortner reflects on a recent Atlanta Way 2.0 event where she met with other civic-minded Atlantans. "Atlanta is at an inflection point. The challenges we face are real, but so is the opportunity. We have the talent, the creativity, and the collaborative spirit to shape a city that leads with inclusion, that innovates through connection, and that thrives on purpose."

The post Atlanta Way 2.0: Building Our Future Together appeared first on SaportaReport.

From WABE Local News:

The Masters begins Thursday at Augusta National, where defending champion Scottie Scheffler will try to win his third green jacket, Rory McIlroy will try once again to win his first, and the biggest names […]

MARTA's first new transit line in ages hits snags, now delayed Josh Green Mon, 04/07/2025 - 13:37

Construction of MARTA’s first new transit line in 25 years has again encountered delays that will knock back the timeline for passenger service. 

That’s according to a brief update from MARTA officials posted today on social media regarding the Rapid A-Line project—formerly called MARTA Rapid Summerhill—that will provide bus-rapid-transit service between downtown and Peoplestown near the Beltline’s southernmost reaches. 

MARTA officials relay the Rapid A-Line transit project was on pace to begin service this autumn, “but construction crews unearthed shallow water lines and an underground parking lot!” reads the message. “So, we gotta hit pause. We’ll be back on track soon!” 

A photo accompanying MARTA's Rapid A-Line delay announcement today. Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority

We reached out to MARTA for more information on what the unexpected hurdles could mean for the BRT line’s construction and nearby neighborhoods in the short term—and how long construction delays might be overall. According to an agency rep, key members of the BRT project team are out of the office on Spring Break and construction timeline updates aren’t currently available. 

Back in December, MARTA officials told state leaders the BRT project had unearthed forgotten trolley tracks on Hank Aaron Drive in Summerhill that were expected to be left in place. In downtown, utility crews uncovered an abandoned garage beneath street level that could be linked to a nearby deck; the parking structure was capped with a steel plate as MARTA worked to contact the property owner, as Axios reported at the time. 

The project, Atlanta’s initial stab at creating a BRT system, began construction in the fall of 2023. 

The five-mile BRT loop will (eventually) link South Downtown to neighborhoods such as Summerhill and Peoplestown before ending near the Beltline’s Southside Trail at a station called Carver. Included in the scope are expanded sidewalks, bike infrastructure, realigned traffic lanes, and other work. 

Along the route will be connections to MARTA’s heavy rail system at Five Points, Georgia State, and Garnett Stations. The $91-million project marks MARTA’s first new transit line since the Sandy Springs MARTA station opened, back in the year 2000.

The region’s first BRT line will operate with new 60-foot electric buses, with the 14 stops featuring level boarding positioned about 1/3-mile apart from each other. Planned stations on Memorial Drive at Capitol Avenue and Trinity Avenue were previously axed to save costs, project leaders have said.

Proposed BRT route just north of GSU's stadium. via MARTA, March 2022 presentation

Each station will include real-time arrival information and off-board fare collection, allowing customers to pay before they board. About 85 percent of the corridor will have dedicated, bus-only lanes with transit-signal priority, meaning buses shouldn’t be bogged down in traffic and that travel times should be quicker, MARTA officials have said.

MARTA’s original timeline called for breaking ground on the BRT project in August 2022 and beginning service in 2024. But the project was dogged by skyrocketing building and labor costs (originally projected at $61.5 million), in addition to issues stemming from MARTA’s inexperience with creating new transit lines in recent decades. 

MARTA was most recently forecasting that construction on the Rapid A-Line would wrap up sometime this spring, with passenger service beginning later this year.

via MARTA, March 2022 presentation

Once the line is built, buses are expected to arrive with frequencies between 10 minutes (daytime peak hours) and 20 minutes (late nights and weekend mornings). MARTA has estimated that 2,350 riders will use the service on a daily basis. The project is being funded by the $2.7-billion MORE MARTA half-penny sales tax for transit approved by voters in 2016 and a federal TIGER grant.

MARTA predicts traveling the full route from Five Points station to Carver will take between 12 to 15 minutes.

Beyond the downtown-Peoplestown BRT line, MARTA is moving forward with BRT transportation along the Clifton Corridor near Emory University, on Campbellton Road in Southwest Atlanta, and in Clayton County. Another four-station BRT route up Ga. Highway 400 with service to Roswell and Alpharetta is also being studied. 

Here's the most recent look at what's to come—eventually—between South Downtown and Peoplestown: 

The 14-stop Summerhill BRT route revealed by MARTA in August. via MARTA

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• Summerhill news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta) 

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MARTA Rapid Summerhill Summerhill Bus Rapid Transit Downtown Bus Rapid Transit BRT Alternate Transportation Bus Transportation Peoplestown South Downtown Mechanicsville Carver High School Carver Station Alternative Transportation Atlanta Transit Bike Lanes Bicycling Infrastructure Bicycling A-Line MARTA Rapid A-Line

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A photo accompanying MARTA's Rapid A-Line delay announcement today. Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority

Subtitle BRT project from downtown to Peoplestown, the Rapid A-Line, beset with new hurdles

Neighborhood Summerhill

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From the Saporta Report:

Mark your calendars! This September, Atlanta Way Day — powered by Atlanta Way 2.0 — will bring together the region’s most passionate problem-solvers to highlight social challenges and provide real solutions that strengthen Metro Atlanta’s civic fabric. Atlanta Way Day isn’t just about identifying problems — it’s about taking action to fix them. This event […]

The post Atlanta Way Day: A call for changemakers appeared first on SaportaReport.

From the Saporta Report:

Across the United States, millions of people face barriers to accessing nutritious food. Feeding America reports that 47 million individuals—including 1 in 5 children—experience food insecurity, a pervasive challenge demanding bold and unified solutions. The CDC Foundation is committed to advancing the National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health, which was spearheaded with bipartisan support […]

The post Addressing Hunger at the National and Local Levels appeared first on SaportaReport.

From WABE Local News:

City Schools of Decatur hosted an emergency board meeting on April 4 to authorize Superintendent Dr. Gyimah Whitaker to respond to recent federal and state orders. An executive session lasted […]

In West End, Beltline-adjacent warehouse redo starts opening Josh Green Mon, 04/07/2025 - 11:28

A warehouse-conversion project has officially started opening in West End with a concept that boosts local sports and community aspects in Southwest Atlanta, according to business leaders. 

Atlanta-based owners of the Dill Dinkers’pickleball franchise have opened a facility with 11 champion-sized courts, adding another adaptive-reuse, West End attraction near the Beltline-connected Lee + White district beyond food, drink, and offices. 

The mural-bedecked pickleball space’s grand opening and ribbon-cutting is scheduled April 18. More than 1,000 players, from beginners to experts, recently swung by for a weeklong soft opening. 

For its first concept in Georgia, Dill Dinkers has claimed a nearly 36,000-square-foot space at 1200 White St., a former industrial building that’s being remade by Lee + White owners Ackerman & Co. Expect clinics, membership offerings, lessons, leagues, and themed social events, per Dill Dinkers. 

Courtesy of Dill Dinkers/Ackerman & Co.

Daniel Hardeman, a Chosewood Park resident and regional franchise developer, said metro Atlanta counts an impressive 1.1 million pickleball players—with a nearly 52 percent year-over-year growth rate. 

“There’s a shortage of courts and lack of structure for skills progression, so players are turning to places like Dill Dinkers,” said Hardeman in an announcement. “Add to that spring’s high pollen counts and pending hot weather, and we knew the demand would be high. What we didn’t anticipate was the incredible outpouring of support from the community.” 

Future franchise locations are in the works for Fulton, Dekalb, Cobb, Gwinnett, and Cherokee counties, per Dill Dinkers reps. 

In West End, each court is individually fenced, and other components of the club include a pro shop and events space. The courts feature Dill Dinkers’ Pro Cushion playing surface, which is designed to be easier on players’ joints, per project leaders. The company’s West End location joins others in metro Washington D.C., Maryland, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Texas.

Courtesy of Dill Dinkers/Ackerman & Co.

The pickleball complex has claimed only a fraction of the 1200 White St. building, which is being remade into a mixed-use hub with a new extension of the Beltline’s Westside Trail planned beside it. 

According to property owners Ackerman & Co., beyond pickleball, the 211,585-square-foot facility is being designed to accommodate restaurants, retail, industrial uses, creative offices, and experiential concepts. 

The 1200 White St. office and warehouse building's facade prior to recent renovations. Ackerman & Co.

Speaking of experiential concepts… a couple of blocks south of Dill Dinkers at Lee + White, an interactive experience called The Game Show Challenge is claiming a 3,889-square-foot space. It will be located in Lee + White’s Building 1000, next to Monday Night Brewing and Grady’s new neighborhood health center.

The West End location will mark the third for the gameshow concept, which is aiming to open 30 more over the next five years. (Current locations are in Columbia and Greenville, S.C.) Earlier plans had called for opening Atlanta’s outpost by the end of 2024, but The Game Show Challenge still lists the location as “coming soon.” 

Ackerman & Co. and MDH Partners, the development team behind the 11-building Lee + White district, signed another experiential tenant, Atlanta Golf & Social, last summer. 

That concept is hosting a grand opening April 12—fittingly, on Masters Week—for its 3,767-square-foot space, joining a flagship location in downtown Chamblee. 

Base image via Ackerman & Co.

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• West End news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)

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1200 White St. SW Ackerman & Co. MDH Partners Lee + White Atlanta BeltLine Westside Trail Smith Dalia Architects 929 Lee Street SW Cushman & Wakefield Carter Hill Commercial Real Estate Advisors Studio Sogo Adaptive Reuse Adaptive-Reuse Development Adaptive-Reuse Atlanta Warehouses Atlanta Adaptive-Reuse Dill Dinkers Atlanta Pickleball Pickleball The Game Show Challenge Gaming Concepts Gaming Ackerman Retail Baltisse Atlanta Golf & Social

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Courtesy of Dill Dinkers/Ackerman & Co.

Courtesy of Dill Dinkers/Ackerman & Co.

Base image via Ackerman & Co.

The 1200 White St. office and warehouse building's facade prior to recent renovations. Ackerman & Co.

Ackerman & Co.

Subtitle Dill Dinkers pickleball opens 36,000-square-foot space at former industrial building 1200 White St.

Neighborhood West End

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From the Saporta Report:

It’s time to celebrate: It’s finally spring in the City of Atlanta. As the weather begins to warm up and residents find themselves spending more time outdoors, the Atlanta Beltline continues to transform urban living, offering a vibrant, accessible space where community, creativity and wellness converge. This spring, we’re highlighting the diverse ways you can […]

The post Contributing to City Life: Atlanta Beltline’s Arts, Wellness, and Volunteer Opportunities Bloom this Spring appeared first on SaportaReport.

From the Atlanta Tribune:

DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson has taken a decisive step to safeguard the county’s financial health and essential public services by issuing an Executive Order that temporarily freezes new spending and hiring. The order, effective immediately, is a proactive measure designed to cushion the county from potential disruptions tied to uncertainties surrounding future federal funding. […]

The post DeKalb County CEO Issues Executive Order to Ensure Fiscal Responsibility Amid Federal Funding Uncertainty [Video] appeared first on Atlanta Tribune.

From the Saporta Report:

By Cheryl Kortemeier, Executive Director, Corporate Volunteer Council of Atlanta (CVC) April is Global Volunteer Month. Established in 2020 by international nonprofit, Points of Light, Global Volunteer Month is designed to honor and celebrate volunteers worldwide and to leverage volunteerism to strengthen communities and address global challenges.  According to Points of Light, 85% of companies […]

The post Southern Roots, Global Impact: Atlanta Businesses Are All In on Global Volunteer Month appeared first on SaportaReport.

Arts Atlanta:

Allen McCullough’s unorthodox and harmonically dense ‘Precipice’ was the April 6 concert’s centerpiece. :: The Atlanta Chamber Players took the stage at First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta on Friday, April 6, for an afternoon of Beethoven coupled with a new work by composer Allen McCullough. The performance proved to be a stylistically vast offering from...