Atlanta News

Arts Atlanta:

Every week, ArtsATL asks a member of the Atlanta arts community to share 11 things on their mind. We hope you enjoy getting to know these people better. Hailee Beltzhoover Zuniga is an Atlanta-based theater artist and the event sales manager for the Woodruff Arts Center. She knows all great artistry starts with authenticity and fostering a...

From the Atlanta Tribune:

The City of South Fulton County, located just 20 miles east of Atlanta is taking action against its beleaguered mayor, Khalid Kamau who became one of the city’s first city council members when it was incorporated in 2017, and was later elected mayor in 2021, has been barred from municipal properties and business as city officials […]

The post City of South Fulton Mayor Khalid Kamau Faces More Charges for Abuse of Office appeared first on Atlanta Tribune.

From the Atlanta Daily World:

The Annual Atlanta Black Expo is a significant platform for highlighting and supporting Black-owned businesses and events curated by Black entrepreneurs. Over the Feb. 22 to 23 weekend more than consumers visited the Georgia World Congress Center, the fourth largest of its type in the nation to sample culinary creations, purchase products, and secure services … Continued

The post Atlanta Business Expo Draws Record Crowd at Georgia World Congress Center appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

Images: 400-home project debuts in jobs hotspot east of Atlanta Josh Green Mon, 02/24/2025 - 08:07 A year and ½ after breaking ground, an 11-building multifamily project that aims to capitalize on job growth and fewer new rental options in Atlanta’s eastern suburbs has started to debut. 

Atlanta-based developer Brook Farm Group has delivered the first two residential buildings and a large clubhouse at The Sinclair at Callaway Farm, a Covington venture where leasing has begun in what project officials have called a “dynamic growth corridor.”

Set on 39 acres with ponds and mature trees, The Sinclair project will eventually count 388 apartments marketed as Class A and uniquely luxurious for the area.  

The site is just north of Interstate 20 about eight miles southeast of area landmark Georgia International Horse Park, between Covington and Social Circle. It’s adjacent to a 180-acre mixed-use development called Covington Town Center.

Monthly rents start $1,599, which gets one bedroom and one bathroom in 652 square feet. Two-bedroom apartments with two bathrooms start at $1,995 monthly for 999 square feet. 

On the larger end, the three-bedroom, two-bathroom options in 1,287 square feet start at $2,445. 

Courtesy of Brook Farm Group

Overview of construction progress at the Covington site today. Courtesy of Brook Farm Group

The Sinclair project will see two “Town and Country” neighborhoods rise with 11 different residential buildings, each blending contemporary design and what Brook Farm Group calls historic character that echoes Covington’s antebellum housing stock. 

Other aspects include the 9,000-square-foot clubhouse called “best in class,” a resort-style pool, a dog park and pet spa, coworking space, two-story gym, and what’s described as the market’s first rooftop lounge. Four of the buildings will feature elevators for upper-level homes that overlook a tree canopy, developers note.

According to Brook Farm Group’s tabulation, the area is expected to attract 10,000 new jobs in coming years. 

Developers cited growing major employers in the eastern suburbs around Covington—Takeda, SKC, and Cinelease’s 160-acre Three Ring Studio, along with new companies Rivian Automotive, 80 Acres Farms, Archer Aviation, and Ascend Elements—as a reason for investing in the area.  

Rivian alone is expected to create 7,500 jobs about 10 miles down the road (provided a $6.6 billion loan from the Biden Administration materializes), while Archer Aviation is adding another 1,000 new jobs less than a mile from the apartments.  

Several multifamily complexes have materialized in the Covington market in recent years—Crescent Communities’ Render Covington and Alliance Residential’s Prose Fairview among them—but The Sinclair project is aiming for a different customer. 

“Many of these [other] communities have been purposefully developed with a more limited amenity offering and homes that are designed to appeal to a more cost-conscious resident,” 
Eric Hade, Brook Farm’s chief investment officer, said in a statement. “We designed The Sinclair at Callaway Farm to raise the bar and appeal to residents seeking a differentiated, luxury residential community.”

Courtesy of Brook Farm Group

Courtesy of Brook Farm Group

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

The Sinclair’s location is about 30 miles from both downtown Atlanta and, to the west, Lake Oconee, a popular recreation attraction. First Horizon Bank and TrustMark Bank provided the project’s construction financing.

Find more context and visuals in the gallery above. 

...

Follow us on social media:

Twitter / Facebook/and now: Instagram  

• Covington news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta) 

Tags

10500 Town Center Boulevard Alcovy Road and City Pond Road The Sinclair at Callaway Farm Brook Farm Group Emory Equity SilverCap Partners OTP Interstate 20 First Horizon Bank TrustMark Bank Atlanta apartments Newton County Georgia International Horse Park 30014 Multifamily Development Atlanta Suburbs Covington Town Center Covington Rivian

Images

The Sinclair at Callaway Farm's location east of Atlanta where Alcovy Road meets City Pond Road in Newton County. Google Maps

Google Maps

Courtesy of Brook Farm Group

Overview of construction progress (and parking arrangements) at the Covington site today. Courtesy of Brook Farm Group

Courtesy of Brook Farm Group

Courtesy of Brook Farm Group

Courtesy of Brook Farm Group

Courtesy of Brook Farm Group

Courtesy of Brook Farm Group

Courtesy of Brook Farm Group

Subtitle The Sinclair at Callaway Farm aims to capitalize on Rivian plant, Amazon growth

Neighborhood OTP

Background Image

Image

Before/After Images

Sponsored Post Off

From WABE Politics News:

The Trump administration said Sunday that it is eliminating 2,000 positions at the U.S. Agency for International Development and placing all but a fraction of other staffers worldwide on leave. It […]

From the Saporta Report:

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

The post Reflecting on Shades of Atlanta – various locations appeared first on SaportaReport.

From WABE Politics News:

Republican state lawmakers seeking to aid President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration are threatening local officials who resist with lawsuits, fines and even potential jail time. Lawmakers in more than 20 states this […]

From the Atlanta Daily World:

The office-to-apartment conversions pipeline is at a new all-time high of 70,700 units as of 2025. More than two-thirds (68%) of all future apartments retrofitted from offices are located in 20 metros — and Atlanta is one of them, ranking as the nation’s 6th major retrofitter.  Let’s dive into the details:  The Atlanta metropolitan area will see 2,239 units come to life through office-to-apartment conversion projects. This crows Atlanta the third biggest retrofitter in the South, after Washington, D.C. (#2) and … Continued

The post Atlanta to Welcome 2,200 New Apartments from Office-to-Resi Conversions appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From the New York Times:

After President Trump put in new leadership at the National Archives, the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library in Atlanta abruptly canceled several events.

From the New York Times:

Fani Willis, the the district attorney of Fulton County, Ga., wrote to Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio, the Republican chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, on Thursday, assailing the Justice Department’s handling of the case against Mayor Eric Adams of New York.

From the Atlanta Daily World:

By: Alonzo Jones, Morehouse College On Valentine’s Day, Nigerian performer Ademola Daniel Babafemi, better known as Demola the Violinist, took to the stage in front of a sold-out crowd at the Buckhead Theater. Demola immediately grabbed the audience’s attention as he walked on stage playing a lively rendition of Bill Withers’ “Lovely Day.” He proceeded … Continued

The post Demola The Violinist Spreads Love In Atlanta: Concert Review appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From the Atlanta Daily World:

The ‘Fresh Never Fades’ launch event took place at the iconic Trap Music Museum in the heart of Atlanta, GA, with music by DJ Supreme and a selection of gourmet soul food.  The Trap Music Museum featured immersive images from the ‘Fresh Never Fades’ campaign, the campaign video and BEVEL products throughout the space. Notable attendees included BEVEL Ambassador Kyle Pitts, BEVEL CEO Damon Frost and BEVEL Vice President of Brand Marketing, Breann … Continued

The post BEVEL Launches ‘Fresh Never Fades’ With NFL Star Kyle Pitts appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From WABE Local News:

Homeowners and encampments… Watchdog out… Also in this episode… —Rahul Bali explains why lawmakers are moving through a bill that would ban school zone traffic cameras in Georgia. —Melissa Feito […]

From WABE Local News:

A federal judge on Friday appointed a lead monitor with three decades of experience in corrections to oversee a consent decree meant to address dangerous and unhealthy jail conditions in […]

From WABE Politics News:

PepsiCo confirmed Friday that it’s ending some of its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, even as rival Atlanta-based Coca-Cola voiced support for its own inclusion efforts. In a memo sent to employees, PepsiCo CEO Ramon […]

Demolition in Midtown preps block for... nothing? Josh Green Fri, 02/21/2025 - 15:15 Construction fencing and demolition work piqued the curiosity of Midtown readers this week, but there’s no indication significant changes are coming near one of the subdistrict’s most high-profile intersections soon. 

The demo involved a large shed structure behind the former Henry’s Tavern space at 130 10th St., which was fenced off and taken down over the past couple of days. 

The social hangout’s closure in November 2023 was such a sore spot for some patrons, they organized a rally to try to save it, but the business closed anyway, citing an inability to come to terms with its landlord.

The Henry's shed structure in 2022. Google Maps

Courtesy of Ricky McGee

Demolition permit paperwork filed last year indicates more buildings in the immediate could come down. 

According to those filings, the former Henry’s building would be demolished near the corner of Juniper and 10th streets, and the site would be graded to a “gradual slope” between the sidewalk and parking lot. 

Just to the west, where 10th Street meets Peachtree Street, a partially collapsed building would also be demolished, with bollards and a connecting chain encircling its perimeter to keep people out, per the demolition permits. (That building—a former Jocks & Jills Sports Grill—was being converted into a Stix Asian Cuisine concept until a weather event triggered the wall collapse and killed the project.)

In place of the buildings, grass would be planted, according to filings. 

The owner of the entire 3.9-acre block is listed in Fulton County property records as Dewberry Tenth Street. We’ve reached out to Dewberry Capital representatives for more information on demolition plans and will update this story with any additional details that come. 

An email to the demolition permit applicant with an LLC called JKD Tenth Street was not returned this week. 

Courtesy of Ricky McGee

Overview of the partially collapsed structure (left) and demo work this week from above 10th Street. Courtesy of Midtown Alliance

In 2023, Dewberry demolished another Midtown structure—originally the 1930s Northwood Hotel—on property the company owns along 17th Street. 

That building had become a magnet for trespassers, was beyond repair, and was generally a nuisance, as Dewberry’s team told the Midtown Development Review Committee. 

Today the 17th Street property is fenced-off grass between two of Midtown’s main thoroughfares, West Peachtree and Peachtree streets. 

...

Follow us on social media:

Twitter / Facebook/and now: Instagram  

• Midtown news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta) 

Tags

10th Street Henry's Tavern Dewberry Capital Dewberry Group John Dewberry Midtown Atlanta Emperor of Empty Lots Midtown Construction Midtown Development

Images

The Henry's shed structure in 2022. Google Maps

Courtesy of Ricky McGee

Courtesy of Ricky McGee

Overview of the partially collapsed structure (left) and demo work this week from above 10th Street. Courtesy of Midtown Alliance

Subtitle Dewberry-owned parcels occupy block in middle of growing district

Neighborhood Midtown

Background Image

Image

Before/After Images

Sponsored Post Off

From the Saporta Report:

Sandy Springs parents who formed a committee last fall to save Spalding Drive Elementary are not giving up their fight. They have taken steps to form a charter school. Separately, the parents are consulting an attorney on the possibility of obtaining a temporary restraining order against Fulton County Schools to pause the process for the […]

The post Parents explore legal action against Fulton and move to form charter school appeared first on SaportaReport.

From WABE Politics News:

A lawsuit filed by Georgia and 16 other states challenging federal rules entitling workers to time off and other accommodations for abortions may proceed, a federal appeals court ruled. The Eighth Circuit Court’s decision […]

From WABE Politics News:

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is one step closer to notching his top legislative priority — overhauling Georgia’s civil litigation rules. The controversial bill passed the Georgia State Senate Friday, after […]

From WABE Local News:

After months of pushback from parents and community members, the Fulton County Board of Education has voted to close two under-attended elementary schools.  More than 60 supporters of East Point’s […]

From the Saporta Report:

More than 30 years ago, theater lovers in metro Atlanta got a distressing lesson in what can happen when an arts institution becomes the victim of right-wing culture warriors. It happened in August 1993, when the conservative Republican Cobb County commission canceled public funding for all arts groups in the county as a protest over […]

The post The precarious future of the arts in America appeared first on SaportaReport.

From WABE Local News:

Newly elected Dekalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson says Police Chief Mirtha Ramos has been placed on paid leave but gave no details, citing it as a personnel matter. “She has […]

From the New York Times:

The cluster of medical facilities in the city around Emory University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention carry prestige. They feel under attack.

Despite pushback, multifaceted project bound for downtown Woodstock Josh Green Fri, 02/21/2025 - 13:07 Despite naysayer concerns regarding density, increased traffic, and building height, a multifaceted infill development recently scored a government green-light to continue downtown Woodstock’s latest growth spurt. 

The proposal from developer Dinesh Vudutha at 8261 Main St. and 8271 Dobbs Road would replace what’s largely vacant land today. The 2.3 acres form a downtown corner about a five-minute walk north of Woodstock’s central hub of eateries, shops, and drinking establishments. 

Fronting Main Street, plans call for a four-story, mixed-use building with commercial spaces at the base and 24 condos above, standing 56 feet tall at max. 

Behind that structure, the project would see 14 townhomes arranged around surface parking spaces and a central green. 

The multiple retail spaces would total about 14,300 square feet.

As seen looking north along Main Street, the Woodstock properties in question in 2021. Google Maps

Main Street frontage for the four-story mixed-use proposal, with 14 townhomes and parking tucked behind. Eighty-six parking spaces (include one and two-car garages) are planned overall. Courtesy of Dinesh Vudutha

According to the Cherokee Tribune, a community petition put together in December had gathered 60 signatures from residents concerned with density and height—and that the proposal hadn't been altered from previous designs that drew concern. (The developer previously told city officials that shrinking unit counts would jeopardize the project’s financial viability.) At a Woodstock City Council meeting Feb. 10, however, an equal number of public commenters spoke in favor of the development as those against. 

The city council voted to approve the project 3-2, with Mayor Michael Caldwell’s vote breaking a tie, according to the newspaper. 

Inquiries to the development team from Urbanize Atlanta regarding a potential groundbreaking and construction timeline weren’t returned. 

The 8271 Dobbs Road and 8261 Main St. sites, situated just north of Woodstock's growing downtown mixed-use hub. Google Maps

Plans call for a 10-foot-wide sidewalk along Main Street—and for no more than 10 percent of units to be rentals, according to a condition applied by the city. 

The council’s vote approves the required rezoning of properties in question from a designation called DT-RO (that’s Downtown Residential Office) to DT-CBD (or Downtown Central Business District). 

...

Follow us on social media:

Twitter / Facebook/and now: Instagram  

• Woodstock news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta) 

Tags

8271 Dobbs Road 8261 Main St. Woodstock Dinesh Vudutha Woodstock City Council Woodstock Development Woodstock Construction Mixed-Use Development OTP Atlanta Suburbs Cherokee County City of Woodstock Downtown Woodstock Mayor Michael Caldwell Suburban Development

Images

The 8271 Dobbs Road and 8261 Main St. sites, situated just north of Woodstock's growing downtown mixed-use hub. Google Maps

As seen looking north along Main Street, the Woodstock properties in question in 2021. Google Maps

Main Street frontage for the four-story mixed-use proposal, with 14 townhomes and parking tucked behind. Eighty-six parking spaces (include one and two-car garages) are planned overall. Courtesy of Dinesh Vudutha

Subtitle City council OKs Main Street proposal fought by petition in growing area

Neighborhood Woodstock

Background Image

Image

Before/After Images

Sponsored Post Off

From WABE Politics News:

Georgia senators voted 33-21 on Friday to support Gov. Brian Kemp’s top-priority legislation to limit lawsuits, but not before some of Kemp’s fellow Republicans extracted a concession in exchange for the votes […]