Atlanta News

From WABE Local News:

Atlanta’s Office of the Inspector General is accused of violating state law at least 50 times while issuing subpoenas to obtain city employees’ financial records during investigations. The City of […]

From WABE Politics News:

An Apalachee High School student is urging lawmakers to consider the issue of firearm access in their talks about improving school safety in the aftermath of the deadly shooting in […]

From WABE Arts and Culture News:

Darlene McCrory pulls up to an Atlanta Waffle House after working a late shift. She notices a bright yellow and red poster in the window that says, “Temporary Surcharge: 50¢ […]

From WABE Local News:

Manny Portillo is one of many people at the Georgia State Capitol today for Latino Day. Portillo, who moved to the U.S. when he was 4 months old, is a […]

From WABE Arts and Culture News:

“Ignite the spark – unite the arts!” That’s the rallying cry for an innovative arts collaboration between the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia (MOCA GA) and Ensemble Vim, a […]

From WABE Local News:

Amid Trump’s massive deportation efforts, the Latin American Association (LAA) is working to help people who are living in Georgia without legal status. Santiago Marquez, who serves as CEO of […]

From WABE Politics News:

Frustration boiled over Wednesday among supporters of the United States’ lead aid agency at a Washington rally, and anxious aid workers abroad scrambled to pack up households after the Trump […]

Beltline: Here's why pivotal Murphy Crossing project fell apart Josh Green Wed, 02/05/2025 - 12:33 Plans that called for protracted construction timelines, far less housing than initially proposed, and unexplained costs in the tens of millions of dollars are responsible for torpedoing the latest mixed-use revival of Murphy Crossing, one of the most consequential redevelopment sites in the city, according to Atlanta Beltline Inc.

Last month, Beltline officials made a bombshell announcement that a deal was being terminated with Culdesac Inc., an Arizona-based firm known for innovative approaches to infill development, that called for finally redeveloping Murphy Crossing, a 20-acre, formerly industrial site along the Westside Trail. The fallout from that decision was the subject of a recent front-page AJC news story, bringing the subject back to the forefront. 

Now that contract negotiations with Culdesac and its Atlanta-based partner Urban Oasis Development have been terminated, according to Beltline officials, the agency is at liberty to tell its side of the Murphy Crossing story. 

Slashed home counts, unexplained costs, “ballooned” timelines, and other factors played roles in the Beltline ultimately deciding to move on and seek another development team for the site. It remains “one of the largest and most impactful” slates for redevelopment on the 22-mile multi-use trail loop, and a prime location for car-free living, per a Beltline media statement released today. 

The Beltline’s negotiations with Culdesac and Urban Oasis began in September 2022, lending hope that a barren expanse of land and unused buildings might be injected with new life, in the form of commercial space and affordable housing. (The Beltline had canceled plans for Murphy Crossing’s remake with another development team in the summer of 2020, following public concern over that team's qualifications.) In March last year, the Beltline announced the development pair had officially gotten the Murphy Crossing job. 

Murphy Crossing site rendering by Culdesac

According to the Beltline, Culdesac and Urban Oasis were responsible for developing a Murphy Crossing masterplan, completing all pre-construction work such as securing entitlements and permits, finding the required financing, and finally, managing construction and development “in a timely, cost-effective manner.”

The arrangement fell short of expectations, and Beltline leaders on Dec. 30 made what they called a difficult decision in terminating negotiations. The agency was legally prohibited from publicly discussing the behind-the-scenes process, including its numerous complications, while negotiations were still active, per the Beltline’s announcement.  

Below are key reasons provided by Dennis Richards Jr., the Beltline’s vice president of housing policy and development, for why he says the deal with Culdesac and Urban Oasis fell apart, according to the agency. The following has been lightly edited for clarity and length: 

• Throughout the negotiation process, the [Murphy Crossing] project ballooned from an initial two phases up to a total of six phases of development;
• The developers reduced the proposed first phase of 310 residential units three times down to a proposed 105 residential units, less than a third of the units initially envisioned;
• The developers requested excessive and unreasonable public incentives including, for example, an ambiguous request for $38 million across all phases of the project, which would have been in addition to the discounts and favorable terms on the land, and certain real estate tax incentives that the project could have been eligible for;
• The developers requested an increase in the inspection period from an initial 120 days per the initial contract terms to over 280 days;
• The developers failed to move forward simultaneously on critical, pre-construction items like rezoning, financing, and other planning activities, which significantly delayed development of the site;
• The developers’ repeated requests for extensions of the inspection period had a ripple effect throughout the project’s critical path timeline because they would have required ABI to provide additional extensions and renegotiate critical dates;
• ABI offered a compelling incentive package to induce the developers to begin construction of the first phase of the project and to assist with needed infrastructure costs. Despite these attractive incentives, the developers continued to request material changes to the project.

For example, ABI offered the developers nearly a $10 million incentive package for phase one of the project, excluding favorable terms on the land. However, after ABI agreed to provide this generous incentive package, the developers proposed to reduce the residential units they were planning to build in phase one even further from 160 units down to 105 units, while continuing to ask ABI for $12 million in public incentives.

These repeated material changes not only would have further delayed the project, but they would have required ABI to continue altering its contractual terms with the developers; and

• The developers were unable to secure sufficient capital to finance the project, but ABI did not immediately terminate its negotiations.

Instead, ABI and its agency partners, Invest Atlanta and the Atlanta Urban Development Corporation, offered generous financing options, grants, and other public monies to the developers to help them get the project started.

However, the developers failed to submit an application to either Invest Atlanta or AUDC to secure any of those funds.

We’ve reached out to Culdesac officials for comment and will update this story with any additional information that comes. 

In last week’s AJC story, Culdesac officials said they don’t believe the Beltline had the right to terminate the purchase and sale agreement, while an Urban Oasis leader said his company had fulfilled all contractual obligations and was still ready to execute work on Murphy Crossing. Neither company lent an explanation as to why the Beltline deal had soured. 

Murphy Crossing site rendering by Culdesac

Despite the setbacks, Beltline officials say they remain determined to see the redevelopment of Murphy Crossing through. 

The Beltline plans to host a virtual Murphy Crossing Stakeholder Advisory Committee meeting at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 19, along with a larger meeting sometime in March. The public will be invited to tune in to both meetings for updates on Murphy Crossing, but only committee members will be permitted to ask questions or comment, per Beltline officials. 

By the fourth quarter of 2025, Beltline officials plan to fully entitle the Murphy Crossing site, a process that would include a Development of Regional Impact review at the state level. Planning efforts will continue between now and then, per officials. 

According to today’s announcement, the Beltline’s goal calls for breaking ground on Murphy Crossing’s first phase in 2026. 

What that might look like, clearly, remains to be seen. 

The 20-acre property's scope, bordered by a MARTA line in Southwest Atlanta.Photo by The Sintoses, courtesy of Atlanta BeltLine Inc.

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• Oakland City news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta) 

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1050 Murphy Avenue Murphy Crossing Adair Park West End Capitol View Atlanta BeltLine Westside Trail Culdesac Urban Oasis Development Kronberg Urbanists + Architects LDG Consulting T. Dallas Smith and Co. Adaptive-Reuse Atlanta Development Oakland Exchange Adaptive-Reuse Development Atlanta History BeltLine Development Southwest Atlanta I-Mix

Subtitle Slashed home counts, unexplained costs, “ballooned” timelines played role, per Beltline leaders

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From WABE Arts and Culture News:

The 2008 finance and housing crash revealed the vulnerabilities in our biggest financial institutions, which had devastating impacts. Lesser known to us are the human beings behind the money and […]

From WABE Politics News:

Conservatives’ nationwide offensive against transgender care, earlier focused on young people, is increasingly trying to cut off access for transgender adults. With 2025 state legislative sessions still young, bills have been […]

Arts Atlanta:

The Atlanta Writers Club and the Georgia Writers Museum have announced the finalists for their 2025 Townsend Prize for Fiction. The biennial book prize for literary fiction by a Georgia writer honors founding editor of Atlanta magazine and celebrated champion of Southern writers Jim Townsend, who died in 1981 at 48. Previous winners include literary...

From WABE Arts and Culture News:

The work of puppeteer, filmmaker, and artist Jim Henson is loved throughout the world and holds a special place in Atlanta. Atlanta’s Center for Puppetry Arts is home to hundreds […]

From WABE Local News:

Malyndia Brown never imagined it would be so hard to preserve her family’s longtime home.  She first moved back to the three-bedroom brick house in Southwest Atlanta’s Westview neighborhood about […]

Exclusive: Full vision for upgraded Piedmont Park emerges Josh Green Wed, 02/05/2025 - 10:42 What could be the future look and functionality of Atlanta’s most-visited park is coming into clearer focus. 

Piedmont Park Conservancy has provided imagery to Urbanize Atlanta (including a never-before-seen sketch depicting an enhanced Beltline connection) that illustrates how key areas of the 200-acre greenspace could be expanded or generally more accessible and pleasant soon. 

The Conservancy also included notes explaining what’s shown in each visual. 

They depict the park’s centerpiece Lake Clara Meer with a new boardwalk loop and other enhancements; a remade section along the Beltline’s recently finished Northeast Trail segment with new pathways and chances to experience Clear Creek up close; and perhaps most substantially, the long-planned North Park Expansion that would swap a commercial node where Piedmont Avenue meets Monroe Drive with park space, including an amphitheatre and new play features. 

That expansion proposal has been garnering headlines since outgoing Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed announced it as part of a $100 million park project in 2017.

Overview of three main focus areas in Piedmont Park's first Comprehensive Plan in a quarter-century. Courtesy of Piedmont Park Conservancy

Other areas of focus include enhancements to the Active Oval—Piedmont Park’s main hub of sports and exercise—and smaller beautification efforts, including upgraded entries, that have already begun. 

The work is all part of Piedmont Park’s first Comprehensive Plan put together in 25 years. 

One of the final opportunities to give in-person input for the park’s next chapter is scheduled for Saturday morning at Dockside in Piedmont Park, according to park officials. All recent sketches for park changes will be discussed at that input session. 

“The park has been Atlanta’s backyard for over a century, and now, the community has [an] unique opportunity to help shape its future for generations to come,” Conservancy reps wrote in an email this week. Planned changes are “a pivotal step in ensuring that the park continues to serve the needs of its more than six million annual visitors.”

Last year, the nonprofit launched the Piedmont Park Conservancy 35th Anniversary Appeal, a campaign to raise $3 million for a masterplan to add new greenspace and acreage, implement enhancements and needed improvements, and generally help reimagine the park. 

The finalized Comprehensive Plan is scheduled to be revealed April 24 at the Conservancy’s 28th Annual Landmark Luncheon. 

For now, here's a closer look at three main areas identified for park upgrades and growth:

Planned upgrades around Piedmont Park's centerpiece lake. Courtesy of Piedmont Park Conservancy

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How the park would better link with the Beltline's Northeast Trail just east of Atlanta Botanical Garden and the park's elevated Legacy Fountain. Courtesy of Piedmont Park Conservancy

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Draft sketch for the long-planned expansion around today's North Meadow, with an expanded Atlanta Botanical Garden shown at bottom left and Monroe Drive at top right. Courtesy of Piedmont Park Conservancy

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If you go:

In-person feedback session

Where: Dockside in Piedmont Park (1071 Piedmont Ave. NE)

When: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8

Note: A virtual feedback platform is open until March 8 for those unable to attend

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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

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Overview of three main focus areas in Piedmont Park's first Comprehensive Plan in a quarter-century. Courtesy of Piedmont Park Conservancy

Planned upgrades around Piedmont Park's centerpiece lake. Courtesy of Piedmont Park Conservancy

How the park would better link with the Beltline's Northeast Trail just east of Atlanta Botanical Garden and the park's elevated Legacy Fountain. Courtesy of Piedmont Park Conservancy

Draft sketch for the long-planned expansion around today's North Meadow, with an expanded Atlanta Botanical Garden shown at bottom left and Monroe Drive at top right. Courtesy of Piedmont Park Conservancy

Subtitle Draft plans call for northward park expansion, Lake Clara Meer upgrades

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Arts Atlanta:

The Atlanta Opera’s Ring cycle will soar to a grand conclusion with Götterdämmerung (Twilight of the Gods) next year, while Philip Glass’ La Belle et la Bête gives Jean Cocteau’s 1946 film a new, operatic soundtrack, and a new co-production with the Alliance Theatre is under construction. :: The Atlanta Opera’s 46th season will open...

From the Atlanta Tribune:

South Arts is pleased to announce the launch of a new grantmaking initiative, Cultural Sustainability, which will award approximately twelve organizations located among its nine-state region with general operating grants totaling more than $1.14 million. In partnership with The Wallace Foundation, Cultural Sustainability launches as part of a national $6.6 million program offered by the six U.S. Regional Arts Organizations (USRAOs), acknowledging the invaluable contributions arts […]

The post South Arts Announces $1.14M Cultural Sustainability Program in Metro Atlanta appeared first on Atlanta Tribune.

From the Atlanta Tribune:

Nicole Gillyard, an Atlanta-based Certified Public Accountant and finance expert, plans to open C-Park Business Hub in College Park, Georgia in 2025. The hub will provide opportunities for entrepreneurs that will include co-working space, professional business suites, and business education courses/programs. Gillyard recently spoke with the Atlanta Tribune to share insight on C-Park Business Hub […]

The post CPA Nicole Gillyard Shares Tips To Build Wealth In 2025 And Opening C Park Business Hub appeared first on Atlanta Tribune.

From WABE Local News:

From December through March every year, the waters off Georgia’s coast provide calving grounds for the estimated 70 remaining reproductively active female North American right whales, one of the world’s […]

Arts Atlanta:

Zoe Bayani, Playytime and Girlpuppy were among the Atlanta artists making noise at The Masquerade’s Purgatory to celebrate unity and hope. :: Inside The Masquerade’s Purgatory, the air was thick with both tension and hope. On Saturday, January 25, Atlanta residents gathered in support of reproductive rights at Noise For Now’s 3rd Annual Abortion Access...

From the Atlanta Daily World:

A rally and march from the GA State Capitol to Atlanta’s ICE field office to stand in solidarity with immigrants against the racist attacks of the Trump administratio on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 7 PM. Marchers will assemble on the east steps of the Georgia State Capitol, 337 Capitol Ave SE, Atlanta On Wednesday, February 5, … Continued

The post March on ICE’s Office to Stand with Immigrants! appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From WABE Local News:

A judge Wednesday threw out a felony indictment against a former Georgia prosecutor, ending her trial on charges that she abused her power by trying to protect the men who […]

From WABE Politics News:

A day after Georgia Republican House Speaker Jon Burns unveiled school safety legislation, Democrats and families from Apalachee High School said they want more — namely, gun safety laws. Both […]

From WABE Local News:

After an interim president led Georgia’s oldest historically Black university for a year and a half, Georgia’s Board of Regents named Jermaine Whirl the sole finalist to lead the school […]

From WABE Local News:

Georgia’s NAACP chapter president Gerald Griggs says that President Donald Trump’s controversial executive order ending “illegal DEI” and attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion in the federal workplace are already […]

From the Atlanta Daily World:

Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan have done it again. The director/actor duo, which previously teamed up for the films Fruitvale Station, Black Panther, and Creed, are back with a new genre-binding period piece that delves into horror and suspense.  Coogler recently held an exclusive virtual press conference where he shed light on the new … Continued

The post Ryan Coogler Talks New Film ‘Sinners’ And Reconnecting With Michael B. Jordan appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.