Atlanta News

From the Atlanta Daily World:

Photo: Getty Images A former White House chief strategist has suggested that President-elect Donald Trump could seek a third term in office. During a speech at Sunday’s (December 15) annual gala for the New York Young Republican Club, ex-chief strategist Steve Bannon claimed that wording in the 22nd Amendment of the Constitution leaves room for … Continued

The post Ex-White House Strategist Suggests Trump Could Run For Third Term In 2028 appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From the Atlanta Daily World:

Transformative Mixed-Use Develop Project Leaders Unveil Plans to Infuse an Area South of I-20 with Expanded Affordable Housing, Economic Growth, and Community Revitalization   ATLANTA — The Develop Fulton Board of Directors unanimously approved a $538,304,353 bond inducement for Project Nexus, a transformative mixed-use economic development initiative that would revitalize an area South of I-20. This … Continued

The post Develop Fulton Unanimously Approves Landmark $538.3 Million Bond Inducement for Project Nexus appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From the Atlanta Daily World:

Photo: Getty Images President Joe Biden has granted clemency to Terry “Southwest T” Flenory, a co-founder of the Black Mafia Family (BMF), 11 Alive reports. Terry Flenory and his brother Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory were sentenced to 30 years in federal prison in connection to an international drug trafficking operation. Flenory was released from prison … Continued

The post Biden Grants Clemency to BMF Co-Founder Terry ‘Southwest T’ Flenory appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From the New York Times:

Jaime Cachua llegó de México a Georgia cuando era un bebé. Aunque es muy querido por su comunidad, la mayor parte de ella votó por las deportaciones masivas.

From WABE Arts and Culture News:

Music made its mark in 2024 — from Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour ending its two-year run, to Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” album. Charli XCX gave fans a Brat summer and Kendrick […]

Meet the Best Atlanta Neighborhood 2024 tourney Elite Eight! Josh Green Fri, 12/20/2024 - 17:27 Hundreds and hundreds of voters have spoken. Blowouts, relatively close contests, and exactly zero upsets have ensued.

And now, Round 1 in Urbanize’s fourth-annual Best Atlanta Neighborhood tourney is officially in the books.

Atlanta, meet the contenders left standing: 

These eight winners are still alive in the quest to claim everlasting Best Neighborhood glory (for at least a year) as determined by the voting public—in very public fashion. The only criteria is that you vote for the place you feel is doing it right, right now. (Reader nominations determined the field of 16 neighborhoods earlier this month.)

The eight competitors left standing represent a wide, eclectic swath of the ITP universe. Which one shall prevail, rising up to claim the 2024 crown?

The Elite Eight contests will open very soon. Get ready.

Note: The Final Four and Best Atlanta Neighborhood 2024 Championship will come next week. Thanks again to all who’ve participated (1,800+ votes and counting). Now, onward!

…

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: TBD

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Best of Atlanta 2024 Best Atlanta Neighborhood Best Atlanta Neighborhoods Neighborhood Tournament Mozley Park Summerhill Avondale Estates Hapeville Golden Urby Chalice of Champions Candler Park Buckhead East Atlanta Midtown Downtown Downtown Atlanta Old Fourth Ward West End Adair Park Decatur Virginia-Highland Cabbagetown College Park Lake Claire Poncey-Highland

Subtitle After nearly 2,000 votes, these eight places are still vying for everlasting prestige

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From the Saporta Report:

The Atlanta Beltline, Inc. capped off a busy year with its fourth quarterly briefing on Dec. 16, but the team is already looking at 2025 projects, including trail construction, affordable housing and the first steps to building light rail.  “We’re just continuing to push the people’s project at the forefront and get that national and even […]

The post The Beltline looks to 2025 as it grows the city’s green destination appeared first on SaportaReport.

From the Saporta Report:

Georgia is one of 20 U.S. states without a national park, but that may soon change. The state is on the verge of getting its very own national park through the Ocmulgee Mounds Park, located in Macon, Ga., which looks to become a national park pending final approval from Congress. The Ocmulgee Mounds Park and […]

The post Ocmulgee Mounds Park approaches official status as Georgia’s first national park, 64th in the U.S. appeared first on SaportaReport.

From WABE Politics News:

“Unrelenting, jam-packed, and chaotic” are some of the words used to describe the overall year in politics. This year marked the 2024 presidential election and among one of the top […]

From WABE Local News:

A new chapter in the “water wars”… Primed to strike… Touring the controversial training center… Wearable tech to battle maternal mortality… A remembrance… Also in this episode… –Melissa Feito has […]

Arts Atlanta:

Almost without exception, articles featuring the work of visual artists require our editors to make choices about which art to bring to readers and which art to leave on the proverbial cutting room floor. We always wish we had more room. Below are 10 images we wish we could have included in the articles that...

What's up with that large construction site in Oakhurst Village? Josh Green Fri, 12/20/2024 - 14:19 Anyone who’s visited the happening little Decatur district that is Oakhurst Village lately may have done a double-take at a construction site that’s seemingly half the size of the commercial district itself.

No, it’s not a mixed-use complex on a residential street or an expansion of the Oakhurst Village shopping center—home to Sceptre Brewing Arts, FitWit, and Oakhurst Market—next door.

It’s actually three separate projects happening simultaneously, all of them bringing rather large single-family homes.

Construction on the three contiguous Oakhurst Village sites this week, as seen looking toward Sceptre Brewing Arts next door. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Until recently, the deep lots in question—614, 618, and 622 East Lake Drive—were home to three modest, older houses in a variety of architectural styles.

A couple of years ago, Parkland Communities had put together plans to consolidate the lots and build a node of 34 townhomes (with two or three bedrooms above one-car garages). Those plans were abandoned after being rejected by Decatur city planners several times.

What’s moving forward now is also purely residential, but would add far fewer units (and people) to the increasingly tony street.

General scope of the three Oakhurst project sites in question, immediately west of the brewery. Google Maps

The trio of older homes recently razed along East Lake Drive in Oakhurst, as seen in 2021. Google Maps

Starting from the west, farthest from the shopping center, the home projects are by Robert Koch Designs, Wesley Knapp of Keller Knapp Realty (owner), and next to Sceptre brewery, longtime Oakhurst builder Arlene Dean Quality Homes and designer Rawlings Design, according to Koch.

Koch recently shared preliminary plans for what his company is planning to build at 614 East Lake Drive: a four-bedroom, four and ½ bathroom traditional-style house with an office in 3,180 square feet.

Features will include a “large wraparound porch fashioned to give the initial feel of a Craftsman four-square,” Koch noted. “The project could have been much, much bigger, but the client wanted their home to stay on the more reasonable side.”

Courtesy of Robert Koch Designs

Tentative design plans for 614 East Lake Drive, the lot farthest from the shopping center, to the west. Courtesy of Robert Koch Designs

The home in the middle (618 East Lake Drive) was most recently torn down.

Meanwhile, on the easternmost lot within three easy stumbles of Sceptre, Rawlings was more guarded with what’s in store, citing homeowner privacy.

“I will say that I have seven other projects on that block between the village and 3rd Avenue that range in style between very modern and very traditional,” Rawlings noted via email. “It won’t be as modern or traditional as the others.” 

Construction progress the week of Dec. 16 randomly photographed at night. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

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• Decatur news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)

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614 East Lake Drive Sceptre Brewing Arts Wesley Knapp Arlene Dean Robert Koch Designs Rawlings Design Infill Development Single-Family Homes Oakhurst Oakhurst Village Oakhurst Village shopping center East Lake Drive Home Design Homes For sale Decatur Development Oakhurst Development Keller Knapp Realty Keller Knapp Commercial Arlene Dean Quality Homes

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General scope of the three Oakhurst project sites in question, immediately west of the brewery. Google Maps

The trio of older homes recently razed along East Lake Drive in Oakhurst, as seen in 2021. Google Maps

Construction on the three contiguous Oakhurst Village sites this week, as seen looking toward Sceptre Brewing Arts next door. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Construction progress the week of Dec. 16 randomly photographed at night. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Tentative design plans for 614 East Lake Drive, the lot farthest from the shopping center, to the west. Courtesy of Robert Koch Designs

Courtesy of Robert Koch Designs

Subtitle That's actually three projects, all underway together in hip Decatur district

Neighborhood Oakhurst

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From WABE Politics News:

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger issued an emergency cease and desist order Wednesday against offshore cryptocurrency firm Trage Technologies Limited for allegedly engaging in fraud and securities violations. Raffensperger, […]

From the Atlanta Tribune:

(NewsUSA) – As the new year approaches, many people will be setting financial resolutions with hopes of improving their financial health – whether it’s saving more, paying down debt, or investing wisely. However, despite the best of intensions, new research by financial services firm Edward Jones reveals that a variety of factors often prevent these […]

The post Why Financial New Years’ Resolutions Fail: Research Reveals Key Obstacles to Success appeared first on Atlanta Tribune.

From the Atlanta Tribune:

The journey toward homeownership is fraught with challenges for many, but for Black Americans, systemic barriers often make the dream of owning property feel like an unattainable goal. One such barrier, rooted in outdated legislation, continues to impact Black communities disproportionately the 1988 housing amendment introduced by Strom Thurmond as part of the “tough on […]

The post Property is Power! How the Strom Thurmond Amendment Negatively Impacts Black Homeownership appeared first on Atlanta Tribune.

Images: Delayed Midtown street makeover officially happening Josh Green Fri, 12/20/2024 - 12:51 Construction is clearly ramping up on the people-friendly makeover of a Midtown street that will help create a safer crosstown route and connections to other bike and pedestrian infrastructure projects. 

The 5th Street Complete Street will span about ½ mile from Williams Street near the Connector in Tech Square to Myrtle Street in Midtown’s residential Garden District.

Before hitting snags, the $3-million project was once expected to break ground in 2022 and open last year.

This week, construction crews left no doubt the 5th Street makeover has reached blocks nearest to Georgia Tech. Street resurfacing is underway, cycle track lanes are taking shape, and ADA pavers, a raised pedestrian walkway, and a bus stop ramp are being installed.

Resurfacing work this week on the 5th Street overhaul, facing Georgia Tech from Spring Street. Submitted photo/Nathan Davenport

Rendering of a planned 5th Street Complete Street makeover. Courtesy of Midtown Alliance

According to Midtown Alliance, 5th Street is already one of Atlanta’s most popular multimodal thoroughfares. Planned upgrades call for infill street trees to protect bike lanes, upgraded ADA ramps and crosswalks, better lighting, a new traffic signal at Williams Street, and a full repaving and re-striping of the street.

Added bonus: The 5th Street project will cross both the Juniper Street (southbound) and Piedmont Avenue (northbound) Complete Street projects in the pipeline in other parts of Midtown, creating a much broader network of multimodal connectivity in the district.

The 5th Street upgrades will also be at the doorstep of Tech Square’s third phase, a mixed-use high-rise that’s climbing between Spring and West Peachtree streets now.

No work on 5th Street is expected to take place over a Christmas break next week, per Midtown Alliance.

Scope of the 5th Street work (No. 9) that Midtown Alliance lists as being under construction now. Midtown Alliance

Submitted photo/Nathan Davenport

Painted bike lanes and other work along 5th Street began earlier this year as part of the infrastructure project. Midtown Alliance has estimated the project will take 16 months to complete, meaning it should be fully wrapped by next summer.

Midtown Alliance awarded the project’s construction contract to low-bidder Hasbun Construction in November last year.

Funding for the project came from a Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank/SRTA state grant, City of Atlanta TSPLOST 1.0 coffers, and Midtown Improvement District funds.

Submitted photo/Nathan Davenport

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• Midtown news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta) 

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5th Street 5th Street Complete Street Midtown Complete Streets Midtown Construction Midtown Atlanta Alternate Transportation Alternative Transportations Midtown Alliance Georgia Tech Tech Square Hasbun Construction Bicycle Infrastructure Bike Infrastructure Atlanta Bike Lanes Atlanta Bike Infrastructure

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Scope of the 5th Street work (No. 9) that Midtown Alliance lists as being under construction now. Midtown Alliance

Resurfacing work this week on the 5th Street overhaul, facing Georgia Tech from Spring Street. Submitted photo/Nathan Davenport

Submitted photo/Nathan Davenport

Submitted photo/Nathan Davenport

Rendering of a planned 5th Street Complete Street makeover. Courtesy of Midtown Alliance

Subtitle Complete Street project targeting one of Atlanta’s most popular multimodal thoroughfares

Neighborhood Midtown

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From WABE Politics News:

Black children in Georgia’s schools make up just over 37% of students but represent well over half of all out-of-school suspensions, expulsions and assignments to alternative schools, according to a […]

Arts Atlanta:

Steve Murray’s monthly musings on TV in Atlanta and beyond. :: Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey If character is destiny, sometimes so is a face. John Ramsey has an unfortunate one for someone embroiled in one of the last sensationalized murder investigations of the 20th century. It’s biological. His eyes have a natural set...

From WABE Local News:

Freedom of speech is a right enshrined in the Constitution, and boy did y’all use it this year. Whether it was at the Capitol fighting for or against numerous bills, […]

From WABE Politics News:

The chancellor of the University System of Georgia says the state’s public colleges and universities are receiving an influx of out-of-state undergraduate applicants because of how administrators handled campus protests […]

From WABE Local News:

This past year, 176 people died while homeless in Fulton and DeKalb counties, according to Mercy Care, a healthcare provider for people who are homeless.  The organization hosted a memorial […]

Arts Atlanta:

To call the theatrical experimentation that is Majid Araim’s Regarding Bullfrogs and Universal Power Dynamics an “opera” is to stretch the outer limits of the word. Atlanta composer and multi-instrumentalist Araim premiered this new opera December 12 and December 13 in the First Existentialist Congregation of Atlanta’s hall. For the musically adventurous, it was a...

From the Atlanta Daily World:

NNPA NEWSWIRE — “Now more than ever, we must recognize the indispensable role HBCUs play in shaping not just the future of their students but the future of our nation. This report is not just a call to awareness but a call to action,” said Lodriguez Murray, senior vice president, of public policy and government … Continued

The post UNCF Economic Impact Report Highlights Unmatched Contributions and Urgent Funding Needs of HBCUs appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From the Atlanta Daily World:

Located in one of Atlanta’s oldest and most historic communities, Pittsburgh Yards is a burgeoning hotspot for local business development with a unique offering of specialty and customized products and services for Atlanta-based consumers. The Pittsburgh neighborhood bordered by University Avenue, Pryor Street, Ralph Abernathy Blvd. and Metropolitan Parkway is on track to becoming proof … Continued

The post 9 Must-Have Specialty Gifts from Pittsburgh Yards Holiday Spectacular Shoppers’ Guide appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From the Atlanta Daily World:

Fani Willis was disqualified from Donald Trump’s RICO case by the Georgia Court of Appeals on Dec. 19. The three-judge panel ruled 2-1 in favor of Willis’ dismissal from the case claiming, “This is the rare case in which disqualification is mandated and no other remedy will suffice to restore public confidence in the integrity … Continued

The post Judge Takes Issue With Fani Willis’ Disqualification From Trump’s RICO Case: ‘It Is Not Our Job To Second Guess Trial Judges’ appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.