After a national search over several months, the Community Foundation has selected Lauren Koontz as its next president and CEO, beginning on Dec. 1. Koontz currently serves as the president and CEO of the YMCA of Metro Atlanta, where she has worked since 2012. In 2019, she became the organization’s first woman CEO. The Metro […]
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Inaugural Atlanta Climate Week set to launch in mid-October
Atlanta Climate Week will kick off a week of community-led climate programming across Atlanta on Oct. 8. Attendees can expect events ranging from outdoor hikes at Lake Allatoona to free tours at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. To kick things off, there will be an outdoor screening of “A Different World” at the Wren’s Nest on Oct. […]
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At second annual Atlanta Way Day, Mayor Dickens announces strides in major neighborhood plan
At last year’s inaugural Atlanta Way Day, a crowd of civic leaders asked a major question: Why is Atlanta ranked last in economic mobility, and how can it improve? The data from a 2024 study by Raj Chetty’s research group Opportunity Insights caused worry among local leaders. Atlanta ranked dead last out of the top […]
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Beltline acquires final piece of land needed to close 22-mile loop
After two decades, four mayoral administrations and nearly 200 real estate acquisitions, the Beltline finally has the land it needs to close the 22-mile loop and complete Atlanta’s “emerald necklace.” Atlanta Beltline, Inc. closed the sale for the final piece on Sept. 22, and announced it Oct. 1. It’s a minor parcel — only 0.2-acres […]
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The 2028 Olympic torch relay will hit all 50 states — and it starts in Atlanta
For the first time in history, the famed Olympic Torch will relay through all 50 U.S. states before landing in its host city of Los Angeles — and the tour will kick off in Atlanta. The flame will be lit in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, before heading through the United States […]
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An eminent domain battle in North Georgia reaches a conclusion
With eminent domain involved, pushback is almost always imminent. Tallulah Falls was no different. Residents of Tallulah Falls, Ga., pushed back against the nearby City of Demorest, Ga., which was planning to use eminent domain for a water expansion project that would “establish a new surface-water treatment facility designed to protect the region’s drinking water […]
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Wingate leaders take on ‘hairy projects’ — Trestletree Village is the latest
“The worse the problem, the more likely that I’m sitting in the chair.” This is the approach of Wingate Companies Senior Vice President John Tatum. And now, he’s in the chair at Atlanta’s Trestletree Village Section 8 Community, steps from the Beltline trail. Wingate, a national real estate and development firm focused on affordable housing, […]
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Dickens teases upcoming plans after City Council backs Beltline rail
On Sept. 21, the Atlanta City Council formally backed the addition of light rail along the Beltline with a unanimous vote. Now what? After nearly two hours of public comment at the City Council meeting, 14 councilmembers voted to pass Kelsea Bond’s Beltline rail resolution. It shows support for the 22-mile planned transit loop. It […]
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Southface Institute to host 2026 Visionary Awards in October
The Southface Institute, a nonprofit leader in green building technology based in Atlanta, is hosting its 2026 Visionary Awards fundraiser on October 15 at the Georgia Aquarium. This year, Southface is honoring Kim Bednarek for leading efforts to secure UNESCO World Heritage Site status for the Okefenokee Swamp, a designation that took 40 years to […]
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Should Atlanta turn off water for $236 million in unpaid bills? Mayor Dickens says it’s a ‘tough decision.’
Atlanta’s recent watershed audit revealed a bombshell statistic: A quarter of the city’s customers have unpaid balances, totaling more than $236 million in bills owed to Atlanta. You might recognize some of the high-profile culprits. The audit caused uproar among the city council. City Council Utilities Committee Chair Dustin Hills was notably upset at the […]
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Invest Atlanta greenlights $15 million tax break for Amsterdam Walk
On Thursday, the Invest Atlanta board of directors greenlit a bond resolution that will give a nearly $15 million tax break to Portman Holding’s controversial Amsterdam Walk redevelopment. According to Invest Atlanta Senior Vice President of Community Development Phil Perkins, the developers will only pay $39 million in taxes for the first 10 years, compared […]
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Arts Capital Atlanta launches inaugural $1 million arts organization fund
Arts Capital Atlanta will soon distribute more than $1 million to Metro Atlanta arts organizations in an effort to strengthen the region’s creative ecosystem. It’s the first year Arts Capital Atlanta will give out unrestricted funds to arts organizations; the Metro Atlanta nonprofit brings together organizations, funders and partners to research, raise and distribute funds. […]
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Food Bank CEO Kyle Waide tapped to lead Downtown Atlanta Inc.
Downtown Atlanta Inc. has officially chosen longtime Atlanta Food Bank President and CEO Kyle Waide to take over as their new President and CEO, heading up the nonprofit centered on Atlanta’s urban core. The organization announced its new leader on Sept. 14. Starting December, Waide will run Downtown Atlanta Inc. – an “umbrella organization” for the […]
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Yan Karaoke aims to settle local conflicts ahead of opening date
Yan Karaoke is on track to open its 15,000-square-foot Reynoldstown hub by this holiday season, and the bar’s team says the neighborhood conflicts have been resolved ahead of opening night. The project drew attention from neighborhood leaders and historic preservation advocates this summer, when renderings for the bar design at the Atlanta Dairies became available. […]
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Beltline breaks ground on Northwest Trail’s most ‘technically difficult’ segment
The Beltline is about to get bigger. On Sept. 10, city leaders broke ground on the Northwest Trail’s Segment 3B, a one-mile stretch attached to the Northside Trail and a small segment at Monday Night Brewing’s The Grove. It brings the 22-mile loop closer to its 2030 completion date. Once finished, the segment will bring […]
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Beltline is back on board with rail. Will a councilmember’s plan keep it on track?
The Atlanta Beltline is officially back on board with light rail, and Atlanta District 2 City Councilmember Kelsea Bond has a plan to keep the project on track. On Sept. 8, Bond introduced a resolution to “affirm the Atlanta City Council’s commitment to and support for Beltline rail.” If passed, it will create an accountability […]
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ARC unveils first-ever regional housing strategy
It’s been a long time in the making. After years dedicated to economic development and housing solutions, the Atlanta Regional Commission has unveiled Housing Forward 2035, “The Strategy.” The regional housing strategy will guide the 11-county planning commission through its approach to affordable and accessible housing in a rapidly changing region. ARC leaders presented an […]
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SoDo leaders ask Atlanta Rotary to help ‘restore order’ downtown
Note: The story has been updated to reflect additional comments from Atlanta Mission and South Downtown leadership. On Aug. 24, SoDo founders David Cummings and Jon Birdsong sat in front of a ballroom packed with Atlanta’s most powerful people. They had a simple plea: “I would love for Atlanta Rotary to make downtown one of […]
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Beltline pop-up bar LikeMinds is here to stay through the holidays
After a successful stint with World Cup crowds, Beltline pop-up LikeMinds will extend its residency in the former BrewDog space through the end of the year, just in time for football season. Cofounder Kelly Campbell, best known for Westside Motor Lounge, said the extension was a “collective and collaborative” decision among the local partners. Originally, […]
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Invest Atlanta greenlights $600k to middle-wage jobs, more for affordable housing
On Aug. 27, the Invest Atlanta board of directors approved $600,000 in funding for “middle wage” job training and placement for city residents. The economic development agency gave funds to Goodwill of North Georgia and the Urban League of Greater Atlanta. It’s part of Invest Atlanta’s Middle Wage Job Economic Opportunity Fund, created to incentivize […]
