Derrick Barker stumped the experts at Atlanta City Hall when he asked Wednesday what Atlanta can do to help him, as a residential developer, build homes that aren’t so expensive that most city residents can’t afford to live in them.
Category: Latest News
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Woodruff Arts Center raises $110 million; Alliance Theatre to rename its main stage after Coca-Cola
Raising more than $10 million over its goal, the Woodruff Arts Center’s Transformation Campaign ended up raising $110 million more than two years ahead of schedule.
The record-breaking campaign ended up receiving a multimillion dollar undisclosed gift from the Coca-Cola Co. to support the renovation of the Alliance Theatre. As a result, the main stage will be named the Coca-Cola Stage at the Alliance Theatre when the renovated venue opens in the fall of 2018.
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Atlanta Hawks reach agreement with the city on a $192.5 million renovation of Philips Arena
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and majority Atlanta Hawks owner Tony Ressler were all smiles Tuesday when they announced that they had reached a $192.5 million deal to revamp Philips Arena.
The 30-year agreement would keep the “Hawks in downtown Atlanta for decades to come,” Reed said at the press conference in his Ceremonial Office at City Hall.
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George Dusenbury named head of Trust for Public Land – Georgia
Veteran parks and conservation advocate George Dusenbury IV has been named the Georgia State Director for the Trust for Public Land.
He succeeds Curt Soper, who moved to the Pacific Northwest this summer to accept a position as executive director of the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust.
In his new role, Dusenbury plans to focus on improving access to parks in Atlanta, expanding conservation efforts around the Chattahoochee River and working in partnership with individuals and organizations throughout the state.
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Talk of Atlanta’s affordable housing polices emerges in an unlikely setting at Tech
The latest sign that the high cost of housing in Atlanta is again a front-burner issue in Atlanta appeared in the unlikely setting of a panel discussion at Georgia Tech on the direction of land use in Atlanta.
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Wildfire, drought in North Ga. force closures of trails, restrictions of campfires
Wildfires have forced the closure of three trails and a trailhead parking lot on federal land in north Georgia, according to the U.S. Forest Service. On Friday, the state joined the federal government in restricting fires and campfires at wildness areas in north and central Georgia.
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Atlanta plans to refurbish green roof atop City Hall
Atlanta is in the early stages of renovating the green roof atop Atlanta City Hall. Plans call for more seating, the removal of invasive weeds and the installation of plants with a vibrant mix of colors and bloom times.
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Transportation continues to serve as top concern for metro Atlanta residents
For the third year in a row, transportation continues to be the top concern in the Atlanta region – mentioned by 25 percent of the population.
The results of the fourth annual Metro Atlanta Speaks public opinion survey were to be announced at the Atlanta Regional Commission’s State of the Region breakfast at the Georgia World Congress Center.
More importantly, the respondents expressed strong support for public transit with 73.5 percent said transit was very important and another 18.7 percent said it was somewhat important.
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Emory says minorities, poor hurt by proposed changes in liver transplant rules
Emory University has come out against a proposed change in the national policy governing the distribution of livers for transplant. Emory doctors say could the proposals have a negative impact on minorities and poor folks in Georgia and the southeast in order to benefit folks in the northeast.
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Millennials continue to grapple with housing costs, new report finds
As Atlanta civic leaders ponder the rising cost of housing in the city, a new report shows that millennials across the nation are struggling to keep a roof over their heads.
The report is especially timely in Atlanta.
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Atlanta BeltLine housing developers may be required to build affordable homes
Atlanta’s city code states outright that the Atlanta BeltLine will, “increase the affordable housing inventory.” Three city councilmembers have proposed legislation that intends to put teeth into this provision in city code, which the BeltLine has not been on track to fulfill since the council adopted the provision in 2007.
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Final beams for Mercedes-Benz Stadium being put in place
Standing in the bowl of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, it feels as if you’re in the middle of an erector set – a giant erector set.
The event on Wednesday was seeing workers sign one of the final steel beams to be placed on the top of the fixed portion of the roof. The beam then was lifted up through the middle of the stadium to its final resting spot.
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International agency with focus on public health opens in Midtown
Atlanta is proving itself to be the right home for an international agency that has a focus on public health and departed New York after almost 200 years. That much was clear after a visit from church leaders from China.
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Atlanta’s top LGBTQ score reflects rare provision of transgender health benefits
Atlanta is among dozens of U.S. municipal governments that are providing equity to the LGBTQ community even as state legislatures are moving in the opposite direction, according to a report from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
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Courtland Street bridge to close for construction; GDOT convenes open house Thursday
A segment of Courtland Street between Georgia State University and the state Capitol is to be closed for replacement in 2017 and the public has a chance to offer comments about the project at an open house on Thursday.
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MLK’s legacy drew Martin Luther exhibit to Emory for 500th anniversary of Reformation
The legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. in Atlanta helped attract to Emory University an exhibit of rare items related to Protestant reformer Martin Luther as part of the 500th anniversary celebration of the Reformation, in 2017. Emory is one of three sites in the nation to host such an exhibit of German materials.
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Metro Atlanta Chamber hosts reception to say farewell to its building
The Metro Atlanta Chamber invited current and former board and staff members to say good-bye to its headquarters building as well as its roof-top pavilion.
The Atlanta Chamber has sold its building to the Georgia World Congress Center Authority, which plans to demolish the building across Marietta Street in order to expand Centennial Olympic Park.
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Two Atlanta charter schools win almost $600,000 in state innovation grants
Two charter schools in Atlanta have received a total of almost $600,000 in state grants to further creative ways to advance student achievement. The two schools are the Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School and the Charles R. Drew Charter School.
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Two busy intown Atlanta intersections to get traffic control devices, Peachtree to get streetlights
Two traffic intersections in the bustling neighborhoods of Inman Park and East Atlanta are on the brink of getting enhanced traffic control. The plans are slated for discussion Wednesday at the Atlanta City Council’s Transportation Committee.
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Atlanta’s impact fees: Not much money for upgrades to police, parks, fire/EMS
The prospect of Atlanta spending some $2 billion on transit and transportation improvements, pending voter approval of two sales tax referendums on the Nov. 8 ballot, raises the issue of how these projects might overlap with those funded by impact fees paid when property is developed.
