Atlanta City Councilmember Wayne Martin moved a firefighter pay-raise bill Monday, co-sponsored by 12 of 15 council members, amid a union contract dispute and ICE and PAD debates ahead of the World Cup. Midtown landmark Atlanta Botanical Garden broke ground on an 8-acre expansion along Piedmont Avenue. And a new Southern steakhouse from the C&S Seafood team opens today in Buckhead's Garden Hills with a 550-bottle wine list.
Atlanta Firefighter Pay-Raise Bill Advances as Council Grapples With ICE, Homelessness Ahead of World Cup
Councilmember Wayne Martin's legislation, co-sponsored by 12 of 15 council members, directs the city to provide competitive pay by July 1. It follows a union lawsuit over Mayor Andre Dickens's refusal to sign the firefighters' first contract, and lands in the same week the council weighed ICE policy and access to the Policing Alternatives and Diversion Initiative.
Development & Housing
2 stories
Atlanta Botanical Garden Begins Demolition for 8-Acre, 25% Expansion in Midtown
Three and a half years after plans surfaced, crews are clearing buildings along Piedmont Avenue to set up the Garden's first physical expansion since opening 50 years ago. A $160 million capital campaign is funding the work, with groundbreaking targeted for late summer and completion by late 2028 or early 2029.
Food & Culture
3 stories
Clark's Steakhouse Opens in Buckhead's Garden Hills With 550-Bottle Wine List
The new restaurant from Rich Clark, owner of three C&S Seafood and Oyster Bar locations, debuts April 23 on the ground floor of the 2827 Peachtree building. The menu blends Southern fare, French technique, and Texas-inspired fire, but the Bordeaux-heavy wine program is the centerpiece.
Civics & Community
3 stories
Waymo and Waze Partner With Atlanta on Pothole Mapping Pilot
Atlanta is one of five cities (with Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Austin) joining a pilot that combines Waymo's perception systems with Waze's navigation data. The goal is a holistic map of pothole locations to supplement Atlanta's "Pothole Posse" repair crews.