Twenty-five days out from the World Cup, the building that used to say CNN on the side reopened this week as The CTR, anchoring a wave of downtown debuts that includes Founders Green and a new Cultural Exchange. The Fulton chair race goes to a June runoff after Mo Ivory finished first. A mixed-income tower topped out along the BeltLine's Westside Trail. Wood's Chapel in Summerhill pivoted to Tex-Mex. And the Atlanta Jazz Festival is back in Piedmont Park for Memorial Day weekend.
Former CNN Center Reopens as The CTR Ahead of World Cup
The building that anchored downtown Atlanta for fifty years under the CNN banner officially reopened Wednesday as The CTR, a redeveloped mixed-use destination with a new atrium, food, art, and the city's new Atlanta Cultural Exchange platform. Mayor Andre Dickens and CP Group, the developers who bought the property, marked the milestone with about three and a half weeks to go before FIFA World Cup matches start drawing visitors downtown.
Politics & Policy
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Mo Ivory Tops Pitts in Fulton Chair Primary, June Runoff Set
Fulton County Board of Commissioners Chairman Robb Pitts will face former Commissioner Mo Ivory in a June 16 runoff after Ivory finished first in Tuesday's three-person Democratic primary. Ivory pulled 40 percent of the vote, Pitts took 35 percent, and Commissioner Marvin Arrington Jr. came in third at 25 percent. Since no candidate cleared 51 percent, the race goes to a second round.
Development & Housing
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Portman Buys Back the Westin Peachtree Plaza, Renovation Coming
Atlanta developer Portman has acquired the Westin Peachtree Plaza, the cylindrical 73-story hotel that has stood over downtown for fifty years, through its Portman Hospitality Fund I. Marriott International sold the 1,073-key property but will continue to manage it under a long-term agreement. A renovation is planned for what is still Atlanta's sixth tallest building.
Transit & Infrastructure
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MARTA Shares Before-and-After Photos of Station Rehab Push
MARTA released progress photos this week from its billion-dollar Station Rehabilitation Program, which is upgrading rail stations and facilities across the system. Several rail stations have already wrapped, with new flooring, new walls, better lighting, and deep cleanings. The work runs alongside the rollout of Breeze 2.0 fare gates and the NextGen Bus Network route redesign.
Arts & Culture
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Atlanta Jazz Festival Returns to Piedmont Park for Memorial Day
The Atlanta Jazz Festival, the city's free Memorial Day weekend tradition, returns to Piedmont Park this weekend with up to 300,000 visitors expected across three days. The festival is one of the largest free jazz festivals in the country and has been a Midtown anchor since the 1970s.
Food & Dining
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Wood's Chapel in Summerhill Pivots from Barbecue to Tex-Mex
After seven years of wood-smoked sandwiches and platters, Wood's Chapel BBQ in Summerhill has changed its menu to a Tex-Mex format. Burritos, enchiladas, and quesadillas are now the headliners, with smoked turkey, chopped pork, and barbecue chicken showing up inside them. Owners Jennifer and Ben Johnson and partner-chef Todd Ginsberg say the goal is to hold quality while bringing food costs back down.
Community
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Decatur High Graduates Its Largest Class in School History
Nearly 500 seniors crossed the stage at Decatur High School this week, the largest graduating class in school history. The Class of 2026 also posted a net average 3.7 weighted grade-point average, according to City Schools of Decatur.