29 stories · Inside The Perimeter, Atlanta
The city has climbed in national cycling rankings thanks to BeltLine expansion and new protected lanes, though connectivity challenges remain for many neighborhoods.
South African chicken restaurant Nando's opened Tuesday in the former Bar Mercado space, while outdoor retailer YETI celebrates its grand opening June 18-21 at the corner of Lake Avenue and Krog Street.
The Old Fourth Ward Neighborhood Association is turning Historic Fourth Ward Park into a free World Cup celebration June 11-13. The O4W Soccer Kickoff Festival opens with a bar crawl along the Eastside BeltLine and Edgewood Avenue, builds to a USA vs. Paraguay viewing party with live music on Friday, and closes Saturday with the launch of a new O4W youth soccer program for kids ages 5 to 13. Every event is free and open to the public.
Boston-based Wingate Companies plans to purchase and redevelop Trestletree Village apartments near the BeltLine's newest section, with some neighbors concerned about density changes.
LaRayia Gaston describes Atlanta as 'a city full of fairies' and has built one of the city's most beloved hidden gems over five years at the Central Food Hall.
The Old Fourth Ward neighborhood is hosting events to celebrate the World Cup, with watch parties and cultural programming designed for both residents and international visitors.
Mayor Andre Dickens is relying on tax allocation districts to bankroll a $5.5 billion Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative aimed at long-neglected Atlanta neighborhoods. Councilmember Michael Julian Bond has introduced legislation to extend six TADs through 2056, which the mayor's chief of staff projects could generate $5 billion to $7 billion over 30 years. Even at the high end, the initiative will need other public funding sources to reach neighborhoods outside the TAD boundaries.
A City Council resolution to convert land earmarked for BeltLine light rail into paved bike and scooter lanes was tabled after dozens of Atlantans spoke against it. Rail advocates say the transit line is essential for the city's future.
Atlanta's restaurant scene continues to shift as James Beard-winning pitmaster Rodney Scott shutters all locations, while South African chicken chain Nando's announces plans to open along the BeltLine.
A proposal to build a dedicated bike and scooter path along the Atlanta BeltLine corridor is raising concerns among rail transit advocates who say it could delay or complicate the planned streetcar extension. Axios Atlanta reported the debate is heating up as the BeltLine approaches buildout.
Habitat for Humanity's signature build event returns to Atlanta for the first time since 1988, honoring the late President Carter's legacy of service with a week-long construction blitz in the city where Habitat's international headquarters is located.
Atlanta BeltLine officials confirmed to Urbanize Atlanta that the Lantern Parade is back for 2026 and has been moved from its usual May slot to September 19. Last year's parade was cancelled at the last minute due to incoming storms and never rescheduled.
A new restaurant called The Roux Kitchen & Cocktails is taking the 5,821-square-foot space at 537 Edgewood Avenue SE in Old Fourth Ward, with seating for 150. NPU paperwork shows planned hours of Tuesday through Friday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and weekend service starting at 10 a.m.
Foldable New York-style slices meet pimento cheese, hot honey burrata, and house-made ranch at this beloved Old Fourth Ward takeout spot.
The BeltLine destination has enlisted a big-name designer to revamp its rooftop mini-golf experience, adding to the entertainment options at one of Atlanta's most popular gathering spots.
The Atlanta BeltLine Partnership's annual 404 Day of Service brought more than 200 volunteers and a dozen Atlanta-area colleges out for trail cleanups, plantings, and stewardship work along the Eastside Trail corridor. The April program has become one of the BeltLine's signature volunteer days, reflecting the loop's growing role as the city's shared civic backyard.
The East Atlanta California-style pollo asado spot has filed paperwork for a 3,060-square-foot space at 863 Ponce de Leon Ave, with 50 seats planned.
The Buckhead restaurant and bookstore earns praise for its French omelet with caviar and ever-evolving wine program, with a second restaurant opening in Old Fourth Ward this year.
The Moving Atlanta Forward program will fund sidewalk improvements in 50 corridors citywide, targeting the most dangerous stretches for pedestrians as the city prepares for World Cup foot traffic.
Atlanta Beltline Inc. says it will exceed its 5,600-unit affordable housing goal before the 2030 deadline. The agency has locked in 4,425 units to date, with 299 delivered last year and 500 more in the pipeline.
Mathewos Samson, 26, went from his first canvass in October to launching a state legislature campaign in March. The DSA-backed candidate is running on affordable housing, healthcare, and school funding.
As FIFA World Cup matches approach in June, advocates worry Atlanta will repeat its 1996 Olympics playbook of arrests and displacement. An estimated 9,000 low-income residents were arrested in the 18 months before the Summer Games.
The brewery's Ponce Brew Terminal finally fills the prime Eastside Trail retail space at Signal House. DAS BBQ is running the kitchen, and the massive patio overlooks the city's busiest trail section.
The non-toxic, no-tipping salon on Highland Avenue is expanding. A specialty wine shop and flower bar are coming to the space in May.
Ed McBrayer spent 35 years at PATH Foundation connecting Atlanta with trails. His vision helped shape the BeltLine, Silver Comet, and countless other paths we take for granted.
Someone's pet is on the loose. An 8-foot python was spotted on the BeltLine this week, because Atlanta.
Someone captured video of a man handling what appears to be an 8- to 10-foot python found along the BeltLine. Wildlife officials are warning people not to handle unknown animals they encounter, and it's unclear whether the snake was someone's escaped pet or something more concerning. Just another day on Atlanta's favorite trail.
Leonardo Yu, the Old Fourth Ward sushi chef behind Omakase Table and Ryokou, is shifting from Tokyo fish to Argentine beef with O-nada, a 30-seat steakhouse coming to Huff Road. The restaurant will feature an asado grill where premium cuts are cooked over live fire in front of guests.
The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed bipartisan legislation with a Warnock-backed provision that would ban large corporations from owning more than 350 single-family homes. The 89-10 vote shows rare bipartisan agreement on tackling housing affordability by limiting institutional investors who have been gobbling up homes across Atlanta and other hot markets.
Old Fourth Ward sits just east of Downtown Atlanta, roughly bounded by the Downtown Connector to the west, Ponce de Leon Avenue to the north, Moreland Avenue to the east, and Interstate 20 to the south. It's one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr., and over the past decade it has become ground zero for Atlanta's transformation along the BeltLine. The Eastside Trail runs right through O4W, and that single piece of infrastructure changed everything here.
The food and drink scene in Old Fourth Ward is stacked. Krog Street Market is the anchor, a repurposed warehouse full of food stalls, restaurants, and a bar scene that stays packed most weekends. Nearby you have spots like Staplehouse (one of the best restaurants in the entire Southeast), Watchman's (seafood), and a growing list of cocktail bars along the Irwin Street corridor. Ponce City Market is technically on the neighborhood's northern edge and serves as a second food hall with rooftop amusement park views of the skyline. The BeltLine itself is lined with patios and pop-ups.
Housing in O4W is a mix of everything. You'll find renovated bungalows and shotgun houses on the historic blocks south of Irwin Street, newer luxury condos and apartments along the BeltLine corridor, and converted lofts in old industrial buildings. It's one of Atlanta's most walkable neighborhoods, especially if your life revolves around the BeltLine. Expect to pay a premium for that access. The vibe is young, diverse, and very much plugged in to what's happening in the city.