JLL announces 3379 Peachtree, a boutique Class-A office building in Buckhead, has secured two new tenants, taking the building occupancy from 60% to 90% and leasing more than two full floors of the building. Lucid Private Offices, an upscale alternative to casual co-working space, has leased a total of 30,000 square feet of space at the 126,000-square-foot building. JLL Atlanta Senior Vice President Claire Ross and Vice President Will Tyler handle marketing and leasing on behalf of the owner, Nuveen Real Estate.
Lucid Private Offices, represented by Cresa’s John Pelletier and CBRE’s Kush Mirani and Dale Lewis, is establishing its third Atlanta location at 3379 Peachtree, taking 30,000 square feet on two floors of the nine-story building. The Buckhead location comes on the heels of Lucid’s first location outside of Texas – in Alpharetta, GA – which opened in mid-February. The company is also preparing to open a second Cumberland location at the end of April. “We are very excited about our growth in the Atlanta area.,” said Tosha Bontrager, Executive Director at Lucid Private Offices. “In addition to solidifying our third Atlanta location in Buckhead, our Pennant Park/ Cumberland area location will open next month, and our first location outside of Texas, in Alpharetta, is filling up quickly.”
Following Nuveen’s acquisition of the property in 2019, the owner refreshed the brand and updated building features throughout, creating an amenitized office that emphasized a work and play environment – one that users would be excited to return to post-pandemic. Popular Atlanta eatery 5Church and Pinnacle Bank reside on the ground floor of the office tower, activating the newly renovated lobby.
JLL’s Tyler added, “Collaborating with Nuveen and reintroducing 3379 Peachtree to the office brokerage community has been a very rewarding process. The excitement built around this asset is ultimately a testament to the strength and continued desirability of Buckhead; 2023 is shaping up to be a year of exponential growth for the submarket.”
3379 Peachtree is nestled between Shops Around Lenox and Lenox Mall, the tower is a five-minute drive from GA-400 and walking distance from the nearby Buckhead MARTA station, with multiple points of ingress and egress. It’s surrounded by distinguished Buckhead hotels such as The Westin, Grand Hyatt, The Whitley and Waldorf Astoria, further contributing to the overall convenience of the office’s prime location.
“Our new location in Buckhead presents an extremely valuable opportunity for our business,” said Bontrager. “The building’s landscape allows us to provide our clients with upscale private offices and professional coworking spaces in the heart of Buckhead, with proximity to elevated shops and dining, as well as optimal accessibility. We are excited for this expansion and are looking forward to continuing our investment in the Atlanta market.”
Pickleball is America’s fastest growing sport, and that trend has taken hold in the Atlanta area. Buckhead residents are picking up the paddles in neighborhood parks and country clubs, and pickle ball-specific facilities are popping up around the city. The “pro tour of pickle ball”, the PPA Tour, even has a stop in Atlanta in May.
Atlanta has been slow to pick up the sport compared to other parts of the country, but now pickleball is picking up steam. Milos Vasovic, Director of Rackets at the Cherokee Town and Country Club, said, “I feel like [Atlanta] is becoming more part of the up and coming pickleball world, and I think it’s going to grow for sure.”
We explored this seemingly new phenomenon to find out where it came from, who’s playing, and where our readers can get in the game!
Pickleball is a racket sport that is played with solid paddles and a perforated plastic ball. The paddles resemble oversized ping pong paddles, and the balls are similar to a Wiffle ball with smaller holes. A pickleball court is smaller than a tennis court, but similar to a badminton court at 20 feet wide and 44 feet long. The net is a bit lower for pickleball as well. 36 inches at the posts and 34 inches in the middle, versus 42 inches and 36 inches respectively for tennis.
A pickleball court is the same size for single or doubles play. Many facilities that offer pickleball and tennis simply apply pickleball lines in addition to the tennis court markings, and use the same net placement. It is also easy to play 2 pickleball games at once on a tennis court by adding a court on each side of the tennis court’s net.
Pickleball was conceived in 1965 by Washington State Congressman Joel Pritchard and businessman Bill Bell. The men returned to Pritchard’s home on Bainbridge Island, WA after a round of golf to find their families looking for something to do. They explored the badminton court on the property, but couldn’t find enough rackets. After scrounging ping pong paddles and a Wiffle ball, the families began to play over the badminton net. The net was soon lowered to 36 inches, and pickleball was born.
The name pickleball was coined by Joel’s wife Joan. She said the game reminded her of a mismatched rowing crew, referred to as a “pickle boat”. There is also a story that the game was named for Joel Pritchard’s daughter’s dog “Pickles,” but apparently the dog was in fact named after the sport.
The sport grew among Pritchard and Bell’s friends, and became more widespread throughout the 1970’s. 1976 saw the first pickleball article in Tennis Magazine and the first known pickleball tournament in Tukwila, Washington. The United States Amateur Pickleball Association was formed in 1984, and the first official rulebook was published. By 1990, pickleball was being played in all 50 states.
Pickleball has been around for almost 60 years, but the sport really started to gain notoriety after 2010. According to the Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP) in 2022, there are 36.5 million pickleball players in the U.S., and the sport’s average growth rate is 158.6% over the past 3 years. The sport that has been popular in retirement communities in Florida for years is getting younger all the time. Recent statistics say the average pickleball player is 38 years old, and the fastest growing segment of players is 18-34 years old.
Mike Gottfried is the CEO of PCKL, an Atlanta-based pickleball equipment company. He was introduced to the sport in 2013 by his parents at their club in Florida. His parents and their elderly friends loved it, but he thought, “Okay, this is just old people tennis.”
Fast-forward to 2020 when Mike and his friends were looking for something fun to do while social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. By 2021 he was playing pickleball 2-3 times a week, and soon he put his consumer product and marketing experience to work building a pickleball brand. Since starting PCKL, Mike has been pleasantly surprised by the growth of the sport. He saw opportunity in the market, but he says, “I never expected the sort of wave that I saw coming to be the tidal wave that it is in terms of the growth of the sport and the number of people playing, but here we are and pickleball is seemingly everywhere.” PCKL was recently named the official tournament ball for the Amateur Pickleball Association and the Southern Pickleball Association.
Milos Vasovc says there is more crossover between pickleball and golfers than there is with tennis players at the Cherokee Town and Country Club. Of the 110 players in the Club’s pickleball league, only 40% also play tennis. The club’s golfers are his target audience for pickleball. Milos says that many tennis purists see pickleball as too easy, but it offers golfers and other club members an entry into racket sports that doesn’t have the steep learning curve of tennis. “I always tell people when you play tennis, you’ve got to give yourself three years to become okay.” Milos says, but with pickleball, “everybody can play in 10 minutes.” He credits pickleball’s underhand serve and smaller court with helping to make the sport easy for beginners.
Milos came to the Cherokee Town Club from southwest Florida, “the hotbed of pickleball.” One of his initial goals as the Director of Rackets was to grow the sport of pickleball in the community. He was hoping for 40-50 players in the club’s house league, but they ended up with 110 players on 6 teams. The league plays each Wednesday for six weeks, then the top 2 teams play a house league championship. This year the Cherokee Town Club will host a pickleball Grand Slam tournament, pitting their league players against club teams from Ansley Golf Club, Capital City Club, and others.
In addition to league play, the Cherokee Town Club will host a pickleball member and guest event for the first time. Milos said there will be programs for kids as well. “We’re going to start our first ever Junior pickleball program. We purchased 10 brand new movable pickleball nets that we put on the courts, so every facility looks a little nicer. And I purchased 50 pickleball paddles that we give away to the kids who participate in the program to help them get started and get involved in pickleball.”
Many of our experts mentioned the social nature of pickleball in one way or another. Mike Gottfried explains, “The game lends itself to our short American attention spans. The games are quick, they play to 11, win by 2.” He continues, “It’s social, it brings a lot of people together. So if you had a group of 4, 8, 12, or 16 people, you can rotate in and play, and not be sitting and waiting on the sidelines for hours and hours.” Of course some players are more advanced than others, but Mike adds, “I’ve seen it in all forms and formats, but I think the core of pickleball is still driven and oriented around fun.”
Like bowling alleys and golf-entertainment concepts such as Top Golf, pickleball allows friends to get together around a sport where everyone can have fun regardless of their skill level. Several new pickleball facilities are coming to Atlanta from companies with experience in similar markets. The Painted Pickle is coming to Armour Yards this summer from the team behind the upscale Painted Pin bowling and entertainment venue on Miami Circle. The Painted Pickle will include 8 indoor courts, along with a restaurant and full bar. Alpharetta regulars may be familiar with the golf-entertainment venue Fairway Social. The company is working on the upcoming Pickle and Social in Gwinnett County.
There are several opportunities to play pickleball in and around Buckhead, including private clubs, public parks, and neighborhood courts. Homes in Buckhead with private pickleball courts are now starting to appear in the market. The following is a list of pickleball hot spots in and around Buckhead. If you know of a great court we missed, please drop your favorite in the comments. Also, please let us know if your neighborhood tennis courts are home to a pickleball community.
155 West Paces Ferry Road, N.W.. Atlanta, Georgia 30305-1365
The private Cherokee Town Club has 10 pickleball courts. The club league has a six-week season on Wednesday nights. The pickleball program includes staff pickleball pros, pickleball clinics, a junior program, and pickleball grand slam events.
1160 Moores Mill Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30327
YMCA members enjoy 8 pickleball courts, clinics, open play, and league play. Pickleball pros are on staff to help with training and events.
https://ymcaatlanta.org/sports/adult-sports/pickleball
705 Hammond Dr, Atlanta, GA, 30328, USA
Hammond Park is in Sandy Springs, but this pickleball hot spot is worth checking out if you’re interested in the sport. The 8 public courts are regularly buzzing with activity, and you can always find a friendly game.
1359 Ellsworth Industrial Blvd NW suite b, Atlanta, GA, USA
The Atlanta Pickleball Center is the go-to indoor pickleball club in town. The facility features 10 indoor courts, league play, trainers, and lessons. Courts are available for reservations.
https://www.atlanta-pickleball.com/bookings
5200 S Trimble Rd, Sandy Springs, GA 30342
This public park has gone all in for pickleball! The 6 dedicated outdoor courts have permanent lines and nets.
290 Chastain Park Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30342
The Chastain Park Tennis Center has 1 court available for pickleball. Court reservations include the pickleball net.
2125 Northside Dr NW, Atlanta, GA 30305
The Betsy Grant Tennis Center offers pickleball reservations on their 4 platform tennis courts.
https://bitsygrant.playbypoint.com/
308 Peachtree Hills Ave NE, Atlanta, GA, 30305, USA
Peachtree Hills Park has 3 outdoor tennis courts with permanent pickleball lines. Players have access to restrooms, water, and lights.
2720 Shady Valley Dr NE, Atlanta, GA, 30324, USA
Public park with 3 outdoor asphalt courts. Pickleball lines are overlaid on the tennis courts.
Lenox Marketplace now bears a new moniker — The Block At Phipps — but the updates to the 9.4-acre retail center on Peachtree Road go beyond its name. Construction begins soon to revitalize the shopping area opposite Phipps Plaza that includes Dick’s Sporting Goods, Target, L.A. Fitness, and more. Selig Enterprises, which purchased Lenox Marketplace in 2020 and is a notable firm in the Buckhead real estate market, aims to create a “vibrant, walkable retail district” with a suite of upgrades to the retail destination. The renovation project is slated to begin soon with completion expected by the end of this year.
“The goal is to create a more walkable, inviting retail experience,” Shirley Gouffon, senior vice president at Selig Enterprises, said. “The vision includes new merchandising along with thoughtfully designed façade improvements and enhanced pedestrian connectivity with approximately 50,000 square feet of flagship retail and restaurant space.”
The project is highlighted by a new open-air corridor that will join the sidewalk along Peachtree Road to the parking deck to enhance connectivity in the shopping center and create public seating and gathering areas. Selig says the “Paseo” corridor will feature landscaping and lighting “reminiscent of a European alleyway.” Additionally, the project will reinvigorate the façade along Peachtree and Oak Valley roads with landscaping and improved walkways.
Bonnie Dean with Selig Enterprises said the design will create a sense of place and pedestrian friendliness that is currently lacking at the development.
Selig had planned upgrades for the retail center since it completed its purchase of the property in 2020, Gouffon said. Connectivity was a priority during the design phase, which was done in conjunction with design firm ASD|SKY.
“We worked with ASD|SKY to create the Paseo which will greatly enhance the pedestrian experience between Peachtree and the tenants with entrances within the parking deck,” Gouffon said. “From there we looked at materials and features to enhance the existing facade and create a space for relaxing or gathering for guests. The design as a whole is meant to mimic the vibrant yet relaxing feel of a European alleyway with manicured landscaping and seating areas.”
The Block At Phipps is the latest property under Selig’s expansive umbrella of Atlanta properties. The company also owns the 1105 West Peachtree office tower, the Epicurean Atlanta hotel and 40 West 12th residential tower. “Buckhead has long been a retail hub for the Southeast, and we are proud to play a role in continuing to elevate the community into a premier place to shop, dine and spend time,” Gouffon said. “We are excited to continue our footprint in the neighborhood. We hope to make Buckhead even more inviting and appealing for shoppers by upgrading this corner of the neighborhood.”
Legoland Discovery Center Atlanta closed its doors for renovation after Labor Day 2022, and it will reopen as the LEGO Discovery Center on March 31, 2023. The popular kids’ attraction occupies much of the third floor of Phipps Plaza opposite the AMC Phipps Plaza 14 cinema. This will be the first LEGO Discovery Center in the United States, following first one in Brussels.
Legoland Discovery Center visitors will recognize the Kingdom Quest ride, Pirate Adventure Land, and 4D Cinema, but most of the Center is being upgraded and remodeled. The Great LEGO Race VR simulator is being upgraded, and DUPLO Park has gone from a small corner of the attraction to an expansive play area where younger visitors can build and explore with their parents. General manager Jamica Butler told us, “We’ll have a bunch of games here where the young kids really start to stretch their imagination and build things, especially with their parents. We’ve never had a Duplo park this size, so I’m excited to see the happy faces.”
GM Butler pointed out what makes LEGO Discovery Center different from the previous iteration of Legoland. “We did a $5 million renovation to turn us into the next generation of these Discovery Centers, where parents and kids can all do the same thing together.” The family connection drives much of the new design. Butler describes the new space, “It’s filled with imagination and wonder. We have a new LEGO building scan where you can build a rocket ship. It’s something fun for all ages, parents included. We went away from just just a certain age kids. You’ll see it’s really bringing us into that whole family oriented type of place.”
The Spaceship Build and Scan is one of the new features at LEGO Discovery Center. Kids and parents build rockets with LEGO bricks, then scan their designs and pilot them using a joystick and video monitors. Build Adventures is another upgraded area where guests build, race, and jump their own LEGO creations.
Guests will notice a lot of changes in the Miniland section of LEGO Discovery Center. This intricate LEGO model of Atlanta landmarks is the creation of Master Model Builder Phillip Quinn-Simmons. I asked Quinn-Simmons how long it took to build Miniland, and he replied, “Everything takes forever all the time.” He continued that a project like this is made up of “Really small pieces and really big builds,” and the time involved varies. The new Zoo Atlanta model took about 6 weeks, in which Quinn-Simmons was sitting in the model “like an animal on display.”
Quinn-Simmons has been working with LEGO professionally for 5 years. His 3 years at LEGO Discovery Center were preceded by 2 years of teaching STEM classes using LEGO bricks. To build the models in Miniland, he photographs the locations, then builds each model from scratch using his photos for reference. He says he completes these highly detailed builds by having a “quantum understanding of how the pieces work, and knowing how it all goes together.”
Quinn-Simmons and his team add details and fun extras that bring the models to life after the main models are done,. Guests can interact with the models to activate movement and lights. I hear there are a lot of secret details hidden throughout Miniland.
Guests at LEGO Discovery Center will have new opportunities to interact with the Master Model builder. GM Butler told me, “Our master model builder has a new guest facing office where he’ll have sliding windows where guests can come up and build with him, hang out with him, and see what’s new.” The remodeled LEGO shop also includes demonstration areas where Quinn-Simmons will do presentations and building demos.
The LEGO shop includes LEGO model kits, loose bricks for sale, and a new minifigure creator. Guests can design a custom minifigure that is printed right there in the store. This goes beyond just picking pre-printed pieces and assembling a minifigure!
LEGO Discovery Center is designed to be more accessible and inclusive. The ticketing process has been streamlined for easier entry, and a lot of thought has been put into the minifigures on display. GM Butler told me, “The cool thing about our transition into this next generation LEGO Discovery Center is if you look at all the minifigures, they’re so diverse. We have older people minifigures, we have professors, we have people in wheelchairs with disabilities. Minifigures of all different types of people.” She sees this as an evolution of the LEGO tradition. “I don’t think Lego ever goes anywhere. It just continues to evolve. And we were evolving.”
Learn more at legodiscoverycenter.com/atlanta
Work is now underway to extend the PATH400 trail from Wieuca Road to Lordans Drive.
PATH400, the 5.2-mile greenway running alongside Ga. 400 connecting residential and retail areas that is currently under development, is entering its final stage in Buckhead with construction recently commencing on a major section of the pathway. The northernmost section builds off the existing trail and will run from Wieuca Road to Loridans Drive connecting PATH400 to Mountain Way Common. Click here to read our preview and see photos of this section of PATH400.
Livable Buckhead, which is spearheading the project, held a groundbreaking ceremony for the near-one-mile section of the greenway in November with construction crews now beginning initial work on the latest portion. It is perhaps the most significant undertaking of PATH400 so far with a $12.5 million price tag and added intricacies due to the topography of the area and the section passing underneath Ga. 400. The total construction time of the section of greenway is 22 months, which is dependent on weather.
“This is a pretty big section and the last of the major construction,” Livable Buckhead Executive Director Denise Starling said. “It is also probably the most complex with the grades along [Ga. 400].”
Clearing of existing trees is underway with plans for new trees to be planted once construction is complete. Grading will also soon begin, and Starling said work will primarily be done during “regular work hours and during the week,” though some Saturday work is possible. This summer, construction on the bridge over Mountain Way will begin and is anticipated to take 14 months to complete.
Starling said the bridge will be a “cool feature” running adjacent to Ga. 400 before traversing underneath it to provide views of Little Nancy Creek and a portion running into the nearby nature area.
Once bridge construction is complete, the trail section will simultaneously be built out northward to Loridans Drive and south to Wieuca Road.
“Creating pedestrian and bike-friendly connections between parks in Buckhead was one of the central purposes for building PATH400, and we’re excited to deliver on that promise with this new segment,” Starling told those gathered at the groundbreaking of the new section in November.
Though completion of the latest section of PATH400 is still nearly two years away, Starling said the greenway is a “legacy project” that will greatly enhance the area. Community interest in the completion of PATH400 has been strong with “plenty of excitement” for the project, she added.
“It is a signature connection in regional trail plans…and as an organization, this is our biggest project,” she said. “And frankly, I don’t think anyone at the beginning thought we could get it done. But we put our heads down and got after it. And where we didn’t have the resources, we went out and found them. We have a crazy amount of partners.”
Those partners include the PATH Foundation leading construction management and local funding, the Georgia Department of Transportation, which provides technical aspect oversight and federal funding, and the City of Atlanta, which is matching local funds through TSPLOST revenue.
The latest section will run north into Sandy Springs where the City of Sandy Springs will continue the path further north.
“Essentially, it will open up the entire north Metro Atlanta area to access the Beltline,” Starling said.
As construction takes place, access to Mountain Way Common and roadway access on Mountain Drive will be impacted, Starling outlined in a PATH400 blog post. The post stated pedestrian access to Mountain Way Common could be limited “at times” while bridge construction is underway. This could include the area being “fully closed for an extended period.”
“We know this stinks so we are going to try and keep some access to it, but we are going to err on the side of safety,” Starling wrote.
Meanwhile, some roadway access to Mountain Drive between North Ivy Road NE and Ga. 400 is likely to be closed completely to traffic for an “extended period of time.” Starling said residents will be informed of these closures/restrictions as more details on specifics and timing are available. Those with additional questions or concerns can reach out to Starling at denise@liveablebuckher.org or call 404-842-2682.
Georgia Power has plans to bury electric lines in several Buckhead neighborhoods starting this year as part of a multibillion-dollar plan to reduce blackouts. First, they need to secure the necessary easement by winning over property owners in the path of the project.
Buckhead’s impressive urban forest is a huge civic asset, but also means that storms – like the remnant of Hurricane Irma in 2017 – often topple trees into power lines. Burying – or “undergrounding” – the lines is a way to avoid that problem.
“Placing power lines underground makes the grid more resilient because they’re less vulnerable to storms and wind, but it’s not fault-proof,” said Georgia Power spokesperson Marie Bertot. “In areas prone to flooding, digging, root vegetation and other underground activity, it’s not always an option.”
Undergrounding is sometimes done for aesthetic reasons as well. But the Buckhead plan will leave existing poles standing to carry lines from the street to houses and businesses, and for use by telecommunications companies (AT&T, Comcast). According to one source, additional poles will actually be added to deal with the new web of connections. In rare cases where neither Georgia Power nor the telecommunications companies are using a power pole, it will be removed.
In addition, the underground system requires a series of transformers housed in familiar green metal boxes that will be installed in front yards and along sidewalks, so many residents will be hearing from Georgia Power contractors about purchasing easements for those devices.
The local work will cover the Paces Ferry, West Paces Ferry, and Powers Ferry roads corridors in such western neighborhoods as Chastain Park, Paces and Tuxedo Park, as well as part of North Buckhead between Ivy and Wieuca roads. Georgia Power aims to begin construction this spring and summer, with the work lasting approximately 12 months.
The work is just one part of Georgia Power’s “Grid Investment Plan,” a major, multiyear project of systemwide improvements. The goals are improving the reliability of Georgia’s electric grid and lessening the impact of any failures. The company is about two years in the first phase, for which it is spending $1.3 billion.
Improvements are not performed randomly. “We are making strategic grid investments, selecting project locations based on historical service and performance data to ensure that we are putting our resources in the right places to improve reliability,” said Bertot.
The grid has two basic components: transmission, where power is sent over long distances to localities, and distribution, which is sending the electricity into your home or business.
On the transmission side, the plan includes replacing wires and/or structures, and substation improvements as significant as full reconstruction.
On the distribution side, undergrounding is just one of several improvement tactics. Others include: adding “automated line devices” that automatically isolate outages to smaller parts of the grid; adding connections, which can provide a backup power source; relocating lines in hard-to-reach areas so that repairs are easier; and line strengthening, which can refer to a variety of upgrades in localized spots that make damage or other failures less likely.
Buckhead is also getting automated line devices and strengthened poles, according to Georgia Power.
Many other neighborhoods, such as Druid Hills, are getting similar improvements, including undergrounding.
Undergrounding requires various metal boxes to be set into the ground to provide power switching and delivery. In particular, a box called a “single phase transformer” has to be placed “every few homes” for delivery, according to Georgia Power’s website. Those are green boxes on a concrete pad that are roughly 26 inches high, 34 inches long and 31 inches wide. They are built on a concrete pad and need about 10 feet of clearance to be maintained on all sides.
There is not sufficient space for the boxes to be installed in the public right of way, which in residential areas typically means a narrow strip of lawn along the road. Acquisition subcontractors are now contacting residents seeking easements to install the devices, offering around $1,000 as compensation. If the initial offer is rejected, the offer escalates quickly and significant amounts have been reported.
The easements are all voluntary, according to Georgia Power, though it is less clear what happens if property owners refuse, especially on an entire street. The company’s answer is that in such cases it would “explore other project alternatives.”
The company says it aims for “minimal disruption” in installing such devices. But the work might require trimming trees, removing landscaping and digging up sidewalks and road trenching. Landscaping and sidewalks would be replaced by the company.
The undergrounding affects only the main distribution line, not the lines going to individual properties, so poles will remain for that purpose. Georgia Power also says it notifies telecommunications companies that may also use the poles about the work, but can’t control whether they also choose to bury lines. Any pole used purely for carrying a Georgia Power distribution line would be removed after the undergrounding.
Georgia Power provides extensive information about the Grid Improvement Plan – including frequently asked questions and construction maps – on its website.
The following are the general areas and timelines for undergrounding of lines in Buckhead, according to Georgia Power. All of the general areas include “most side streets in the area.”
Buckhead is home to many of Atlanta’s great restaurants. Residents know they don’t have to dine in West Midtown to find interesting options and hot local chef’s. Several new restaurants have opened in Buckhead since late summer of 2022. Check out our restaurant round-up, and you may find something you add to your list of favorite spots.
This long-awaited Lebanese restaurant is now open at the Modera Prominence. The team behind Mission & Market and Tre Vele, Ryan and Jonathan Akly and chef Ian Winslade, have created a dining experience inspired by the Akly’s Lebanese heritage. The restaurant is named for the Akly’s grandmother, and the menu includes family recipes among other traditional and original Middle Eastern dishes.
Chef Windslade says, “I am really excited to dive back into the flavors of the eastern Mediterranean that I experienced early in my career and expand upon that while bringing out the deep, rich Lebanese culture and drawing inspiration from meals the Akly’s grandmother made for them growing up that have been passed down from generation to generation.”
(404) 433-2180
3699 Lenox Rd NE Ste 3, Atlanta, GA 30305
Bo Kvergic and Nem Filipovic aim to bring a “coastal-European, south-of-France vibe,” to Buckhead at the new Dorian Gray restaurant. Leaning on the duo’s cultural heritage, Filipovic says, “We wanted our space to have the feeling of seaside resorts like Capri, Monaco, and Belize.” Kvrgic adds, “Dorian Gray was designed to express our personalities through food, wine, music, and people,” including upscale continental cuisine, craft cocktails, and Deep House music.
Executive chef Christian Evans is a veteran of The Ritz Carlton Buckhead, The Intercontinental Buckhead, and Nine Mile Station, among others. General manager Andrej Pop was previously with the Buckhead Life group for almost fifteen years.
404-963-5820
111 W Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30305
This “21st century diner,” recently opened in the Peachtree Battle shopping center. Brought to you by Unsukay partners Ryan Turner, Todd Mussman, and Chris Hall, the team behind Muss&Turner’s, Local Three, and other local staples. The restaurant is now serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Atlanta locals and long-time residents will love the nods to our home town throughout the restaurant. The Turtle’s Records and Tapes wall and Atlanta skyline murals are only the beginning. The Roshambo website describes it as, “Our homage to Atlanta with a steady diet of wit, whimsy, & irreverence.”
404-835-7373
2355 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30305
You may have noticed the bright blue facade of Recess between the Buckhead Theater and the Iberian Pig on Roswell Road. This is the second location of the popular grain bowl and salad stall in Krog Street Market. The Buckhead location features indoor and outdoor seating in addition to the walk-up window for takeout orders.
The healthy menu offers curated bowls and salads, or you can build your own. Vegetables are the star of the show, but diners can add chicken and other protein options as well.
678-235-5380
3150 Roswell Rd NW STE A1, Atlanta, GA 30305
We previously reported this New York-based chain coming to Buckhead Village next to Lucy’s Market. Isla&Co is now open, highlighting Australian cuisine, along with European and South East Asian influences. You can enjoy the healthy, seasonal dishes for brunch, lunch or dinner.
404-228-4060
56 E Andrews Dr NW STE 17, Atlanta, GA 30305
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens joined Atlanta City Council Representatives Howard Shook and Mary Norwood, along with other officials on November 11, 2022 to officially break ground on the last major piece of the PATH400 Greenway. This northernmost section will continue the existing PATH from Wieuca Road to Loridans Drive, and connects PATH400 to Mountain Way Common.
Denise Starling, executive director of Livable Buckhead, has been the lead on the PATH400 project from its inception, and she is excited to get this last piece underway. “We are thrilled to kick off construction on the last major section of PATH400 as it was originally envisioned in Buckhead,” she said on Thursday. “This section connects directly to Mountain Way Common, a park that neighbors have worked for years to develop. Creating pedestrian and bike-friendly connections between parks in Buckhead was one of the central purposes for building PATH400, and we’re excited to deliver on that promise with this new segment.”
The new project is expected to take 2 years to complete, at a cost of $12.8 million. The Wieuca-Loridans segment is funded through federal and local government funds, including approximately $8.8 million from transportation improvement project funds administered by the Atlanta Regional Commission and $3.8 million from the City of Atlanta’s TSPLOST funds with additional funding for design contributed by the Buckhead Community Improvement District (BCID).
Mayor Dickens spoke about the importance of green spaces in the community, as well as the economic benefits. “PATH400–a $12.8 million investment made possible by TSPLOST and Federal funding—is part of a growing trail network that can eventually serve as a valuable economic development tool for our city and the region,” said Mayor Dickens. “Trails like PATH400 help make Atlanta a healthier city, providing accessible and equitable opportunities for exercise and recreation.”
Be sure to check out our preview of the new PATH400 section form our tour with Denise Starling last year.
A brewery and restaurants could be coming to North Buckhead’s Piedmont Center office complex as part of a large-scale retail conversion.
The plans for the doughnut-shaped Buildings 1-4 in the sprawling complex at 3565 Piedmont Road involve converting nearly 32,000 square feet of ground-level offices into retail space to serve workers and the public.
The plans by owner Ardent Companies also involves remaking the circular courtyard and adding patios and outdoor dining. The Piedmont facade would get some improved screening as well.
The plan, which would need a special administrative permit from the City, was presented Nov. 2 to the Development Review Committee (DRC) of Special Public Interest District 12, a zoning area aimed at design details and walkability that Arden voluntarily joined in recent years.
Representatives of Ardent’s team told the DRC that no tenant deals have been struck yet, but that a brewery is in discussion. The brewery would not serve food, they said. DRC members and City planner Nathan Brown said a brewery might not be an automatically allowed use in the local zoning, something for the team to check.
A site plan in the presentation showed other spaces, including one labeled “market deli.” Others are designated for retail or “food and beverage,” while some would remain offices.
The Ardent representatives said a general contractor is in place and work could start soon after permitting. The work would involve only renovation, with no additions, they said.
The plan would continue to allow room for a stop on the Buc shuttle, an on-demand van service offered by the local nonprofit Livable Buckhead.
The plan drew praise from DRC members. Member Peter Davis called it a “badly needed” improvement to a complex that has long had a “barren feel.”
Ardent last year completed its acquisition of all 14 buildings in the sprawling, maze-like office park. Since then, it has embarked on a campaign to enliven it, make it easier to navigate, and open it up to the public. Among new tenants in that regard is the co-working space Switchyards, which opened early this year in Building 2.
North Buckhead’s Sarah Smith Elementary School is celebrating its 70th school year.
The anniversary will be celebrated at the school’s annual Fall Festival Oct. 20 and at a 1970s-themed party in the spring for past and present parents of students.
Part of the Atlanta Public Schools system, the school opened at 370 Old Ivy Road in 1952, the same year Buckhead was annexed into Atlanta.
It opened as Marion Smith Elementary, named for an attorney who served as chairman of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. Marion Smith also was the son of Hoke Smith, a powerful political figure who served as Georgia governor, a U.S. Senator and Atlanta Board of Education president and published the Atlanta Journal newspaper.
As recounted by Northside Neighbor columnist Thornton Kennedy, the new school soon ran into confusion with an identically named school in East Point. So in 1954, the Buckhead school was renamed for Marion’s late wife, Sarah Brock Rawson Smith. It is known formally as Sarah Rawson Smith or Sarah R. Smith Elementary.
The school has expanded significantly over the years and now has two campuses: the K-2 Primary Campus at the original site and the Grades 3-5 Intermediate Campus at 4141 Wieuca Road, the latter of which opened in 2010. That expansion followed a period of overcrowding that saw kindergartner classes held at a nearby church for several years.
The school is known for its dual-language immersion and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs. It offers the IB’s Primary Years Programme.
Over the past decade, the school has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Blue Ribbon Schools and the Georgia Department of Education’s Schools of Excellence awards, which are programs noting high student achievement test scores or the closing of achievement gaps.
This year, the school campus became the anchor for a community program of pedestrian-friendly green space improvements along neighborhood streets.
The school is seeking photos and stories from alumni for anniversary celebration uses, which can be sent to ssefmarketing@gmail.com.
For more about the school and its events, see its website.
The discerning buyer will appreciate the quality, craftsmanship, and attention to detail at 4111 McClatchey Circle in North Buckhead. The meticulously landscaped front yard, Circa gas lanterns, and copper gutters are only the beginning. Everything inside the classic brick facade has been upgraded over time. You’ll discover carefully considered details throughout the home, such as Lutron smart dimmer switches, solid cherry doors, and custom hardware. Other highlights include a whole-house water filtration system, tankless water heater, April Aire filtration system, and dehumidification system.
Nature lovers will appreciate the outdoor spaces. A screened outdoor living room overlooks the generous wooded lot that slopes down to a creek on the property. The serene view is like having a private nature preserve.
The entry foyer leads to the formal living room on one side, and the formal dining room on the other. The custom cherry French doors allow the living room to function as the perfect private home office. The dining room features built in corner cabinets, and provides access to the gourmet kitchen.
The kitchen contains solid cherry cabinets and granite counter tops. The chef in your home will love the Viking gas range and microwave, SubZero refrigerator, and Miele dishwasher. The bright breakfast room leads to an additional wine room/bar with cherry cabinetry and double wine cooler.
The family room has a cozy fireplace, and provides access to the outdoor living room and the open-air deck. These outdoor spaces are sure to become some of your favorite parts of the home.
Upstairs you will find the main bedroom suite, along with three additional bedrooms and a full bath. The main bedroom features a gorgeous ensuite Waterworks bath. The heated Carrara marble flooring, Kohler tea-for-two bathtub, and Toto toilet give the suite a decadent, spa-like feel.
The additional upstairs Waterworks bath also features Carrara marble, Toto toilet, and high-end fixtures.
The daylight terrace level provides 500 additional square feet of finished space! This lower level includes two large rooms plus a full bath, featuring a Jacuzzi tub, and the outdoor entrance leads to the backyard.
North Buckhead blends quiet, walkable neighborhoods with easy access to some of the best amenities in Buckhead. This diverse neighborhood includes multiple access points to PATH400, great outdoor activities at the Blue Heron Nature Preserve and Little Nancy Creek Park, and the Buckhead Village District and Chastain Park are right around the corner. The active North Buckhead Civic Association hosts numerous events throughout the year to help residents stay connected and engaged. North Buckhead is a great home base for active Buckhead families!
Livable Buckhead’s Summer Event Series provides plenty of inspiration to get you out of the house, no matter what you’re into. Most of the events are free to the public, and reservations are encouraged through the Livable Buckhead website. The events kick off on June 4 with the buckheadRUN 5K race, but there is much more happening throughout the summer.
“There really is something for absolutely everyone,” said Denise Starling, executive director of Livable Buckhead. “We want to give people a reason to get out and enjoy the summer in Buckhead, and we particularly want to give them a reason to try out PATH400. All of the Summer Series events will take place on the trail or very nearby it, and we encourage everyone to walk or bike on PATH400 if they can.”
Here is the full list of recurring events, from the Livable Buckhead press release:
Every other Thursday from June 9 to September 28, pups and their humans are invited to the Hyatt Centric Buckhead Atlanta for free training and a cock“tail.” Each week has a new theme, activity or giveaway. Yappy Hour is from 5 to 7 p.m. and there is no charge to attend, but reservations are encouraged.
On the third Friday of each month from June through September, Livable Buckhead will screen a free, family-friendly movie in Old Ivy Park and offer pre-movie activities for the whole family. The first movie is “The Secret Life of Pets” on June 17, followed by “Babe” on July 15, “Sing 2” on August 19 and “The Emperor’s New Groove” on Sept. 16. Activities begin at 7:30 and movies begin at dusk. See the Livable Buckhead website for specific start times and more details.
Enjoy goat yoga at Hyatt Centric Buckhead Atlanta on the last Wednesday of every month from June through September. This Ashtanga-based Vinyasa class is appropriate for all levels. Cost is $38 per session with a $10 discount for Livable Buckhead members. Register online.
Miami Circle is home to the largest gathering of fine art galleries in Atlanta. Join Livable Buckhead on July 16 and Sept. 17 for this free event, experiencing some of the foremost art galleries while discovering stunning local, regional and international artists. Before heading out, check out Livable Buckhead’s Facebook page for each stroll’s highlights.
Livable Buckhead is creating a community park at 684 Mountain Drive, and in recent years has planted trees, added picnic benches, and even introduced beehives with a supporting pollinator garden. On the second Saturday of each month from June through September, this park will be the site of sustainability events including a beehive demonstration, a bee and honey workshop, a rain barrel workshop and a block party.
The Livable Buckhead Summer Event Series is sponsored by Buckhead Village; Owen and Associates; Regent Partners; Deirdre Greenfield, Realtor® – Ansley Real Estate; AMLI; Tower Beer, Wine and Spirits; Hyatt Centric; and Sweetgreen. For complete event details visit www.livablebuckhead.org/summer.
Buckhead’s Atlanta Police Department precinct is seeing a changing of the guard as its current commander has received a promotion to deputy chief.
Andrew Senzer, who has led the Zone 2 precinct since November 2019 with the rank of major, will head APD’s Strategy and Special Projects Division, he announced at an April 7 meeting of the Buckhead Public Safety Task Force.
Major Ailen Mitchell, who has served as Senzer’s assistant since 2020, will be the new Zone 2 commander, Deputy Chief Timothy Peek said in the meeting.
The transition will happen on April 14, according to APD. The current head of the Strategy and Special Projects Division, Deputy Chief Darin Schierbaum, is being promoted to the vacant position of assistant chief of police.
Senzer was Buckhead’s police commander through the historic COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying crime spike, including the May 2020 rioting and looting in local business areas that spun out of Black Lives Matter protests about the Minneapolis police murder of George Floyd.
He also led through the beginning of the Buckhead cityhood movement that based itself on crime concerns. While crime spiked, Senzer took a zero-tolerance approach and Buckhead continues to have the city’s lowest crime rate.
“It really has been an honor to serve as the commander of Zone 2,” Senzer said in the task force meeting. “In my 26 years [in policing], this has probably been the most challenging assignment I’ve had.”
He said his new role will be “a little behind the scenes” but that he will “not be a stranger” in Buckhead.
Peek said APD is “ecstatic” about Senzer taking on the deputy chief role.
Mitchell, according to his APD biography, has been with the department since 2006. He previously commanded the SWAT team and, like Senzer, once served on the Red Dog unit, an anti-drug squad disbanded in 2011 after controversial incidents like an illegal raid on the Atlanta Eagle gay bar. Among his other work was the Gang Unit and the Auto Theft Task Force.
Mitchell became Zone 2’s Criminal Investigations Unit commander in 2018 and its assistant commander in 2020.
Zone 2 is headquartered at 3120 Maple Drive in Buckhead Village.
Update: This story has been updated with information from APD about the transition.
A garden of native plants at Sarah Smith Elementary School sounds like a nice little project, something kids and passers-by can enjoy. But it may also be the start of something much bigger for North Buckhead.
The garden project, which could start construction as soon as this summer, is intended as the catalyst for a much bigger plan in the works for pedestrian-friendly and greenspace improvements along Old Ivy, Peachtree-Dunwoody and Wieuca roads. The North Buckhead Civic Association (NBCA) calls it “Signature Streets,” and is already lining up some strong community partners.
The trio of “Signature Streets” share such major issues as a lack of sidewalks and safe crossings, and all carry a speedy river of cut-through commuter traffic.
NBCA board member Matt Oja, who lives on Old Ivy, says the effort aims to answer one big but simple question: “How do we connect the neighborhoods together, how do we connect the streets together, in such a way that people want to walk on the streets?”
The NBCA started working on that question back in 2015 with a neighborhood master plan that laid out some concepts. Some money and planning power recently became available through a Buckhead Community Improvement District (BCID) plan to turn the intersection of Wieuca and Phipps Boulevard into a roundabout. The intersection includes a small green space, the NBCA-supervised North Buckhead Park. Discussions about that turned into talk of the larger opportunities for Wieuca and other streets.
The BCID, a group of commercial property owners in the central business who tax themselves to fund various improvements, offered $40,000 for a study by Pond & Company. The recently completed initial phase looked at Old Ivy and Wiecua, but an addendum about Peachtree-Dunwoody is in the works.
Most of that area is outside the BCID’s area, but Executive Director Jim Durrett said there are still ways for it to have a role like the study funding. “We are considering whether and how to partner with NBCA going forward, with details [to be determined],” Durrett says. “We cannot spend capital dollars for construction outside of our geographical boundaries, but we can spend planning and design dollars.”
So far, the studying has produced a bevy of ideas for Old Ivy and Wieuca. They range from a multiuse trail to painted and lighted crosswalks, from road humps to separated bicycle lanes.
The existing PATH400 multiuse trail crosses Old Ivy and Wieuca at Ga. 400, so some better connections are in the plan, too. And the roundabout will contain a handful of green spaces that could double as a “gateway” to North Buckhead featuring some type of sign or public art element.
Then there are the green space ideas, like the Sarah Smith native plant garden — or gardens, really — up to four of them are on the table. The project aims to use areas around the driveway of the school’s Primary Campus at 370 Old Ivy for plantings that can also serve as outdoor classrooms and wild bird habitats. Sidney Baker, the school’s interim principal, says he’s “thrilled” to participate.
“The thought of improving some areas on our campuses with plants native to Georgia is exciting,” said Baker. “The native plants will be beautiful to the birds and butterflies that will find nectar, seeds and pollen there. Students will learn the importance of the environment and can become involved in caring for the area. I salute the work of the North Buckhead Civic Association and am proud they have included Sarah Smith Elementary in the street beautification project.”
Oja and NBCA President Robert Patterson says there’s more to be done in coordinating with Atlanta Public Schools and securing funding, with an application for up to $6,500 from the City’s Community Impact Grant program in the works. Neighborhood Planning Unit B (NPU-B) on March 1 agreed to endorse the grant application at Patterson’s request. NBCA expects to hear about the grant in April or May, but Patterson says there’s already enough in the bank to get started.
“We expect to do the project whether we get the grant or not,” he said, adding that design will start soon, with Phase 1 construction as early as the summer. Next year, the NBCA would aim to raise more money for another phase.
If all goes well, Patterson says, the school’s Intermediate Campus at 4141 Wieuca could get the same sort of garden treatment.
But that’s just the start. As Patterson told NPU-B, the school garden is intended as “the catalyst for a much bigger project” — the whole “Signature Streets” program.
Of course, most of the items in the plan would cost a lot more than a few thousand dollars and require serious engineering. The “Signature Streets” plan itself isn’t done yet, with that Peachtree-Dunwoody addendum expected to wrap up around late April.
But, Oja says, initial response from City officials and potential private funders is “very, very good” — including some statement that if the NBCA can pull off some of these improvements, it could be a model for other neighborhoods. Among the many funding possibilities are latching onto an infrastructure bond and a transportation special local option sales tax that the City is putting on the May primary election ballot.
As the school pilot project shows, the NBCA doesn’t intend to wait around for all of the pieces to come together. Oja says that “we don’t know how long it will take to implement any of this… but we want to do it sooner rather than later. The last thing we want to do is have a plan and put it on a shelf.”
To learn more, see the NBCA website.
Expansive skyline views and plant-covered walls are among the features of a new community space the tech company Salesforce is opening on the top floor of its Buckhead office tower.
The “‘Ohana Floor” occupies the 34th story of the Salesforce Atlanta Tower at 950 East Paces Ferry Road. The company offered a preview of the space March 2 in advance of an expected availability in August.
Offered for free to select nonprofit and civic groups for major events, ‘Ohana Floors are a component of six Salesforce towers in the U.S. and London, with several more planned around the world. “‘Ohana” is a Hawaiian term for extended family that the California-based software company uses in a broad sense of social engagement.
The ‘Ohana Floor is not the place you will be holding a birthday party or wedding. Salesforce vets would-be renters as nonprofits, non-governmental organizations and foundations with “a focus on humanitarian, social, educational or environmental causes,” according to a press release. The Salesforce website says the floor is suitable for receptions, fundraising galas, “executive-level board meetings” and seated dinners.
Other ‘Ohana Floors have been popular, according to the company’s website, with renters restricted to one event every 12 months and a six-month lead time on reservations. In addition, all reservations have been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Atlanta ‘Ohana Floor has a capacity of 150 and includes such features as a coffee bar and a chef’s table.
Warren Wick, Salesforce’s North American president, led a ribbon-cutting at the March 2 event. Appearing with, including for a ceremonial blowing of a seashell, were Danny and Anna Akaka, Hawaiian culture experts who frequently appear at resorts and corporate events.
Among the public officials in attendance were Atlanta City Council President Doug Shipman, City Councilmember Matt Westmoreland, state Rep. Betsy Holland (D-Atlanta) and Gabriel Sterling, the Georgia elections official known nationally for sparring with former President Trump over 2020 conspiracy theories.
“Salesforce has contributed to the innovation, economic growth and social impact in Atlanta for years,” said Shipman in a press release after the event. “The opening of the Salesforce Tower Atlanta ‘Ohana Floor is another example of how the company continues to invest in the community. We’re delighted to have this beautiful space available to our city.”
The Buckhead tower is the regional hub for Salesforce, which opened Atlanta offices in 2013. In 2018, the company announced a multimillion-dollar expansion of the offices and received a $2 million state grant as an incentive. The company promised to add 600 jobs over the next five years and now says it has already exceeded that goal with more than 1,000 jobs.
The company said that over the years, it has given $4.6 million in grants to local nonprofits and its staff has volunteered for more than 71,000 collective hours in the area.
For more scenes from the ‘Ohana Floor preview, see our gallery below. For more details about rentals, see the company’s website.
Switchyards, Atlanta’s homegrown mix of cafe and co-working space, has come to North Buckhead as part of the renovation of the Piedmont Center office mega-complex.
The Buckhead location opened Feb. 22 in Building 3 of the complex at 3565 Piedmont Road. During a visit by Buckhead.com three days later, dozens of customers were already occupying work tables and soundproofed “phone booths” that are among the several amenities.
Catherine Braun, the location’s manager, or “clubkeep” in company lingo, says the clientele so far was a mix of freelancers, remote workers and employees of corporations that cover the membership fee.
“Something we’re seeing in recent years is, a lot of jobs could have been remote the whole time,” she said.
It’s the fifth location of Switchyards since its Downtown debut in 2016. The concept is the brainchild of Michael Tavani, an Atlanta startup guru who previously co-founded the once-popular online marketplace Scoutmob. He has since opened locations, called “neighborhood clubs,” in Cabbagetown, Decatur and the Westside.
The concept revolves around well-appointed seating areas with hip decor and a small-menu cafe with unlimited coffee and tea included in a relatively low monthly membership fee. A $50 membership gives access to both the Buckhead and Cabbagetown locations, which are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. A $100 membership grants access to all locations, which have 24/7 access.
“We were inspired by the scale, setting and location of Piedmont Center, and saw an incredible opportunity to open a new location that’s convenient and unique for members,” said Tavani in a press release. “Nestled within a canopy of trees in the middle of the city and surrounded by open-air spaces, walking trails and accessible parking, we’re thrilled to bring Switchyards to Buckhead and give the community a place to concentrate and recharge.”
The idea of Switchyards is a place to focus on work. For those with a more hardcore definition, the Buckhead and Decatur locations have a quiet room, dubbed the library, for what Braun calls “more of a deep-focus vibe.” (The Decatur location was originally pitched online as a “private library” called “The Library of Deep Work and Focus,” which drew some social media criticism and mockery.) The soundproof booths at Buckhead are already popular enough that Braun sometimes needs to call a time-out on users.
For more decorative purposes, the location has an actual antique phone booth, too. Above the coffee counter is an analogue population counter for Atlanta, echoing a historic one outside the historic Darlington apartment building on Peachtree Road.
Each location has what Braun calls “Easter eggs” amid the decor for patrons to discover as “surprise and delight.” In Buckhead, the theme is cats, which pop up in various artworks and even business-card holders.
Braun estimates about a third of the regular customers so far are in the tech world. Some customers work remotely for out-of-state businesses. Some are between home and the traditional office with their employer covering the Switchyards membership. And the spot is popular with freelancers, such as journalists, artists and graphic designers.
Braun, whose previous jobs included working the desk at the legendary Hotel Clermont, says the staff’s job is to make Switchyards not just another co-working spot, but something with the familiar touch of being a regular at a cafe.
Switchyards occupies about 5,500 square feet of what was formerly an accounting firm in a circular building in Piedmont Center. It fronts on a courtyard that includes a putting green — with clubs available within Switchyards — and a bocce court.
The courtyard is part of an updating of the enormous, 14-building, 50-acre complex by Ardent Companies, which fully acquired the site last year. The complex remains a tricky maze of towers and multi-level parking decks, but finding Switchyards was easy enough thanks to some improved signage.
“We know the market’s office and residential community is looking for a place outside of the home and office to recharge and connect with others,” said Ardent CEO Matt Shulman in a press release. “We’re confident that Switchyards will be an incredible amenity for not only Piedmont Center’s tenants, but for the entire Buckhead community.”
For more information, see the Switchyards website.
Mayor-elect Andre Dickens’ inaugural weekend schedule includes a New Year’s Day cleanup at a small Buckhead park.
That’s in advance of his Jan. 3 inauguration at Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd Stadium.
The Little Nancy Creek Park cleanup is one of only three such in-person events on a schedule that also includes the likes of Piedmont Park. There’s no mention of the Buckhead cityhood controversy, but the political touch is obvious as Dickens has promised to pay better attention to the neighborhood than incumbent Keisha Lance Bottoms as a way to stave off the secession.
The lead-up to the inauguration begins with the “Community Service Day” on Saturday, Jan. 1, which has many virtual and do-it-yourself options as well as a few organized, in-person events. The cleanup at the 5-acre Little Nancy Creek Park at 4012 Peachtree-Dunwoody Road in North Buckhead is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Other in-person events that day include assembling personal hygiene kits at the C.T. Martin Natatorium and Recreation Center in Southwest Atlanta and “community Wiffle ball games and outreach activities” at Midtown’s Piedmont Park.
That evening, 5-7 p.m., a community reception and block party will be held at Pullman Yards in Kirkwood.
On Sunday, Jan. 2, a virtual “Interfaith Prayer Across Atlanta” is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Then comes the swearing-in of Dickens and the gathering of the new Atlanta City Council on Monday, Jan. 3 at 1 p.m. Attendance will be limited.
All in-person attendees will have to wear a mask and show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test taken within the previous 24 hours. For full details, see the inaugural website at MovingATLForward.com.
The spirit of Buckhead heads forward. This is the way it has been, and perhaps this is the way it will always be. The spirit of Buckhead points forward. You see it in the way we work, and you see it in the way we play. The reach is always extending further. The search is for excellence and beauty and grace and vibrancy.
We are a community of individuals. We are diverse, we are dynamic, and we are discerning. We are builders. We are connected to one another with a common bond. A common dream. A common quest. Pointing life in one direction. Forward.
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