Atlanta Intown - January 2021

FROM YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD EXPERT, KEN COVERS WITH ENGEL & VÖLKERS ATLANTA

As we say goodbye to one of the most memorable years ever, we look back on the Intown real estate market this year. It was filled with many surprises, accelerations, quiet periods, and homes selling virtually—where buyers often saw their home selection for the first time in person on closing day or shortly thereafter. As the year continued to build, prices went up and inventory of available homes ended up at one of the lowest levels in recent memory. Very successful home sales take planning, and now more than ever before it’s even more important to plan well. Whether you’re planning to sell next month or next year, call me so we can begin to put a plan in place together. Knowing where to focus time, energy and money plays a very important role in maximizing the sale of your home. As one of the leading Intown Realtors® for the last 10 years, nothing gives me more pleasure than helping Intown residents realize their dream home or achieve their dream results.

Gratitude.

This year certainly was not the year many of us envisioned; however, I feel more conscious of the hallmarks that make our Intown community so incredibly vibrant and desirable.

With our abundance of parks, greenspaces, trails, as well as supportive neighbors, fantastic restaurants, unique local businesses and quite possibly, the best healthcare system in the region, Atlanta offers endless opportunities and an unparalleled quality of life.

I hope you will take a moment this holiday season to pause, reflect and truly appreciate the things in your life that you can control. Thank you, I appreciate your continued support, your business, real estate referrals and the trust you place in me when buying or selling a home.

Publisher’s Note:

New Year, New Beginnings

Through all of the headwinds facing journalism (and newspapers in particular), the space known as hyperlocal media continues to thrive, delivering the type of relevant journalism that is essential to a functioning society and a vibrant community. Providing consistent, reliable news and information while growing a viable print media business requires engaged local ownership.

That’s why we are excited to announce the transition of Atlanta INtown and its parent company, Springs Publishing, to a new, local owner, Keith Pepper. Keith is an Atlanta native who has deep roots in the community and will continue to operate the company with a focus on being present in civic, corporate, and cultural events around town.

Springs Publishing founder/owner Steve Levene built a successful group of local papers by staying focused on the communities they serve. The Springs family includes four Reporter Newspapers covering Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Brookhaven and Buckhead as well as Atlanta Senior Life. These publications are produced by a talented staff of writers, designers and sales executives. Now, after a 40+ year career in the newspaper business, Steve thinks it’s the right time and opportunity to pass the baton to new ownership.

For more than 25-years, Atlanta INtown has been the go-to source for the city’s most dynamic and influential neighborhoods. Our readers have come to rely on our journalists to know what’s happening: from the city council and school board to real estate and where to find a great burger.

By producing high-quality products that reach coveted audiences, local advertisers have been able to grow their businesses using simple but effective marketing plans to connect with their neighbors. It’s because of these engaged constituencies that INtown has been able to survive so many changes in the industry. The plan going forward is to lean into this market leadership and continue to cover the stories that are meaningful to the community and to do it in fun, engaging, and non-sensational ways.

We will keep it old-school with thorough research and clear, concise writing. At the same time, we will experiment with new ways to meet our readers in places they may not expect. One of those ways is introduced in this issue: our new Spotify channel featuring playlists from Atlanta notables, beginning with Chef Linton Hopkins on page 26.

Continue to look for INtown in the mail and around town, but also please connect with us on social media. Spread the word: we’re all in this together. While our names may be on the masthead, we want this to be your paper as well! Please reach out with feedback or questions to publisher@springspublishing.com.

Freshening up for the new year

If you’re a regular reader of the print edition of INtown, you’ll notice we’ve freshened up our look for 2021. New fonts, design elements, and features are debuting this month coinciding with the arrival of our new publisher, Keith Pepper.

With restaurants still struggling due to the pandemic, we redesigned our News You Can Eat section to better showcase the restauranteurs, chefs, sommeliers, and mixologists who keep us fed, while New Restaurant Radar offers a headsup on where to dine next.

You might also notice that attached to our Q&A with Chef Linton Hopkins is a new way to engage with us online – INtown’s new Spotify channel. Every month we’ll have notable Atlantans sharing their favorite tunes with our IN the Mix playlists. Along with Hopkins’ eclectic kitchen tunes, you’ll also find some dancefloor fillers from longtime Mary’s bar spin doctor, DJ Headmaster, as well as my own playlist of “editing music.” Just search for AtlantaINtown on Spotify or find the link via our social media.

Speaking of social media, did you know that we’re back on Instagram after a brief – ahem! –hiatus? We’re posting photos and stories on the regular @atlantaintown.

Our new year makeover isn’t quite done yet. Next up: a brand new look for our website. Stay tuned!

Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty

Steve Levene

Keith Pepper Collin Kelley has been editor of Atlanta INtown for almost two decades. He’s also an awardwinning poet and novelist.

Neighborhood Blueprint

New Poncey-Highland Historic District preserves character, offers flexibility

By Collin Kelley and Julie Herron Carson

Beth McDonald and Lisa

Malaney

have lost count of the number of hours they’ve worked over the last three-plus years to bring the Poncey-Highland Historic District to fruition, but both agree the work is not over yet.

Residents, commercial building owners, Neighborhood Planning Unit-N, and the City of Atlanta approved the plan in mid-September last year, and it’s likely to become a blueprint for other Intown neighborhoods. McDonald and Malaney said the goal of the historic district zoning has always been to preserve the neighborhood’s unique historic character and buildings, while allowing property owners the flexibility to improve their homes and businesses and even construct new buildings.

The 20-street Poncey-Highland neighborhood was originally developed between 1910 and 1940 as Atlantans took advantage of the expanded streetcar system to move out of the central city and into more suburban neighborhoods.

Bounded by Ponce de Leon Avenue to the north, Moreland Avenue to the east, Freedom Parkway to the south and the Atlanta Beltline Eastside Trail to the west, the neighborhood includes single-family homes, established businesses, the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, apartment and condominium buildings, parks, churches and more.

The arrival of the BeltLine and Ponce City Market turned the spotlight on PonceyHighland and developers began to circle, McDonald said.

“In 2018, developers approached property owners on Somerset Terrace about selling their bungalows so they could be torn down for townhomes,” McDonald, who was president of the Poncey-Highland Neighborhood Association from 2016 to 2019, recalled. “We were playing whacka-mole with developers, and it became obvious that if we didn’t start doing things differently, there wouldn’t be anything left to preserve.”

Malaney, the PHNA land use chair, said uncertainty about the fate of Briarcliff Plaza – the historic shopping strip at Ponce de Leon and N. Highland that is home to the

Plaza Theatre and Majestic Diner – when it was sold 2017 “lit a fire” under her to pursue the historic district zoning.

Two of Poncey-Highland’s streets – Somerset Terrace and Bonaventure –got historic status before the rest of the neighborhood. Located adjacent to the BeltLine, the bungalow-lined streets were under threat by developers.

“After that success, folks wanted to know when something else would be done for the rest of neighborhood,” Malaney said.

The PHNA turned to a familiar face when it came time to guide the neighborhood through the process. Caleb Racicot, community planner and senior principal of Atlanta-based TSW, drafted PonceyHighland’s original master plan in 2009, and was subsequently re-hired to draft the new zoning.

“I truly believe this new type of Historic District will serve as a model for other neighborhoods across the country,” Racicot said. “Many historic districts are created to ‘freeze’ a neighborhood at a specific moment in time. The Poncey-Highland neighborhood took a much more creative approach that preserves the neighborhood’s

unique features, while allowing it to evolve appropriately to meet the needs and desires of future residents and businesses.”

The new historic district designation identifies and defines historic residences as those built up to 1940 and commercial structures built up to 1955 and still largely intact. Staff from the Atlanta Urban Design Commission reviewed these buildings within Poncey-Highland and determined which ones contribute to the neighborhood’s historic character.

In drafting the new zoning, the neighborhood stakeholders agreed they did not want the neighborhood to be frozen in time. While the building facades will be preserved, property owners are permitted to modify and expand buildings in the rear, including additions that increase height. There are no restrictions governing exterior paint colors or residential landscape design. Racicot explained, “Working with the Urban Design Commission and the City of Atlanta, we created a forward-thinking Historic District that focuses on preserving what we called the ‘Lot Compatibility Zone.’

The zone

Continued on Page 8

Beth McDonald and Lisa Malaney

Caleb Racicot led work sessions on the historic district.

News RoundUp

Absentee ballots for the U.S. Senate runoff between David Perdue (R) and Jon Ossoff (D) and Kelly Loeffler (R) and Raphael Warnock (D) must be received by election offices in Fulton and DeKalb by 7 p.m. on Jan. 5. Officials encourage voters to use officials drop boxes. Locations can be found at fultoncountyga.gov or dekalbcountyga.gov.

Continued from page 6

establishes the most stringent preservation standards on the portion of a lot within 60 feet of a public street. Beyond 60 feet, greater flexibility is allowed. For the most part, this means the forward-facing façades of historically significant buildings will be maintained and protected, but property owners are free to improve and/or expand the rear of their buildings and even add accessory dwelling units in the back. In areas with fewer remaining historic resources, such as along Ponce de Leon Avenue or near the Atlanta Beltline, the new district allows for significant new mid- and high-rise construction, provided all historic buildings are preserved,” Racicot said.

Buckhead’s Lenox Square mall is responding to a year-long string of shootings by adding metal detectors and gun-sniffing dogs. In just the last few months of 2020, a man accidentally fired a gun in the food court, while another was shot inside the new Apple Store, and a man fired a gun inside Neiman Marcus during an alleged robbery attempt.

There were naysayers to the plan, mainly from commercial building owners and residents who believed the designation would cost them money or restrict their rights as property owners. Opposition signs were visible along N. Highland Avenue and it sparked often heated debate in online community forums. The majority of Poncey-Highland’s residents were in favor, McDonald said, due to concerns about the loss of historic homes, buildings, and the threat of “McMansions” encroaching into the community.

McDonald said the city would also be using Poncey-Highland’s new zoning status as a model as it begins to rezone other neighborhoods to allow for accessory dwelling

The Atlanta City Council unanimously approved an ordinance on Dec. 7 permitting restaurants and bars to offer sidewalk seating on city streets during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The city already allows sidewalk dining, but usually requires a permit fee.

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has appointed Jon Keen to serve as the City’s Chief Operating Officer. Keen joined the Bottoms Administration in 2018 as Deputy Chief Operating Officer. Before joining the Administration, Keen was a Manager for Deloitte Consulting LLP and IBM Global Services and was a Major in the United States Army.

units (ADUs) to provide more affordable housing (see the story on page 21).

“We’ve got provisions for getting affordable housing done without having to tear something down,” McDonald said. “We were very appreciative of the City of Atlanta’s willingness to work with us on this process.”

With the heavy lifting complete, both McDonald and Malaney said there is still education to be done to help the community understand what the historic district zoning means to them, including a user-friendly

Malaney hopes Poncey-Highland’s work will be a catalyst for other Intown neighborhoods.

“Once people understand what’s possible, I think other neighborhoods might want to do this too,” Malaney said. “Having zoning that speaks and is tailored to a neighborhood gives the community more agency.”

4235 AMBER GLADE DRIVE 1581 JOHNSON ROAD 3 bedrooms | 3.5 bathrooms OFFERED FOR $409,900

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WITH DANA ERIS

website and a PHNA historic district committee.

Poncey-Highland Bungalow

Poncey-Highland Bungalow

Pandemic, election reform top agenda as Georgia Legislature reconvenes Jan. 11

By Jonathan Shipley

The Georgia State Legislature is scheduled to reconvene on Jan. 11 managing the COVID-19 pandemic and voting issues topping the agenda.

Although the first doses of vaccine have arrived in Georgia, state officials have projected that it will be summer before the general public has been inoculated against the virus. With a stimulus relief bill stalled in the U.S. Congress, the state economy continues to take a hit as unemployment claims rise along with COVID-19 cases. Adjustments to the state budget are likely to take up many days of the session as the lawmakers try to adjust to the “new normal” and look at a post-pandemic future.

Election reform will be another hot button issue following a majority of Georgian’s voting for Democrat Joe Biden in a once “reliably red” state. Although the courts rejected baseless claims of voter fraud in Georgia, Republicans in the Senate stung by Nov. 3 losses are calling for an end to mass absentee voting, banning ballot drop boxes, and requiring those approved for absentee ballot voting to provide a photo ID.

Other issues that will cross the desks of legislators in the months ahead include expanding

broadband internet access, economic growth in Georgia’s rural communities after the Economic Innovation Group said 50 percent of counties are considered “distressed,” and casino gambling is set to be revisited as lobbyists and lawmakers see dollar signs for Georgia’s economy as the pandemic goes on.

State Sen. Nan Orrock (D-36th District) will remain on the Appropriations, Finance, Health and Human Services, Higher Education, and Urban Affairs Committees. Last year she introduced, with Sen. Steve Hanson, the Georgia Death with Dignity Act (SB 291). The bill would allow eligible terminally-ill individuals the ability to request a prescription from their doctor to die peacefully in their sleep, should their suffering become too great.

State Rep. Park Cannon (D-58th District) was recently elected to the House Democratic Caucus as Secretary. A founding member of Georgia’s Equality Caucus, Cannon is dedicated to increasing LGBTQ representation in the public sector. She’s sponsored legislation calling for medically accurate HIV/AIDS instruction in sex education. A doula, she is also focusing her attention on reducing Georgia’s maternal mortality rate for Black women. In 2016, The Yale School of Public Health found the maternal death rate for Black women in Georgia is six times the rate for white women, nationally.

Historic Westview Cemetery launches member organization, renovation plan

By Collin Kelley

Back in 1884, Oakland Cemetery was becoming overcrowded with departed souls. A group of prominent Atlantans looked west of Downtown to a large swath of rolling land still scarred by the bloody Battle of Ezra Church during the Civil War. It was on this site that Westview Cemetery became the final resting place of the first of more than 125,000 residents – and counting.

In the intervening years, the Westview community, established in 1910, and its quaint bungalows have become one of the city’s most desired neighborhoods with the arrival of the Atlanta BeltLine’s Westside Trail. Westview Cemetery is also primed for a renovation of its historic, but aging structures and grounds.

To that end, Westview Cemetery and the Atlanta Preservation Center have launched The Friends of Historic Westview Cemetery with plans to not only bring more attention to the nearly 600-acre burial ground, but to raise money for its historic upkeep.

Oakland Cemetery is the resting place of golf great Bobby Jones and “Gone With the Wind” author Margaret Mitchell and Maynard Jackson. Westview’s roster of permanent residents is equally impressive: Coca-Cola founder Asa G. Candler, the soft drink company’s president Robert Woodruff, Atlanta Symphony Conductor Robert Shaw, Atlanta Falcons owner Rankin

Smith, Civil Rights icons Rev. Joseph, Evelyn Lowery, Vivian Jones and Donald Hollowell, and beloved local restaurateur and LGBTQ activist Ria Pell, to name a few.

Atlanta Preservation Center’s new executive director David Y. Mitchell said that unlike Oakland, which holds a handful of burials a year, Westview is an active site with regular funeral services. It is expected that Westview’s permanent residents’ list will grow to a quarter of a million.

It’s also a tourist attraction and popular filming location, with the massive Westview Abbey chapel and mausoleum – one of the largest in the country – recently doubling for drug kingpin Omar Navarro’s lair in the Netflix series “Ozark.”

Mitchell said he hopes that Friends of Westview will help transform the site into a place for repeat visits, as well as a tranquil place for walking and contemplation. He said the cemetery’s recent addition to the National Register of Historic Places was another step toward bringing wider recognition to the wonders of Westview.

“There is a weird, complex intersection of beauty and mortality at Westview,” Mitchell said. “You’ll want to come back again and again.”

The first project on the Friends of Westview’s list is the Gatehouse structure, which was formerly the main entrance to the cemetery. Constructed in 1890, the Romanesque Revival bell tower is a Westside landmark. Additions on either side of the gate were used for office space,

storage, and a former flower shop that provided plants for gravesites.

Mitchell envisions the Gatehouse being used for events, exhibitions, and community meetings, as well as a welcome center with public, unisex bathrooms.

Also on the list of projects is restoration of stained glass windows in the Abbey’s chapel. The 38 panels depicting the life of Christ were made by the LA ART Glass Company in 1943 when the Abbey was originally conceived by Asa Candler Jr., the son of the Coca-Cola founder.

Since construction of the Abbey took place during World War II, water supply lines were made of scrap metal since most raw materials were dedicated to the war effort. The decay of the water lines means the Abbey has long been without working bathrooms or the ability to operate the lawn fountain. Mitchell said a complete rebuild

of the pipe system could be done by 2025 with public donations.

Author Jeff Clemmons chronicled the creation of the necropolis in his 2018 book “Atlanta’s Historic Westview Cemetery” along with its colorful and often controversial history. Asa Candler Jr. – the eccentric millionaire who had himself installed as director of the cemetery association in 1934 and would remain there for 21 years – oversaw Westview’s biggest expansion, including the building of the Abbey, greenhouses, a trophy room for his big game conquests, and even a movie theater.

Clemmons said Candler ran afoul of mourners and legislators as he went about the “business of death” at Westview. Candler ran a one-stop shop for the bereaved, offering ambulance service, funeral home, embalming service, and the

The Gatehouse at Westview Cemetery was constructed in 1890.

Atlanta Preservation Center executive director David Mitchell inside The Gatehouse.

Candler was sued numerous times for alleged desecration when he removed gravestones and plants from Westview’s original “lawn park” style – which included large headstones and markers –for the modern “memorial park” style with

bronze markers flush to the ground. The Georgia General Assembly passed legislation in 1951 that would breakup Westview’s various mortuary services and put it under the supervision of the state cemetery board, effectively ending Candler’s association with Westview.

Since that time, the Bowen family have been the stewards of Westview Cemetery for three generations. Charles Bowen, the current Director of Westview, is very excited how this collaboration will enable more appreciation for this remarkable space.

Candler’s grandiosity has left a lasting mark on Westview. It is impossible not to look out over the terraced landscape or walk down the marbled halls of the Abbey mausoleum and columbarium, pausing to view the names of the city’s most notable families, and not feel awed by the 136 years of history that has come before and will continue long after we’re gone.

For more information and to join Friends of Westview, visit friendsofwestviewcemetery.org.

Lillian Schapiro, MD, FACOG Kathryn Garren, WHNP

Westview Flower Company to provide graveside flowers.

The chapel inside Westview Abbey.

Happy New Year and Thank You!

2020 has been a year of unprecedented change for us all. Whether your family converted the dining table into an elementary school, or moved your home office to the mountains or lake, it has been our distinct pleasure to be there to assist every step of the way.

We’ve had the opportunity to work with our clients to buy or sell some fabulous homes throughout 2020. Take a look at just a few of these amazing properties:

Virtually worn out

My tough, Irish Grandmother would overcook unseasoned chicken to a tasteless pulp. Because to her, anything beyond necessity was frivolous. Overcooked because she’d get bored and start at 2 p.m. Virtual education is reminiscent of the times Nan would boil a head of broccoli into compost. For most kids, seeing friends is the seasoning that makes school palatable and this plain chicken diet is wearing them out. The promise of vaccination in the coming months is fantastic but the anxiety and stress is here right now.

1371 Edmund Court

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BIG CANOE

291 Woodland Trace

3 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms

Sold for $365,000 | FMLS #6650834

VIRGINIA

LAKE LANIER

6294 Woodlake Drive

5 Bedrooms | 4 Full & 1 Half Bathrooms

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EQUESTRIAN ESTATE

4079 Post Road

7 Bedrooms | 7 Full & 2 Half Bathrooms

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Our wish for 2021 is that it will bring health, kindness and happiness to all. We hope to be able to continue to do what we love, and that is to help our clients reach their real estate goals, whatever they may be.

GEORGIA SCHULTZ

C: 404-643-4731

O: 404-897-5558

W: GaGroupWeb.HarryNorman.com

E: Georgia.Schultz@HarryNorman.com

Elliott and Margo survived first semester, I guess. Admittedly, the goal in our household was just that – survival, both literally and figuratively. We set the performance bar low enough to trip over, and at times we did. Teachers have never worked harder or under any more adverse circumstances so I cannot imagine how painful it must be writing emails like, “I’d really like to see Johnny engage a little more in class...” Not that we’ve gotten that email – we don’t have any kids named Johnny.

Timmy Daddy

Tim Sullivan grew up in a large family in the Northeast and now lives with his small family in Oakhurst. He can be reached at tim@sullivanfinerugs. com.

Kristen bore the brunt of it. While I have to go into my shop each day, she has been juggling her profession with the needs and wants of housebound kids and two dogs. She thrived going into work prior to the pandemic. She had a beautiful office overlooking Centennial Park and enjoyed a great workplace camaraderie. Now she pulls pocket doors closed, a modicum of privacy for her own meetings before preparing lunchtime mac ‘n’ cheese for slack-jawed children. Perhaps the most interesting thing her home office overlooks is the puppy humping a pillow.

City Schools of Decatur announced K-5 students (Margo) have the choice to remain virtual or return to in-person learning on Jan. 19. It is only four hours a day with specials still taken from home but when drowning you don’t question the quality of the rope thrown.

Unfortunately, middle school (Elliott) and high school will remain completely virtual for the time being. And they are doing away with “Wellness Wednesday” which for my kid has been Rip Van Winkle Wednesday and his favorite day of the week.

I would be exhausted by all the virtual engagement too. A college friend posted on LinkedIn: “Join Cognizant and Nuxeo for a webinar on Cloud, AI, Low-Code and Modern Content Management: trends that are transforming businesses during the pandemic.” All I could think was—do I HAVE to? I mean, maybe I should since I barely know what any of those words mean but honestly, I’d rather sweep the showroom floor. What I love about the handmade rug business is that it is old fashioned, tangible. A beautiful, durable good is sold by one helpful person to another happy person. But 2020 turned my small business upsidedown too and now it seems I need a guy named Nuxeo to tell me what to do about it.

Maybe a silver lining here is that the kids will become even more adept at technology than they already are. If that’s where the world is heading, they might as well have the skills. I could use the help convincing Captcha that I am not a robot. I think I’ve clicked on every traffic light but one of them is sort of in two squares at once, you know? Or the letters and numbers are offered through some Salvador Dali filter and I can’t figure out if its’ a capital G or a melting 6. But I digress. Just like 2020 was a total digression, an unconventional education. Nan knew plenty of hard times over her long life –she was Elliott’s age when the Spanish flu hit in 1918. I wish I could ask her about it. Maybe in some way her cooking helped prepare us for these hurdles. Nothing could be more virtual than Irish wisdom from the grave. Plain chicken is still chicken, and something to be thankful for.

*represented the buyer

Tim Sullivan

Atlanta School Board approves new names for Grady High and Brown Middle

By Collin Kelley

The Atlanta Board of Education unanimously voted on Dec. 14 to change the names of Grady High School and Brown Middle School. Students will now be attending Midtown High School and Herman J. Russell West End Academy.

In November, a naming committee originally recommended that Grady be renamed in honor of pioneering Black journalist Ida B. Wells, but then asked the school board to postpone voting on the name after

community outcry about the process to allow the student body to vote. After votes were tallied, 61 percent of the students who voted were in favor of Midtown High.

The decision to rename Brown Middle was less fraught, with the naming committee agreeing to honor the late real estate and construction entrepreneur Herman J. Russell and combining it with the school’s location.

The move to rename Grady and Brown began in March as communities across the nation re-examined the legacy of racism

and white supremacy in the names of its buildings, streets, parks, and monuments. Grady High was named after journalist, orator, and white supremacist Henry W. Grady, while Brown was named after Joseph Brown, who was Georgia’s governor during secession from the Union and during the Civil War.

The school board is also considering new names for Forrest Hill Academy –named after another Civil War-era white supremacist – and for Grady’s football stadium.

For more school coverage, check out this month’s special Focus on Education section beginning on page 32.

Underground Atlanta sold to local real estate investment company

By Collin Kelley

WRS, the South Carolina development company that purchased Underground Atlanta in 2017 with plans to transform it into a mixed-use development, has sold the property to a local real estate investment company.

A press released announced that Shaneel Lalani, CEO of Billionaires Funding Group (BFG) and Lucky Fortune, is acquiring Underground Atlanta “with plans to maximize the potential of the historic entertainment destination and connect the storied district with the investment and growth happening in Downtown Atlanta.”

Work stalled on the project before the coronavirus pandemic began, but WRS told INtown last summer that it planned to resume modifications to existing space in the autumn. In 2019, WRS had announced that a hotel, LGBTQ-centric nightclub, and apartment complex would be built at Underground, but those projects never came to fruition.

Lalani said the multi-phased redevelopment completed around the four blocks of the property – Pryor, Central, Wall and Alabama streets – would initially include multifamily residential, street-level retail and structured parking.

Future development will include “engaging street-level retail, restaurant and entertainment concepts.” Alabama Street will be transformed into “an activated, walkable streetscape.” Lalani said security would be a top priority.

Popping Up Entrepreneurs can showcase goods at two new pop-up shops

By Collin Kelley

Intown’s evolving retail landscape is making way for two innovative pop-up shops at high profile locations giving local entrepreneurs the opportunity to showcase their goods.

The Village at PCM

The Village at Ponce City Market – a marketplace offering apparel, home goods,

body products and other goods from local Black entrepreneurs – opened just before the holidays at the Old Fourth Ward shopping and dining destination.

Located on the Second Floor of the Central Food Hall next to Root Baking Co., the store features a modern, minimalist look and showcases individual brand identities. Makers include Hairbrella, J. Dow Fitness, Abeille Creations, Just Add Honey Tea Compnay, The Muted Home, World of Unoia, Savoir

Faire, Miso Living, and more.

The shop was created by Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon, creator of The Village Market – an online shopping hub and networking site for Black-owned businesses that has also become well-known for its regular marketplace events and weekend pop-ups at malls.

The Village Market now reaches small businesses in

Continued on Page 16

Lalani plans to extend the nightlife and energy created by the popular Masquerade music venue in Kenny’s Alley by creating outdoor patios and places for bands to perform.

“We are passionate about Downtown Atlanta and its future as a lively city center with walkable streets and exceptional entertainment,” Lalani said. “We look forward to immersing ourselves in the community and working with the brightest minds in the business to bring the vision for Underground Atlanta to life.”

Lalani said he would assemble a team of top real estate experts to collaborate on the project, including civil engineers, urban planners, architects and JV partners. He is also commissioning a feasibility study for the district.

Lalani said he is open to exploring partnerships with the right investors, but intends to retain an ownership stake in each parcel to ensure consistency throughout the district.

According to the press release, Lalani has worked in retail his whole life, starting out as a store clerk, and he bought his first real estate property in 2012. He has since grown BFG’s real estate portfolio to more than one million square feet of commercial, retail and office space, with the vast majority of properties located in Georgia. The core business strategy for BFG is to buy underperforming assets and add value through renovations and leasing strategies. Lalani is also the CEO of Lucky Fortune, a coin operated amusement machine (COAM) company, which is licensed by the Georgia Lottery Corporation.

Shaneel Lalani

Lakeysha Hollmon at the grand opening of The Village at PCM.

No. 1 Intown Brokerage

21 states and four countries, with an official partnership with The Bahamas. To date, The Village has showcased and trained hundreds of vetted Black-owned businesses who specialize in conscious apparel/merchandise, all-natural products and foods. Businesses have grown from six-foot vendor tables to now brick and mortar locations.

“Our mission is front and center,” says Hallmon. “The Village at PCM is all about positioning Black businesses for growth and strengthening the local community of small businesses, especially during these times. To date, we’ve been able to circulate $4.5 million in the community through The Village Market.”

Find out more at thevillagemarketatl.com.

Village Supply

Village Supply, a new concept to support local entrepreneurs grow their brands in a pop-up space, is now open in Buckhead Village, 272 Buckhead Ave.

Open Thursday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sundays from noon to 5 p.m., the space features pop-ups from food and lifestyle businesses, with a focus on minority- and women-owned brands. The lineup will change regularly.

Current shops include Cheese Me, offering cheese, veggie, and fruit boards; Made Leather Co., which features handcrafted leather goods from artisans in Morocco; Botanical Safari, a boutique-style plant shop that is also offering workshops; and Pinker Times, which is offering artful flower arrangements and a flower bar.

For more information, visit buckheadvillagedistrict.com.

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Metro Atlanta Chamber (MAC) recently hosted its 161st Annual Meeting, virtually honoring efforts in the past year to drive the region’s reputation as a global competitor. MAC Board Chair, Invesco President and CEO Marty Flanagan announced three key focus areas for 2021: racial equity, public health and economic recovery. In addition, Dr. Raphael W. Bostic, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, was announced as MAC’s 2022 chair-elect, succeeding its 2021 chair-elect, Delta Air Lines’ CEO Ed Bastian. Meeting attendees also heard from Gov. Brian Kemp, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Head of Google for Startups US Jewel Burks Solomon, Atlanta Braves President and CEO Derek Schiller and U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams, along with a host of prominent business leaders across the region. To view a replay of the meeting and for more information, visit metroatlantachamber.com.

▼CBRE has released a new rendering for Phase II of its revamp of Tower Square, the former AT&T building, in Midtown. The rendering shows how renovations to the Annex and upgrades to the 28,000-square-foot Green will interact to create a collaborative, openair environment. The Annex, which previously served as an interior mall, is being reoriented so the storefronts face and interact with West Peachtree Street. The wi-fi-enabled Green, which features patio and covered seating, comes equipped with a screen spanning more than 2,000 square feet. Last month, the team wrapped the first phase of renovations, which included lobby upgrades, exterior signage and the addition of the Green.

Hotel Colee is now open in Buckhead featuring boutique-style rooms, a rooftop pool, fitness center, lobby bar, and Whiskey Blue cocktail lounge. There’s also space in the lobby for pop-up trunk shows, and 10,000 square feet of adaptable indoor and outdoor event space. For more, visit autograph-hotels. marriott.com.

Holistic beauty and lifestyle company, EssenceTree, has opened its flagship EssenceSuite in Old Fourth Ward. Long a favorite with Whole Foods and Sevananda shoppers, the brand’s brick and mortar location at 655 Highland Ave. behind Highland Bakery will offer a range of plant-based skincare products, lifestyle classes and wellness services. The company was founded in Nashville in 2005 by former Wall Street executive Charmaine Gibbs-West, who started EssenceTree as a therapeutic hobby post-9/11. For more, visit essencetree.com.

West Midtown mixed-use development 8West’s newest tenant is The Dalton Agency, the market company formally based in Midtown. The development, which features 175,000 square feet of office space, 10,000 square feet of retail space and 264 apartments, sits at the intersection of Howell Mill and 8th Street. For leasing information, visit www.8westmidtown.com.

Ragtrade Atlanta recently launched a new program to support independent designers through their e-commerce site, shopsatragtrade.com. Through this program, Ragtrade and independent designers collaborate on limited-edition designs spanning luxury t-shirts, hoodies, novelty items and more that are sold exclusively at shopsatragtrade.com. The partnership provides designers with a multichannel strategy to generate additional income and maximize exposure opportunities for each independent brand. Ragtrade’s first-ever partnership is with fashion designer / illustrator Stephanie Gentry. Find out more at shopsatragtrade.com.

◄New primary care service

Ascend Medical has launched in the Atlanta metro area, offering 24/7 telehealth and inhome medical testing. Ascend offers same-day telehealth appointments and mobile diagnostic services and testing sites for COVID-19, flu and Strep rapid tests, in addition to blood draws, x-rays and imaging services for families and employers. For more, visit ascendmedical.com.

After months of postponing and rescheduling, weddings are making a comeback in 2021, and the Virtual Atlanta

Online used car sales company Carvana sold its first vehicle in Atlanta back in 2013, so it’s only fitting that the company has opened its tallest “car vending machine” in Midtown at 166 16th St. The 12-story tower can hold 43 vehicles and is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. for pickip. To buy or sell a car, visit carvana.com.

Wedding Extravaganza will showcase creative ideas Jan. 23-29. Wedding professionals and vendors will be on hand all week long to advise on planning for the big day. Tickets

are $10 for general admission or $20 for a VIP experience, which includes curbside pick-up of vendor gifts and a virtual lounge with exclusive deals and services. For more information, visit atlantaweddingconnection.com.

Colony Square in Midtown is adding new services and retail to its tenant mix, including the newly opened American Barber Shop. Coming in the spring will be Lush Nail Bar and Sunnies, a lifestyle brand that sells designer sunglasses.

►The Gayly Dose is a new podcast for gay men by gay men co-hosted by Old Fourth Ward resident Helmut Domagalski along with Stuart Terrell, Dante Rhodes, and Bennett Schnyder. Topics on the show, which launched in November, include candid, difficult discussions ranging from gay adoption to body issues to monogamy. The podcast is available on Apple, Spotify, and other platforms. Find out more at thegaylydose.com.

‘We the People’ are the hope for climate action

power sector by 2035 and making our country a net zero carbon emitter by 2050 – if he can secure enough support for its adoption.

In mid-December – as masked holiday shoppers faced pandemic challenges – world leaders gathered virtually to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement: the historic international treaty on climate change signed in 2015. Although the United States was not represented at the federal level due to the withdrawal from the accord by the Trump Administration, participants were optimistic since President-elect Joe Biden committed to rejoin the climate pact on the first day of his presidency.

Adding to that optimism was the announcement last fall by China –currently the world’s biggest emitter of the greenhouse gases that fuel global warming – that its emissions would peak by 2030 and it would reach a net zero target by 2060. (This means not adding more carbon to the atmosphere than the planet’s ecosystems can absorb.) The European Union – collectively the world’s third largest emitter – also pledged to achieve greater results. Major investors, such as

Above the Water Line

Sally Bethea

That “if” depends in no small part on the votes of millions of Georgians. If Democrats gain control of the U.S. Senate by electing Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff in our state –both of whom have platforms to address climate change – it may be possible to pass meaningful legislation to cut emissions and enhance clean energy: the energy that comes from renewable sources that do not release air pollutants. While Biden will be able to pursue significant climate goals through his budget and administrative actions, such as regulations and executive orders, an economic stimulus package passed by Congress is the most cost-effective and comprehensive approach. As the second largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world, we must become an aggressive climate leader. Time is of the essence as the irrefutable evidence and speed of a warming planet become more obvious with every precedent-setting wildfire, hurricane, heatwave, flood and drought.

place and do it in a way that feels more like the way women are doing this work— which is with linked arms, passing the mic, shine theory [a practice of mutual investment and collaboration], all of that.”

I talked to Katharine recently, as she was transitioning from her role as principal writer and editor-in-chief at Project Drawdown to becoming a co-director of The All We Can Save Project with Ayana. Project Drawdown is the nonprofit organization that seeks to help the world reach the point in time when levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere stop climbing and start to steadily decline. In 2017, the organization published its inaugural body of work on solutions in Drawdown (drawdown.org), described as the most comprehensive climate plan ever produced.

Thanks to the Ray C. Anderson Foundation, a climate roadmap for Georgia, appropriately named Drawdown Georgia (drawdownga.org), was published a few months ago with solutions for our state’s unique setting and resources. The authors believe that we can cut our carbon emissions at least one-third in the next ten years in five areas: by capturing sunlight to produce electricity, building clean, overhauling food systems, planting trees, and reducing vehicle emissions with electric vehicles, mass transit and other mobility options.

New York’s public pension fund, decided to stop funding fossil fuel power.

Yes, these are aspirational goals, but for the first time in years, I feel (cautiously) hopeful. The chance of lessening the predicted catastrophic damage to our only home from global heating by the end of this century has improved with the election of a new President, who campaigned on this existential issue. Biden has a $2 trillion climate plan aimed at eliminating carbon emissions from the

Dr. Katharine Wilkinson – a climate author and strategist named by Time magazine as one of fifteen “women who will save the world” – believes that there’s something else also desperately needed to deal successfully with the climate crisis. That something else is leadership that is “more feminine, rooted in compassion, connection, creativity and collaboration.”

With Dr. Ayana Johnson, she co-edited All We Can Save: Truth, Courage and Solutions for the Climate Crisis: a new anthology of writings from more than forty women at the forefront of the climate movement.

When the book was published last fall, Wilkinson told GreenBiz: “We wanted to bring the mighty chorus to life in one

For Katharine, it is empowering women and girls, especially in developing countries, that holds her rapt attention and passion, hence taking a new path with The All We Can Save Project (allwecansave. earth/project). In The Drawdown Review – an update to the original text published last spring – gender equity ranked second among nearly eighty ways to reduce global warming. High-quality, voluntary reproductive healthcare and high-quality education opportunities for women, the most vulnerable sector of the world population, is a substantial, oftenoverlooked, climate solution.

Like climate activist Greta Thunberg, Katharine understands that distant targets and grand speeches are meaningless without aggressive action, now. On the recent anniversary of the Paris Agreement, Greta passionately reminded us all that “we the people” are the hope.

Sally Bethea is the retired executive director of Chattahoochee Riverkeeper and current board president of Chattahoochee Parks Conservancy.

ECO BRIEFS

▼Georgia Audubon will host its first Bird Stories of the new year on Jan. 22 at 9:30 a.m. featuring “Beauty and the Beak” by Deborah Lee Rose. Participants in the free virtual event will learn how

technology can be used for wildlife rescue. The organization will hold its first meeting of the year on Jan. 24 at 3:30 p.m. with featured guest Gregory Nobles, who will discuss the his book “John James Audubon: The Nature of the American Woodsman” and his work as ornithologist, painter, and storyteller. Learn more or register at georgiaaudubon.org.

The Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation raised $2,000 on Giving Tuesday, Dec. 1, which

Real Estate Forecast

2021 expected to be a record-setting year after a surprisingly strong 2020

By Collin Kelley

Despite the pandemic upending lives and businesses, one sector that has remained remarkably strong is the residential real estate market.

The median list price for homes in the city increased, inventory decreased, and sellers saw their properties in bidding wars and snapped up by interested buyers in days. Local real estate professionals said that trend is set to continue in 2021 as Intown’s neighborhoods – especially those along the Atlanta BeltLine corridor – continue to attract buyers.

Another Record Setting Year Ahead

“I think an unexpected result of 2020 was the strength of the residential real estate market despite the other challenges we all faced,” said Joy Myrick, a Realtor with Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty. “The median list price of Metro Atlanta homes rose in the range of 8-9% year over year, while the inventory in some Intown neighborhoods decreased around 26%. Average days on market for desirable intown areas was down 37% to just 15 days.”

Myrick said Metro Atlanta’s growth this year has had a huge impact on real estate and pricing. Many experts point out the fact that the cost of living in Atlanta is reasonable when compared to other big cities like Los Angeles or New York, which was a catalyst in the influx of new residents purchasing homes in 2020.

“All indicators point to another recordsetting year in Atlanta real estate,” Myrick said. “We expect more homes will be listed, however after five years of limited home availability, it will take a while for inventory to rebound. While Metro Atlanta is predicted to see one of the steepest rises in home pricing next year (projected price growth is at 6.7% for 2021), historically low interest rates will continue to incentivize buyers to purchase. With the anticipated quick vaccine rollout, we could see sales numbers reach even higher levels than expected.”

Myrick said home demand remains strong to be near the BeltLine, Piedmont Park and in walkable areas such as Morningside and Virginia Highland. Many buyers desire these neighborhoods, lined with sidewalks and front porches in order to connect with their neighbors outside. The short commute time has become less

important to buyers, but the neighborhoods remain popular for their biking paths, pocket parks and restaurants offering patio dining and takeout windows, Myrick said.

“We are seeing new development in Piedmont Heights and the Cheshire Bridge corridor which is often slightly more affordable while offering the same amenities,” Myrick commented.

Myrick recommended that Intown buyers be prequalified by a reputable lender and be ready to make an offer quickly. Many homes are selling before hitting the market or in the first few days on the market with multiple offers.

Bigger Lots, Outdoor Living

Stephanie Marinac and Harvin Greene, Realtors with Dorsey Alston, said they were initially concerned about the health of the real estate market last spring when Intown was in lockdown, but those fears were unfounded.

“In some ways, it’s hard to believe given the uncertainty surrounding the economic impacts of the global pandemic and the

market ($2 million and up), Greene said.

“We expect that 2021 will continue to bring a strong real estate market in Atlanta, specifically in the Intown neighborhoods,” Greene said. “We expect that the positive news about the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines and the rapid delivery will create consumer confidence, which will continue to fuel real estate sales in 2021.”

Marinac said people spent an unprecedented amount of time in their homes—working, attending online school, or just enjoying more leisure time – during 2020. The result has been buyers deciding that they need or want different features from their homes. In some cases, people have determined that they need more space because they foresee that they will continue to work from home more, even after the pandemic resolves, Marinac said.

“Another result is that we’ve seen a shift toward buyers wanting bigger lots and a much greater emphasis on outdoor living and entertaining,” Marinac said. “Pools, specifically, have been an even bigger attraction in 2020, and we expect that trend to continue in 2021. We have also seen a significant migration to Atlanta from higher-density markets, like New York and Los Angeles, likely related to COVID, but people seem to be flocking to markets where housing is affordable and it’s easy to find a home with land and outdoor entertaining spaces.”

not the case,” Marinac commented. “Keep an open mind and even consider what effect minor cosmetic changes can have on a house. You may find the hidden gem you’re searching for. Our advice to sellers is to take advantage of the strong market, and if you’re considering selling – don’t delay. There is high demand and low supply for Intown housing, so jump on the opportunity.”

Demand Greater Than Supply

Carolyn Calloway, Senior Marketing Consultant with Harry Norman Realtors, Buckhead agreed that the spring slowdown in the market was short-lived.

“When the market did quickly bounce back, it not only made up for lost time, but it continues to be an active market driven by historically low interest rates and low inventory,” Calloway stated. “Demand for homes is greater than the supply, which is resulting in sellers receiving multiple offers, often selling over the list price.”

Calloway said because of the competitive market, buyers are experiencing longer buying cycles.

“A lot of buyers miss out on the first home they want and have to restart the process,” she said. “This means that the number of showings for homes is high as more and more people are enjoying the convenience of a virtual tour.”

temporary slowdown that is often associated with a presidential election,” Marinac said.

“Using data from the multiple listing service, our calculations indicate growth in all measures—units up 3.3%, total sales volume up 9.4%, and average sales price up 6% in the Intown market compared to 2019.”

Greene said tight inventory remains tight, resulting in a decrease in days on market (down 8%) over 2019. She said typical seasonality spikes were upended because of the pandemic, resulting in a slower spring market, but replaced with a robust summer and fall market, with barely a slowdown heading into the typically slower holiday season. Specifically, the 2020 market was particularly strong in the entry-level price point ($700,000 and lower) and the luxury

Greene said Druid Hills, which she believes has been somewhat undervalued compared to adjacent neighborhoods, has seen a particular spike in desirability and an associated average price increase of 25% in 2020 compared to 2019, and a 35% average price increase in the past five years. Morningside and Virginia Highland continue to be in high demand, as evidenced by their average price increases of 33% and 26% in the past five years, respectively. She said the Atlanta BeltLine continues to be a driver for real estate growth in residential home demand and prices.

Marinac and Greene encouraged buyers to not be afraid to look at a house that has been on the market for a while.

“We have seen an attitude among buyers that if a house is on the market longer than a couple of weeks that there must be something wrong with it, but that is often

Calloway said the pandemic has somewhat changed what people are looking for, with a growing demand for multigenerational homes.

“People want to be able to share their home with their older parents or college children under the safety of their own roof,” she said. “Buyers are seeking not just more space, but more rooms. This is the reverse of the open plan we have seen for the last few years…people want walls, and now are looking for individual spaces for office, gym, school, etc.”

She said buyers at the higher end of the market are looking to invest money in making their home a sanctuary. Instead of traveling to a resort, the resort comes to them. Home gyms, home theatre, swimming pools, and outdoor kitchens are in high demand.

Virginia Highland, Morningside, Ansley Park, and homes near Piedmont Park and the BeltLine remain some of the most sought-after areas of Intown.

Joy Myrick

Carolyn Calloway

Harvin Greene and Stephanie Marinac

Proposed zoning changes, $50 million investment could bring more affordable housing

By Collin Kelley

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has announced a plan to create more affordable housing in the City of Atlanta by rezoning neighborhoods to allow for more density.

The Atlanta City Design Housing Initiative would allow for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) including detached structures, transformation of single-family homes into duplexes, basement apartments, and garage conversions.

“The Atlanta City Design Housing Initiative builds on our Administration’s One Atlanta Housing Affordability Action Plan, addressing systemic racism and working to ensure affordable housing for all,” Bottoms said in a press release. “For too long, housing policies have excluded those who are most vulnerable, particularly communities of color. We are taking bold actions to reverse these policies and close the homeownership gap and rental affordability for legacy residents of Atlanta.”

The proposals in the Atlanta City Design Housing Initiative are a result of more than two years of research and analysis aimed at addressing city’s population projected population growth to 1.2 million in the coming decades.

The research and analysis of the Atlanta City Design Housing Initiative stem from the Atlanta City Design, the city’s guiding document for planning, policy and investment created in 2017. “Our city is growing, and we can leverage that growth to be a better city that is more equitable, inclusive and accessible to live in,” said Tim Keane, the City of Atlanta’s Commissioner of City Planning. “Atlanta City Design Housing Initiative outlines ways this growth can be designed specifically for Atlanta’s landscape, distinctive physical characteristics and unique neighborhoods.”

The proposed zoning policies would also target structures of racism and discrimination that have limited housing affordability and exacerbated inequality in Atlanta. These policies seek to increase immediate and long-term affordability for Atlanta residents and directly address the structures of discrimination that still exist in zoning and land-use policies.

“Atlanta is facing rapidly rising housing costs in large part due to the exclusionary policies of the past that still exist and are impacting the city today,” said Joshua Humphries, Director of the Office of Housing and Community Development in the Department of City Planning.

Find out more at atlantaga.gov/government/ departments/city-planning.

On the heels of announcing the initiative, Bottoms also issued an executive order in December to invest $50 million in new bond funding to create or preserve 20,000 affordable homes by 2026. The order is part Bottoms’ larger goal of investing $1 billion in affordable housing in Atlanta from both public and private funds.

The executive order directs the issuance of $50 million in bonds for affordable housing, which will be structured to take advantage of the current low-interest rate environment. The city will be able to draw down these funds in a manner that minimizes the near-term costs to the city and allows time for Atlanta’s economy to bounce back from the pandemic.

The order also directs the city’s officials to take the necessary actions to expand on these funds to ultimately issue $100 million in housing opportunity bonds. The city will deploy the $100 million in new affordable housing funds to repay the initial bonds and continue to implement the housing activities included in the Administration’s Housing Opportunity Bond legislation, introduced earlier this year and stalled due to the impact of the pandemic on city finances.

Accessory dwelling units (ADUs), like the one shown in the photo above, would be allowed under new city zoning to create more affordable housing. (Courtesy City of Atlanta)

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REAL ESTATE BRIEFS

Developer Lincoln Ventures has proposed a 31-story student housing project with street level retail at 859 Spring Street at Tech Square in Midtown. The tower, which would feature 195 furnished co-living spaces, two amenity levels, and five floors of parking, would sit on less than an acre at Spring and Abercrombie Place. The Midtown Development Review Committee recommended treatment of the parking deck with screening to mitigate noise and light that could emanate from the garage, as well as reaching out to residents in MidCity Lofts across the street to ensure that design concerns and construction issues are addressed in a timely manner.

Commercial real estate firm Beacon Real Estate Group and a fund managed by Westport Capital Partners have completed the acquisition in Atlanta with the purchase of the newly built Accent 2050 to be renamed to 2050 Morningside. The 198-unit complex is Beacon’s third multifamily investment in Georgia over the last 90 days.

Atlanta real estate investment firm Parkland Communities Inc. recently launched its Small Builder Program focused on local builders who construct 100 or less homes a year. “We are excited to launch our Small Builder Program designed to develop lots for Atlanta’s hometown builders,” Parkland Communities President Jim Jacobi said. “The legacy recession lots are long gone, and most small home builders don’t have the time or resources to navigate the complexities of entitlements and development required to produce new lots today.” The Small Builder Program is a joint venture structure where Parkland will fully subordinate developed lots to the home builder’s construction loan. This will, in effect, work to keep the small builders in business since no equity will be required. By subordinating lots to the construction loan, builders can do what they do best, build homes. When the home sells, Parkland Communities and the home builder will split the profits evenly. For more information, visit ParklandCo.com.

Engel & Völkers Atlanta announces the firm will act as the brokerage to manage sales and marketing at JW Collection properties, including The Heritage on Memorial, Enclave on Collier, Abbington at Wildwood, Paces View and Enclave at Dunwoody Park. Engel & Völkers Atlanta also handles sales for One Museum Place, a John Wieland condominium community in Midtown. For more information, visit evatlanta.com.

►Aaron’s Holdings Company has made a donation of $10,000 to the Westside Future Fund, an initiative that provides affordable housing in one of Atlanta’s most impoverished communities. Specifically targeting the neighborhoods of English Avenue, Vine City, Ashview Heights and the Atlanta University Center, the urgent need comes as 52% of residents currently live below the poverty line and 40% of all housing is vacant. The contribution from Aaron’s was facilitated by Aaron’s Black Leadership Exchange (ABLE), an internal committee formed in 2019 to exchange information and ideas that create a path for personal and professional development of Black team members, while strengthening connections with customers and others in the community.

Minerva Homes has opened the model home at Towns at Kendrick in Brookhaven for tours by appointment. The luxury townhomes are priced from the low $700,000s and feature front porches, gourmet kitchens, fireplaces, owner’s suite with spa-like bath, garages, and more. Visit Minerva-Homes.com for more information.

Alexan Eight West has welcomed its first residents to its studio, one and two-bedroom apartments near Westside Provisions District and Georgia Tech. The complex offers a rooftop terrace, skyline view, saltwater pool, and proximity to popular restaurants and the Midtown art scene. For leasing information or to schedule a tour, visit alexaneightwest.com.

The Brightstar Team | COMPASS has opened the model home for its latest development, The Row on Wylie. This community of five townhomes from Foyer Urban Builders is nestled between Reynoldstown and Edgewood with prices in the $400,000s. The team has also reached a sales milestone at another nearby development, Pontiac Place in South Ormewood Park. The neighborhood of 25 single-family homes by O’Dwyer Homes is 50 percent sold out. Homes are priced in the high $300,000s. For details visit the rowonwiley. com or OwnPontiac.com.

From left to right: Kendall Jacobs, Diversity & Inclusion Council, Aaron’s; Dr. Angela Coaxum Young, Principal, Booker T. Washington HS; John Ahman, Westside Future Fund, President; Stephanie Kozol, Government Relations, Aaron’s; Chris Cottrell, President, Aaron’s Black Leadership Exchange

Record

Stepping Up

Food rescue nonprofit Second Helpings Atlanta

Now We’re Cooking A Q&A With Chef Linton Hopkins

By Collin Kelley

In 1997, Chef Linton Hopkins was working as saucier in New Orleans when he was diagnosed with lymphoma and came to Atlanta for treatment at Emory University. The trip to Atlanta was a success in more ways than one: Hopkins beat the cancer, met his wife and culinary partner Gina, and soon after opened his first restaurant – the now shuttered Restaurant Eugene –in Buckhead.

Hopkins, a James Beard Awardwinning chef, is now a fixture in Atlanta with his renowned eateries Holman & Finch, Hop’s Chicken, H&F Burger, forthcoming Eugene & Elizabeth’s, and online marketplace The Buttery ATL, but he hasn’t forgotten how his life was touched by his battle with cancer.

At the end of 2020 Hopkins served as an ambassador for The Great Bake, a virtual spin on the classic bake sale, to raise funds for The Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF). Hopkins is an avid baker, so when he was approached by LRF to be an ambassador he immediately said, “sign me up.”

Q ■ What’s your approach to baking?

A ■ I’m kind of like Willy Wonka when it comes to baking. I love to tinker and see what happens. You can eat your mistakes hot out of the oven. Just put a little butter on top. I’m an endless learner; I love the exploration of how to do something. So I play around with flours, I’ve built relationships with millers, and even took a side-trip to visit a mill in England where they make rye flower.

Q ■ You participated in the LRF charity fundraiser, but you have a different idea about charity. Tell us about it?

A ■ I think we need to end the concept of charity forever. It should be built into the business model of how we solve things. I really believe in this idea of being a maker. By doing what I love to do, I can give back. So, for example, when I buy a sandwich the charity should be part of the price and some of that money goes to the charities that fix things in our world.

Q ■ With many restaurants going through rough financial times due to the pandemic, what’s your advice to fellow restaurateurs?

A ■ The biggest lesson is to recognize that you have mobility. The pandemic has given people a taste for takeout, delivery, and pick up, and that’s not going away. Food and beverage is going to last until the zombies take us, but the structure of how food and beverage gets to guests is going to change. I’m a “no exit” kind of restauranteur; I’ll keep working and tweaking it until it works. Personally, if we have to shrink the company down to me with a cast iron skillet and Gina with bottle of wine, we’ll start from scratch again.

Q ■ You’re the inaugural playlist curator for INtown’s new Spotify channel. How important is music in the kitchen?

A ■ It’s crucial. I curate music for all our restaurants, so I’ll make a list of 100 songs that help define the space. For me, being a restaurateur is like being a producer.

By Donna Williams Lewis

Though it was hit hard in every way by COVID-19, the Second Helpings Atlanta food rescue organization continues to deliver.

As the pandemic gripped Atlanta, many SHA volunteer drivers sidelined themselves and food donors such

as corporate kitchens and event centers fizzled as office workers transitioned to working from home and events were cancelled.

Meanwhile, requests for food increased “dramatically” from SHA’s 55 partner agencies, including soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, afterschool programs and other nonprofits

NEW RESTAURANT RADAR

Shaunya Noble’s deliveryonly restaurant concept

Pastaholics operates from a “ghost kitchen” offering up made-from-scratch classic spaghetti and sauce combos. Delivery through Black and Mobile, DoorDash, GrubHub, UberEats, and Zifty. Menu and orders at thepastaholics. com.

The team behind Marlow’s Tavern opens The Woodall this month at Westside Village with globally inspired takes on classic dishes and drinks. Find out more at facebook. com/thewoodallatl or @thewoodallatl on Instagram.

Listen to Chef Linton Hopkins’ IN the Mix playlist by searching for AtlantaINtown

Up to the Plate

Atlanta rises to the challenge of COVID-19 8

that distribute food, said Andrea Jaron, the organization’s executive director since September 2019.

Requests are also pouring in from nonprofits not currently in the network, particularly from those that serve the elderly and children, she said.

But with some major assists from local and national donors and partners, SHA is

holding its own in its mission to help feed the hungry.

“We have the good fortune that there is a lot of food that is available. Our food network is really strong. The grocery stores have been really solid with providing very large donations on a regular basis,” Jaron said.

The surplus, perishable food donated to SHA these days comes from 75 food donors including grocery stores, big box retailers, and, to a lesser degree, hospitals, schools and stadiums.

In 2019, the organization’s volunteers rescued 1.7 million pounds of food. By the end of October, they had rescued another 1.4 million pounds of food plus more than 400,000 prepared meals provided by a couple of new major initiatives.

During the holiday season, SHA partnered with ATLFamilyMeal, Inc., a nonprofit supporting Atlanta’s COVIDimpacted hospitality community, to rescue excess food donations and transform them into more than 3,700 holiday meals for Atlanta families.

Among the recipients was COR, a nonprofit located at Atlanta’s Carver STEAM High School whose mission is to “unlock the potential of underserved, trauma-impacted students.”

Jennifer Henn, COR’s executive director, said, “SHA literally made Thanksgiving for almost 100 of our families.”

“By providing them with a prepared and delicious meal from Poof of the Pudding, SHA allowed our families to not only have a special meal, but to not have to worry about buying the ingredients and cooking the meal themselves,” Henn said. “In addition, the food COR receives from

Continued on Page 28

Master Sushi Chef Saito

Saito has partnered with Stephen de Haan and Greg Grant, founders of Red Phone Booth and Amalfi Pizza, for Saito – Sushi, Steak and Cocktails at 19 Andrew Young International Blvd. in Downtown. Find out more at saitoatlanta. com.

The Atlanta Pizza Truck, the brainchild of Alessio Lacco and Sofia Arango, is bringing fresh Neapolitan pizza right to pop-up locations around the city, as well as making pies for private events and pop-ups. Find out where they’ll be next @AtlantaPizzaTruck on social.

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Whole Foods allows our families to have additional prepared meals which removes one small worry for them when they have so many other struggles to deal with.”

In another massive effort, SHA joined forces last spring with the Atlanta

Jaron said.

Other help came in the form of drivers and vehicles.

In the spring, SHA lost most of its 400 volunteer drivers – 39 percent of whom were age 60-plus. By July, some felt comfortable enough to return and now there are 150 active volunteers.

To help fill the void, last summer SHA hired some temporary part-time drivers, and businesses such as Goldbergs Fine Foods loaned a few employees to work as fulltime drivers for SHA for six weeks rather than be furloughed, Jaron said.

Mercedes-Benz USA loaned SHA five sprinter vans to help with the Kitchen Project, and this fall the organization received a donated van from Whole Foods.

Manuel’s Tavern, Edgewood Dynasty get financial support from community after closure notice, building disaster

Community Food Bank to launch the Atlanta Community Kitchen Project.

The partnership connected hunger relief agencies with commercial kitchens and was funded in large part by members of the Atlanta Rotary Club.

From May to October, more than $1 million was donated to support the initiative in which 10 kitchen partners provided 465,780 individually packaged, family style meals to 33 partner agencies,

“People who have never had a need before are suddenly in a position where they need to ask for help,” Jaron said. “I think that it’s incredible how the community has come out to help not just Second Helpings Atlanta but all of these different entities that are trying to get food to as many people as we all possibly can.”

Learn more at secondhelpingsatlanta. org.

By Collin Kelley

Two Atlanta restaurants – one an institution and the other just opening –received an outpouring of generosity in December after a shock announcement and an even more shocking building collapse.

Manuel’s Tavern, a Poncey-Highland mainstay for 64 years, was on the verge of closing forever due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic when devoted patron Angelo Fuster set up a GoFundMe account. The original $75,000 goal was met in a matter of hours. In less than 24 hours, more than $100,000 had been raised. At this writing, it was very likely the appeal would top a staggering $200,000.

Owner Brian Maloof, son of founder and namesake Manuel Maloof, penned an emotional thank you on Facebook: “It has been the most humbling and overwhelming experience in my life. It will not be forgotten, abused or taken for granted. I have always known that Manuel’s is more than a bar, it is a place of comfort peace and joy, a place of humanity in a world of chaos. Manuel’s is more than my family it is the collective conscience of the people who frequent it. My job has been to keep the doors open and guide it into the future. I was doing everything I knew how, and I was failing. All of you stepped up and saved it.”

Recently added to the National Register of Historic Places and a mainstay of politicians, journalists, and locals, Manuel’s was closed for several months at the onset of the pandemic. Although Manuel’s reopened for takeout in May, created a makeshift patio in its back parking lot, reduced hours,

and expanded takeout business has been off.

In a Dec. 3 post on Facebook, Maloof candidly said that Manuel’s was in “financial trouble” and the pandemic caused an average monthly reduction in sales of 62 percent. Maloof said the fundraiser helped immediately renew the liquor licenses, insurance, and cover payroll.

To make a donation, visit gofundme. com/f/save-manuels-tavern.

At the same time the community was rallying around Manuel’s, a new restaurant and lounge set to open on Dec. 3 in Old Fourth Ward was faced with an unimaginable disaster: the partial destruction of its building.

Greg and Noelle Johnson were just days away from opening Edgewood Dynasty Cake Social Bar in the former Sound Table building when a construction crew working on a new mixed-use development next door undermined the historic building’s foundation.

Large cracks appeared on the western façade of the circa-1911 building at 483 Edgewood Avenue and on Dec. 2 the entire wall of the two-story space collapsed. The Johnsons said they would rebuild but described the turn of events as “traumatic.”

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the Johnsons support staff and look for a new home or perhaps rebuild. The Atlanta Preservation Center has been on site and has offered to work with the couple on renovating the century-old structure.

Donations

Donations can be made at gofundme. com/f/edgewood-dynasty-disaster-fund.

The Buckhead Office of Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty

& Chris Phelan

The west wall of Edgewood Dynasty collapse Dec. 2 (Photo courtesy Atlanta Preservation Center)

▲The Atlanta City Council unanimously approved an ordinance on Dec. 7 permitting restaurants and bars to offer sidewalk seating on city streets during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The city already allows sidewalk dining, but usually requires a permit fee. The fee will be waved through 2021 to encourage restaurants to take part. Restaurants and bars must still submit an application, along with a site plan that includes furniture placement, to the Atlanta Department of Transportation for approval.

►Real estate developer Marc Pollack is showing off is cooking skills with the release of Chez

Marc’s Quarantine Cookbook. The tasty compilation features recipes for the daily daily meals Pollack cooked throughout the pandemic, and proceeds will benefit Gateway Center, which provides support services and stable housing for people experiencing homelessness. Pollack

▼Atlanta-based Rightside Brewing has officially launched its non-alcoholic beer, offering nationwide delivery and retail locations in Georgia beginning this month. Rightside was founded by motherof-two Emree Woods who was seeking a great tasting, non-alcoholic beer product

recently pivoted from development to homelessness advocacy, co-founding the Atlanta Affordable Housing Fund this past January. Find out more at marrofoundation.org/cookbook.

Giving Kitchen has announced it will offer a substance abuse recovery initiative for members of the food service industry. The nonprofit is accepting applications from food service workers who have recently undergone inpatient treatment for substance abuse and need help with cost of living. In addition to financial assistance for living expenses such as rent and utility bills, the organization will also be able to make referrals to affordable inpatient facilities by early 2021. Interested applicants should start the process at givingkitchen.org/help.

while pregnant, and after discovering the options were limited and some products were sub-par, she decided to launch her own. Citrus Wheat and India Pale Ale are the first two flavors on offer. Visit rightsidebrewing.com to order or for more information.

Restaurant RIP: Recently closed restaurants around Intown include Chama Gaucha, Cook Hall, Doraku, and Quing Mu, Tavern at Phipps in Buckhead; Arden’s Garden at Peactree Place, AhMa’s Taiwanese Kitchen in Midtown; Tea House Formsa on Buford Highway; Queen of Cream in Poncey-Highland; Ammazza Pizza in Decatur; and The Shed at Glenwood in Glenwood Park.

Winter Arts Preview

Live and virtual shows & exhibitions set to entertain

By Collin Kelley

Atlanta’s art scene continues to keep us entertained as the pandemic continues, with a host of plays, concerts, and exhibitions that can be enjoyed virtually and – in some cases – live. See what’s on the agenda for the next couple of months and mark your calendar.

Synchronicity Theatre

The company is offering both live and streaming options of its upcoming production of “Mirandy and Brother Wind” (March 12 - April 4), the tale of a South Carolina girl determined to win a cakewalk. Synchronicity is also partnering with Hands In!, that interprets artistic works in American Sign Language (ASL) for its upcoming productions. For tickets, visit synchrotheatre.com.

High Museum of Art

The High and Portland Museum of Art, Maine, have organized “David Driskell: Icons of Nature and History,” bringing approximately 60 artworks together to present highlights of his painting career. The exhibition is the first major survey of Driskell’s work since his death in April 2020 at age 88. It will debut at the High Feb. 6. For tickets and information, visit high.org.

The Breman Museum

In collaboration with the Lumière, The Breman Museum has extended the virtual exhibition of photographer Herb Snitzer’s images of America’s jazz scene. The exhibition “A Jazz Memoir” –featuring photographs of Louis Armstrong, Nina

Simone, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, and Count Basie – will run through March 31. Because of the pandemic, the exhibition continues to be an enhanced online offering at TheBreman.org. and many others are showcased. Additional exhibition works reveal both Herb’s desire to use photography to effect social change and his belief that “Injustice for one is injustice for all,” acutely relevant given the current social climate. The photographs in A Jazz Memoir depict the years-long relationships between the photographer and his subjects, and the links that connect Jews, jazz and the African American community.

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

The ASO kicks off 2021 with an evening that pairs the work of Joseph Haydn alongside 2017 MacArthur fellow Tyshawn Sorey. The program opens with Vaughan Williams’ haunting “Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis.” Cellist Seth Parker Woods will perform Sorey’s “For Roscoe Mitchell: joining the ASO under the baton of Russian conductor Maxim Emelyanychev. The virtual performance is set for Jan. 14 at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at atlantasymphony.org.

Atlanta Photography Group

“Director’s Cut,” a virtual group exhibition, continues through Jan. 23 and features photographs that breathe fresh perspectives and a new vitality into traditional genres such as landscape, portraiture, abstracts, and still life. Director’s Cut is curated each year by APG executive director Judith Pishnery from members’ work presented to APG over the past year. visit AtlantaPhotographyGroup. org to see more.

Clockwise from left: A self-portrait by David Driskell at the High Museum; Synchronicity Theatre will be offering ASL for upcoming productions; Phil Mosier’s work will be part of Atlanta Photography Group exhibition.

Event space, artist hub coming to Echo Street West

By Collin Kelley

Lincoln Property Company, the developer behind the mixeduse Echo Street West in the English Avenue community, has announced that Novare Events will manage and market events at Guardian Works, the development’s forthcoming event venue

The former Guardian Works Chemical Company building will be transformed into a 6,000-square-foot indoor reception space, with nearly a nearly 5,000-square-foot covered patio, and an additional 23,000-square-foot greenspace. The venue will begin hosting events as early as Spring 2021.

The removal of a second story to make way for a 21-foot ceilings in the interior reception space combined with the covered patio will offer flexibility for weddings, corporate functions, proms, bar and bat mitzvahs and charitable fundraisers.

In addition to the event space, Lincoln also announced that renovations are underway to transform a former warehouse at Echo Street West into a mix of makerspaces, artist studios, and a ceramics studio.

The development team has tapped Atlanta-based nonprofit arts organization MINT to advise on design plans for the studio space in order to best serve the needs of emerging artists and well

as manage rentals for up to 35 studios, event programming, gallery exhibitions, community partnerships and outreach to artists and art enthusiasts.

Based on MINT’s recommendation, Guardian Studios at Echo Street West will include a ceramics studio with communal kiln and pottery wheels. The exterior walls of the warehouse and outdoor public spaces at Echo Street West will also serve as canvases for future murals and sculptures.

For more information on MINT and to apply for studio space, visit mintatl.org.

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The Kids Are Alright

These students found ways to give back during a year of pandemic, politics and societal change

By Collin Kelley

January is usually the month we present our 20 Under 20 honorees, recognizing the extraordinary work students do in the community and for nonprofits. But after the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, divisive politics, and a new reckoning over racial injustice, it didn’t seem right to hold a competition. Instead, we decided to speak with a group of young people who dedicated themselves to helping others and making a difference – even from behind their computer screens – during an unprecedented year.

Cristo Rey Jesuit High School senior Marquel Jones, 18, has been a student leader and community volunteer for years, including creating the monthly Teen Talk Back sessions that have addressed everything from religious tolerance, to LGBTQ youth, to incarceration rates in the criminal justice system. As president of the DECA club, he helped raise $50,000 to renovate the school’s media center, a project put on hold due to the pandemic. Marquel shifted gears to assisted with the DECA Christmas Tree Giveaway to needy families as well as the 12 Disciples Food Box Drive to provide food security to Cristo Rey families during the pandemic. He has volunteered at Open Hand Atlanta and the Million Meal Pack. “The most valuable lesson I have learned as a volunteer this year is that if you want to see change, you have to be that change. I recognize sitting back and hoping that things get better does not actively improve anything. When I put action behind the ideas that I have, I am able to foster real change and that is heart-warming.”

Atlanta International School sophomore Asanshay Gupta, 15, developed an app to help makeshift COVID-19 facilities in India during his summer internship with Allied Medical, which makes high flow oxygen therapy machines. More than 100 medical practitioners are now using Gupta’s app to monitor the oxygen supply and flow rates in their facilities. “My family is from India, so I was hearing many stories of how such a huge country was responding to the pandemic on a huge scale, by making makeshift hospitals in stadiums and other large venues. When I heard from my grandfather that the very people who are saving lives in these COVID-19 response centers are wasting valuable time doing tedious calculations that could be easily automated, I designed an app that allows them to easily perform these calculations. I am looking forward to visiting some of these hospitals to see my app being used and getting some real-world feedback, and also continuing some more projects such as my eye tracking power wheelchair for paraplegic patients. I want to see how I can use my interest in robotics to serve my local community.”

Gabriel Howland, 17, is no stranger to giving back to not only the local community, but on a national and international scale. He traveled to Jamaica to help an impoverished elementary school start an organic garden, worked with Native American students on environmental issues in California as a “Bioneer,” founded a drone photography company, mentored at summer programs, and is a member of Dad’s Garage Theatre Company’s youth ensemble. During the pandemic, he coordinated directed, and edited a play for a summer camp via Zoom. Gabe also helped a prepare a pre-school for reopening in September and assisted in setting up outdoor classrooms at the New School where he’s a senior. When his grandmother told him that one of her neighbors needed help getting groceries and help around her home during the pandemic, Gabe volunteered his time. “I think that the pandemic and 2020, in general, made me realize what type of person I am. Hardship really can bring out the best and worst in people, and I hope that this year brought out the best. Honestly, helping other people is what helped me get through this year, especially when it was around gaining a semblance of normalcy.”

During the COVID-19 shutdown, Maddalena Jones, 17, created a virtual dance program to keep children physically active and occupied at home while their parents continued to work. The 45-minute classes were also educational, and Maddalena created tutorial videos to post on social media to remind the children of the skills they had learned. A senior at Holy Spirit Preparatory School, Maddalena said 2020 helped her to have more patience and be grateful for the gifts we are given. “Teaching these online Zoom classes to younger children was certainly challenging at times for myself because I did not have much experience in this area and I was unsure if the children were really appreciating the classes half as much as the time and effort I was spending putting into them. However, I realized that if I was patient, then everything would work itself out the way it was meant to. Another thing I realized was how blessed I am to have been able to grow up with a wonderful gift such as dancing. Sharing that gift with younger children during the pandemic was really something special and it warmed my heart getting to see the smiles on the younger kids’ faces every time that I would teach a class.”

Like many others stuck at home due to the pandemic, Leah Nuffer began baking. A lot. Over the summer, the 17-year-old Woodward Academy senior created Leah’s Bakeshop (leahsbakeshop.com) to benefit Families First, an organization that provides mental health support and educational services to those in need. One-hundred percent of the proceeds from the bakeshop are going to the charity. Leah also worked with Horizons Atlanta as a K-2 “Literacy Coach” where she tracked the students’ progress, observed classes, set individual goals, met with students individually, and became a cheerleader for their success. “The pandemic actually forced me to discover new ways of being involved in service that I didn’t even realize were possible. Not only did I begin to interact with communities virtually, but I also realized that some of the biggest help is done just through organizing programs and raising money. Volunteering for “behind the scenes” work of non-profit organizations is just as important as helping in the face-to-face interactions.”

The pandemic couldn’t stop Zoe Glickman, 17, and her dedication to combating racism, antisemitism, and discrimination against the LGBTQ community. The North Atlanta High School senior developed the idea for a Black and Jewish student coalition and reached out to peers from both those groups as well as community leader to present the idea of a union. Despite the challenges of COVID-19 and social distancing, Zoe’s efforts resulted in the inception of the first student organization of its kind at North Atlanta. “The most valuable lesson that I’ve learned as a volunteer this year, is to take time to educate yourself rather than sitting and waiting for someone else to do it. By educating yourself, I mean taking time to listen to stories of people whose lives are far different than your own, as well as learning the history behind why a community might be hurt.”

Eli Rubenstein, 16, was feeling isolated and lonely during the pandemic, so he came up with an idea to create an online community for LGBTQ teens – the only one of its kind in Georgia. Early last summer, the Ben Franklin Academy sophomore launched The Closet, an online chat for teens age 14 to 18 held every Friday and Saturday night. The online chat events are moderated by an LGBTQ adult to ensure the space is safe, appropriate, and fun. The chats have been such a success, that Eli hopes to create a hybrid of virtual and in-person chats postpandemic. “Starting The Closet, I was able to virtually connect with kids from Georgia who had similar interests and it really gave me a sense of community. We watched movies, talked, and were able to share what we were all going through during a really difficult time. I’m really looking to connecting face to face with all the friends I’ve made online and expand our relationships.”

Kaili Stith, 12, organized a protest in Morningside against police brutality and racial injustice at the height of this summer’s demonstrations, rallying dozens of her classmates and neigbhors to participate. The Howard Middle School seventh grader also designed and commissioned the manufacturing of a line of shirts on Etsy called, Tee Shirts for Justice. The shirts sold out almost immediately and Kaili is using the proceeds to put together care packages for local women living in shelters. “I am looking forward to continuing protesting for human rights, but with a larger audience. I look forward to giving back in a way when I can interact with people face to face, that really just brightens up my day when I am able to see the impact I make.”

John Edwards, 14, has devoted himself to helping others affected by the pandemic and racial injustice. At New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, he has volunteer in food drives every Saturday since pandemic began and assisted with organizing virus testing for the community. He participated in marches against racial injustice both in Atlanta and Washington, D.C. and created his own company, Empire Films, to make a documentary, “Through the Black Lens,” about the impact COVID-19 has had on families and schools. All the profits received from the documentary will go to helping communities and organizations such as Hosea Helps and the NAACP. A student at Dekalb Agricultural Technology and the Environment, said he was humbled by the people he met and things he witnessed during 2020. “The pandemic and 2020 in general, strengthened my resolve to give back to the community, specifically helping to cut down the shortage of food resources and everyday necessities, such as toilet paper.”

Charlie Kazazian, 16, received the Congressional Gold Medal this summer for his 400 hours of volunteer work with the nonprofits MedShare, Action Ministries, NFCC, Must Ministries. For the last few years, the Wesminster junior has worked with the nonprofit Mad Housers, which helps provide temporary shelter to the homeless by building individual wood huts. During the pandemic, Charlie downloaded the hut schematics and built a hut with his dad, which was then deployed to designated location in Atlanta. He said he wants to continue his volunteer work post-pandemic, including building more huts. “Serving in this way has really helped me get through the pandemic.”

Academe of the Oaks senior Lucy Sackin, 18, is a budding social justice advocate and ally to black and trans women. During the pandemic, Lucy sprang into action following the tragic death of Oluwatoyin Salau, which inspired her to do more by organizing a GoFundMe to fund self-defense items for Black and trans women in Atlanta. Her goal was to raise enough money to supply self-defense products to 50 women since Black and trans women are at a high risk of assault. She achieved her goal by using social media and via support from her classmates.

“Seeing the lack of response from our own government made me realize just how important it is to work directly with my community.

I realized that mutual aid is the backbone of any social movement. Protecting and supporting Black women and trans women is so important to me because I want to create more accepting and safe communities for everyone.”

The pandemic fueled Elli Moraitakis, 17, to continue serving her community with a focus on what could be done rather than what could not. Her first opportunity arose when The Schenck School needed their alumni to help encourage students struggling with virtual learning.

Understanding the complex issues that dyslexia present, Elli presented via Zoom a list of successful tactics she was employing during the lockdown. She and her family helped pack 300 “Bags of Love” for the homeless with toiletries, socks, underwear, water, non-perishables and a handwritten word of encouragement or Bible verse. The Greater Atlanta Christian School junior also volunteered to package and deliver more than 3,000 orders during the virtual Greek Festival at her church, the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation. Over the holidays, she performed random acts of kindness to mark the 12 days of Christmas, including raking leaves, paying for someone’s food at the drive-thru, and buying blankets for the homeless. “Even in the hardest of days, there is always something good that can be done.”

CREATE YOUR PATH

Application deadline: February 1, 2021

“ School should be a place one looks forward to going in the morning and is somewhat reluctant to leave at the end of the day .”

Dr. Newt Hodgson - Paideia Self Study, 1980

At Epstein, students experience an exceptional education led by specialized STEAM and Hebrew language programs. The school prepares confident lifelong learners grounded in their unique Jewish identities.

APS teachers question the return to in-person instruction

By Charlotte Spears

Whether students will be back in classrooms in late January was still unknown as this issue of INtown went to press. COVID-19 cases were still on the rise even as initial doses of two vaccines arrived in the state, which left many APS teachers skeptical and questioning the system’s decision to resume in-person instruction.

Joseph Doughtery, a sixth grade social studies teacher at David T. Howard Middle School, questioned the timing of the return when we spoke to him in mid-December.

“I think we should remain virtual, because the reason we are virtual in the first place is for the safety and health of students, teachers and staff, and that hasn’t changed. The pandemic is at its worst,” Dougherty said. “The only argument to be made is there is a certain level of education the students are losing, and the farther in the school year you go, the more detrimental it can be, but I don’t think that outweighs the health and safety of everyone involved at all.”

Another APS teacher, who chose to remain anonymous for fear of repercussion, has “no faith” in the administration’s ability to bring students back.

“I don’t get it. If we are this close to a vaccine, why are we going back at all?” the APS teacher asked. “I am not satisfied with an answer I have received on the safety of going back. What happens if a kid brings in Covid? There are so many unanswered questions. I haven’t heard anything. I haven’t heard any type of protocol other than ‘we are going back.’”

Among teachers, health and safety is one of the biggest concerns. Andrew Copeland, a psychology teacher at Grady High School, understands the “greater need” to go back in-person.

“There are kids that need places to stay, they need stability, they need food, especially younger kids,” Copeland said. “Personally, I have been very cautious with Covid. I have done a lot of stuff to prevent it. My opinion is always going to be that I am scared, and it’s definitely increasing my risk of getting it.”

David Dorsey, an eighth grade social studies teacher at David T. Howard Middle School has mixed feelings about seeing his students for the first time and keeping his family safe.

Our unique Life Skills program helps students develop important abilities in emotional intelligence, executive functioning, mindfulness, and coding.

“On one hand, no job is worth your life or your family’s life. On the other hand, I am so ready to meet my students,” Dorsey said. “I am worried about bringing something home. I couldn’t live with myself if I brought something home to my kids.”

The responsibility of caring for students during a pandemic is a heavy burden. Doughtery recognizes “it’s a super big challenge to be public health officials and teachers in a school.”

Some teachers feel as though APS is not doing enough to prepare for the return to school buildings.

“We are four or five weeks away, what are the actual plans in place, what does that really look like and how often does cleaning happen?” asked Tracy Holmes, an eighth grade English teacher at David T. Howard Middle School. “You need to have something like that already in place, we don’t want to come back face to face, then two weeks later have to go back to virtual.”

Holmes wants to go back to in-person instruction, but she wants to be safe and acknowledge that teachers still have to come home to families and loved ones.

“I am sure that APS is working on something, but I want to know what that system will be and how will the students be protected,” Holmes said. “They have these steps, but could you give me a little bit more details because these are people’s lives.”

Families will have the option of returning to in-person learning or continuing with virtual school. This creates a new hybrid teaching format.

“I’m not comfortable with teaching both in-person and online,” said an APS teacher who chose to remain anonymous. “The students that are in-person will be in the same classroom with different schedules from mine and each other. It will be difficult to effectively manage in-person and virtual students simultaneously.”

Hybrid teaching could require training for teachers, but the start of the next semester is weeks away.

“If we go back, when are you teaching us how to teach us this new model?” an APS teacher asked. “I don’t have time to go to training. We already had to figure out last year at the last minute, but this is enough.”

According to Doughtery, “there’s a chance that hybrid is even worse than virtual.”

“In Fulton County, I know some teachers who teach to a classroom of about six in-person and about twenty on camera, so their attention is on the virtual side of things, so the kids in the classroom are getting the secondary attention,” Doughtery said. “I wonder how much both of those settings are taking away from each other, so everyone is kind of getting a worse version of education in that case, but that’s all to be determined.”

The hope for APS to remain virtual is a common sentiment among teachers.

“Personally, I am shocked they are deciding that this is time to go back especially with the vaccine on the horizon,” Dorsey said. “I am hoping that we wait until everyone is vaccinated until the kids go back, but I know that’s not a very popular answer.”

Doughtery agrees that the timing is concerning.

“It’s not going to get much better postChristmas and News Year’s than the numbers are now, so I dont think there’s going to be some turn around for them to say, ‘ok it’s safe to come back now,’” Doughtery said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we remained virtual for at least a couple months or all the way into the school year.”

One APS teacher says, “you don’t pay teachers well enough to call us front line workers.”

Photo taken prior to Covid-19.

Girls on the Run

Nonprofit keeps girls active and healthy despite pandemic challenges

Are you ready to get some structure back into your child's life? With enhanced procedures in place, Primrose School of Midtown is open and operating safely during the pandemic

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Galloway students learn more than just core academic subjects; they learn about themselves, who they are, and what role they want to play in making our world a better place.

By Clare S. Richie

Girls’ confidence drops about twice as much as boys’ during adolescence and now COVID-19 has dramatically increased the number of teen girls reporting loneliness and isolation. Thankfully, Girls on the Run of Atlanta (GOTR Atlanta) pivoted during the pandemic to still offer girls in third to eighth grade a virtual 10-week program that incorporates physical activity, encourages personal development, promotes team building and connection, and culminates with a 5K.

“Now more than ever girls really need us and we’re here for them,” GOTR Atlanta Executive Director Lea Rolfes said. “We have the quality, research-based curriculum that intentionally addresses the challenges of being a girl, COVID-19 or not.”

For 20 years, GOTR Atlanta has delivered after-school programming focused on teaching healthy habits, building confidence, caring for oneself and others, and making a meaningful contribution to their communities. It began with three teams and 30 girls and has since served 30,000 girls across four counties – Cobb, Fulton, DeKalb, and Gwinnett.

“My role has been to grow the organization to become more accessible to get more girls involved,” Rolfes said. “We offer full scholarships, financial assistance, running shoes, running bras and snacks. We’re about breaking down barriers to get girls committed to activity and connected with friends no matter their zip code, family situation, race or ethnicity.”

Each session is led by trained volunteer coaches who use physical activity interspersed with dynamic discussions to guide and mentor the girls.

“We talk about anything and everything. How to be a good friend. Who we surround ourselves with. Our emotions are very important to us,” GOTR Atlanta Board Member sand former coach Kathryn Gilbert said.

The program attracts girls drawn to running and others drawn to the friendships and conversations about processing their emotions.

In response to the question, what would you tell your friends who weren’t in GOTR Atlanta, girls answered: “It’s fun, it teaches you ways to calm down and interact with other girls. It’s also a good way to get some extra exercise and reach a goal” a sixth grader said. “It’s

The youngest minds deserve the greatest attention.

Continued from page 38

supportive and helps teach you how to believe in yourself and be a better person,” a fifth grader responded. “My favorite thing is Interacting with my teammates because I never want to be lonely,” a third grader shared.

COVID-19 did have an impact. The nonprofit typically fields 100 teams in the fall, 140 in the spring. This fall, only 42 teams participated, with only two teams meeting in person. But through Zoom conversations and exercises like lunges and jumping jacks at home, the girls pressed on. The other silver lining was that girls from schools or communities that didn’t

offer GOTR Atlanta joined eight open teams. The virtual format allowed for girls from Duluth, Mableton, and South Fulton to participate on the same team.

“For being completely virtual and just about all strangers, our girls did a phenomenal job becoming a team,” a coach shared. “They supported each other and really opened up, sharing personal anecdotes and details. It was amazing to watch and be part of.”

And at the end of fall season, the girls still came together for a celebratory virtual rae, “5K Your Way,” which recognized that not all girls had the same access to a safe place to run.

“We mailed and shared via email – a bingo card of activities that they could do at home. We had live workouts, dance parties and fun activities on our social media channels. Girls still got their bibs, their medals and finisher t-shirt. We had girls on bikes, on rollerblades, running laps around buildings and dancing in their living rooms. It was neat to see how they put an exclamation point on the end of the season,” Rolfes said.

Registration is open for the spring season, which begins on Feb. 15.

“We are trying to identify places where we can have practice – parks, churches or any public building – and implement protocols of masks and social distancing. We are hoping to have half of the teams meet in-person, half virtual. There is definitely going to be something for everyone – even if GOTR hasn’t been in your community before,” Rolfes said.

As the program builds back its number of teams, volunteers are needed to start a new site, become a coach, or support the staff.

“If someone feels called to join us, we can certainly use them,” Gilbert said. For more information, visit girlsontherunatlanta.org.

Fantasy vs. Reality

Pandemic throws a wrench in graduation dreams, college plans

Charlotte Spears, second from right, had her senior prom at home with her family.

By Charlotte Spears Guest Columnist

Senior prom was not at all what every coming-of-age movie had led me to believe. We set up a dinner table in the driveway with streamers and takeout. My parents and sister were my dates.

A few weeks later I graduated from Grady High School on my living room couch. Not that I was expecting a “Legally Blonde” or a “High School Musical 3” graduation but watching the names and faces of my childhood friends on a Powerpoint wasn’t what I had worked 13 years for.

I had a hard time coping with the fact that my coming-of-age story wasn’t going to look like the ones in the movies. I didn’t have a wild summer before moving away to college. Instead, the most exciting thing I did was sit in a socially distant circle with a few of my friends in a church parking lot on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Those months were filled with anxiety about whether or not any of us would be able to go to college. I was scared that as soon as I bought throw pillows or a shower caddy, I would get an email from Davidson College regretfully informing us that we would not be starting the best four years of our lives in August.

It was a confusing, stressful few months in a purgatory between childhood and adulthood. Treading in place. Unsure if my college plans would work out.

The bystanders to our church parking lot circles would offer their condolences to the Class of 2020. But we all began to realize it was a confusing, stressful few months for everyone. We all learned to grapple with the wrench thrown in everyone’s plans. And while I appreciate the sympathy given to my peers and me for our different type of coming of age story, I wouldn’t trade it.

I ended up going to college in person. I made a small group of close friends that I probably wouldn’t have made without the crowd restrictions put in place by Davidson. I had a great grip on my classes. I learned to roll with the punches. And

above all else, I spent the last few months of my childhood alone with my family, playing lots of trivia, going on plenty of walks, trying takeout from restaurants we had never heard of and dancing to New Edition in the backyard.

No, it wasn’t like “Say Anything” or “Lady Bird.” But it was mine, and in hindsight I would take that living room graduation and the backyard prom over those movies any day.

Charlotte Spears is an Intown resident and freshman at Davidson College. She is the former co-editor of Grady High School’s award-winning student newspaper, The Southerner.

Holy Spirit Prep’s 21st-century classical approach combines the latest in academic excellence with authentic Catholic teachings that enrich students’ hearts, minds and souls.

COMPASSIONATE CARE RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER

Northside Medical Midtown brings Georgia’s most compassionate and dedicated experts to the heart of Atlanta. With over 20 practices, our physicians and staff are ready to care for you and your family.

Clinical Specialties include:

NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL CARDIOVASCULAR INSTITUTE

404-962-6000 • northsidecvi.com

NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL CANCER INSTITUTE Radiation Oncology

404-575-2050 northside.com/radiation-oncology-midtown

NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL ORTHOPEDIC INSTITUTE

Sports Medicine

1-855-647-7678 • sportsmedicine.northside.com

Arthritis & Total Joint Specialists 770-292-6500 • arthritisandtotaljoint.com

Atlanta Cardiac & Thoracic Surgical Associates

404-252-9063 • atlantathoracicsurgery.com

Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates 404-888-7601 • atlantagastro.com

Bariatric Innovations of Atlanta & General Surgery

404-250-6691 • bariatricinnovationsatl.com

Georgia Colon & Rectal Surgical Associates

770-277-4277 • gcrsa.com

Georgia Urology

404-222-0292 • gaurology.com

GYN Surgical Specialists 404-303-3157 • gynsurgicalspecialists.com

Laureate Medical Group 404-892-2131 • laureatemed.com

Midtown Medical Associates 404-215-6525 • midtownmed.com

North Atlanta Primary Care 770-442-1911 • napc.md

Northside/Midtown Imaging 404-875-2640 • northside.com/midtown-imaging

Northside Family Medicine & Urgent Care 404-575-2000 • northsideurgentcare.com/atlanta

Northside Hospital Center for Perinatal Medicine 404-898-2550 • northside.com/cpm

Peachtree Women’s Clinic 470-875-1050 • peachtreewomensclinic.com

Randy Rudderman, MD Plastic Surgery & Medical Spa 678-566-7200 • drrudderman.com

Sovereign Rehabilitation 404-205-5567 • sovereignrehab.com

Surgical Specialists of Atlanta 404-847-0664 • surgicalspecialistsofatlanta.com

The Hand & Upper Extremity Center of Georgia 404-255-0226 • handcenterga.com

Thomas Eye Group 678-538-1968 • thomaseye.com

University Gynecologic Oncology 404-300-2990 • ugynonc.com