Atlanta Intown - July 2020

Morningside: 998 Wildwood Road N.E. Elegant Morningside home on coveted Wildwood Road featuring beautiful interiors, dramatic 20 foot ceilings, spacious master suite with spa like bath and oversize walk-in closet, striking high-end gourmet kitchen, and floor to ceiling windows overlooking large, walk-out patio with multiple sitting areas, stunning pool, hot tub, water feature, and outdoor fireplace. 4 BR / 4 BA $1,450,000

UNDER CONTRACT

Morningside: 1651 N Pelham Road N.E. Light filled Modern Morningside residence with very rare, large Coach House. Main house features gourmet kitchen, breakfast room, great room with built-in bookshelves, and den overlooking lush garden views. Coach House features one bedroom, one bath, and kitchenette. Entire property has relaxed cool vibe with clean crisp lines. This is one very special property.

Morningside: 1097 McLynn Ave N.E. Highest quality custom built home in Morningside with separate coach house, oversized two-car garage, saltwater pool & level yard makes this the ideal total package in pristine move right in condition. Everything about this home has been thought through & executed beautifully with outstanding attention to detail. 5 BR / 4 BA / 2 Half BA $2,195,000

UNDER

Morningside: 761 E Morningside Drive N.E. Handsome Morningside home with rear, gated motor court and large, level backyard that walks out directly from main level. 5 BR / 5 BA $849,000

Morningside: 1740 West Sussex Road N.E. Move in Ready Home with 2 Story Foyer Staircase, Paneled Library/Office, Finished Basement with High Ceilings, 2-Car Garage. 10++ 5 BR / 5.5 BA $1,799,000

Morningside: 1165 Zimmer Drive N.E. This all brick renovated home is in move-right-in-condition and features hardwood floors, thick moldings, abundance of natural light and large windows. 3 BR / 3 BA $1,195,000

Morningside: 1184 Beech Valley Road N.E. This exquisite Morningside Tudor Cottage has been expanded and renovated beautifully to capture maximum natural daylight. 10+++ 4 BR / 4 BA $1,395,000

UNDER CONTRACT

Morningside: 1715 Lenox Road N.E. Morningside home loaded with character, charm and function in Coveted Morningside School District. Handsome red tile roof and center courtyard. 4 BR / 4 BA $859,000

UNDER CONTRACT

Morningside: 791 San Antonio Drive N.E. This 8-years young home is in pristine, moveright-in-condition with an outstanding level, flat backyard. 5 BR / 4.5 BA $1,525,000

COMING SOON

Morningside: 1026 Robin Lane N.E. Rare six bedroom Morningside home on 1.97 acres. Open floor plan and full finished basement on a quiet cul-de-sac street. Ideal for a growing family. 6 BR / 5 BA Contact for Price

Morningside: 1374 Pasadena Avenue N.E. Outstanding five bedroom Morningside/ Johnson Road Estate home. This move-in ready home is located on quiet, low traffic Pasadena Avenue. 5 BR / 4 BA $1,095,000

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Editorial Collin Kelley INtown Editor

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Sally Bethea, Melody Harclerode, Karen Head, Dean Hesse, Asep Mawardi, Jacob Nguyen, Clare S. Richie, Tim Sullivan, Arvin Temkar, Kathy Dean

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So, yeah, I had COVID-19

Back at the end of March, I thought I might have COVID-19. I had a low-grade fever, sniffles, low back pain, and no taste or smell for a week, which was followed by a few days of fatigue.

I mentioned it to only a handful of people because I didn’t want to cause alarm, and since it never progressed to the cough or lung stage, I chalked it up to flu or a cold. I didn’t think I’d been in contact with anyone who’d had COVID-19 as I was already in isolation mode and wearing a mask.

EDITOR’S LETTER

Collin Kelley collin@atlantaintownpaper.com

But it was indeed COVID-19. I got the antibody test last month when I went for my regular checkup. For someone my age and health issues, my doctor says I am very lucky not to have wound up in the hospital.

I encourage everyone to get the antibody test and know your status on this. You, too, could have had a mild case like I did or been asymptomatic and not even known it. The word of health and medical officials should be your guide, not politicians who think it’s a hoax or no big deal. As I write this letter, Georgia is one of 29 states having a surge in coronavirus cases.

In early June, a friend and I escaped for a weekend to Savannah. I desperately needed a change of scenery after being cooped up in my apartment for months. I’m not a big swimmer, but I do love being by the water. We found an Airbnb that was off the beaten path, but still walking distance to the far end of Tybee Beach.

It was a relaxing, but unnerving weekend because Savannah was like the land the pandemic forgot. Other than restaurant workers, I didn’t see a single mask all weekend. The beach was heaving with people and so were Tybee’s bars, restaurants, and shops. Along River Street in Savannah, the tourists were back, the shops and bars were open, and it appeared to be summer as usual. Again, no masks. This is why we’re having a surge in cases.

As demonstrators took to the streets in June to protest against racial injustice, Mayor Keisha Lane Bottoms urged those taking part to get tested for COVID-19. It should come as no surprise that the age group showing the highest number of new cases is 21 to 30.

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Look, I understand that wearing a mask is uncomfortable. It makes my face sweat and sometimes I don’t feel like I’m getting enough oxygen. What I don’t get is the people who ludicrously claim that wearing a mask infringes on their liberty, is un-American, and have turned it into a partisan issue. A mask has nothing to do with politics or your patriotism; it’s saving lives – possibly your own.

On a closing note, June was another history-making month not only in Atlanta, but across the nation. The state passed a hate crimes bill, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed federal protection for LGBTQ workers, and impassioned demonstrators took to the streets to remind us that Black Lives Matter. Thank you to our readers who followed our coverage of the protests at AtlantaINtownPaper.com and on our Facebook and Twitter feeds. We are striving to be your go-to source for accurate community news in these life-changing times.

Lillian Schapiro, MD, FACOG Kathryn Garren, WHNP

The Neighborhood

Atlanta’s Next Reckoning Black Lives Matter demonstrations continue as city, police promise reform

By Collin Kelley

Organizers and demonstrators in the Black Lives Matter movement have vowed to keep up regular marches and rallies until they see reform in the city’s criminal justice system. As protests move into a second month, the cradle of the civil rights movement and the city once dubbed “too busy to hate” is facing its next reckoning.

What began in late May as a protest against the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, found local energy after Atlanta Police officers were charged with use of excessive force in arresting two college students caught up in the Downtown demonstrations on May 30. Then on June 12, two APD officers were involved in the shooting and killing of Rayshard Brooks outside a Wendy’s fastfood restaurant on University Avenue. Suddenly, the national spotlight on racial injustice was laser-focused on Atlanta.

Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard has filed charges against eight APD officers in those cases, including felony murder for Garrett Rolfe who shot Brooks twice in the back during a DUI arrest. Those trails are still to come, while Howard has been accused by sundry politicians and the court of social media of rushing charges against the officers as he faces a primary runoff on Aug. 11 to hold his seat.

The ink was barely dry on Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms’ executive order to form a Use of Force Advisory Council – in response to the violent arrest of students Messiah Young and Taniyah Pilgrim –when Brooks was shot. Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields, who had publicly condemned the murder of George Floyd

and terminated officers involved in the students’ arrest, stepped down.

While the advisory council’s recommendations are due this month, Bottoms signed administrative orders calling on interim Police Chief Rodney Bryant to adopt reforms regarding APD’s use of force policies and for comprehensive review of how policing should be handled by the city.

Most notably, the administrative order calls for an officer to intervene if they witness the use of excessive force, reporting the use of deadly force to the Citizens Review Board, and retraining to deescalate volatile arrests before the use of deadly force is needed.

“We are taking a top to bottom review of how we police in Atlanta,” the mayor said in a statement. “These administrative orders will help accelerate our efforts to transform public safety within our city.”

Along with the government scrutiny, APD is under fire from the public for heavy-handed tactics in dispersing protesters. APD and backing law enforcement agencies (National Guard, Georgia State Patrol, Fulton County Sheriff’s Department, Capitol Police, among them) have used tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets, bean bag rounds, batons and other assorted military gear in often violent clashes.

A microcosm of this manifested in Grant Park, where the neighborhood association has drafted a resolution to the city calling for a ban on the use of militarystyle weaponry in the community. Over the weekend of June 13-14, the neighborhood of Victorian mansions, Craftsman Bungalows, and Zoo Atlanta resembled a war zone as tactical vehicles and riot-

gear clad officers protected APD’s small Zone 3 precinct. Residents were outraged that an LRAD (Long Range Acoustic Device), a crowd control device that can emit disorienting sounds strong enough to burst human eardrums, was brought to Grant Park and allegedly “pulsed” at lowfrequency as a warning to demonstrators.

The charging of officers and news of reform went over like a lead balloon at APD. On June 18, the same day charges were filed in the officers in the Rayshard Brooks case, officers staged a sickout –or “blue flu” – in protest. Chief Bryant acknowledged there had been a higher than usual callout. He said officers were questioning their training, felt challenged and attacked, and unease about colleagues being criminally charged so quickly. However, he reassured the public and offered a warning to criminals.

“If you call 911, a police officer will respond,” Bryant said. “We haven’t given up on the city that we love and we ask that you not give up on us. But I want it to be clear, we will not tolerate lawlessness and injustice in this city.”

Bryant said he would stand up teams within APD’s office of professional standards to investigate “complex complaints” and begin reviewing its training program to expand sections on de-escalation, implicit bias, and peer intervention.

Mayor Bottoms, who has also been accused by law enforcement supporters of throwing APD under the bus, said she recognized morale was low, but also said it was time to weed out so-called “bad apples” not only at APD but across the country.

“We have a lot of men and women who work for our police department who care

about this city and work every day with integrity and with honest interactions with our communities,” Bottoms said. “Those are the people who I expect will show up for work. If we have officers who don’t want bad officers weeded out of the force, then that’s a conversation we need to have.”

Bottoms and the Atlanta City Council faced ire after committing one-third of the city’s 2021 budget to APD – despite loud calls from protesters to “defund the police” and shift tax dollars to social and community service organizations.

As the wheels of justice and bureaucracy grind slowly, there has been a flowering of art across Intown speaking to the Black Lives Matter and racial justice movement (see page 32 for more), while Confederate monuments – long considered symbols of white supremacy – are finally coming down.

On June 18, just before midnight, the Confederate “Lost Cause” obelisk was finally removed from the Decatur Square. The day before, Piedmont Hospital in Buckhead announced that a monument to those who died at the Battle of Peachtree Creek would be removed from its Peachtree Road campus.

Left to right, The Confederate monument comes down in Decatur.

(Courtesy Dean Hesse/Decaturish)

Interim Police Chief Rodney Bryant and Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.

Officers Garrett Rolfe (left) and Devin Brosnan charged in Brooks’ death. Protesters march from Buckhead to Midtown.

News Roundup

Atlanta Public Schools will host live, in-person graduation ceremonies for all 14 high schools on July 2023 at Lakewood Stadium. Visit atlantapublicschools.us for the full schedule.

Atlanta Police Homicide Detectives arrested David Lee, 29, in connection with the murder of three homeless people in Downtown during the month of June. Lee is suspected in the shooting deaths of Timothy Smith, Curtis Cockrell, and Maxine McDonald.

Philanthropists Patty Quillin and Reed Hastings, chief executive of Netflix, have donated $120 million to Morehouse College, Spelman College, and the United Negro College Fund for scholarships. Each college and the UNCF will receive $40 million.

Atlanta Public Schools mulling options for reopening amid ongoing COVID-19 pandemic

By Collin Kelley

Atlanta Public Schools will make a decision in early to mid-July about whether to reopen schools, continue with virtual learning, or a hybrid of the two, according to incoming Superintendent Lisa Herring.

Herring, who assumed command on July 1, held two virtual town hall meetings in June to discuss the 2020-21school year amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. APS also collected opinions from parents via an online survey in June.

Herring laid out three potential scenarios for the Aug. 10 reopening –traditional, virtual, and hybrid – and said the model would be guided by public health data.

“Our top priority is the health and safety of the students, families, and employees,” Herring said, noting that the system would remain flexible as COVID-19 numbers fluctuate.

Under the traditional model, students would have face-to-face instruction time again at APS facilities. However, there will be required

Downtown Decides!

personal protection equipment for staff, limited class sizes, staggered scheduling, temperature checks at the door, and students would be required to wear a mask. Herring said APS would choose this model only if data indicates low or no spread of the virus.

If virus numbers remain high, the virtual option would continue online learning for all students and facilities would remain shuttered.

The hybrid model would be implemented if there in minimal to moderate spread of the virus, Herring said. Hybrid would mean students are in the classroom some days and learning at home on others.

Herring said parents could choose virtual for their students and they would remain enrolled in APS and identified with their home school. The system is also considering an expansion of its APS Virtual Academy, which is currently used for middle and high school students.

Results revealed in poll on how to spend $1M in transportation funds

By INtown Staff

District 2 City Councilmember Amir Farokhi has announced the final results of his “Downtown Decides!” participatory budgeting pilot program – an initiative through which the public proposes ideas and then votes on how to spend public dollars.

The Reimagining Atlanta City Detention Center (ACDC) Task Force submitted its final report to Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms offering options on what to do with the city jail and related policing policies. The task force envisions the jail site as a multi-service center that would create housing opportunities in a range of forms –affordable housing, supportive housing, sobering beds, shelter beds, safe-haven beds, or crisis-intervention beds for people experiencing a behavioral health episode that does not require hospitalization.

The landmark ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court protecting LGBTQ workers against job discrimination has a metro Atlanta connection. Doraville resident Gerald Bostock was a lead plaintiffs in the case after being fired from his job in Clayton County because he is gay.

Farokhi launched Downtown Decides! in December 2019 in collaboration with the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District. Residents were invited to submit their thoughts on how to best spend $1 million in available unspent Transportation Special-Purpose LocalOption Sales Tax (or T-SPLOST) dollars earmarked for transportation projects Downtown.

More than 100 proposals were submitted and they were vetted for feasibility by city officials before being placed on a final ballot of 33 ideas. After a month of online voting, 3,479 people voted with 17 projects chosen as winners.

“Given all that’s going on in the world, it speaks volumes that nearly 3,500 people took the time to vote. This was a small initiative in the grand scheme of things. But the lessons are clear. People want the chance to be more civically engaged. They want the opportunity for their great ideas to come to life. They want a direct say in the future of our city. I believe it’s incumbent on us as elected officials to provide opportunities like this. It makes for a stronger, more representative democracy in our city.”

He went on to express his excitement at the diversity of ideas represented.

“We are thrilled with the list of winners,” Farokhi continued. “There’s something for everyone – for pedestrians and cyclists, business owners, persons with disabilities, drivers looking to get where they’re going safely, and those who simply wanted to

beautify our streets and improve the quality of life downtown. Everyone is a winner.”

Farokhi’s office will now work with the Atlanta Department of Transportation to develop a timeline for execution of the 17 winning projects. To see vote tallies and more details, visit district2atlanta.com/downtowndecides.

The winning projects:

1. More “pedestrian only” zones in FairliePoplar ($15,000) Install removable bollards in the Fairlie-Poplar district to create “pedestrian only” zones on Broad St. between Poplar St. and Walton St.

2. Handicap access ramp at Williams St. and Peachtree St. ($6,000)

3. Handicap access ramp at Ted Turner and Williams St. ($9,000)

4. Paint dangerous island ($3,400) Paint median islands and/or install reflective delineators along Harris St at Peachtree Ctr Ave.

5. Add 20 32-gallon trash and recycling cans along Auburn Ave. ($20,000)

6. Extend Jackson St. Bike Lane ($45,000) Remove two-way left-turn lane along Jackson St. and convert to a single lane in each direction. Install 5?ft bike lane in each direction between Auburn Avenue and Irwin Street. This will include removing existing striping and adding new striping for two? lane roadway, bike lane striping, and parking striping.

7. “Don’t Block the Box” ($20,000) Install “Don’t Block The Box” striping at 20 intersections in the heaviest travelled areas of the downtown grid: Peachtree St from Dekalb Ave to North Ave; Ted Turner Dr from Andrew Young Int’l Blvd to Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd; Baker Str from Piedmont Ave to Williams St.

8. Marietta St. Cycle Track ($130,000) Install bicycle lanes along Marietta St between Edgewood Ave and Centennial Olympic Park Dr.

9. “Complete Streets Peachtree” ($225,000) Complete Street striping along Peachtree St. from McGill Blvd to Ellis St. Includes basic infrastructure supports for scooters, cyclists, etc.

10. Peachtree Center Ave. Cycle Track ($50,000) Install delineators for cycle track (e.g. striping, signs, reflectors) along Peachtree Center Ave from Int’l Blvd to Peachtree St.

11. “The Smooth Roads Act of 2019” ($140,000) Repave Ivan Allen Jr Blvd between Peachtree St and West Peachtree St to address pothole and sidewalk issues.

12. Edgewood Sidewalk Widening Phase I ($130,000) Design phase for plan to remove two-way left-turn lane and install 10?ft sidewalk along Edgewood Ave (both sides) between Jackson St and Boulevard. Project includes removal of

Superintendent Lisa Herring

Fairlie-Poplar District

existing two-way left?turn lane, installation of new centerline striping, bike lanes, on-street parking, new granite header curb, concrete driveways, concrete sidewalk, stormwater culverts and inlet structures, and utility relocation.

13. Edgewood Avenue Loading Zone Revamp ($10,000) The removal of six parking spaces to accommodate lane shifts and a curbside loading? only zone at the corner of Boulevard and Edgewood. Also, bike lane protection will be installed at either end of the block to protect against right-turning vehicles.

14. Sweet Auburn Wayfinding ($15,000) Creative wayfinding signs along Auburn Ave. to connect multiple historic sites.

15. Beg Button Removal ($40,000) Remove 60 (approx.) signal crossing buttons at the following intersections: Peachtree/ Wall; Peachtree/Walton; Peachtree/Forsyth/ Carnegie; W. Peachtree/Allen; Allen/Turner; Allen/Williams; Turner/International; COP/ International; COP/Luckie; COP/Walton; COP/Marietta; Turner/Marietta; Forsyth/ Marietta; Forsyth/Luckie.

16. Stoplight Removal ($125,000) Study approximately 20 traffic signals Downtown to assess whether they get so little traffic that they can be removed.

17. Sidewalk Furniture ($22,000) Decorative furniture and benches at the corner of Auburn Ave. and Hilliard St. by the Remerge building.

Oakland Cemetery to reinstall East Gate at Boulevard & Memorial

By INtown Staff

After more than 100 years, visitors to Oakland Cemetery will once again be able to enter the grounds from the corner of Boulevard and Memorial Drive.

Historic Oakland Foundation has announced that it will reconstruct the East Gate this summer to restore the graveyard’s connection with the Cabbagetown and Reynoldstown neighborhoods.

The original East Gate was installed along Boulevard in 1899 and, after much debate, closed by Atlanta’s Cemetery Commission in 1908 for safety reasons. At the time, locals were unhappy about having to walk nearly a mile to the main gate, which now sits at the end of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive (then known as Hunter Street). A compromise was reached by opening a gate on Decatur Street along the railroad tracks. The East Gate gate was eventually removed when the retaining wall was rebuilt.

A portion of the existing brick wall on Oakland’s southern border will be deconstructed, and salvaged bricks will be used in the new gateway. Two brick columns capped with granite will frame an opening spanned by a double swing gate modeled Oakland’s historic gates. The new access point will be located near the site of the old East Gate, making it easier for visitors coming from the Atlanta BeltLine and the neighborhoods surrounding the cemetery. In addition to the new gate, this area will see the introduction of new user amenities including park benches, pet stations, and wayfinding signage, along with significant restoration efforts to improve visitors’ experience and safety.

The construction of the East Gate is part of a larger effort by Historic Oakland Foundation to make improvements to the East Hill section of the Cemetery. Historic Oakland Foundation has received funding for this project through the Aderhold Family Foundation and a Park Pride

Community Building Grant (supported by The Home Depot Foundation). The Foundation is proud to partner with these two organizations that represent the Atlanta communities served by Oakland Cemetery.

For more information about Historic Oakland Foundation and its restoration and preservation work, visit oaklandcemetery.com.

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A recent group message with elementary school friends reminded me of when my 3rd grade class made our own version of the Guinness Book of World records. Smartest Boy: Anthony Perone. Smartest Girl: Chrissy McAteer, obviously. Nicky Puja was inarguably the Tallest and while it wasn’t a category, I could have been voted Boy Most Likely to Remember Useless Anecdotes.

TIMMY DADDY

By Tim Sullivan

John Del Vecchio was deemed the Best Bike Rider although there was some debate because Tim Hurley was also pretty skilled on his Mongoose. But Hurley already had Best Looking Boy wrapped up so another accolade would have been annoying. I’m more of a point A to point B kind of two-wheeler myself. But with no gym to go to during the pandemic, I’ve had to leave my cardio comfort zone. Ride a bike, they all say. You should ride a bike! I know “they” are probably right but I’ve always been reluctant for some reason. Confidence is a fickle thing.

Kristen and I did buy used cruisers at Play it Again Sports last year with the idea that we would treat them like beach bikes. We could ride them to the square for lunch or for a leisurely roll on the BeltLine. Yeah, we never did those things. And now I was tasking this jalopy with keeping me in shape. My friend Mike offered a gentle assessment: “That’s the most Grandpa lookin’ bike I’ve ever…” his voice trailing off in pity.

The first few rides were humbling. Serious cyclists passed me in a flourish of spandex and honestly, this is another one of the factors that has always kept me from the sport. The size choices on these outfits seem to be Small and Even Smaller. I’m already embarrassing myself enough out here so if my regular t-shirt flapping in the wind renders me less aerodynamic, so be it.

Riding the Path to Stone Mountain seemed like a biker-guy thing to do so I headed in that direction. Several miles along, my handlebars came loose, as they are wont to do. I tightened them up in an area that apparently was close to a designated street crossing. A couple in a car waved me across like I was a pathetic turtle. I motioned for them to go ahead and they gave me the international symbol of “what the hell is wrong with you?” I pleaded—Sorry! I’m just not very good at this! Grandpa bike!

Margo caught the cycling bug, too, but had outgrown her old ride. After hitting several shops, I realized that we weren’t the only new enthusiasts in town. Next to toilet paper the hardest thing to secure during the pandemic has been a 24-inch girl’s bike. We found a Trek for sale online but it required driving almost an hour away to some random guy’s house with a fistful of cash. Seemed a little sketchy but after quarantining for so long that drive to McDonough left Kristen and me feeling like Thelma and Louise.

Now Margo has a (properly social distanced) bike gang and they are a force to be reckoned with around Oakhurst Village. A vaccine would be awesome but weighing on me more than anything is how difficult this must be for the kids. The fresh air and social benefits are like gold. Between that and my efforts to stave off actual weight gain, it seems a good old-fashioned bicycle was what Margo and I both needed.

As luck would have it, I have friends with perfectly rideable bikes that they don’t want anymore. Benzie gave me his old Gary Fisher a while ago so I dusted that off and Ray gave me a Diamondback hybrid. Now that I’ve graduated from the Grandpa bike I’m sort of getting into this. Del Vecchio’s Best Bike Rider title is safe for now, but if I start shopping for form-fitting kits, he’d better look out.

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.

Marching for Change

Our contributing photographers fanned out across Intown over the last month to capture images of the rallies and demonstrations calling for an end to racial injustice and white supremacy. From Downtown to Midtown and Old Fourth Ward and the Atlanta BeltLine, “no justice, no peace” was a rallying cry in June. Photos by Asep Mawardi, Jacob Nguyen, Karen Head, and Collin Kelley.

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Building Through the Pandemic

Effects of the coronavirus show up in worksites and home design

By Kathy Dean

When the pandemic shutdown hit Atlanta in March, ‘business as usual’ was anything but that. Some companies had no choice but to close their doors and hope it was temporary. Others made drastic changes in their operations. Changes needed to happen quickly for the home repair, renovation and construction businesses, as they had projects underway.

Keeping up essential services

“As essential service workers, we were able to work throughout the pandemic, though in a very different capacity,” said Warner McConaughey, Founder and President of HammerSmith. “We design and build kitchens, bathrooms and additions, so we’re usually working in homes for a month or longer. Because no one wanted us to stop mid-project, we had to adapt quickly to protect the safety of our coworkers, associates and clients.”

One adaptation was the addition of handwash stations. Another was limiting the work sites to one trade a day, when possible. “In the past, we might have had the electricians, plumbers and HVAC associates stacked up together,” McConaughey explained. “We now give them each a day so they can work socially distanced in a safer, cleaner environment.”

Moon Bros., Inc. was also able to continue working, for the most part, according to Tiffany Barcik, Moon Bros. Associate. “On our job sites, we continued construction with the consent and support of our clients,” she said. The company instituted protective measures for clients, including typical construction separations and personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff members.

“We’re working at full capacity now, but the notion of ‘business as usual’ has changed,” Barcik said. Material acquisition has been impeded, resulting in a slower pace for some projects, and the need to plan for longer lead times. “We are adjusting to the new normal of persistent hand cleaning, masks and constant physical separation.”

Zach Reece, COO at Colony Roofers, said the company is 100% back and ready to work. “We’ve been very fortunate to continue operating without interruption through the pandemic lockdown,” he reported. “As an essential service, we’ve done everything in our power to continue serving property owners in the Atlanta area while observing social distancing and health precautions.”

Still, Reece noted, the company is nowhere near ‘business as usual’ from a demand standpoint, “…but we are definitely picking up in comparison to a month ago. I would guess that a second wave would have a far stronger impact on our ability to meet customer demand.” He added that a second wave during the rainy season (November through March) could have a huge impact on his industry.

Focus on safety

Reece said that Colony Roofers makes cleaning and disinfecting a high priority. “We also encourage all our employees to wear masks and use hand sanitizer in the field,” he said. “Customers definitely want to be sure that they’re working with a company that takes health and safety very seriously. We’ve received many questions regarding our practices around masks and social distancing.”

Reece noted that at the start of the pandemic, Colony Roofers also began offering ‘Virtual Quotes’ by using satellite imaging to measure properties and going over quotes via video calls. Moon Bros. has also become more diligent in maintaining the separation for clients and staff. “In our renovation projects where our clients maintain residence, we install a temporary plastic wall to separate the constructions zones from the rest of the livable house,” Barcik said.

“On one of our projects — a renovation for a doctor at Grady — we have a hand cleaning station that is maintained and utilized constantly,” she said. Also, masks are required for everyone while they’re inside the construction zone. “These measures have worked well and haven’t been difficult to institute there and on other job sites.”

At HammerSmith, design meetings and weekly manager meetings are held remotely through Zoom and other digital means, McConaughey said. Project managers send daily email updates with photos to clients. The company also uses DocuSign and direct deposits in lieu of sharing pens and passing checks.

“Some of our client meetings are still held in clients’ homes, but now with masks and social distancing,” he said.

According to Barcik, the largest adjustment in the office workflow at Moon Bros. has been around the communication with clients. “We haven’t been meeting as much in person and as a result, conference calls and video conferencing have become critical,” she said. “This lack of in-person contact has impacted our design process.”

Normally, the architect meets with the client to get a personal understanding of who they are and what they want. This is done with more than a list from the client, Barcik explained. It’s also “…a culmination of impressions, answers to questions, facial expressions, body language, understanding of personalities and lifestyle.”

The ability to do this remotely is a challenge, she added. “This definitely puts more responsibility on the architect to find and create effective communication skills.”

The post-pandemic home

McConaughey said that the way people see and use their homes has changed dramatically, “…and I think a lot of this paradigm shift is here to stay.”

With people being together at home, they’re noticing their houses more. “Couples are discussing what they want for their homes,” he said, adding that HammerSmith has gotten a lot of calls from people who request dedicated office space.

“The adults need a place where they can shut the door and have silent space for work, Zoom calls, etc.,” he said. “The kids, too, need their own space to study, do their schoolwork and make Zoom calls.”

While the open concept is still popular for the family to get together, there’s more emphasis on the need for quiet places in the house “…for those moments of solitude.”

McConaughey reported that the company has also gotten calls to build or complete carriage houses. “The owners want another dwelling on the property with space to cook, eat and live in,” he said. “It’s a place for friends who come to visit from out of town, or maybe for aging parents, since they’re not going into senior living facilities at this time,” he said. “And if someone gets sick, there’s a place where they can be comfortable while they’re quarantined.”

Barcik also has found that, with the additional time at home, people are viewing their houses differently. They want space to quarantine or separate if needed, exterior spaces for social gatherings that provide safe distances and and quarantine areas and washing stations for incoming groceries. “The pandemic will no doubt significantly change the way we design.”

She said that one of the big requests from Moon Bros. clients right now is pools. “Clients who were able to swim at gyms are no longer doing so,” she said, “and while we have done plenty of pools in the past, we’ve definitely seen an increase in the desire to have one’s own pool.”

While HammerSmith and other construction companies are busy now, McConaughey stressed that there is a concern the demand may be short-lived. “If half of the country isn’t working, this may not last,” he said.

Colony Roofers

HammerSmith handwash station.

Rubenstein Partners, L.P. has unveiled the new brand for the 47acre development formerly known as Lindbergh City Center. Now known as Uptown, the property is being redeveloped into a mixed-use hub centered around direct access to the Lindbergh MARTA station, Atlanta BeltLine and South Fork Trail. Uptown encompasses approximately 120,000 square feet of retail space, nearly 1 million square feet of office space and a variety of community gathering places throughout the site. The two 14-story office towers will come online later this year, and Rubenstein’s redevelopment plans include an overhaul of the 35,000-square-foot office atrium to create an open gathering space. A diverse mix of restaurants, retail, and artist studios is also planned.

Martin Hoover, owner of Empire Heating & Air Conditioning, was recently awarded the 2020 Distinguished Service Award by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America. For 35 years, Hoover has owned and operated Empire, a local heating and cooling company servicing metro Atlanta areas in Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Forsyth and Gwinnett counties.

Spaces has expanded its flexible workspaces at its Midtown location at Colony Square. Spaces now occupies the first, second and third floors of Building 400, with the first floor opening up to the soon-to-be-completed Plaza at Colony Square. With various FlexSpace offerings from memberships to designated desks and office spaces to meeting rooms, Spaces offers flexible options to fit every schedule and need.

The Bridal Extravaganza of Atlanta is going virtual July 19-24 bringing together Georgia’s top wedding vendors and engaged couples. Brides and grooms can easily meet wedding vendors through interactive video chats; register for wedding and honeymoon giveaways;

receive door prizes from all vendors; and upgrade to the VIP experience for curbside pickups of cake tastings, flowers, vendor gifts, and more to sample from home. For more information, visit atlantaweddingconnection.com.

Market agency Nebo has relocated its headquarters to the MET, a new mixed-use spaee across from the West End MARTA station in Adair Park. Founded in 2004, the company has grown to nearly 100 full-time employees. The new offices feature studio space and colorful murals meant to inspire creativity and celebrate the artistic culture of the MET. Nebo’s office will also incorporate an event space, including an outdoor patio, that can accommodate up to 250 people.

One Medical, a membership-based primary care facility, has opened a new location on the ground floor of ICON Midtown Luxury Apartments on 14th Street. Memberships are $199 per year and includes 24-hour virtual care services via mobile app, on-demand video visits, “Treat Me Now” digital assessments for common health concerns, easy vaccine and medical record access and prescription renewals. The Midtown location offers ifull lab services, mental and physical health check-ins, chronic illness management and annual wellness visits, in addition to COVID-19 PCR and antibody testing by appointment. Most major insurance plans are accepted for in-office care. For more information, visit onemedical.com.

Aqua-Tots Swim Schools is preparing to open its newest location on Atlanta’s upper westside. The 4,500 sq. foot swim school is tentatively scheduled to open July 6 at Westside Village at Moores Mill along Marietta Boulevard and Coronet Way. The school offers comprehensive swim curriculum for children as early as four months old. For more information, visit aqua-tots.com/ atlanta-westside-village.

Sustainability

The convergence of the civil rights and environmental justice movements

suspected of causing cancer. More than 30,000 gallons of PCB-laden transformer coolant had been illegally dumped along hundreds of miles of state roads by one of the nation’s largest transformer repair companies. Why? Because they didn’t want to pay the cost for proper disposal, of course. Instead of sending the toxic material to a permitted hazardous landfill in Alabama (built, I will note, in another impoverished region with no prior disclosure to residents of the nature of the facility), they decided to bury it in one of the poorest counties in North Carolina –at one-tenth the cost.

After a four-year struggle over the proposed landfill and charges of racial discrimination, the county’s low-income, African-American residents lost their final battle in court. That September, a convoy of dump trucks, each filled with six tons of the contaminated soil, moved toward protesters lying in their way on a rural road. Every day for six weeks, the protesters blocked the

was feasible.

The Afton protests energized a new faction within the civil rights movement that saw the environment as yet another front in its struggle for justice. Many early environmental justice leaders came out of the civil rights movement, bringing similar tactics: marches, petitions, rallies, coalition building, empowerment through education, and litigation. Civil rights veterans, including the late Rev. Joseph Lowery, who died in Atlanta last spring, joined the anti-landfill marches, as the nation watched.

As I write this column, today is Juneteenth or Freedom Day: an informal holiday that has been a tradition in the United States for more than 150 years. I didn’t learn about this celebration from schoolbooks or teachers and, I am embarrassed to admit, I knew nothing of it until a few years ago. Juneteenth began in Texas, where African-American slaves finally learned on June 19, 1865 that they had been freed by President Lincoln more than two years earlier. There is so much – too much – that we simply have not learned, or acknowledged, or owned up to regarding the history of slavery and racial injustice in our country. Yet, this “hidden” history has profoundly shaped modern American society. As writer James Baldwin said in an interview more than fifty years ago: “History is not the past; it is the present. We carry our history with us. We are our history.” On this Juneteenth, many black and brown people are finding it difficult to celebrate, as they are still fighting for equal rights to housing, education, wages, health care and a clean environment.

ABOVE THE WATER LINE

By Sally Bethea

Sally Bethea is the retired executive director of Chattahoochee Riverkeeper and current board president of Chattahoochee Parks Conservancy whose mission is to build a community of support for the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.

In 1982, while I sat at my desk in the Atlanta regional office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), I had no idea that elsewhere

in the building agency officials were signing off on a plan to bury 60,000 tons of soil contaminated with a banned, toxic substance in a landfill in Warren County, North Carolina, near the small town of Afton – or that the events that followed would serve as the spark for what we now know as the “environmental justice” movement, uniting civil rights with environmental activists.

Used as a coolant in electrical transformers until the substance was banned in 1979, polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, had contaminated the soil; the toxic chemical was known to cause birth defects, liver and skin disorders and

trucks; more than 500 were arrested. It was the first time that citizens had mobilized in advance to stop an environmental threat.

At meetings and hearings, local residents had begged then-Governor Jim Hunt and federal and state agencies not to turn their community into a toxic dumping ground that threatened drinking water wells. “Is it right,” asked one speaker, “to pour a dangerous chemical on a county because it is small and poor?” Government officials insisted that the hazards posed by the landfill were negligible; yet, they ignored their own requirements, allowing the toxic waste to be stored within seven feet of groundwater, instead of fifty. The governor, a strong landfill proponent, promised to push the detoxification of the site, someday, when it

The U.S. Government Accountability Office evaluated the correlation between hazardous landfill locations and the race and socioeconomic status of surrounding communities; it concluded in 1983 that three of every four landfills in the Southeast were in or near communities with majority non-white populations – with more than a quarter living below the poverty line. No one wants a landfill, dirty factory, major pipeline or interstate highway for a neighbor, but corporate decision-makers and their politically-controlled regulatory agencies had decided that it was easier and less expensive to put these facilities in low-income, nonwhite communities.

After the GAO study, EPA set new guidelines and standards for selecting landfill locations. More studies were published over the years that revealed the inequitable treatment of poor, non-white communities; the first National People of Color Leadership Summit was held in 1991, a year after Dr. Robert Bullard published his seminal book, “Dumping in Dixie.” Under the Clinton Administration, environmental justice – the equitable distribution of environmental risks and benefits – finally became federal government policy, a first step, but only that.

EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice was established and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), one of the nation’s bedrock environmental laws, became an essential tool in the fight against environmental racism by requiring federal agencies to disclose potential impacts on low-income, minority communities and allow meaningful input. Sadly, this progress is unraveling. President Trump signed an executive order, last month, that expedites NEPA reviews of major infrastructure projects and sidesteps protections; Senate Republicans refuse to support additional investment in environmental justice.

Twenty-five years after the PCB landfill was first proposed, a group of local residents and state officials gathered, a few days before Juneteenth in 2004, for a barbecue dinner to celebrate the final detoxification of the landfill at a cost of $17.1 million. Someday had finally arrived.

Rev. Joseph Lowery and protesters launch their march from Warren County to the state capital in Raleigh in 1982.

Afton protesters lie in the street to block dump trucks of contaminated soil.

“Jared Sapp and his team were absolutely phenomenal! I cannot thank them enough for the smooth and seamless sale of our home. Following our Friday list date, more than 20 people visited our home that weekend with no open house, and received multiple full-price offers within hours. The entire process was zero-stress! Jared’s now selling my brother’s house too, as it was just that great of an experience!” - Jeff B.

1150 VIRGINIA AVENUE OFFERED FOR $1,595,000

905 JUNIPER STREET, NO. 517 OFFERED FOR $415,000

29 AVERY DRIVE OFFERED FOR $999,000

1551 MARKAN DRIVE OFFERED FOR $1,837,500

1783 NOBLE DRIVE OFFERED FOR $1,895,000

1590 N. MORNINGSIDE DRIVE OFFERED FOR $998,000

36 POLO DRIVE OFFERED FOR $799,000

640 GLEN IRIS DRIVE, NO. 618 OFFERED FOR $485,000

8957 OLD SOUTHWICK PASS OFFERED FOR $3,500,000

927 E. ROCK SPRINGS ROAD OFFERED FOR $1,225,000

PETS

For our August issue, we’ll be featuring photographs of pets and their owners. Send us a snap of you and your pet (or pets) and you might see yourself in this special section! Photos should be high resolution with all persons and pets identified by name. Send your images by July 16 to editor Collin Kelley at collin@atlantaintownpaper.com

Chattahoochee River NRA increases access to park

By INtown Staff

Following federal, state, and local guidance, the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (NRA) has eased COVID-19 restrictions and increased recreational access.

The National Park Service (NPS) has allowed all commercial services on the river to resume, including Nantahala Outdoor Center, Deep South Fly Anglers, Shoot the Hooch, River Through Atlanta, Kayak Classes of Georgia, Tie One On, $10 Tubing, and High Country Outfitters.

The park, located near Sandy Springs, is once again charging a $5 entrance fee, so look for signage at each parking area on how to electronically pay the fee.

However, comfort stations and the Hewlett Lodge Visitor Center were still closed at press time.

“We welcome visitors back to the park for increased recreation opportunities in Chattahoochee River NRA,” said Acting Superintendent Ann Honious. “We ask visitors to remember to recreate responsibly, by recreating with the people in your household. Give others plenty of room whether you are on a trail, at a boat launch, or in a parking lot. Follow the CDC social distancing guidelines for staying six feet away from others. Be prepared to cover your nose and mouth if you’re near others.”

Honiuous said that the NRA is working closely with the NPS Office of Public Health using CDC guidance to ensure public and workspaces are safe and clean for visitors, employees, partners, and volunteers.

When recreating, the public should follow local area health orders, practice Leave No Trace principles, avoid crowding and avoid high-risk outdoor activities.

Details and updates on park operations will continue to be posted on our website nps. gov/chat and social media channels. Updates about NPS operations will be posted on www. nps.gov/coronavirus.

A new NPS report shows that 3.4 million visitors to Chattahoochee River NRA in 2019 spent $152 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 2,160 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $213 million.

Atlanta Streets Alive marks 10 years, plans weekly pilot program

By Collin Kelley

Atlanta Streets Alive was supposed to celebrate its 10th anniversary at the end of May with a party, but the COVID-19 outbreak meant the festivities wound up being held via Zoom.

Atlanta Bicycle Coalition Executive Director Rebecca Serna said it was good to see organizers and supporters even if it was virtually. Serna was the brainchild of Atlanta Streets Alive, taking the idea to close the city’s streets to vehicular traffic from a regular event she witnessed while living in Bogota, Colombia.

The success or the program in Atlanta – with 29 open streets programs and 1.7 million participants over the past decade –has shown that there is a desire by people and businesses for more open streets.

Before COVID-19, Atlanta Streets

Alive was planning its most ambitious undertaking yet: Closing Peachtree Street

every Sunday during the month of October.

“The pandemic has everything up in the air,” Serna said. “Since the city isn’t currently issuing permits for large gathering, while we remain open to holding the weekly pilot program this fall, we are also looking at next spring.”

Serna said the idea of closing Peachtree every Sunday for a month was also inspired by her time in Bogota. A main

thoroughfare is closed to traffic every Sunday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and has become a weekly tradition.

“We believe a weekly program with change how people experience streets,” Serna said. The idea is to move away from the festival atmosphere of Atlanta Streets Alive and make it something more high frequency that changes perception and habits. You can’t change habits by holding it three times a year.”

Serna said the pilot program would be used to assess if Atlanta Streets Alive could morph into a weekly event similar to Bogota.

To keep abreast of Atlanta Streets Alive’s plan, visit atlantastreetsalive.com.

Photo by Asep Mawardi

Home & Real Estate

Gardening in Small Spaces

Beautify your apartment or condo with greenery and vegetables

By Collin Kelley

Gardening space is often at a premium If you live in an apartment, condo, or townhouse.

But if you’re itching to scratch your green thumb, here’s a few ideas to get you started.

The easiest ways to get started with growing plants in small spaces is container gardening. If traditional clay or plastic planters aren’t your thing, think outside the pot and look around your home for alternatives. If the planter is big enough to hold soil and permits adequate drainage –

by punching or drilling holes – then you’re ready to grow.

Be mindful to select the right size pot for your garden. Don’t go too small or you run the risk of inhibiting root growth as well as creating a challenge to keep the container hydrated.

If you don’t see a planter idea around your home, check out yard sales, thrift shops, or a neighborhood message board. But don’t use anything that once held toxic chemicals or is rusted and be sure to wash the container before you plant.

If you want to use a wooden planter, consider treating it with a clear waterproof

latex sealer to extend the life and durability of the container.

Some container suggestions: Milk crates, bottles, jars, fish tanks, old toolboxes, glassware, coffee mugs, pallets, or even one of those shoe organizers you hang on a door. The latter happens to be perfect for growing herbs.

For something a bit bigger – to grow lettuce, kale, spinach, and other greens – try recycling an old desk or dresser to create raised beds. One of the easiest and most efficient ways to garden in a small space, like on a balcony or patio, is to find an old shipping pallet and flip it vertically to create growing shelves.

Now that you’ve got your containers, here’s a few tips from Pike Nurseries (pikenursery.com) on how to actually grow a small garden.

Sun: The most important rule of green thumb for beginning a container garden is to group plants together based on their sun requirements. Gardeners should get acquainted with their space to determine lighting – ranging from full sun with more than six hours, partial sun or shade with three to six hours to full shade with less than three hours of sunlight – before choosing

their container garden plants.

Soil: Fill a pot with potting and container soil that contains fertilizer and wetting agents to prevent pots from drying out too quickly. A helpful tip is to place a coffee filter at the bottom of the container near the hole to keep soil from spilling but still allowing proper drainage. Leave two to three inches at the top to mix in a fertilizer like Dr. Earth Root Zone – a nutrient-packed organic fertilizer that reduces transplant shock and helps establish roots. Fill in areas around the plants with more potting soil.

Water: Gardeners also want to plant species with similar water needs, ensuring no under- or overwatering takes place. Container gardens should be watered two to three times a week, increasing this to seven times a week when temperatures are at their hottest. Container gardens require more attention, so use the touch test to determine water needs; if the top one to two inches of the soil feels dry to the touch, water deeply until it begins to drain out of the bottom. Be sure to rid of access water in the saucer to prevent rotted roots. Water globes and water-absorbing granules are useful tools to ensure plants receive enough water.

Fertilize: Fertilize containers every four weeks with a blend of natural and organic compounds in Dr. Earth Annual Bloom to keep annuals thriving or every three months with Osmocote Outdoor & Indoor Plant Food that controls nutritional release.

All that’s left is to decide what to grow in your small garden. Although we’re in the middle of the summer, there’s still plenty to plant, according to the Georgia Cooperative Extension Service (extension.uga.edu).

Some suggestions: Cauliflower, pole and lima beans, butterpeas, cucumbers, eggplan, okra, bell pepper, and some varieties of tomato can be planted in July. For flowers, try marigold, cosmos, cleome, and dwarf sunflowers.

REAL ESTATE. REAL PEOPLE.

HERE FOR YOU WHEN YOU NEED US THE MOST

OUR CURRENT LISTINGS HARVIN

Historic hospital building continues to provide service

Local hospitals have garnered headlines for the care of COVID-19 patients during the pandemic. In the 1880s, the Atlanta Constitution published editorials calling for a public hospital to serve Atlanta’s indigent residents. Following the death of Atlanta Constitution editor and owner Henry Grady (1850-1859), the Atlanta City Council set aside $30,000 in funding to construct Atlanta’s first public hospital for city residents regardless of income. A committee led by Atlanta Councilman Joseph Hirsch selected Springfield, Massachusetts-based Gardner, Pyne, and Gardner as architect for the project.

era and sentiments of its late namesake. Patients, who could afford their care, stayed in private rooms.

Perspectives in Architecture

By Melody Harclerode

The Grady Hospital of 1892 featured 110 beds and a sunlit operating room for medical students to observe doctors during surgeries. Horse-drawn ambulances dropped off patients at a porte-cochere entry on the south side of this cuttingedge medical facility for its time. Black and white patients received care in separate wards reflecting racial segregation of the

Melody Harclerode, FAIA enjoys connecting the public to wondrous places as an award-winning architect, author, and Executive Director of Blue Heron Nature Preserve in Atlanta.

Residential structures surrounding the original four-acre hospital campus were torn down for subsequent expansions. The porte-cochere entry was demolished for a six-story hospital addition. Interior spaces in the building have been altered since 1892, yet much of exterior structure remains intact. The City of Atlanta designated The Grady Hospital of 1892, renamed Georgia Hall, as a Landmark Building in 1989 describing the building as “exceptional important to the city, state or nation and whose demolition would represent an irreparable loss to the city.”

The Grady Hospital of 1892 can be found at 36 Jessie Hill, Jr. Drive in Downtown Atlanta. An example of Richardsonian Romanesque style architecture popularized between 1880 and 1900, the massive three-story, brick landmark with a granite basement is softened with rounded arches at windows, doors, and porches and hipped roofs. Visitors are greeted with “The Grady Hospital” on floral-themed stonework above the one-story, arched entry. A five-story

Today, this landmark houses the human resources department for Grady. The 953-bed acute care teaching facility for patients across the metropolitan area has been racially integrated since the 1960s. One of the oldest hospital facilities operating in Atlanta, The Grady Hospital of 1892 demonstrates that historic medical buildings can be sustained for the current needs of the medical community.

Georgia Hall, also known as Grady Hospital of 1892

REAL ESTATE BRIEFS

During its June meeting, the Midtown Development Review Committee (DRC) got a second look at Cousins Properties’ plan for a 32-story office tower at 901 West Peachtree Street. Since their initial presentation in June 2018,

Cousins acquired additional property to the east which allowed the parking garage to be reconfigured for greater efficiency and for all service and loading functions to be completely internalized. The redesigned garage now appears almost as a separate building, clad in brick and partially tucked beneath the tower. The design team looked to surrounding buildings, such as Ecco and MidCity Lofts, for inspiration on cladding the deck and creating a counterpoint to the glass tower. The DRC recommended screening the internal service drive with high-speed roll down doors and modifying the approach to the main entrance to create a direct path from the sidewalk. The other project DRC reviewed was 1020 Spring Street, the threetower Portman Holdings project that will incorporate historic Spring Street Chapel/ Mortuary into its design. Since May, Portman has eliminated the synthetic stucco on the façade of the residential tower, expanded the width of the sidewalk on Spring Street to meet the Midtown Streetscape Standards, and added a traffic signal at the north curb cut on Spring Street. Additionally, the development team proposed reducing the width of the north curb cut on Spring by eliminating the ingress driveway. Portman agreed to provide an updated site plan illustrating the revised curb cut configuration and illustrating the circulation path for pedestrians and cyclists who wish to travel through the middle of the site for access between Spring and Williams Street. The DRC asked for more details on the north elevation of the hotel.

Metro Atlanta real estate professionals Hugh Gilliam and Joe Hartley, both formerly of Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage, have joined RealtyHive as Director of International Real Estate and Vice President of Georgia, respectively. Both men are industry veterans and will be heading the new Atlanta office for RealtyHive. For more information, visit door.realtyhive.com/gilliamhartley.

◄More than 60 percent of the senior community homes at the new Kingsboro at Lenbrook in Buckhead have already been sold. The $116 million development features luxury homes that include Lenbrook’s services and amenities, including five distinct dining, fitness center, on-site healthcare services. The expansion will have an enclosed, climate-controlled connector between Kingsboro at Lenbrook and the main campus. There will also be an on-demand shuttle service to the main campus. This expansion will bring Lenbrook’s total number of residences to 478 including independent living, assisted living, and Medicare-certified skilled nursing. For more information, visit Lenbrook-Atlanta.org.

The Macallan Group (TMG), an Atlanta-based real estate, construction and investment company, has created two luxury spec home developments in Buckhead – Randall Mill Way and Paces Walk. Each community features five luxury spec homes, with prices ranging from $3 million in Paces Walk and up to $7+ million in Randall Mill Way. The homes in both communities are being built by David Childers of Macallan Homes, the residential building division of The Macallan Group. For more information, visit macallangroup.com.

Engel & Völkers Atlanta sold movie mogul Tyler Perry’s former $15 million Buckhead estate with Lisa Robinson of the Robinson Group acting as the buyer’s agent. The sale of the 35,0000-square-foot property marks the highest priced sale in 2020 to-date with the deal coming together during Georgia’s statewide shelter-in-place order.

Brookhaven Commons, a new single-family neighborhood in the heart of Brookhaven, offers 26 single family homes built around a courtyard with between 2,700 and 3,300 square feet starting in the high $600s. Visit brookhavencommons.com for more details.

►The Brightstar Team | COMPASS team is marketing Warren, a new townhome in Kirkwood. Warren boasts 15 modern luxury townhomes priced from the mid$500,000s from developer JACKBILT. With four floorplans to choose from, the development includes white brick exterior, rooftop terraces, two-car garages and many other options and amenities. For more, visit warrenkirkwood.com.

Compass Development has announced completion of The Dunhill, a luxury condominiums in Sandy Springs. The five-story, boutique style, gated community features 19 flats that offer two- and three-bedroom homes. Homes are priced in the low $400s. Visit ownthedunhill.com for more information.

Dorsey Alston, Realtors has added nearly a dozen agents to its team since March, including Lisa Smith, Fran Booth, Tina Maddox, Jenni Wilson, Catherine Young, Shellie Salazar, Virginia Hopkins, Hilary Young, Elena Ferro, Garrett Davis, Taylor Schwieger and Kate McKenzie.

Engel & Völkers today announced the brand’s expansion into Highlands-Cashiers, NC, the brand’s fifth location in the state. Engel & Völkers Highlands Cashiers is a result of a partnership with Old Cashiers Realty, a leading local brokerage founded by Mark and Grace Battle that serves the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau. The Battles will serve as the shop’s license partners, while Mike Blaylock will be its managing broker, and Ken Fernandez, bringing 16 years of experience, will serve as the shop’s president. For more information, visit highlandscashiers.evrealestate.com.

News You Can Eat Intown Al Fresco

If you’re ready to eat at a restaurant again, outdoor dining is an option

By Collin Kelley

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, restaurants are back in business to varying degrees. With the state relaxing the majority of rules on occupancy, the decision on whether to eat in a restaurant’s dining room really comes down to how you feel about your personal health and safety.

Local governments relaxed restrictions on creating outdoor dining or patio areas to allow restaurants to social distance its diners and create more seating flexibility. Manuel’s Tavern in Poncey-Highland created a patio space in its back parking lot, while La Bilboquet in Buckhead extended its outdoor dining down the sidewalk.

If you’re looking for somewhere to al fresco dine and maintain your distance, check out these local restaurants whose patios are open and ready to serve.

Mission + Market: This Buckhead spot’s wraparound private patio offers cityscape views in along with critically-acclaimed eats by Chef Ian Winslade. 3550 Lenox Rd., missionandmarketatl. com.

Joe’s on Juniper: The Midtown pub’s big patio is the perfect place for a beer, burger and soaking up some sun. 1049 Juniper St., joesonjuniper.com.

Buena Vida Tapas & Sol: Enjoy small plates on the BeltLine in the

restaurant’s new patio space. 385 N. Angier Ave., beunavidatapas.com.

Leon’s Full Service: The downtown Decatur favorite has reopened its dogfriendly patio. 131 E. Ponce de Leon Ave., leonsfullservice.com.

Murphy’s: The patio is open in VirginiaHighland for the restaurant’s menu of American fare and baked good. 997 Virginia Ave., murphysatlanta.com.

La Bilboquet: Enjoy traditional French cuisine in true Parisian fashion sitting on the sidewalk at the Buckhead restaurant. 30217 Bolling Way, lebilboquetatlanta.com.

Fifth Group Restaurants: The patios are open at South City Kitchen Midtown, La Tavola, and Alma Cocina in Buckhead. fifthgroup.com

DBA Barbecue: Get your pulled pork and rib fix on the patio at 1190 N. Highland Ave., dbabarbecue.com.

Boxcar: Check out new summer dishes and a variety of cocktails, draft beers and natural wines in West End. 1000 White St., boxcaratl.com.

TWO urban licks: An Old Fourth Ward favorite along the BeltLine has reopened its patio. 820 Ralph McGill Blvd., twourbanlicks.com.

Varuni Napoli: Enjoy your gourmet pizza on a secluded Midtown patio with rustic tree and ivy-covered walls. 1540 Monroe Dr., varuni.us.

Rina: Enjoy a menu of beef kababs, falafel salad, halloumi with charred vegetables, chicken shawarma, and more at the Ford Factor Lofts. 699 Ponce de Leon Ave., rinakitchen.com.

Osteria 832: The VirginiaHighland family favorite is serving up Italian fare on the patio. 832 N. Highland Ave., osteria832. com.

Revival: Communion, the shady backyard space at the Decatur restaurant is reopen for Southern eats. 129 Church St., revivaldecatur.com.

George’s: If you’ve been missing the burgers at this Virginia-Highland institution, the patio is open to get your fill. 1041 N. Highland Ave., georgesbarandrestaurant.com.

Varuni Napoli

Mission + Market

La Bilboquet

Chef David Rose cooks appreciation lunch for Emory Decatur Hospital

Big Green Egg, Nissan Trucks and Sysco joined Chef David Rose on Wednesday to honor and serve frontline medical workers who have been battling COVID-19 at Emory Decatur Hospital.

The team trimmed and smoked over 500 pounds of chicken thighs, preparing 1,000 lunches for the Emory Decatur team.

The idea was the brainchild of Rose – a Food Network personality, national brand ambassador for Nissan USA and Big Green Egg, and private events chef – as he wanted to give back to Atlanta’s frontline heroes during the pandemic. As a chef, the best way he could show his appreciation is by doing what he does best, cooking.

The team got together at 6 a.m. on June 10to start cooking at Atlanta’s PREP Kitchen, who generously donated their space. They trucked the finished lunches over to Emory Dekalb and served 1,000 lunches of Smoked Chicken Thighs, mac n’ cheese, and potato chips by noon at the hospital.

“Treat others as you would wish to be treated, always resonated with me,” said Chef Rose. “Such an honor and blessing to be able to provide this token of our appreciation. Their selfless nature in the face of adversity is truly remarkable. To our heroes, I say thank you!”

Collin Kelley

Chef David Rose, left, and his team prepared meals for the staff at Emory Decatur Hospital.

Making History

Manuel’s Tavern, Briarcliff Plaza added to Historic Places Register

Two Poncey-Highland institutions – Manuel’s Tavern and Briarcliff Plaza shopping center – have officially been added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Manuel’s Tavern, which reopened its dining room on May 31 after being closed for months due to the COVID-19 outbreak, was established in 1956 by Manuel Maloof. The restaurant and bar has long been a hangout for politicians, journalists, and those in the “social realm” as the Atlanta Preservation Center said in its announcement of the honor.

The Manuel’s Tavern space occupies a circa 1922 commercial building with board and batten siding with ashlar granite pilasters along the North Highland facade. Interior historic features include plaster walls with wooden wainscoting, terrazzo floors, and beadboard ceiling.

Briarcliff Plaza, better known as the shopping center that houses the Plaza Theatre, was also added to the register, according to a media release from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

Constructed in 1940, Briarcliff Plaza is comprised of two separate buildings, with the other capped by another local institution, Majestic Diner. Notable features of these buildings include historic Art Deco-style neon signage, and original decorative curved fluting with Streamline Moderne Fins, set into the marble panel parapet walls.

The National Register of Historic Places is the United States’ official list of historic buildings, structures, sites, objects, and districts worthy of preservation.

Collin Kelley

T h e St ud i o

In honor of Juneteenth, two Atlanta artists and Emory University alumnus, Andre Thompson and Fahamu Pecou, created a paint-bynumbers style community mural project at Carver Neighborhood Market, steps from where Rayshard Brooks was killed by police on June 12. As protests continued, community members stopped by to work on the project. The event was sponsored by the Emory College Center for Creativity and Arts.

Art oftheMovem

ABV Gallery (abvatl.com) artists Tommy Bronx and Ash “Wolfdog” Hayner installed a new mural at the intersection of Irwin and Randolph Streets in the heart of the Old Fourth Ward. The gallery, located on nearby Auburn Avenue, released this statement about the work: “As artists, creators, humans, and communitymembers, it is our responsibility to create work that fuels positive change and reflects this important time. We are committed to listening, learning, growing, and amplifying the voices of BIPOC artists, activists, and

We can all do better.”

The Atlanta BeltLine has become a canvas for those fighting racial injustice and the message of Black Lives Matter. Giant letters spelling out the movement appeared along the Eastside Trail just south of Ponce City Market. As the BeltLine became a regular site for marches, murals, street art, and flyers began appearing along the trail as a reminder of the movement.

people.

Photos by Arvin Temkar

By Clare S. Richie and Collin Kelley

Photo by John Becker

Photo by Jacob Nguyen

Photo by Jacob Nguyen

ement

Artists Ndirika EkumaNkama and S.A.W (aka Sharanda Wilburn, pictured above) are two of the 30 artists selected by nonprofit ArtPop Street Gallery (artpopstreetgallery.com) to have their work amplified and elevated on billboards across Atlanta. Ekuma-Nkama, a fashion illustrator and professor at Clark Atlanta University, said her billboard art (top) was a tribute to the city with a fashion twist. S.A.W, known for her portraits of celebrities and local officials, said her “color wheel eyes” billboard (left) was a statement on how she views the world. For more visit ndirika. com and sawarts.com.

Grady High

senior, Zola

is using her art to promote activism in the current movement for longoverdue racial justice. “At first, it’s overwhelming, especially as a person of color,” Sullivan said. “This time of things getting to their boiling point and people really having to decide what side they’re on. It shows that we’re actually getting to a place where we might actually be able to take a step forward into the right direction and people might actually care enough to participate in that step forward and that brings me a lot of hope.” In this spirit, Sullivan created BLM (Black Lives Matter) and ACAB (All Cops are Bastards) prints on vintage clothing, accessories and jewelry. She sells her items through her Instagram account, @w4terinmywings, donating all the proceeds, initially to the Black Visions Collective who then redirected her to the Center for Black Equity. So far, she has donated nearly $900 in total.

Smith Meier

School

Sullivan,

I am AnthenyMarie, your licensed esthetician, and I am looking forward to serving you. I have filled my toolbox with the latest environmentally friendly products, advancements in skincare modalities and hair removal products. I provide targeted results to meet your specific skincare needs.

My life’s work has been that of service, I served my country proudly in the United States Air Force and then went on to serve Veterans in my civilian career with the Veterans Health Administration. My calling to serve has led me to wonderful people, places, experiences and careers. As an esthetician I am able to continue my service to others with an added bonus of having the ability to do so more creatively by incorporating my personal passions to the health and beauty industry into my everyday life for the fulfillment of others.

By Collin Kelley

The city’s tourist and cultural attractions are reopening with social distancing protocols in place as the COVID-19 outbreak continues.

Here’s a look at what was open – or had made a reopening announcement – at press time. Be sure to check the website and social media of the local attraction you want to visit for updated hours of operation, safety measures, and more.

College Football Hall of Fame▲

Closed due to COVID-19 then damaged during the recent protests, the attraction is still set to reopen July 1. The museum is planning new exhibitions and experiences upon reopening. Visit cfbhall.com for more details.

◄The High Museum of Art

The Midtown museum we will reopen to members and frontline workers free of charge with valid ID from Tuesday, July 7 through Friday, July 17. The museum will reopen to the general public on Saturday, July 18. The High will be following local, regional, and federal recommendations for reopening, according to the media announcement. Exhibitions on view when the High reopens include “Paa Joe: Gates of No Return,” “The Plot Thickens: Storytelling in European Print Series,” and “Pioneers, Influencers, and Rising Voices: Women in the Collection.” The updated hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. For updates on the High’s reopening procedures and online ticketing, visit high. org.

Georgia Aquarium ►

The Downtown attraction reopened to the public in mid-June after shutting its doors for two months due to the pandemic. Tickets are available in two-hour blocks: 9 a.m. to noon, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and must be reserved online at georgiaaquarium. org. The aquarium closes for an hour between blocks for cleaning and sanitizing. Only a

limited number of guests are allowed in during each block to maintain social distancing. All visitors must consent to a contactless temperature scan prior to entering the building. All guests are urged to wear masks, which will also be available upon entry. All unique experiences are temporarily suspended and the main entrance of the aquarium will be closed. Visitors will be assigned an entrance area during ticket purchase. All tickets are $32.95, with children under age 3 free.

Fernbank

The Druid Hills science museum reopened to members and the public in early after being closed for more than two months due to COVID-19. Most museum exhibits are open, with some hands-on exhibits, outdoor children’s exhibits and interactives temporarily unavailable. The 3D Giant Screen Theater remains temporarily closed at this time. Fernbank is encouraging visitors to explore the 75-acres of outdoor experiences in WildWoods and Fernbank Forest, which features 2 miles of nature trails, a tree-lined canopy walk, a creek-lined pollinator sanctuary, and a variety of trees, native plants and blooming wildflowers. Online ticket purchases and timed tickets must be purchased in advance, as there will be no walk-up tickets available at the box office. Capacity limits will be in place to support physical distancing. All transactions at the museum will be cashless, so be sure to bring a credit or debit card.

Zoo Atlanta

The Grant Park zoo reopened in mid-May with a new timed ticketing system to control capacity and limit the number of guests inside at any given time. Tickets may only be purchased online at zooatlanta.org. The zoo is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Skyview▲

Downtown’s giant Ferris wheel is open for rides daily from noon to 10 p.m. (11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays). Tickets and social distancing guidelines are available at skyviewatlant.com.

Atlanta Botanical Garden

The Midtown beauty spot in late May after being closed for two months due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The Garden is open daily with new extended hours, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., while Monday’s will be reserved for members only. As part of its safety precautions, all guests and members will need a timed ticket for entry, which can be reserved at atlantabg.org

Atlanta History Center

The first phase of s gradual reopening of the Buckhead museum and grounds began last month with the opening of Goizueta Gardens – 33 acres of cultivated gardens, shady forest, and fresh air. Visitors must reserve tickets in advance at atlantahistorycenter. com. Inside Atlanta History Museum’s café space, Souper Jenny and Brash coffee are open for takeout. While the Museum Shop adjoining the café is closed, a Pop-up Museum Shop will be open in the gardens. At press time, AHS had not announced reopening dates soon for its indoor experiences.

Six Flags

The amusement park has reopened, but reservations are required to facilitate social distancing and attendance flow. The park is limiting the number of guests and staggering arrival times to maintain distance. For details, visit sixflags. com.

Listed

Legacy Makers

Tribute to former mayors will include artwork, archive 8

By INtown Staff

Central Atlanta Progress (CAP), in partnership with the City of Atlanta, has launched Atlanta Legacy Makers, an initiative to create a public artwork to commemorate former mayors Ivan Allen Jr. and Maynard Jackson.

The initiative will include a series of digital experiences, and later in-person events, designed to garner input about the artwork, which will located at the intersection of Peachtree Street and Auburn Avenue.

“The vision for this project has lived in the minds of community leaders for a long time now, and we’re excited to finally bring it to life,” said Fredalyn Frasier, Project Director of Planning and Urban Design at Central Atlanta Progress. “Honoring these two Atlanta mayors and their remarkable legacy is not just a curatorial effort. We’re looking forward to inviting the community to build this tribute project alongside us, resulting in a public archive and artwork that speak to the larger theme of a united Atlanta community.”

The idea for an artistic tribute to Mayors Allen and Jackson was born in 2018, when local developer Gene Kansas invited Gary Pomerantz, author of “Where Peachtree Meets Sweet Auburn,” to speak at the Auburn Avenue Research Library to celebrate the opening of Constellations, a shared work space in a neighboring historic building on Auburn Avenue. During the talk, Pomerantz highlighted the significance of both Atlanta mayors in the history of Atlanta.

Inspired by the talk and feedback from guests in attendance, journalist Maria Saporta wrote an opinion piece encouraging the city to commemorate the special relationship between the mayors in the form of a sculpture at the intersection of Peachtree Street and Auburn Avenue.

In 2019, Central Atlanta Progress convened an exploratory committee, and the idea for a selection process for a new piece of public art was formalized.

Originally intended to launch as a series of events across the city, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Atlanta Legacy Makers has kicked off through a series of shared online experiences, including Atlanta Legacy Makers: The Podcast, featuring local leaders and visionaries discussing the themes and historic events featured in the book “Where Peachtree Meets Sweet Auburn;” streaming film screenings of two documentaries with viewing guides, “Maynard” and “A Different Road;” oral history prompts for the general public to submit their own stories to the public archive; and more. Visit www. atllegacymakers.com to find links and more.

CAP will invite architecture and design firms to assemble collaborative teams of contemporary artists, landscape designers, and urbanists to submit qualifications for the public artwork, which will sit in the reimagined north side of Woodruff Park at the corner of Peachtree and Auburn.

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Ivan Allen Jr., left, and Maynard Jackson

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From top: A tribute to George Floyd, the Minneapolis man killed by police, was flashed on billboards around Downtown, including the under-construction Reverb hotel (Photo by Jacob Nguyen); Protesters on the march along West Peachtree Street in Midtown (Photo by Karen Head); Protest flyers posted along the Atlanta BeltLine (Photo by Jacob Nguyen).