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Atlanta mayor pulls back support for eastside Beltline rail service

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Atlanta mayor pulls back support for eastside Beltline rail service


Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and his staff announced Thursday he no longer supports the first phase of the light rail project along the eastside Beltline. 

“It’s the Beltline, so it is literally everybody’s got an opinion about it,” Mayor Dickens said during a MARTA board meeting. 

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The mayor said he didn’t see the immediate need for the project. Instead, he’s intent on expanding Atlanta’s streetcar to reach Murphy’s crossing.

“We are committed to building rail on the Beltline,” said Courtney English, Dickens’ top advisor. “However, not in, the form that has been previously discussed.”

The other side:

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Proponents of the Beltline rail project worry that the mayor’s decision could significantly delay or even jeopardize the future of the train service altogether. 

Reid Davis, who uses the Beltline to get around via bike, said the light rail system would add much-needed accessibility. 

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“I’m just really disappointed because there are a lot of my neighbors who need what would have been built here,” he said. “It’s been a gentrification corridor. It hasn’t been a transit corridor. It hasn’t connected people to jobs.”

Dickens’ announcement was a surprise to many, but some Beltline rail advocates for the project said it was apparent the mayor’s support for it had waned. 

Davis claimed that Dickens caved to political pressure from businesses opposed to the Beltline. He pointed out that voters already approved funding for the project with a half-penny sales tax in 2016.

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What they’re saying:

Nina Carrick was walking on the Beltline on Thursday evening.

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She said she understood both sides to the debate, but wasn’t sure if she’d use the rail service.

“I work from home. I don’t know that I would ever need to use it,” Carricl said. “But yes, maybe. I think it’s one of those things that I won’t know until it gets here.” 

What’s next:

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The future of the Beltline rail project remains uncertain following the mayor’s unexpected change in stance. It’s also unclear if or when the Murphy’s Crossing project Dickens has advocated for will move forward. 

The Source: This story features the mayor’s announcement. In addition, FOX 5’s Rob DiRienzo spoke with proponents and those who frequent the Beltline to get their take.

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Atlanta, GA

Man arrested for knocking kids off bicycles

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Man arrested for knocking kids off bicycles


A man was arrested at a concert last week after he shoved two kids off their bicycles, causing one of them to fall into a fountain, Sandy Springs police said. FOX 5 Atlanta’s Brittany Edney reporting. 

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Same DNA, new address: Muchacho expands to West Midtown

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Same DNA, new address: Muchacho expands to West Midtown


Photo by Luke Beard

When Muchacho first opened along the Atlanta Beltline and Memorial Drive, it became known as a place shaped as much by its surroundings as by its menu. That site, housed in a 100‑year‑old train depot, set the tone for how the brand approaches expansion: start with the bones of a building, then let the space tell the story. The newly opened Muchacho West Midtown follows that same philosophy.

“We like to celebrate unique attributes of each property and work with the palette we’re given,” says founder and owner Michael Lennox. While the original Muchacho is defined by its long, narrow footprint and Spanish tile roof—features reminiscent of its former life as a train depot—the West Midtown location leans into an industrial past rooted in automotive culture: a former Meineke car care shop. Big windows reference former garage doors, while retro racing details appear inside.

Inside Muchacho on the Westside

Photo by Luke Beard

Still, the connective tissue between the two locations is clear. Both spaces draw heavily from Muchacho’s Southern California skate‑and‑surf roots. At Muchacho West Midtown, familiar playfulness appears via a blue‑orange‑yellow racing stripe pattern, a three‑dimensional pegboard gallery wall used to hang art and plants, and vintage Meineke signage. A life‑size cardboard cutout of George Foreman, once the pitchman for Meineke, underscores Lennox’s willingness to lean into humor and nostalgia. “It’s a playful brand,” he says.

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A functional halfpipe for skateboarding anchors the outdoor experience and will double as a performance space for bands and DJs. In about a month, a 4,000‑square‑foot “tropical secret garden” with tall bamboo lining the perimeter will open on the south side of the property. Another 1,500 square feet of patio space wraps the west and north sides, currently welcoming about 80 guests. Altogether, the West Midtown location will accommodate about 215 guests, making it comparable in size to the original, with a little more outdoor space.

Crispy chicken sandwich

Photo by Luke Beard

Muchacho West Midtown opened with the same core menu that made the Beltline location a staple: tacos, breakfast burritos, coffee, cocktails, and beer. Standouts like migas, chilaquiles, carne asada, and al pastor continue to be available. Over time, however, Lennox says each location is expected to develop its own personality, driven by the chefs who have “a pretty wide creative latitude.” Chef Betty Aparicio, formerly of Chido & Padre’s, steers the kitchen on the Westside.

“We want to nurture some immediate familiarity while providing space for some special moments you can only have at each location,” Lennox says.

Margarita

Photo by Luke Beard

One of these special moments will take place April 4 at a grand opening party dubbed MuchachoFest. Expect bands, a fortune teller, a mini skate park in parking lot, food and drink specials, and giveaways. “It’s going to be a fun day in West Midtown,” Lennox says.

A third Muchacho location will debut in the old Revival space in Decatur this summer. In addition, the Electric Hospitality team is bringing Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall to the Westside. Slated to launch in May on 11th Street, the convivial restaurant and bar will feature a 5,000-square-foot courtyard with an airstream bar, stage, and Crepe Myrtles, and a 45-seat island bar inside. Formerly a single-story warehouse from 1950s or ’60s, Ladybird West Midtown will offer the same food and beverages as its Eastside sibling with room for the chef and mixologist to add their unique touches.

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Buckhead apartment building evacuated due to dangerous carbon monoxide levels

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Buckhead apartment building evacuated due to dangerous carbon monoxide levels


A Buckhead apartment building was evacuated for a time late Tuesday night due to a carbon monoxide alarm. 

What we know:

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The incident occurred at an apartment complex in the 2900 block of Pharr Court South. 

According to Atlanta Fire Rescue, firefighters are investigating elevated carbon monoxide levels.

The entire building was evacuated as a precaution. 

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One person was evaluated at the scene for possible carbon monoxide exposure. 

Crews ventilated the building while they looked for the source.

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Firefighters say they were able to finally locate the source and contain it.

Once readings were back to a safe level, residents were allowed back inside the apartments.

What we don’t know:

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It remains unclear how many residents were displaced by the evacuation. 

The Source: The details in this article come from the Atlanta Fire Rescue.

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