Department of City Planning

Mark your calendars for the June meetup of the Atlanta City Studio Book Club!

For June, we’re picking up City Water, City Life by Carl Smith to explore how city infrastructure is about so much more than just construction. Come share your thoughts, meet some great people, and enjoy a relaxed evening of conversation!

When: Thursday, June 25 from 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Where: Atlanta City Hall, Committee Room 2 (55 Trinity Ave. SW)
🎟 Free to attend, but space is limited. Click the link below to attend.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/june-2026-book-club-tickets-1989029464672?aff=oddtdtcreator

If you've driven past 2079 Bolton Rd. NW lately, you might have wondered what’s next for that corner.

Meet with us next week to learn about the upcoming environmental cleanup at 2079 Bolton Rd. NW and share your thoughts on what this space could mean for the community.

📍 Northwest Library at Scotts Crossing (2489 Perry Blvd. NW)
📅 Monday, June 1
⏰ 6:30 PM
🔗https://www.atlantaga.gov/government/departments/city-planning/nature-urban-ecology/brownfield-program/2079-bolton-road-nw

Keeping your home safe shouldn't be a financial burden. If you or a senior you care about has a hazardous tree that needs attention, we’d love to help. The Department of City Planning offers no-cost tree services to help our senior community members.

To qualify, seniors must:
Be age 65+
Have an annual income of $40,000 or less
Receive a City of Atlanta low-income senior homestead exemption.

This program is a proud partnership between the City of Atlanta and the Georgia Arborist Association. Let’s look out for our neighbors and keep our properties safe!

🔗 https://www.georgiaarborist.org/trap

Our Preserving Freedom series concludes this Saturday as we explore the complex history and modern reality of the school-to-prison pipeline. We’re taking a deep look at how the legacy of Brown v. Board of Education connects to the challenges Black families still navigate in our schools today.

We are honored to be joined by a distinguished panel of experts:

Dr. David Blanding (Brown University)

Dr. Kristen Buras (Author, What We Stand to Lose)

Dr. Walter Stern (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

This is a vital opportunity to connect with neighbors for an afternoon of shared learning and meaningful community insight. We’re just a few days away, register TODAY!

🔗Register Here: https://bit.ly/4fpcRsK

The African American Heritage Initiative presents the fourth and final seminar of our series: The School to Prison Pipeline and the Legacy of Integration. We’re discussing how public education landscapes were shaped and why those inequities still impact students of color today.

Details
📅 May 16, 2026 | 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
📍 Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church
🔗 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/preserving-freedom-seminar-iv-tickets-1988507239683?msockid=1cc10e41ba516b7a0e901b10bb876ac7

This Friday, we’re partnering with and Jim Hackler for a Jane’s Walk that explores the intersection of community activism and urban ecology. Starting at Azalea Fresh Market and end at the Five Points Community Garden, we’ll be visiting the "stepping stone" habitats that allow migrating wildlife to thrive in the heart of our city.

Join us to discover the quiet ways nature is reclaiming its place among South Downtown's historic bricks and landmarks!

Event Details:
🗓️ Friday, May 1 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
📍 Azalea Fresh Market (25 Peachtree St NW)
🔗 https://www.museumofdesign.org/moda-events/janes-walk-beauty-and-the-bees

We are celebrating Preservation Month with a special two-part tour series and we’re kicking things off by diving into the soul of Sweet Auburn.

Come take a stroll with us and Sweet Auburn Works down one of the most iconic streets in the world. We will explore the legendary "Chitlin Circuit" venues that once hosted the biggest icons, such as the Royal Peacock and Pal's Lounge. We will also take some time to admire the vibrant public art that keeps this history alive today. Grab your walking shoes and join us May 2nd.

The Details
🗓️ May 2, 2026
🕛 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM
📍 Auburn Ave Research Library
🔗 https://bit.ly/42qUFY5

Photo Credit: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Skip Mason Archives

Atlanta is a city of neighborhoods, but how do we make our streets feel more like shared community spaces?

For our May session, the Atlanta City Studio Book Club is diving into Curbing Traffic: The Human Case for Fewer Cars in Our Lives. We’re looking at how prioritizing people can transform our daily experience of the City.

Whether you’re a regular on the BeltLine or love a good stroll through your local neighborhood, we want your voice in the conversation.

📅 When: Tuesday, May 19 | 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
📍 Where: East Atlanta Library (400 Flat Shoals Ave SE)
🔗 Register: https://bit.ly/4tr6B83

This Earth Day, we celebrate the hands that feed our city. At the Department of City Planning, we’re committed to a greener, more equitable future. Our AgLanta program supports local growers and urban farmers who are working to eliminate food deserts and foster community connection through agriculture.

By transforming underutilized land into productive urban farms and community gardens, we are strengthening our local food systems and increasing green space in every zip code.

Visit the link to find an AgLanta garden or farm near you: https://aglanta.atlantaga.gov/