🌱 Another Target Fire + Check Out Oxton + Wine n’ Chill In The Summer

Hello all! Today’s National Panda Day; did you know that only an estimated 2,000 are left in the world? It's Sylvia, your host of the Buckhead Patch newsletter. Here are all the most important things to know about what's happening in town today. Today you'll learn about:

• 🔥 Another intentional fire set
• 🧑‍⚖️ A possible Fulton County lawsuit
• 🏬 Transforming older office buildings into housing

❤️ Loving the Buckhead Daily? Tell a friend and send them this link, so they can subscribe!

🌤️ But first, today's weather:

Partly sunny. High: 66 Low: 50.

Are you a real estate agent in Buckhead struggling to get leads in the current housing market? It's tough out there, but there is a way to stand out from the crowd and attract new clients. Our exclusive sponsorship in the Buckhead newsletter can help you do just that. Click here to learn more and discover how you can take your business to the next level today.

⛽ Three of the Cheapest Gas Stations Around Buckhead

• Sam’s Club at 2901 Clairmont Rd., $3.14
• CITGO at 4968 Roswell Rd., $3.23
• Shell at 1720 Marietta Blvd NW, $3.23

😋 Fair Food Poll!
Fair food is the ultimate cheat meal. Although we all know it’s unhealthy, everyone has a guilty pleasure. Which is your favorite? So far, 34.1% love funnel cake, 20.5% look forward to candy apples, 13.3% munch on corndogs, and 6.7% reach for guacamole. 4.4% each either eat cotton candy, tri-tip sandwiches, or cheesecake. Finally, 2.2% each favor guacamole with cheese, fried cheese curds, turkey legs, a deep-fried bacon-wrapped pickle, or pork chop on a stick. The rest stay away from fair food.

📰 Here are the top stories in Buckhead today:

1. On Tuesday, at around 10 p.m., the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department (AFRD) responded to reports of a fire at the Target at 3535 Peachtree Road Northeast. Though they were on scene within four minutes, store employees had already succeeded in putting out the flames. Investigators believe that the fire was set intentionally. However, they don’t think it’s “connected to the fire at Target, 2539 Piedmont Road, on January 23, 2023, or the fire at Walmart, 835 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., on or December 23, 2022.” (AFRD, Patch)
2. On November 1, the Atlanta Medical Center (AMC) closed, adding stress to the nearby Grady Memorial Hospital. Another facility closed in South Fulton. On Wednesday, Fulton County said it’d file a complaint with the Justice Department. The County Attorney questions the “motivation in closing AMC South Fulton and downtown locations.” However, Wellstar, which was in charge of the locations, pointed out that “local policymakers declined to provide any support to AMC” even though they helped other hospitals. (WSB-TV)
3. We learned on Wednesday that Central Atlanta Progress (CAP) and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (ADID) intend to transform unused office towers into housing opportunities. Reasoning that the pandemic has given rise to remote work and hybrid schedules, the groups also highlight that newer office buildings are now reeling in the leases while older ones stay empty. Of the “roughly 20 million square feet of commercial space downtown, more than a fifth of that space was vacant” when 2022 ended. (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution/paywall)
4. This week, Ardent Companies introduced the Oxton, a “new food-and-beverage district” ("food court" doesn’t cut it) at the Piedmont Center ground level. The company is looking to turn eating into an experience, describing the district as “a symbiotic mix of food, beverage, and wellness.” What’ll this look like? Renderings give the impression of a park-like setting bordered by retailers and restaurants. (Atlanta Urbanize)
5. In related news, Wine n’ Chill is coming to 49 Bennett Street Northwest in the summer. The target audience for the wine bar is the 30-and-older crowd. You won’t find any hard liquor on the menu, but you’ll have plenty of “wines from local Black-owned businesses, with beer ‘for the fellas’.” Patrons can look forward to a refined yet relaxed experience without the club vibe. (What Now Atlanta)

📆 Today in Buckhead:

• The Greater Women's Business Council hosts a Webinar "How To Get Certified" (1:30 PM)
• Terra Terroir hosts a Wine Up Networking Mixer (5:30 PM)
• The Trinity Anglican Church hosts a Parent To Parent Night on "Sticky Discipleship" (7 PM)
• Ian Munsick plays at the Buckhead Theatre for his "Long Live Cowgirls" Tour (8 PM)
• Enjoy Indie rock with The Frontrunners at Smith's Olde Bar (8 PM)

🖊️ From my notebook:

• "Congrats to City of Atlanta Police Department Recruit Class #276 and City of Atlanta E911 Communications Dispatch Class #4. You are entering a noble & demanding profession. We thank you for your commitment to serving our city!" (City of Atlanta Government via Facebook)
• "With leaders and citizens of the City of Atlanta, we broke ground on the Southside Trail Segments 4 & 5. Once completed, the paved trail will connect the Glenwood Park and Grant Park neighborhoods, from Glenwood Ave to Boulevard." (Atlanta BeltLine via Facebook)
• "Mayor Andre Dickens attended a meeting of the AJC Atlanta Regional Office's Board of Councilors to give an update on City initiatives. He also talked about the importance of working together to ensure that Atlanta works for all Atlantans." (City of Atlanta Government via Facebook)
• "Pardon our progress! As improvements along Buckhead’s roadways continues, sign up for real-time text alerts to be the first to know about lane closures and construction. Livable Buckhead https://livablebuckhead.com/traffictexts/" (Buckhead Community Improvement District via Facebook)
• "On (Y)Connect, you’ll meet three inspiring and charitable women who share a passion for helping families and neglected children. In today’s conversation, hear how homelessness is impacting a growing number of families." (Carl E. Sanders Family YMCA at Buckhead via Facebook)

🏡 What are homes selling for these days in Buckhead?

• Median Listing Home Price $715K
• Median Listing Home Price/Square Foot $340
• Median Sold Home Price $435K

Check out more Buckhead real estate information!

🐶 Meet Buckhead area Pets Waiting To Be Adopted!

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• Homebuyer Blueprint Live Webinar (March 16)
• 3hr Salsa Boot Camp at HDC Studio + Evening Latin Night Tonys Johns Creek (March 18)
• Rugby ATL's Bark In The Park (March 18)
• Music from Seven Continents (March 18)
• Open house: free class (stretching and meditation) + Aura Readings (March 19)
• Gent's Lunch - A Benefit for the High Museum Wine Auction (March 22)
• Add your event

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Thursday! I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow with a new update.

— Sylvia Cochran

About me: Sylvia Cochran works out of sunny Southern California and has been freelance writing full-time since 2005. She loves dogs, cats, books, plays Best Fiends (don't judge), embraces social justice, and tries to live out Micah 6:8.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Buckhead Patch newsletter? Contact me at Buckhead@Patch.com