Georgia Dept of Transportation (GDOT) has proposed a roundabout in PiHi—you may or may not have received a flyer in the mail from them.

The PHCA Board has been discussing their proposal, and in looking at our Master Plan, don’t see that the changes really provide improvement to the current situation.

We’re in the process of proposing an alternate approach, which we’ll share with you soon.

Take a look at the GDOT proposal and contact us to share your thoughts as we compile our Neighborhood Response. 

Happy Fall, y'all!

~From Piedmont Heights' Kathleen the Cow

Upcoming VIRTUAL Events

• 11/3, Tuesday, @ 7pm - Monthly PHCA Board Meeting: more info
• 11/7, Saturday, @ 9:30am - Neighborhood Watch Training: more info
• 11/8, Sunday, @ 3:30pm - Annual Neighborhood Meeting: more info (Members can vote, so join today!)
• 11/14, Saturday, @ 10am - Neighborhood Cleanup Day: more info
• 11/16, Monday, @ 7pm - Monthly NPU-F Meeting: more info

VOTE! Election Day is Tuesday, November 3.

Make your voice heard and cast your vote. For more information about where to vote, click here.

DOUBLE CHECK your polling place on the My Voter Page, and see the times when they'll be open.

Final Days of PHCA Membership Drive

Last chance to get your FREE T-shirt when you join Piedmont Heights Civic Association as an annual member! Learn more here.

PiHi Gift Card Giveaways

This month, we gave away a $25 gift card to Mary Gail Muse; she'll be shopping at Mode Marche in Ansley Mall! And Faith Christine will be dining at Nakato Japanese Restaurant with her $20 gift card from our Instagram giveaway. Learn more about our upcoming giveaways. FYI—members are automatically entered into the members-only giveaway each month.

Art Box Update

There is a new art box in the Piedmont Heights community! Check out Charity Hamidullah’s colorful work on the corner of Piedmont and Monroe by the Chevron Station! Read more about the inspiration behind this art when you check out Charity’s post here.

Marketing Opportunities

There are lots of branding and exposure opportunities for your business, your employer, or your entrepreneurial friends with the Piedmont Heights Civic Association! This additional revenue allows us to do SO MUCH MORE for our members and our community! Get in touch to discuss what PHCA offerings align with your budget and marketing goals. More info here.

PiHi T-Shirts on Sale

Celebrate being home and healthy in Piedmont Heights with the 2020 PiHi T-shirt, designed by local designer, Elliott Strauss, a resident in the Piedmont Heights Alliance business district. Click here to buy yours.

Virtual Tour Recap

More than 60 people joined us for our virtual event on October 17! They learned all about two of PiHi's landmarks: Monroe Gardens and the former Trust Company Bank building. Thanks to the City of Atlanta for awarding PHCA with a Community Impact Grant to fund this event! Learn more.

PHCA Annual Neighborhood Meeting

Join us virtually on Sunday, November 8, for the PHCA annual board meeting! Lots of updates, and members can vote.

Happy Halloween!

MARTA teams up with Uber to help with Election Day. Learn more about Connect2Vote and MARTAConnect at https://www.itsmarta.com/martaconnect.aspx

Spin To Vote is also offering $10 promo code off electric scooter rides to the polls on Election Day. Transportation should not be a barrier to exercising one's right to vote. Use promo code SPINTOVOTE in the Spin app; learn more on their blog.

If you plan to go to the polls on Election Day (Tuesday, November 3), know that your voting location may have changed. Fulton County has unfortunately sent out some polling location notifications with errors. 

Voters who show up at a polling place on November 3 that is not their assigned location will be required to vote on a provisional paper ballot. Fulton County has added 91 new Election Day locations, and thousands of Fulton County voters need to go to a new location on Tuesday, November 3. With more locations, there are fewer voters assigned to each location, so lines should be shorter. Just be sure to go to the correct location.

The best way to check your assigned Election Day location is to go to the Georgia My Voter Page or call the Fulton County Department of Registration & Elections at 404-612-7020. Know before you go!

Or take advantage of early voting. Nearby locations include the Ponce de Leon Library and the Buckhead Library. You can vote at any early voting site in Fulton. Remember to bring your photo ID and wear a mask. If you requested an absentee ballot and decide to vote in person (either early or on Nov. 3), you can cancel that request when you vote. If you’ve already received it, take your absentee ballot with you when you vote.

Pelham Pocket Park got an upgrade for fall with new sod last week!

Looks great—check it out when you’re walking down Montgomery Ferry at Pelham Rd. just before Kathleen the Cow. Thanks to Donna Gensler (Pelham), the Piedmont Heights Community Improvement Foundation, and your donations for keeping this spot looking PiHi fabulous!

10 Days Left!

PHCA, we’re up to 186 members now, and every single new member makes a real difference for our community. Please encourage your neighbors to join—it’s less than $20 a month! Increased memberships enable us to host more events, increase our security patrol, keep Gotham Way Park beautiful, provide new benefits, and more.

History on Demand!

More than 100 people registered for our virtual event, Secret Garden, Iconic Bank: Piedmont Heights’ Historic Impact! If you missed out, you’re still in luck. Check out the recording with our special guests to learn about Monroe Gardens and the round bank building (now Cirque Daiquiri Bar).

Wear Your PiHi Pride

VaHi & Morningside have yard signs—PiHi has T-shirts! Be sure to collect this year’s PiHi shirt—$20 each—before the ordering window closes on November 13! Wear your neighborhood pride when you're out getting your steps in. We can’t wait to offer a new design next fall!

PiHi Community Bits & Bites

Annual PiHi Neighborhood Meeting

• Save the Date for Sunday, November 8, for our Annual PiHi Neighborhood Meeting! It’s virtual this year for your safety and convenience. RSVP today!

Trick or Treat

• Shop local when you get the perfect Halloween costume at Costumes Etc, located just off Cheshire Bridge Road and owned by PiHi resident Jane Powell. Bring your COVID-19 mask and find the costume of your dreams! 

• Resources for a Fun, Safe Halloween: 2020 will truly be a Halloween to remember, with the convergence of a full moon, a blue moon, daylight saving time, and Saturday celebrations. 

• Goblins in the Garden are back at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Plan your visit! 

Safety

• Street Racing continues to be a problem throughout Atlanta. Learn more from a recent AJC article. Always call 911 if you see or hear street racing. 

• Neighborhood Watch Training from the Atlanta Police Department’s Crime Prevention Unit is virtual this year on November 7. Learn more and register online.

PiHi Eats

• Grindhouse Killer Burgers was featured in Atlanta Eats: Takeout Options for Game Day Eats!

• Fox Bros. breakfast at East Pole! Items include Fox Bros. Breakfast Biscuits (Fox Bros. House Cured, Ham, Egg, and Cheese OR Egg and Cheese) plus seasonal fruit and savory kolaches, cinnamon rolls, and fruit tarts. And, East Pole’s seasonal drink for October is Hocus Pocus—zesty and creamy, with a hint of sea salt. 

• Nearby in Morningside, check out the Hillside Drivethru BBQ Fundraiser. Tickets available now for the November 7 event.

Thanks to everyone who was able to attend our virtual event today! In case you missed it, you're in luck—we recorded everything so you can enjoy the wonderful presentation. A huge thank you to the City of Atlanta Community Improvement Grant for making this event possible! Donate today to help us create more events like this one.

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68JDMPB_CGE

Special thanks to our host and moderator Sara Keith, our host and moderator, the director of the Atlanta School of Photography, whose mission is to make photography fun, affordable, and accessible to all Atlantans! Sara has always believed that anyone with a camera can be a photographer—they just don’t know it yet. Her hope is to continue the legacy of her grandfather (a photographer), the photographic community, and the arts culture of Atlanta.

We proudly welcome our guest speakers:

Staci Catron, the Cherokee Garden Library director at the Atlanta History Center. She recently published a book, Seeking Eden: A Collection of Georgia’s Historic Gardens, which highlights the importance of historic gardens in Georgia’s past as well as their value and meaning within the state’s 21st-century communities.

Tom Little, the director of historic preservation at Surber Barber Choate + Hertlein Architects and the founding president of the Georgia chapter of Docomomo, a non-profit organization dedicated to the documentation and conservation of buildings, sites and neighborhoods of the modern movement. Tom received the Advocacy Award of Excellence in 2018 from Docomomo for his work related to one of the buildings we'll be talking about today among others in the Atlanta area.

David Mitchell, executive director of the Atlanta Preservation Center, whose mission is to promote the preservation of Atlanta's architecturally, historically and culturally significant buildings, neighborhoods and landscapes through education and advocacy.

A few quick tidbits about our secret garden and our iconic bank building, taken from our existing Walking Tour online.

In 1925 Landscape Architect W. L. Monroe bought 13 acres on North Boulevard. He built a plant nursery called Monroe Gardens, which was popular as a gathering place for Atlantans. In 1937 part of Boulevard was renamed Monroe Drive. Of the many buildings Monroe built on the property, only few remain: an outdoor fireplace and square-dance floor plus a chapel, fallout shelter, and rock wall, which reside on the grounds of the Ansley-Monroe Villa townhome community.

The former Trust Company Bank Building, now Cirque Daiquiri Bar: “Atlanta’s Finest All ’Round Bank” opened for business in the early 1960s as a branch of the Trust Company Bank. The futuristic round building was designed by the late Atlanta architect, Henri Jova, who also designed the Carter Center and Colony Square, one of the first developments to combine residential, hotel, office, and retail space in one complex. The bank’s interiors were spectacular, with marble finishes and avant-garde furnishings from Eero Sarinen for Knoll and Herman Miller, selected by interior designer Virginia Bowen, then a head designer at Atlanta’s Ivan Allen Company. In March 2018, the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, thanks to the Georgia Chapter of Docomomo’s efforts for more than ten years.

We deeply appreciate the commitment of our special guests! Please visit their websites to learn more.

Atlanta School of Photography

Atlanta History Center: Cherokee Garden Library

Atlanta Preservation Center

Docomomo Georgia

Halloween 2020 will truly be one to remember, with the convergence of a full moon, a blue moon, daylight saving time, and Saturday celebrations!

Shop Local! Local PiHi resident Jane Powell is the owner of Costumes Etc, located just off Cheshire Bridge Road. You're sure to find the perfect Halloween costume here! Bring your mask and go check out Costumes Etc!

Please find these resources to help you and your friends and neighbors plan a safe way to celebrate. 

AJC—CDC: Stay at home this Halloween, trick-or-treaters

From the CDC:

1. Consider creating at-home trick-or-treating experiences like carving pumpkins
2. Decorate your house, apartment, or living space
3. Do a virtual Halloween costume contest
4. Have a Halloween movie night with members of your household
5. Do a Halloween scavenger hunt in or around your home

Make Your Own Candy Chute for a Touchless Halloween!

Halloween2020.org: See risk level for your county and get recommendations on how to celebrate safely.

Atlanta Magazine: How to have a fun—yet safe—Halloween in Atlanta this year. Tips and suggestions for making the most of this holiday while in the pandemic.

The City of Atlanta has proposed Short-Term Rental legislation that would make AirBnB, VRBO, and other short-term rentals (less than 31 days) illegal for single-family zoning districts across all Atlanta neighborhoods. Current AirBnBs will not be grandfathered. 

• Proposed Legislation Summary Fact Sheet (PDF)
• Full Proposed Legislation Document (PDF)

We'll be discussing this in more detail at the PHCA Board Meeting on Tuesday, October 6. Please join us! You can also contact us to share your comments with the Board.

The item will also be discussed one level up at our Neighborhood Planning Unit monthly meeting on October 19 and again for a vote at the November 16 NPU-F meeting. 

Additionally, you can send your comments to Councilmember Ide and the authors of the legislation.

Update after the October PHCA Board Meeting:

During our Board meeting, this proposed legislation was discussed by PHCA board members as well as other residents, including one rental property owner in the neighborhood.

Everyone agreed that while some short-term rental properties (and long-term rental properties as well) can pose problems, this legislation is not the right approach to prevent those problems. A few points to the discussion included:

• This legislation would be a heavy handed approach that would be difficult to enforce and most likely would not solve the issues
• Existing homeowners who have invested in their rental properties and who are doing a great job would be punished and their investment put at a severe disadvantage
• Existing laws are in place around excessive noise, drug use, etc. in which concerned residents should call 911 if they witness illegal activities, whether it's next door at a short-term rental, long-term rental, or a homeowner living in their own home. 
• An unintended consequence to the legislation may prevent homeowners from renting their homes short-term for photo shoots or to the film industry for movies, etc. 
• Below, please see additional questions and comments we explored during our discussion on October 6.

The PHCA Board does not stand behind this proposed legislation and will take that approach at the NPU-F meeting on October 19. Please feel free to voice your opinion at the upcoming NPU-F meeting. They have a method for registering ahead of time for any matters needing a vote: https://forms.gle/moPP6MysYYqRhiAA9

We would be happy to hear from additional residents regarding this issue as we constantly strive for a better, safer neighborhood with laws and legislation that make our community more enjoyable for its residents.

• How many short-term rentals are in the zones to be excluded right now?
• How many complaints have been made?
• Which current short-term rentals were complaints made against?
• How many repeat complaints have been made?
• On which short-term-rentals?
• Who owns and manages those lodgings on which complaints (particularly repeat complaints) have been made?
• What action has been taken on those complaints?
• What other solutions are possible?
• What punishment/deterrent is currently available?
• What enforcement/penalties are available for this legislation? (since none is referred to in this legislation)
• What are the tax implications of removing a large number of income producing short-term rentals from the City?
• How much tax income is the City and/or state likely to lose?
• Politicians at all levels of government, seem to think legislation solves problems. That is not necessarily true if those laws are not evenly enforced. People solve problems, especially people working together toward a common goal.
• It seems the legislation is aimed at getting rid of these so called “Buckhead Mansion Parties”. If the parties are the problem, the scope of the ordinance should be narrowed to focus on just that.
• One (perhaps unintended) consequence is that this ordinance would outlaw renting private homes for films, commercials, and photo shoots.
• Rather than punishing violators under current ordinances, this adds new, possibly unenforceable laws.
• The proposed legislation punishes a large number of law-abiding citizens who own the many short-term rentals that have not created problems, by depriving them of potential income.
• As a Board, we do not think this legislation is appropriate. We feel more vigorous enforcement of current ordinances and stricter penalties for offenders, particularly repeat offenders is more appropriate. If that doesn't work, then more targeted legislation should be considered. For example, noise ordinances could be amplified and vigorously enforced. That might mean better enforcement of violations by the "clubs" which are even larger public nuisances and public safety concerns.

Virtual History Event This Saturday: Learn more about two of Piedmont Heights' iconic landmarks—the Trust Company Bank building and Monroe Gardens—when you take a virtual tour with Piedmont Heights! Register to attend our virtual tour this Saturday, 10/17, when you click here.

Special thanks to our host and special guests from the Atlanta School of Photography, Atlanta History Center, Atlanta Preservation Center, and Docomomo Georgia.

Annual Neighborhood Meeting: Join us on Sunday, November 8, for the Annual Meeting! All residents are welcome, even if you're not a member. We invite you to join us here: https://bit.ly/315WDOp

PiHi T-Shirts on Sale: Celebrate your Piedmont Heights neighborhood pride with the 2020 PiHi T-shirt, designed by local designer, Elliott Strauss, a resident in the Piedmont Heights Alliance business district. Click here to buy yours today for just $20: https://bit.ly/3iRf8w0

PiHi Gift Card Giveaways: This month, we're giving away a $25 gift card to one lucky PHCA member and another $20 gift card on Instagram. More details here: https://bit.ly/3i3Q4Sb

Short Term Rentals: The City of Atlanta has proposed Short-Term Rental legislation that would make AirBnB, VRBO, and other short-term rentals illegal for single-family zoning districts across all Atlanta neighborhoods. Here's an update from our monthly Zoom call on 10/6. More info here.

Membership Drive: A warm welcome to our newest members, and thank you for your continued support! Please encourage your neighbors to become members today. They can select an annual or monthly membership option to begin receiving all the benefits of membership. Neighbors who become an annual member by Friday, October 31, get a free PiHi T-shirt. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3mSdXzL

Featured Members: Our first Piedmont Heights' "Resident Spotlight" featured our neighbor Ron Hu on Facebook and Instagram. We love connecting with Piedmont Heights residents via Piedmont Heights Civic Association! Learn more on our Instagram post.

Volunteer Opportunities: PHCA is always looking for assistance with a variety of tasks—from photo taking to event planning. Click the link to learn more & get involved: https://bit.ly/3iVnfrE

Gotham Way Park Fundraiser: Help us keep our park beautiful, including the giant staircase, which needs re-staining. Donations of any amount are welcome! Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3nJ3Wp7

Follow Piedmont Heights Civic Association on social media!
Facebook
Instagram

Nominate a Neighbor!

What neighbor would you trust to represent your interests? Nominate them (or yourself) to join the Piedmont Heights board! Elections are coming up soon on November 8.

Celebrating PiHi History

Join us online on October 17 for Secret Garden, Iconic Bank: Piedmont Height's Historic Impact. Special guests from Atlanta History Center and more!

Keep Our Park Beautiful

Thank you for your generous donations! More than $1,400 raised already! Donate $100 (tax-deductible) and receive a PiHi T-shirt as we maintain our beautiful park.

PiHi Community Bits & Bites

Food & Drink

• Ansley Wine has reopened its doors, at long last! Go check out their October Wine Club selections. You can still call ahead and pick up outside; otherwise, masks required inside and other safety precautions in place. https://bit.ly/34BfWAc

• PiHi resident Lisa Dwyer is @la.foodsmith on Instagram with recipes, cooking tips, and videos! Plus, she frequently takes orders for a variety of delectable homemade desserts! https://bit.ly/3npNLwx

• Eater Atlanta shared their favorite takeout and delivery spots in PiHi, Morningside, and VaHi. Of course, some of our favorites are listed—Roxx Tavern, Sweetwater, Grindhouse Killer Burgers, Grana, Fat Matt’s Rib Shack, Lazy Llama, Varuni Napoli, and more! https://bit.ly/3lo2ztL

• Congrats to our September Gift Card Giveaway Winners! Jane G. (Rock Springs Rd.) chose Roxx Tavern for her members-only gift card, and Holly M. (Rockridge Pl.) selected Grindhouse Killer Burgers! More giveaways happening later this month. https://bit.ly/36HDWEd

Safety

• Avoid letting your car get stolen! Tip #1 - Don’t leave your keys in an unlocked car. Tip #2 - don’t leave your car running and unattended, even if it’s in your driveway or “just for a second” when you’re running errands. Thanks for these great reminders from Captain Tony Singh from the Atlanta Police Department (and our Security Patrol Officer!) when he attended our October PHCA meeting. Also, check to be sure your keyfob inside your home isn’t too close to your vehicle outside, so that the car can’t be unlocked and/or started when the fob is inside. Also, APD has created a task force to help combat the ever-problematic street racing. We hope to have more info soon. https://bit.ly/3d8HQqT

Rock the Vote! And Other Civic Duties

• Vote! Learn all about voting options, polling places, and more for the November 3 election. https://bit.ly/33Dk57d

• ATL311: Report local issues, such as concrete spills on our streets, trash pickup problems, and more. ATL311 has a mobile app, website, and phone 404-546-0311. https://bit.ly/30Fz2nl

• Save the Date for the Piedmont Heights Annual Neighborhood Meeting! Sunday, November 8 at 3:30pm online. https://bit.ly/34E88NU

Home in the Heights

• PiHi T-shirts are on sale through November 13! Order yours today and celebrate being home and healthy in the Heights! https://bit.ly/3daEpjr

• Keep your home in tip-top shape with the Home Repair Series Virtual Workshops from the Atlanta BeltLine. https://bit.ly/2GDGLvB

It’s Fall, Y’all!

• Scarecrows in the Garden are on boo-tiful display at Atlanta Botanical Garden through November 1! https://bit.ly/34Cl5aX

• Atlanta Celebrates Photography has virtual and live events going on all over the city https://bit.ly/3daqeLt

More Neighborhood News

• Sign up for Councilmember Jennifer Ide’s newsletter on her website. https://bit.ly/3npn8b8

• Fulton County also has a newsletter. Scroll ALL the way to the bottom of their website to subscribe. https://bit.ly/3dkh1jX

PiHi Membership Drive: October 2020

Did you know - more than 180 PiHi residents are already members.

Please join today or encourage your neighbors to join you as a member!

There's never been a better time to join the Piedmont Heights Civic Association!

Select an annual or monthly membership option to begin receiving all the benefits of membership. Become an annual member by Friday, October 31, and get a free PiHi T-shirt. Learn more here.

PiHi T-Shirts on Sale * Celebrate being home and healthy in Piedmont Heights with the 2020 PiHi T-shirt, designed by local designer, Elliott Strauss, a resident in the PiHi Alliance business district. Click here to buy yours!

PiHi Gift Card Giveaways * Congratulations to Jane Gole on Rock Springs Rd, the winner of this month's $40 PHCA Members Only Gift Card Giveaway. She selected Roxx Tavern for her gift card! The $25 Instagram Giveaway winner will be announced in the next couple of days! More details here.

Safety FAQs * What to do if you’re dealing with a noisy neighbor (barking dog, late-night party outside, etc). For more information, click here.

Short-Term Rentals * The City of Atlanta has proposed Short-Term Rental legislation that would make AirBnB, VRBO, and other short-term rentals illegal for single-family zoning districts across all Atlanta neighborhoods. We will discuss more on our monthly Zoom call on 10/6. More info here: https://bit.ly/3mU9MDq

Smith's Olde Bar Is Back Open * Smith's recently reopened with new menu items, new ordering options (including a takeout window out back), renovated women’s restrooms, more tables outside, distanced tables inside, and much more! See what's new & plan your visit here. 

Family Portrait Mini Sessions * Reserve your session with photographer (and former PiHi resident) Meg Pukel. Click here for pricing and availability.

Monthly PHCA Meeting * Join us on Tuesday, 10/6 at 7pm for the PHCA monthly board meeting! These monthly meetings are open to all PHCA members and residents!