Call to Order–7:30pm. President’s Introduction / In-Person Meeting @ NEW Oakland Visitor Center! GPNA president Robert Selby welcomed attendees to our second in person meeting of 2025 and called meeting to order. The meeting had a Zoom option for those needing remote access. The slide showed Robert could be reached at president@gpna.org. The agenda for the July meeting was presented and information on how membership and voting works was shared.
Oakland Halloween Tours Announcement: Tickets for Capturing the Spirit of Oakland Halloween tour tickets now on sale to general public. Oakland members received early access to tickets. Some times are already sold out. The tours are October 16-19 and 23-26.
Approval of June meeting minutes.
Steering Committee Nomination: Daphne Lin for Economic Chair. Daphne was present. At this meeting in July her nomination was presented, seconded and approved. Robert explained that the vote would be at the next / August meeting.
Treasure’s Update: Treasurer, Travis Peterman (treasurer@gpna.org) presented the financials. The balance sheet and income statement were shared on screen and a printed copy was handed out. A neighbor pointed out a possible numerical typo / inconsistency with the amount for the storage unit. GPNA president and treasurer looked closer at the number and agreed that something may be in the wrong column and that would be corrected and presented again next month.
Public Official and Committee Updates
Item One – Public Safety: APD Zone 6. Officer Carlos Maldonado, Zone 6 evening watch commander, was in person to explain to the community why the stats show an uptick in crime. There were 2 aggravated assaults – one on Eloise Court and one on Boulevard – both involved domestic issues between a current or former boyfriend and girlfriend. They were not random crimes. There was also a burglary on the 600 block of Mead Street – bicycles and bicycle gear were taken from a garage that had been left open. A Honda Crosstour was stolen and recovered in Capital View. And on Ormewood Avenue contractors doing work had their vehicles targeted. Officer Maldonado emphasized to not engage if you see a crime happening – please call 9-1-1. To reach the officer for neighborhood safety questions or concerns call 404-772-1889 (direct line) or email cjmaldonado@atlantaga.gov. Several attendees asked questions about bicycle traffic and safety laws. Concerns about bikes not stopping at stop signs and riding against traffic were discussed. Officer Maldonado said bikes should follow vehicular laws and not pedestrian laws. There was discussion on if there had been a change to bike laws regarding 4 way stops if there were no cars present at the stop. A follow up on that law will be presented when confirmation on if it is in effect is confirmed.
Public Safety Zone 6 – July Leaders Meeting Update. Public Safety Chair, Loyal Charles, safety@gpna.org, went through several alcohol license applications for events that were reviewed in the Zone 6 meeting and would be voted on tomorrow at the NPU meeting. Plus, there was a change of ownership for El Sotano on Glenwood Avenue in East Atlanta that was reviewed. Also Oakland Visitors Center (where the meeting was being held in person) has applied for an alcohol license. All of these applications will be up for a vote at tomorrow’s NPU meeting at 7pm on Zoom. A question from an attendee was asked on what NPU stood for and Loyal explained that it was Neighborhood Planning Unit – which is the official way for neighbors to participate in planning and zoning discussions.
Item Two – Land Use & Zoning (LUZ): Land Use & Zoning Chair – Sky Hassan, luz@gpna.org At the July 24 GPLUZ Meeting there will be a variance up for discussion for 316 Saint Paul Av – Zoned R-5. Applicant requests rear yard setback variance from 7ft to 0ft, and to change the maximum lot coverage allowed from 55% to 69.6%. Lot size is just over half the minimum for R-5 zoning (4032sq/ft of 7500sq/ft). Lot has double frontage on Saint Paul Ave and Sydney St, latter is the “rear yard” Applicant has deferred to the August GPNA & NPU-W meetings. In other LUZ news, Sky also encouraged people to read the Zoning 2.0 draft that is up for review. Home — ATL Zoning 2.0.
Item Three – Transportation: Boulevard Complete Streets, ATL DOT update was presented by Transportation Chair – James Austin, transportation@gpna.org. Several neighbors had questions about parking on Boulevard being taken away per the most current designs shared. At a past meeting for this project (not a GPNA mtg) one of the neighbors said they had been told there would still be parking on Boulevard south of United – but now signs said no parking would be allowed. A discussion on how this would impact properties monetarily and with regard to safety and accessibility was discussed. James encouraged anyone with concerns to email him at transportation@gpna.org so he could take concerns up the chain of command as best he could.
Old Business
Grant Park Gateway. There is no new information on this project but it is believed to be progressing with Terminus Commercial Real Estate Partners tapped to take over the project.
The Beltline had a community meeting for the Southside Trail segment on 6/30/2025 and high-level information on segments 2 through 6 was shared and can be found here: Community Meeting Slides from 6/30/2025.
Next an update on Environmental & Community projects adjacent to Grant Park was shared by President Robert Selby. In particular, the Custer Avenue Capacity Relief in Peoplestown was discussed. The final design is complete and construction has commenced. An Urbanize Atlanta Article was published the day before the GPNA meeting on July 14, 2025. With updated information. There was community discussion that this project would also affect transportation because the streets be dug up for construction.
Boulevard Crossing Park was also discussed. There was some confusion on the size of the current park and what size the park would be after the expansion. Also funding for the park was discussed, with mixed information. The official information from the Beltline that was shared with GPNA attendees is as follows: Design work is complete for an expansion of the existing park from 5 acres to 25 acres including a direct access path to the Beltline Southside Trail. Construction funding will need to be identified to progress the project.
New Business
GPC Communications and Engagement Coordinator – Ceci Villanueva, CVillanueva@gpconservancy.org provided an update on activities by Grant Park Conservancy. Applications are now closed for the 23rd Annual Summer Shade Festival which is happening August 23 and 24. Expect to see 155 vendors at the artist and vintage markets combined, and 23 carefully curated food vendors. To volunteer – many volunteers are needed! – go to summershadefestival.org or contact sedwards@gpconservancy.org with any questions. The Summer Shade Festival kicks off on Saturday August 23 at 8:00am. with the 23rd annual Adams Run for the Park 5K, benefitting the Grant Park Conservancy. Ceci also encourage everyone to follow GPC on social media for daily updates. A question was asked about a Park Pride study that was done in 2018. It was shared that some of the work from the study had been implemented but it was a phased process because of funds and manpower. GPC is only 2 full time and 2 part time employees.
Next, president Robert Selby announced that this was a GPNA bylaw review year, which happens every five years. A Bylaw Review Committee is needed. A couple of GPNA Steering Committee members will be working on the bylaws and neighbors are invited to participate in one 4-hour work session to help shape the future of GPNA. Email Robert Selby at president@gpna.org to join the committee.
Before the meeting adjourned, all attendees in person and online were invited to continue the discussion at a nearby Grant Park establishment (Republic Social House).
Adjournment – 8:30pm.
