Latest news with #Atlantans
Axios
2 days ago
- Business
- Axios
Oakland Cemetery's columbarium could be your true forever home
For the first time in roughly 140 years, the public has an opportunity to secure a space in Atlanta's most exclusive spot to spend eternity. Driving the news: The nonprofit that oversees Oakland Cemetery, the final resting place for famous Atlantans that's also a city park, is moving forward with plans to build a columbarium (pronounced kuh-luhm-br-ee-uhm). Why it matters: The columbarium — essentially a mausoleum for urns containing people's cremains — opens end-of-life access to a new generation of Atlantans who love the 48-acre cemetery. The sales of the spaces will help create sustainable funding to maintain the grounds and preserve headstones of people whose loved ones and family members no longer care for the plots. Catch up quick: Founded in 1850, Oakland was the city of Atlanta's first municipal cemetery. Within 30 years, all the cemetery's burial spots had been sold, Richard Harker, the president and CEO of the Historic Oakland Foundation, told Axios. Since then, people wanting to purchase burial plots had to turn to private sales, sometimes from families who owned the coveted spots for decades. Harker said the cemetery conducted a feasibility study about adding a columbarium in 2008. Zoom in: The 250-space columbarium will be located on an abandoned roadway next to the recently restored Women's Comfort Station and African American burial grounds. The spaces will accommodate one to as many as four urns in various sizes. They will include eight "family estates" that can fit eight urns, Harker said. Pricing will be finalized in the next two to four weeks, he said. Solo spaces on the lower level could start around $6,000. The big picture: If the project is successful, Harker said, the foundation could build a few additional columbaria. Yes, but: Harker said the foundation intends to honor community members' and city officials' stated desires to ensure the columbarium blends seamlessly into the cemetery's landscape and history. What they're saying:"You don't want to overwhelm the historic fabric of the cemetery by building units that are massively high or massively overbearing," he said. "So that's part of our thought process: How do we do this sensitively to the historic cemetery, while also offering folk that new opportunity?" Fun fact: Famous residents include former mayors (Maynard Jackson), athletes (golf legend Bobby Jones) and celebrities ("Gone With the Wind" author Margaret Mitchell and country singer Kenny Rogers.) The intrigue: Oakland was founded without an endowment and is not a perpetual care cemetery, meaning the foundation must find funding to care for the grounds and buildings and launch capital campaigns.
Axios
20-07-2025
- Business
- Axios
Atlanta public housing rent hike "pause" could shock Section 8 stock
Atlanta Housing is telling Section 8 landlords to pause plans for rent increases as federal funding uncertainty spreads to local governments. Why it matters: Roughly 11,000 Atlanta households will receive Housing Choice vouchers this fiscal year, according to the housing authority's budget. The vouchers help eligible residents spend no more than 30% of their income on rent and play a vital role in keeping tens of thousands of Atlantans in their homes. Between the lines: The rent hike pause could push some landlords to switch to market-rate tenants, short-term rentals or sales — shrinking Atlanta's supply of affordable housing and creating housing instability. The latest: In a July 15 message to landlords, Alan Ferguson, AH's chief housing and real estate officer, said the authority would not process rent increase requests for Housing Choice Voucher Program participants with contracts renewing on and after July 1 of this year. AH could "reconsider and reinstate" increases if Congress approves new funding or federal officials offer new guidance, Ferguson wrote in the message obtained by Axios. Context: Public housing authorities have been put on notice to expect funding cuts after President Trump called for sweeping changes to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, including a two-year limit on housing aid, according to the Associated Press. AH's 2026 fiscal year budget approved in early July is roughly $80 million less than the previous years' spending plan, WSB reports. The Housing Choice Voucher Program bore the brunt of those cuts; its funding dropped from $389.7 million to $338.58 million. Yes, but: Authority officials said their "goal is to keep our residents housed." They declined to immediately say whether funding earmarked for rent increases would fund other AH programs or operations. Stunning stat: Roughly 20% of Atlanta's multi-family rental housing is supported by AH assistance programs, Ferguson said. What they're saying: Dan Immergluck, a Georgia State University professor emeritus who's studied Atlanta's affordable housing crisis for nearly two decades, told Axios the pause would make it more difficult to find landlords to accept vouchers.
Axios
26-06-2025
- Science
- Axios
That loud boom over the Southeast? It was likely a fireball
Thursday's loud, rolling rumble — and, for some, a sudden flash and white streak in the sky — might have been a fireball from a meteor passing over metro Atlanta. Why it matters: More than 100 people from Georgia and parts of South Carolina and Florida reported to the American Meteor Society a potential fireball around 12:30pm. Driving the news: Mike Hankey, operations manager at the American Meteor Society (AMS), told Axios that metro Atlantans likely experienced a "daytime fireball" that caused a sonic boom. "This is usually indicative of a meteorite dropping a fireball, but not always," Hankey said. AMS is NASA's Center for Near Earth Object Studies' recommended organization for reporting fireballs. Catch up quick: Around 12:30pm on Thursday, people using social media across metro Atlanta reported what felt and sounded like a repeat of May's earthquake in Tennessee, felt as far south as Middle Georgia. However, the U.S. Geological Survey's earthquake monitor showed no nearby seismic activity. Yes, but: According to atmospheric scientist Matthew Cappucci, what appeared to be a meteor passed over Atlanta's east side, exploded and possibly scattered fragments in South Carolina. WSB-TV chief meteorologist Brad Nitz posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the spectacle was probably "rock, dust, or debris from a comet's trail that enters the [Earth's] atmosphere." "The friction creates heat and we can see it burn up in the sky." Stunning stat: Meteor events occur probably once a week, Hankey said. But meteor events on Thursday's scale are rare, likely happening 10 to 20 times a year globally. "For the U.S., we might get three to five like this each year." The intrigue: Roughly 10 meteorites are recovered every year, but most go unfound. By the numbers: People have found 28 "unique and classified" meteorites in Georgia, according to Hankey.
Engadget
24-06-2025
- Automotive
- Engadget
Waymo and Uber launch robotaxi service in Atlanta
Uber and Waymo's robotaxi services are officially available in Atlanta. Now, Uber users who request an UberX, Comfort or Comfort Electric could have Waymo's all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicle pull up for the same cost. Notably, customers will receive a notification ahead of time and can opt-out of having a self-driving vehicle. At the same time, anyone who wants the experience can increase their chances by updating their ride preferences. "Atlantans are now able to experience the same safety, comfort, and convenience of Waymo's fully autonomous driving technology that millions of people around the US — from San Francisco to Austin — currently have the access to," Nicole Gavel, Head of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships at Waymo, said in a statement. The launch is a long time coming as Waymo first started tests in Atlanta back in January 2018. Then, last September, the company announced its services would arrive to Georgia's capital city in "early 2025." If you can count the first half of the year as "early" then Waymo is making it just under the wire. Uber also provided an update on its Waymo fleet in Austin — launched in March. It now has 100 Waymo vehicles available in the city, with more coming. Uber claims that customers have given the rides in self-driving cars an average rating of 4.9 stars. However, there's new competition in town, as Tesla launched its own robotaxi service on Sunday, June 22.
Black America Web
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Birthday Bash Playlist: 'Forever I Love Atlanta' Essentials
In the heart of the South, where culture, music, and history collide, the acronym 'F.I.L.A.' has become a beloved mantra for many. Standing for 'Forever I Love Atlanta,' F.I.L.A. is more than just a phrase—it's a declaration of pride, loyalty, and love for the city of Atlanta. Popularized in the early 2000s, the term gained widespread recognition through Atlanta's vibrant hip-hop scene, with artists like Young Dro and others incorporating it into their lyrics. It quickly became a cultural emblem, representing the city's unique blend of Southern charm, resilience, and creativity. For locals, F.I.L.A. is a badge of honor, symbolizing their deep connection to Atlanta's rich history, diverse communities, and iconic landmarks. From the bustling streets of downtown to the soulful beats of its music scene, the phrase captures the essence of what makes Atlanta special. Whether it's shouted at a Falcons game, worn proudly on a t-shirt, or hashtagged on social media, F.I.L.A. continues to unite Atlantans and fans of the city worldwide. It's not just a slogan—it's a way of life. This year, #BirthdayBashATL is proud to present the Forever I Love Atlanta set, with performances by Young Dro, Yung LA, J Money, Trinidad James, and Rich Kidz…a nostalgic reminder of what makes the city so special. Check out some of our favorites in our playlist below!
