MARCH 17 - 30, 2017 • VOL. 11— NO. 6
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► 6th District candidates pitch for your vote VOTERS GUIDE, PAGE 12 ► New group aims to unite Atlantans against anti-Semitism PAGE 4
OPINION: PUBLIC ART MATTERS | P8
City’s first corporate street naming draws debate
A peek inside Ashton Woods’ Aria project
BY JOHN RUCH johnruch@reporternewspapers.net
PHOTOS BY PHIL MOSIER
Workers prepare for the first phase of housing construction at the former Glenridge Hall estate, where 47 acres are being transformed into a three-site development with hundreds of units. Left: Looking toward Abernathy Road down one of the new Aria North driveways. In the background, site preparation for a mixed-use project is underway next to the new Mercedes-Benz USA headquarters. Read story page 22.►
STANDOUT STUDENT Metro Atlanta’s first All-Ireland fiddle champ
Our fluffy cherry trees, our feathery dogwoods, our brilliant azaleas are smiling at us from all sides, causing us to smile in return. And sneeze. See Robin’s Nest page 9
Page 20
Faced with angering either a world-famous automaker or the Mormon Church, the City Council on March 7 split the difference on a controversial new “Mercedes-Benz Drive” street name. The city will rename only the piece of Barfield Road in front of Mercedes-Benz USA’s new headquarters and not the portion in front of the Mormon temple next door. Members of the temple had publicly opposed having a luxury car brand in its address. It appears to be the first corporatebrand street naming in the city’s 10-year history. At the council meeting, supporters said that naming a part of the street Mercedes-Benz Drive will help the city’s own global branding. Opponents said it paves the way for more private branding of public streets. Some opponents of “Mercedes-Benz Drive” also have comSee CITY on page 11
North Springs High School celebrates recording studio addition BY JACLYN TURNER
OUT & ABOUT Cajun band heats up Sandy Springs dance floor Page 16
At a strategic planning meeting for North Springs Charter School two years ago, parent Shelly Michael poised the question: ‘How can we be a music magnet program and not have a music recording studio?’ Simultaneously, music department leaders James Landreau and Van Craven were talking about creating a music technology program to stay competitive with programs See NORTH on page 10