Atlanta, Georgia – City authorities have come up with a comprehensive plan to improve public safety, make sure businesses follow the rules, and keep the Edgewood Avenue entertainment zone lively in response to recent safety concerns along one of Atlanta’s most famous streets.
Mayor Andre Dickens and the City of Atlanta have revealed both short-term and long-term plans to make sure that Edgewood stays a safe and welcoming place for residents, visitors, and business owners. The proposal comes after a number of events that brought public safety back into the spotlight in the area.
“Edgewood Avenue is one of Atlanta’s most iconic cultural and nightlife destinations, and one night will not define one of the most popular areas on the Eastside. We are taking a balanced approach—providing immediate safety measures while working toward long-term solutions that protect businesses, patrons, and residents alike,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. “This is about ensuring that everyone can enjoy the energy and creativity of this corridor without fear or disruption.”
The city has already put a number of short-term plans into action. These include more patrols by focused police units during busy times, stricter enforcement of restrictions about selling alcohol after hours, occupancy limits, and food vending. The Atlanta Police Department is also working with other groups to do more compliance inspections and cut down on crime on nearby streets.
Police Chief Darin Schierbaum says that on busy evenings, residents and visitors can expect to see more police officers and better traffic control. He noted that these steps are meant to make the neighborhood safer without ruining its lively vibe. The City Solicitor’s Office is also focusing on crimes in Edgewood to make prosecutions easier and make sure that people are held accountable in Municipal Court.
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Changes are happening right away, while long-term solutions are being performed on to fix underlying problems. Some of these are enforcing zoning laws against unauthorized gatherings on empty lots, upgrading infrastructure like adding permanent bike lanes, and adding more cameras to the city’s network to allow for real-time monitoring.
“The Edgewood District is an essential part of Atlanta’s culture and, working with the Dickens Administration and my colleagues in City Council, we will enact short-term solutions and explore long-term solutions to ensure residents, visitors and businesses have the safe and vibrant environment they deserve,” said District 5 City Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari
The city is working with businesses in addition to enforcing the law. Recently, staff from the Mayor’s Office of Film, Entertainment, and Nightlife went to neighborhood businesses to give them advice on permits, safety measures, and other city resources. During these discussions, business owners talked about how security expenditures were going up and how they needed ongoing help.
The Department of Finance’s most recent data showed that compliance levels were not all the same. There are 85 enterprises that have the right occupational tax certificate, but 29 do not. Alcohol licensing is another area under review, with six out of 33 businesses found to be non-compliant.
Officials in the city said that these results will help them make decisions about future policies and law enforcement. Residents and business owners are also encouraged to stay involved through programs like Connect Atlanta, which tries to make neighborhoods safer by getting people involved.
Mayor Dickens said that the goal is simple: to keep Edgewood’s vibrancy and creativity while making sure it stays a safe and fun place for everyone.
