City seeks land rights for The Spoke’s peanut-shaped roundabout

Atlanta would negotiate for property rights to rebuild The Spoke as a peanut-shaped roundabout, with condemnation available if good-faith talks fail, under a proposal scheduled for Transportation Committee consideration Nov. 9.⁠[1][2][3]

The intersection brings together Flat Shoals Avenue, Arkwright Place, Walthall Street and Howell Drive. ATLDOT’s preliminary layout depicts an elongated roundabout pinched in the middle, rather than a conventional circle. Companion sheets show marked pedestrian crossings and sidewalk sections five and 10 feet wide. The drawings are preliminary, not construction-ready plans.⁠[2][3]

The acquisition ordinance identifies three parcels. A draft right-of-way sheet lists areas of roughly 147, 272 and 28 square feet for parcels 1, 2 and 3—not entire properties. Those figures describe preliminary property needs, not completed purchases or takings.⁠[1][3]

Ordinance 26-O-1661 would authorize temporary construction easements, permanent easements, rights of entry, rights-of-way and other property interests. It would waive specified city-code requirements to provide lists of structures to be purchased or legal descriptions of easements, and remove the requirement for another Council authorization to accept executed purchase or easement options.⁠[1]

The measure also would allow settlements above appraised estimated just compensation—by up to 20% or $1,000, whichever is greater—with the chief procurement officer’s authorization. If good-faith negotiations fail, it would authorize condemnation under Georgia’s declaration-of-taking procedure. That is proposed authority, not a record of a taking.⁠[1]

As we reported in our street-funding package account, a separate ordinance, 26-O-1662, proposes $600,000 for the intersection from transportation development impact fees. That allocation remains proposed and is not the project’s total price.⁠[1]

The city’s timing estimates differ. ATLDOT’s project webpage lists construction starting May 14, 2027, and finishing Jan. 2, 2029, with a warning that schedules and scopes can change. The city’s 2027–2031 capital-improvements schedule instead lists an estimated project end of Dec. 31, 2027. Neither establishes a firm opening date.⁠[2][4]

The committee meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. Nov. 9 in the Larry M. Dingle Committee Room at City Hall, 55 Trinity Avenue. The packet lists committee consideration and Nov. 16 City Council consideration as pending, not approved.⁠[1][5]