Well, here’s another Atlanta Streetcar update

Good news: a construction milestone was achieved today. Bad news: it’s still unclear when the cars will start to run. Fun news: there’s a pop-up shop preview party on Saturday!
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Sure, the project is over budget and behind schedule and the exact details of who’s going to run it remain in limbo, but today the Atlanta Streetcar project reached a construction milestone as the last track concrete was poured—at the intersection of Peachtree Street and Sweet Auburn.

Though the roadway surface is now complete, the city and Central Atlanta Progress will only commit to “summer” as a start date. But city spokeswoman Sharon Gavin said earlier reports that the start could be delayed until September are incorrect. “It will be running this summer,” she said.

In an effort to enliven the route and provide a retail boost to Downtown, Central Atlanta Progress is pairing property owners and retailers for a series of pop-up shops along the streetcar’s 2.7-mile route. While it initially was stated that the shops would be open April through June, pegged to an anticipated May rollout of the transit route, this has been adjusted. The stores—17 are now committed—will be open June through August, and “some might last into September,” according to Kristi Rooks with CAP.

While the shops won’t open for a few months, a preview event will take place this Saturday afternoon at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market. All the vendors will be on hand to talk about their stores, and a number will have items for sale, including the Indie Craft Experience, which represents dozens of crafters and vintage dealers, Modern Tribe, which sells hip Judaica and gifts, Just Add Honey, a tea company, and Brixtix Bakery for Dogs, pretty self-explanatory. (Insider tip: Bring cash. I shop at the Curb Market at least once a week and the ATM that was stolen a while back has not been replaced.)

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