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Gwinnett County lands UCB deal to anchor Rowen mini-city project

UCB plans a major research hub near Dacula, marking a milestone for the 2,000-acre project.

Development

A proposed mini-city taking shape in Gwinnett County took a major step toward becoming reality after successfully wooing a global <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="biopharmaceutical" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/12/biotech-dealmaking-boom" data-vars-content-id="bc70fb43-cbd8-4054-aa2b-25b961903ca6" data-vars-headline="Gwinnett County lands UCB deal to anchor Rowen mini-city project" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/12/biotech-dealmaking-boom" target="_self">biopharmaceutical</a> giant.Why it matters: UCB&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="investment" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ucb.com/about-ucb/magazine/detail/article/growing-our-us-roots-with-a-new-facility-in-georgia" data-vars-content-id="bc70fb43-cbd8-4054-aa2b-25b961903ca6" data-vars-headline="Gwinnett County lands UCB deal to anchor Rowen mini-city project" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ucb.com/about-ucb/magazine/detail/article/growing-our-us-roots-with-a-new-facility-in-georgia" target="_blank">investment</a> is the largest in county history and accelerates plans for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Rowen" data-vars-click-url="https://rowenlife.com/" data-vars-content-id="bc70fb43-cbd8-4054-aa2b-25b961903ca6" data-vars-headline="Gwinnett County lands UCB deal to anchor Rowen mini-city project" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://rowenlife.com/" target="_blank">Rowen</a>, a 2,000-acre research-focused &quot;knowledge community&quot; halfway between Atlanta and Athens.

Bill would move Georgia to new time zone, end biannual clock change

The Georgia Senate passed legislation that, if approved by the U.S. transportation secretary, would move the state into the Atlantic time zone.

Culture

Twice a year, we dread adjusting our internal and external clocks to reflect whether we&#x27;re in standard or daylight saving time.<ul><li>One Georgia legislator&#x27;s solution: place the state into a completely different time zone and leave the clocks alone for good.</li></ul>The latest: The state Senate on Monday passed <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="legislation" data-vars-click-url="https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69591" data-vars-content-id="28cd767f-569d-48b6-b302-7a154702d0db" data-vars-headline="Bill would move Georgia to new time zone, end biannual clock change" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69591" target="_blank">legislation</a> that would ask the U.S. transportation secretary to move Georgia from the Eastern time zone to the Atlantic time zone, which is one hour ahead.

Atlanta joins thousands of No Kings protests set for Saturday

Organizers are planning more than 3,000 protests across the U.S.

Politics

Organizers across the U.S. are planning more than 3,000 local events Saturday for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="No Kings" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/17/trump-no-kings-protest-safety-tips" data-vars-content-id="3af917df-0e66-425d-a3db-e62e4efce339" data-vars-headline="Atlanta joins thousands of No Kings protests set for Saturday" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/17/trump-no-kings-protest-safety-tips" target="_self">No Kings</a> Day of Nonviolent Action, including several in metro Atlanta.The big picture: Progressive political groups, labor unions and human and civil rights organizations expect Saturday&#x27;s nationwide demonstrations to surpass last year&#x27;s No Kings rallies in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="June" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/06/14/photos-no-kings-protests-downtown-chicago-trump" data-vars-content-id="3af917df-0e66-425d-a3db-e62e4efce339" data-vars-headline="Atlanta joins thousands of No Kings protests set for Saturday" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/06/14/photos-no-kings-protests-downtown-chicago-trump" target="_self">June</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="October" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/18/no-kings-protests-october-18-turnout" data-vars-content-id="3af917df-0e66-425d-a3db-e62e4efce339" data-vars-headline="Atlanta joins thousands of No Kings protests set for Saturday" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/18/no-kings-protests-october-18-turnout" target="_self">October</a>.

New ad blitz shows how tariffs hurt small businesses

The campaign is targeting Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Nashville and Newark because they are located in states hit hardest by tariffs.

Business

A new month-long ad campaign is hitting Atlanta and other cities Monday to try to bring attention to small businesses who have been affected by tariffs.Why it matters: According to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="surveys by the Council on Foreign Relations" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cfr.org/articles/what-americans-really-think-about-trade-and-tariffs" data-vars-content-id="2813c8e9-99ea-480c-89b8-db8300a649a1" data-vars-headline="New ad blitz shows how tariffs hurt small businesses" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cfr.org/articles/what-americans-really-think-about-trade-and-tariffs" target="_blank">surveys by the Council on Foreign Relations</a>, two-in-five Americans mistakenly believe a tariff is paid by a foreign country. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Research from the New York Fed " data-vars-click-url="https://libertystreeteconomics.newyorkfed.org/2026/02/who-is-paying-for-the-2025-u-s-tariffs/" data-vars-content-id="2813c8e9-99ea-480c-89b8-db8300a649a1" data-vars-headline="New ad blitz shows how tariffs hurt small businesses" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://libertystreeteconomics.newyorkfed.org/2026/02/who-is-paying-for-the-2025-u-s-tariffs/" target="_blank">Research from the New York Fed </a>and Columbia University shows nearly 90% of the tariffs President Trump enacted in 2025 were paid by U.S. firms and consumers.

Median rent drops slightly in metro Atlanta

The median rent in metro Atlanta was down .9% last month from February 2025.

Real Estate

A <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="building boom" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/21/new-apartment-construction-rent" data-vars-content-id="9ff08194-75de-446a-b7f6-db41445ca98a" data-vars-headline="Median rent drops slightly in metro Atlanta" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/21/new-apartment-construction-rent" target="_self">building boom</a> across the South and Mountain West has cooled rents — but that relief could fade as new construction slows.Why it matters: Housing is unaffordable for many. Although the median U.S. rent for new leases is down 1.5% from a year ago, it&#x27;s still roughly 20% above pre-pandemic levels, at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="$1,400" data-vars-click-url="https://www.apartmentlist.com/research/national-rent-data" data-vars-content-id="9ff08194-75de-446a-b7f6-db41445ca98a" data-vars-headline="Median rent drops slightly in metro Atlanta" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.apartmentlist.com/research/national-rent-data" target="_blank">$1,400</a> a month, per Apartment List.

HOA fees climb as more homes list with dues

Nearly half of Georgia homes for sale include HOA dues as fees climb and lawmakers eye reforms.

More U.S. and Georgia homes for sale in 2025 came with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="homeowners association" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/29/condo-hoa-fee-state" data-vars-content-id="67f697ce-38a1-4771-9bbb-76a40bd9a087" data-vars-headline="HOA fees climb as more homes list with dues" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/29/condo-hoa-fee-state" target="_self">homeowners association</a> fees, and those dues climbed from a year earlier, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Realtor.com" data-vars-click-url="https://www.realtor.com/research/homeowners-associations-2025" data-vars-content-id="67f697ce-38a1-4771-9bbb-76a40bd9a087" data-vars-headline="HOA fees climb as more homes list with dues" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.realtor.com/research/homeowners-associations-2025" target="_blank">Realtor.com</a> data shows.Why it matters: Rising HOA fees add to the already high cost of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="homeownership" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/19/affordable-homes-metro-income" data-vars-content-id="67f697ce-38a1-4771-9bbb-76a40bd9a087" data-vars-headline="HOA fees climb as more homes list with dues" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/19/affordable-homes-metro-income" target="_self">homeownership</a>. <ul><li>In Georgia, HOAs allegedly behaving badly — think accusations of excessive fines and lack of transparency — have <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="spurred state lawmakers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2026/03/04/senate-passes-bill-reign-hoa-abuse-power-georgia/" data-vars-content-id="67f697ce-38a1-4771-9bbb-76a40bd9a087" data-vars-headline="HOA fees climb as more homes list with dues" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2026/03/04/senate-passes-bill-reign-hoa-abuse-power-georgia/" target="_blank">spurred state lawmakers</a> to seek reforms.</li></ul>

Dunaway Gardens prepares to host Sundance and playwright labs

The Sundance Institute Episodic Lab program runs for six days in May.

News

After decades of success as a Grammy Award-winning producer and songwriter, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Tena Clark" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tenaclark.com/" data-vars-content-id="6d2633d9-a092-453c-8f66-dbf51a93efb3" data-vars-headline="Dunaway Gardens prepares to host Sundance and playwright labs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tenaclark.com/" target="_blank">Tena Clark</a> is turning her focus to the next generation.<ul><li>Clark is helping aspiring creatives break into the entertainment industry by hosting two residencies at a former go-to hub for artists and actors.</li></ul>Driving the news: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Dunaway Gardens" data-vars-click-url="https://www.dunawaygardensfoundation.org/" data-vars-content-id="6d2633d9-a092-453c-8f66-dbf51a93efb3" data-vars-headline="Dunaway Gardens prepares to host Sundance and playwright labs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.dunawaygardensfoundation.org/" target="_blank">Dunaway Gardens</a>, Clark&#x27;s sprawling property in Coweta County, will host its first-ever Playwright Lab this spring.

Renting remains cheaper than buying in metro Atlanta

Renters pay less each month than homeowners in metro Atlanta, but rising prices and rates are closing the gap.

It&#x27;s still cheaper to rent than own a home in metro Atlanta, according to a new LendingTree <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="analysis" data-vars-click-url="https://www.lendingtree.com/home/mortgage/comparing-rent-vs-owning-a-home-in-nations-largest-metros/" data-vars-content-id="9faaf437-42d5-4731-ac34-a8386852231f" data-vars-headline="Renting remains cheaper than buying in metro Atlanta" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.lendingtree.com/home/mortgage/comparing-rent-vs-owning-a-home-in-nations-largest-metros/" target="_blank">analysis</a>. But not by much.Why it matters: Housing costs have soared nationwide, with stubbornly high home prices and mortgage rates weighing on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="would-be buyers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/01/mortgage-rates-home-prices-predictions-2026" data-vars-content-id="9faaf437-42d5-4731-ac34-a8386852231f" data-vars-headline="Renting remains cheaper than buying in metro Atlanta" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/01/mortgage-rates-home-prices-predictions-2026" target="_self">would-be buyers</a>.<ul><li>Homeowners with a mortgage now pay around 37% more per month than<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" renters" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/06/apartment-rent-prices" data-vars-content-id="9faaf437-42d5-4731-ac34-a8386852231f" data-vars-headline="Renting remains cheaper than buying in metro Atlanta" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/06/apartment-rent-prices" target="_self"> renters</a>, researchers found.</li></ul>

It costs more to rent an extended-stay hotel room than apartment, study shows

A survey conducted by Georgia State University also found that extended-stay hotel tenants are spending 77% of their income on housing.

DeKalb County residents who live in extended-stay hotels are paying more to rent rooms than they would for the average one-bedroom apartment, according to a report compiled by Georgia State University.Why it matters: The high costs of moving into an apartment or home, coupled with poor credit scores and eviction records, leave families with few options other than expensive extended-stay hotels.

Atlanta among top U.S. cities where home deals are falling apart

Atlanta ranks third in large metro areas where buyers are backing out of pending home sales.

Nearly one in five home buyers in Atlanta are ghosting sellers, according to a Redfin <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.redfin.com/news/contract-cancellations-september-2025/" data-vars-content-id="ce3136b4-2775-4ebf-a7e3-99fd38fab7f4" data-vars-headline="Atlanta among top U.S. cities where home deals are falling apart" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.redfin.com/news/contract-cancellations-september-2025/" target="_blank">report</a>.Why it matters: Homebuyers are backing out of deals at &quot;a fairly high rate&quot; as their <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="negotiating power grows" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/06/03/homes-buyers-sellers-redfin" data-vars-content-id="ce3136b4-2775-4ebf-a7e3-99fd38fab7f4" data-vars-headline="Atlanta among top U.S. cities where home deals are falling apart" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/06/03/homes-buyers-sellers-redfin" target="_self">negotiating power grows</a> and economic uncertainty mounts, among other reasons.

$350 million plan aims to fill longtime vacant Avondale Estates site

Plans call for apartments, cottages and townhomes connected to the Town Green and Stone Mountain Trail.

A major mixed-use project could transform two of Avondale Estates&#x27; largest undeveloped properties into places for hundreds of people to call home.Why it matters: A development team&#x27;s $350 million proposal calls for knitting together residential and commercial areas while adding new housing options in one of DeKalb County&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="most sought-after" data-vars-click-url="https://atlanta.urbanize.city/post/avondale-estates-top-20-opendoor-national-cities-ranking" data-vars-content-id="f607ae51-7275-4246-a894-49b3a2d893c5" data-vars-headline="$350 million plan aims to fill longtime vacant Avondale Estates site" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://atlanta.urbanize.city/post/avondale-estates-top-20-opendoor-national-cities-ranking" target="_blank">most sought-after</a> small cities.

More Atlanta residents are looking elsewhere for a new home

A bar chart displaying the share of Realtor.com page views for out-of-market homes in Q2 2025. Nearly 94% of shoppers in the San Jose metro area looked for homes outside of the market, followed by Washington, D.C., at 86%. St. Louis has the lowest at 39%. In Atlanta, the share is 68.1%.

Online buyers in metro Atlanta are searching for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="affordable homes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/01/real-estate-home-prices-nyc-florida" data-vars-content-id="a6fc3595-f90d-4835-a7c1-69ef7e754811" data-vars-headline="More Atlanta residents are looking elsewhere for a new home" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/01/real-estate-home-prices-nyc-florida" target="_self">affordable homes</a> anywhere they can find one — even out of market, a new report shows.Why it matters: Once-affordable areas are becoming out of reach, and some buyers in expensive markets are eyeing cheaper ones instead.

$10 million "Yellowstone-inspired" mansion on Lake Burton private island for sale

This five-bedroom home has historic timber, a private dock and a boathouse.

No person is an island. And unfortunately not everyone can live on one, especially when that island costs $10 million.Driving the news: A 6,186-square-foot <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="mansion" data-vars-click-url="https://www.harrynorman.com/realestate/details/54665219/1-burton-island-tiger-ga-30576" data-vars-content-id="1177de2c-9d3d-47c0-831a-894d04b5d76e" data-vars-headline="$10 million &quot;Yellowstone-inspired&quot; mansion on Lake Burton private island for sale" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.harrynorman.com/realestate/details/54665219/1-burton-island-tiger-ga-30576" target="_blank">mansion</a> on a private island in the middle of North Georgia&#x27;s Lake Burton is on the market.

Project would renovate Midtown fire station, add 282 apartment units above

Eighty-six of the units would be reserved at affordable rates.

Have you always dreamed of living above a fire station? How about in Midtown and at an affordable price?Why it matters: A proposed plan to build dozens of affordable housing units in Midtown would bring cheaper rental options to a part of Atlanta where very few are available.

A symbol map of 54 U.S. metro areas showing estimated change in median rent from February 2025 to February 2026. Rents decreased in 34 metros, mostly in the South, and increased in 20 metros, mostly in the Northeast and Midwest. Virginia Beach increased the most, by 5.3%, and Austin decreased the most, by 5.9%.

Change in median rent from February 2025 to February 2026

A map shows the share of homes listed for sale in 2025 that included HOA fees, by state. On average, 43.6% of listings included HOA fees. The states where HOA fees were most often included were Nevada (68%), Arizona (65%) and Florida (65%).

Share of homes listed for sale with HOA fees, 2025

Data: Realtor.com; Map: Jacque Schrag/Axios

A chart showing the monthly median cost to rent or own by metro area in 2024 among the 100 largest metros. In all metro areas, it was cheaper to rent than it was to own a home. The national average rent price was $1,487 compared to $2,035 to own. In the Atlanta metro, the median rental cost was $1,770 compared to $2,127 to own.

Monthly median cost to rent or own by metro area

Data: LendingTree analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data; Note: Monthly costs include utilities, fees, and/or taxes; Median housing costs above $4,000 are recorded as "$4,000+" by the Census Bureau; Chart: Jacque Schrag/Axios

Real Estate 🏠

Median rent drops slightly in metro Atlanta

HOA fees climb as more homes list with dues

Dunaway Gardens prepares to host Sundance and playwright labs

Renting remains cheaper than buying in metro Atlanta

It costs more to rent an extended-stay hotel room than apartment, study shows