Finding the time and money for a vacation can be difficult. To help, WalletHub compared over 180 cities and concluded which cities offer the best staycation that is also wallet-friendly. On that list, Atlanta was ranked 11 overall for the best staycation city. Atlanta also ranked 11 in food and entertainment, 21 in recreation and 29 in rest and relaxation.

• Brock Built Homes is launching a new line of homes that target first-time homebuyers. The Marietta single-family homes would benefit first-time buyers and increase affordable housing prices in the area, with prices in the $200,000 range, according to Curbed Atlanta. Brock plans on providing buyers with green space around Marietta and parks to create a sense of community. The project is Brock’s first in a series of communities under the company name.
• A new development plan left Westside Atlanta residents angry. Saporta Report detailed the impact of a Brock Built Homes development plan for the intersection of Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway and Northside Drive concerned current residents. The “Echo Street Communities” threatens some residents’ ability to afford housing in the neighborhood if the development plan limits affordable housing in the area. Brock Built Homes said they plan on keeping their project within affordable housing guidelines, but the guidelines still leave some residents below the median income for the area.
• The City of Atlanta purchased nearly three acres of land for the expansion of the Atlanta Botanical Garden and Piedmont Park. “I am delighted to announce that we are, once again, committing to enhancing world-class greenspace that will provide residents, families and visitors with access to healthy recreation and spectacular natural beauty in the heart of our City,” Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said. According to Atlanta Loop, the Department of Parks and Recreation will include the community in discussions and plans for the expansions.
• Ashton Woods announced the opening of a new community in the Metro Atlanta. The Overlook at Queen Creek community offers 114 townhomes that start in the $190,000s. The community provides low maintenance living and various amenities for residents. “We are so excited to introduce Overlook at Queen Creek to homebuyers. It offers our signature design and quality in an affordable area, yet in close proximity to Atlanta’s business and employment centers,” said Vice President of Ashton Woods Michael Malloy.
• After closing for renovations, the high-rise at 10th and Jupiter is reopening in June. According to Curbed Atlanta, the Midtown building is welcoming back almost 40 percent of residents who left when the construction began. The building will still offer affordable housing to residents in the area and provide the high-rise residents with some newly updated living amenities. The high-rise houses 149 units with 30 that are earmarked for households that make 50 percent of the area median income and 119 are reserved for families making 60 percent.