Fanplex, the publicly funded family fun zone that quickly became a money pit, finally has a long-term plan: more than 300 affordable housing units to serve the fast-gentrifying community.

Why it matters: Opportunities for affordable housing are rare in Summerhill, where the average home value is $467,000, per Zillow.

Yes, but: Plans and ideas — leasing the space to the Fulton district attorney, creating a center for the city's unhoused population — have come and gone for the 2-acre property on Hank Aaron Drive across the street from Center Parc Stadium.

Details: If the authority decides to move forward with developing the lot into housing, an AFCRA spokesperson told Axios, officials think the property could accommodate up to approximately 308 units.

Catch up quick: The authority, which also manages the Zoo Atlanta parking deck and State Farm Arena, built Fanplex in 2002 for the cool price of $2.5 million.

• At the time, supporters called the center — it offered event space, putt-putt and plenty of "family friendly nonviolent video games," according to the AJC in 2003 — a more accessible entertainment center for southside residents.
• But the center couldn't draw enough visitors to break even, even on Braves game days. Two years after opening the doors, officials shut off the lights.

What they're saying: John Helton, the president of the Organized Neighbors of Summerhill, told Axios the community would likely support the affordable housing proposal.

What's next: The authority has no timeline or specific design. Stay tuned.

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U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath (D-Ga.) is a leading advocate for gun control policy in Congress.

• But as it stands at the state level, she told Axios in an interview, the "political dynamics have to change in the state legislature" before any meaningful policy can pass.

Driving the news: McBath appeared alongside gun control advocates and experts at the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado yesterday with the message that it's "not just laws" that are needed to change the country's gun violence epidemic.

• "You have to look at this cultural crisis really holistically, organically," she said, "just like we've changed any other culture."
• She compared it to past societal movements away from cigarettes or toward support for same sex marriage and touted the need for more support for community violence intervention efforts, which have shown promise.

Zoom in: McBath could not name a gun violence prevention-related bill she thought might have political legs of passing in the state Capitol now. Though she has long advocated for state-level red flag laws and background checks.

• She called Gov. Brian Kemp's allocation of $7 million from the recent federal bipartisan gun violence package for mental health programs "a start."

Of note: McBath, whose name has been floated as a possible Democratic candidate for governor in 2026, skirted a question from Axios about her future political ambitions, instead saying she is concentrating on the needs of her newly drawn congressional district.

• But she did not rule out the possibility.

Full story

The hottest temperatures of the summer thus far are moving into Georgia this weekend.

Driving the news: The National Weather Service says you can expect the heat index to top 103 degrees tomorrow in Atlanta.

• Saturday's index will climb to 105, but it will dip back to 101 on Sunday.
• The forecast for early next week calls for indices to fall back into the 90s.

Of note: The heat index measures how hot it feels when humidity is factored into the temperature, according to NWS.

How to stay cool: If you have to be outside, wear sunscreen, take frequent breaks in the shade or an air-conditioned place and drink plenty of water. You should also limit intense activities.

• Finally, do not leave children and pets in hot, unattended vehicles.

💭 Kristal's thought bubble: If you're visiting, please refrain from referring to us as "Hotlanta."

In the name of backyard barbecue season, our colleagues James Briggs and Arika Herron at Axios Indianapolis cooked a variety of meatless burgers and 'dogs.

What they did: The team scoured the shelves at Whole Foods, where they knew there'd be a plethora of specialty meat-free options, and Kroger, a more accessible store where the selection wasn't as robust but was surprisingly well-stocked.

• The duo's top dog and best burger are sold at both stores!

Hot dog results

Best ballpark-style: Field Roast Signature Stadium Dog

Our take: Looks like a ballpark frank, grills well and has the most authentic taste and texture.

Best flavor: Field Roast Classic Smoked Frankfurters

• Our take: Great smoky, grilled flavor.
• Yes, but: You have to peel off the plastic casing before you can cook it. Not quite the tossing 'dogs on the grill experience.

Best brat-style: Beyond Sausage Plant-Based Links, Hot Italian Style

• Our take: Super spicy flavor and great meaty texture, tasty enough to get past the odd, lumpy appearance on the grill.

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🖼️ Jimmy Carter's oil painting of a bald eagle recently sold for $225,000. (WSB-TV)

UGA's football program protected players who were accused of assaulting and abusing women, according to an AJC investigation.

🥬 Planta, a new vegan restaurant, is set to open tomorrow at Krog Street Market. (Eater)

Killer Mike says any new laws to reduce gun-related crimes will hurt Black families "worst and first." (TMZ)

📝 Organizers have collected nearly 10,000 signatures on a petition calling for a referendum on Atlanta's public safety training center. (Atlanta Civic Circle)