Ahead of the Curve: Electronic-goods recycler to open in Lawrenceville

Viatek, a Tampa-based company that recycles computers, televisions and other electronic equipment, plans to open a facility in Lawrenceville next month.

Individuals, as well as businesses, will be able to take their old equipment to Viatek’s new location at 825 Marathon Parkway, where Southern Refurb, another recycler, used to be.

Samsung equipment will be recycled at no charge; other brands will be charged a fee.

—- Kevin Duffy

5K kicks off opening of West End trail

The first segment of trail in the Beltline opened Saturday in southwest Atlanta with a 5K race. The 2.3-mile West End trail is part of an envisioned 33 miles of concrete multiuse trail in the Beltline, a planned system of transit, trails and green space along a 22-mile loop of historic rail lines encircling Atlanta’s core.

The West End trail goes from Westview Drive south of I-20, across Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard, and south along White Street to Brown Middle School at Peeples Street.

It connects three parks, Westview Cemetery, Joseph Brown Middle School and the Kroger Village Shopping Center and provides pedestrian and bicycle access under I-20 and through the West End and Westview neighborhoods.

Construction of the trail includes the first mile of an arboretum along the Beltline and an upgrade of Gordon-White Park.

Partners in the effort include the Path Foundation, Trees Atlanta, Atlanta Beltline Inc., the Beltline Partnership and the city of Atlanta. On Wednesday, officials celebrated the opening of the Beltline’s first new park, the Historic Fourth Ward Park on North Avenue, near City Hall East.

—- Donna Williams Lewis

Dixie HomeCrafters moves to Norcross

Atlanta-based Dixie HomeCrafters is moving into 14,000 square feet of flex space in the Medlock Oaks Business Center in Norcross.

The company has been based on North Peachtree Road in Chamblee. The home renovation company, which sells replacement windows, gutter covers, reflective insulation and other products, also has sales offices in Asheville, N.C.; Baltimore; Birmingham; Chattanooga; Columbus, Ohio; Greenville N.C.; Knoxville; Nashville; and Raleigh.

The move will provide both office and warehouse space for the company, according to a release.

—- Michael Pearson