diff --git a/css/65_data.css b/css/65_data.css
index d672fccff..fbad3ba9e 100644
--- a/css/65_data.css
+++ b/css/65_data.css
@@ -21,6 +21,11 @@
     color: #ff3300;
     stroke: #333;
 }
+.note-header-icon.new .note-fill,
+.layer-notes .note.new .note-fill {
+    color: #00bcdd;
+    stroke: #333;
+}
 .note-header-icon.closed .note-fill,
 .layer-notes .note.closed .note-fill {
     color: #55dd00;
@@ -99,7 +104,6 @@
 .comments-container {
     background: #ececec;
     padding: 1px 10px;
-    margin: 10px 0;
     border-radius: 8px;
 }
 
@@ -157,6 +161,10 @@
     min-height: 100px;
 }
 
+.note-save-section {
+    margin: 10px 0;
+}
+
 .note-report {
     float: right;
 }
diff --git a/data/core.yaml b/data/core.yaml
index 308ffdc9c..9827276fd 100644
--- a/data/core.yaml
+++ b/data/core.yaml
@@ -635,6 +635,9 @@ en:
     close_comment: Close and Comment
     open_comment: Reopen and Comment
     report: Report
+    new: New Note
+    newDescription: "Describe the issue."
+    newNote: Add Note
   help:
     title: Help
     key: H
diff --git a/dist/locales/en.json b/dist/locales/en.json
index 0df3c4de9..0ecfd4606 100644
--- a/dist/locales/en.json
+++ b/dist/locales/en.json
@@ -769,7 +769,10 @@
             "comment": "Comment",
             "close_comment": "Close and Comment",
             "open_comment": "Reopen and Comment",
-            "report": "Report"
+            "report": "Report",
+            "new": "New Note",
+            "newDescription": "Describe the issue.",
+            "newNote": "Add Note"
         },
         "help": {
             "title": "Help",
diff --git a/modules/actions/add_note.js b/modules/actions/add_note.js
deleted file mode 100644
index d36963a61..000000000
--- a/modules/actions/add_note.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-import osm from '../services/osm';
-
-export function actionAddNote(note) {
-    osm.replaceNote(note);
-    console.log('actionAddNote: ', note);
-}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/modules/actions/index.js b/modules/actions/index.js
index 1e2339644..330690db2 100644
--- a/modules/actions/index.js
+++ b/modules/actions/index.js
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 export { actionAddEntity } from './add_entity';
 export { actionAddMember } from './add_member';
 export { actionAddMidpoint } from './add_midpoint';
-export { actionAddNote } from './add_note';
 export { actionAddVertex } from './add_vertex';
 export { actionChangeMember } from './change_member';
 export { actionChangePreset } from './change_preset';
diff --git a/modules/modes/add_note.js b/modules/modes/add_note.js
index 57f133c9b..e44a2f763 100644
--- a/modules/modes/add_note.js
+++ b/modules/modes/add_note.js
@@ -1,13 +1,16 @@
 import { t } from '../util/locale';
-import { actionAddNote } from '../actions';
 import { behaviorDraw } from '../behavior';
 import { modeBrowse, modeSelectNote } from './index';
 import { osmNote } from '../osm';
+import { services } from '../services';
 import { dispatch as d3_dispatch } from 'd3-dispatch';
 
 
 
 export function modeAddNote(context) {
+
+    var dispatch = d3_dispatch('change');
+
     var mode = {
         id: 'add-note',
         button: 'note',
@@ -24,13 +27,20 @@ export function modeAddNote(context) {
 
 
     function add(loc) {
-        var note = osmNote({ loc: loc });
+        var note = osmNote({
+            loc: loc,
+            status: 'open',
+            comments: {},
+            newFeature: true
+        });
 
-        // actionAddNote(note);
+        services.osm.replaceNote(note);
+        dispatch.call('change');
 
-        context.enter(
-            modeSelectNote(context, [note.id]).newFeature(true)
-        );
+
+        context
+            .selectedNoteID(note.id)
+            .enter(modeSelectNote(context, [note.id]).newFeature(true));
     }
 
 
diff --git a/modules/modes/select_note.js b/modules/modes/select_note.js
index 9433152d4..b5294ab75 100644
--- a/modules/modes/select_note.js
+++ b/modules/modes/select_note.js
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ export function modeSelectNote(context, selectedNoteID) {
             .call(keybinding);
 
         context.ui().sidebar
-            .show(noteEditor.note(note));
+            .show(noteEditor.note(note, newFeature));
 
         context.map()
             .on('drawn.select', selectNote);
diff --git a/modules/services/osm.js b/modules/services/osm.js
index 7e9faf49d..7b641715f 100644
--- a/modules/services/osm.js
+++ b/modules/services/osm.js
@@ -159,6 +159,17 @@ function parseComments(comments) {
 }
 
 
+function encodeNoteRtree(note) {
+    return {
+        minX: note.loc[0],
+        minY: note.loc[1],
+        maxX: note.loc[0],
+        maxY: note.loc[1],
+        data: note
+    };
+}
+
+
 var parsers = {
     node: function nodeData(obj, uid) {
         var attrs = obj.attributes;
@@ -239,9 +250,10 @@ var parsers = {
         }
 
         var note = new osmNote(props);
-        var item = { minX: note.loc[0], minY: note.loc[1], maxX: note.loc[0], maxY: note.loc[1], data: note };
-        _noteCache.rtree.insert(item);
+        var item = encodeNoteRtree(note);
         _noteCache.note[note.id] = note;
+        _noteCache.rtree.insert(item);
+
         return note;
     },
 
@@ -906,7 +918,7 @@ export default {
             if (err) { return callback(err); }
 
             // we get the updated note back, remove from caches and reparse..
-            var item = { minX: note.loc[0], minY: note.loc[1], maxX: note.loc[0], maxY: note.loc[1], data: note };
+            var item = encodeNoteRtree(note);
             _noteCache.rtree.remove(item, function isEql(a, b) { return a.data.id === b.data.id; });
             delete _noteCache.note[note.id];
 
@@ -1052,11 +1064,24 @@ export default {
 
 
     // replace a single note in the cache
-    replaceNote: function(n) {
-        if (n instanceof osmNote) {
-            _noteCache.note[n.id] = n;
+    replaceNote: function(note) {
+        if (!(note instanceof osmNote) || !note.id) return;
+
+        _noteCache.note[note.id] = note; // update (or insert) in _noteCache.note
+
+        function updateRtree(item) { // update (or insert) in _noteCache.rtree
+
+            // TODO: other checks needed? (e.g., if cache.data.children.length decrements ...)
+
+            // remove note
+            _noteCache.rtree.remove(item, function isEql(a, b) { return a.data.id === b.data.id; });
+            _noteCache.rtree.insert(item); // add note (updated)
+
         }
-        return n;
+
+        updateRtree(encodeNoteRtree(note));
+
+        return note;
     }
 
 };
diff --git a/modules/svg/notes.js b/modules/svg/notes.js
index 43e23f080..511f10c00 100644
--- a/modules/svg/notes.js
+++ b/modules/svg/notes.js
@@ -43,25 +43,35 @@ export function svgNotes(projection, context, dispatch) {
 
 
     function showLayer() {
-        editOn();
+        // editOn();
 
         layer
+            .classed('disabled', false)
             .style('opacity', 0)
             .transition()
             .duration(250)
             .style('opacity', 1)
-            .on('end', function () { dispatch.call('change'); });
+            .on('end interrupt', function () {
+                dispatch.call('change');
+            });
     }
 
 
     function hideLayer() {
+        // editOff();
+
         throttledRedraw.cancel();
+        layer.interrupt();
 
         layer
             .transition()
             .duration(250)
             .style('opacity', 0)
-            .on('end', editOff);
+            .on('end interrupt', function () {
+                layer.classed('disabled', true);
+                dispatch.call('change');
+            });
+
     }
 
 
@@ -80,7 +90,8 @@ export function svgNotes(projection, context, dispatch) {
         // enter
         var notesEnter = notes.enter()
             .append('g')
-            .attr('class', function(d) { return 'note note-' + d.id + ' ' + d.status; });
+            .attr('class', function(d) { return 'note note-' + d.id + ' ' + d.status; })
+            .classed('new', function(d){ return d.id < 0; });
 
         notesEnter
             .append('use')
@@ -103,6 +114,18 @@ export function svgNotes(projection, context, dispatch) {
             .attr('y', '-20px')
             .attr('xlink:href', '#iD-icon-more');
 
+        // add plus if this is a new note
+        notesEnter.selectAll('.note-annotation')
+            .data(function(d) { return d.id < 0 ? [0] : []; })
+            .enter()
+            .append('use')
+            .attr('class', 'note-annotation thread')
+            .attr('width', '14px')
+            .attr('height', '14px')
+            .attr('x', '-7px')
+            .attr('y', '-20px')
+            .attr('xlink:href', '#iD-icon-plus');
+
         // update
         notes
             .merge(notesEnter)
diff --git a/modules/ui/init.js b/modules/ui/init.js
index cbdc7bd4b..7e1d134fc 100644
--- a/modules/ui/init.js
+++ b/modules/ui/init.js
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ export function uiInit(context) {
 
         limiter
             .append('div')
-            .attr('class', 'button-wrap joined col5')
+            .attr('class', 'button-wrap joined col3')
             .call(uiModes(context), limiter);
 
         limiter
diff --git a/modules/ui/modes.js b/modules/ui/modes.js
index f024dfa96..4d01b6820 100644
--- a/modules/ui/modes.js
+++ b/modules/ui/modes.js
@@ -48,10 +48,8 @@ export function uiModes(context) {
             .append('button')
             .attr('tabindex', -1)
             .attr('class', function(mode) { return mode.id + ' add-button col3'; })
-            // .classed('disabled', function(mode) {
-            //     return mode.id === 'add-note' && !svgNotes.enabled; // disable notes button
-            // })
             .on('click.mode-buttons', function(mode) {
+                //TODO: prevent modeBrowse when in modeAddNote & osm layer is turned off
                 // When drawing, ignore accidental clicks on mode buttons - #4042
                 var currMode = context.mode().id;
                 if (currMode.match(/^draw/) !== null) return;
@@ -100,10 +98,7 @@ export function uiModes(context) {
         modes.forEach(function(mode) {
             keybinding.on(mode.key, function() {
                 // TODO: allow zooming out beyond minZoom when adding new note. Currently prevented
-                if (
-                    (editable() && mode.id !== 'add-note')
-                    || (toggleNewNote() && mode.id === 'add-note')
-                ) {
+                if ((editable() && mode.id !== 'add-note') || (toggleNewNote() && mode.id === 'add-note')) {
                     if (mode.id === context.mode().id) {
                         context.enter(modeBrowse(context));
                     } else {
diff --git a/modules/ui/note_comments.js b/modules/ui/note_comments.js
index a9890779c..325213cb3 100644
--- a/modules/ui/note_comments.js
+++ b/modules/ui/note_comments.js
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ export function uiNoteComments() {
 
 
     function noteComments(selection) {
+        if (_note.newFeature) { return; }
+
         var comments = selection.selectAll('.comments-container')
             .data([0]);
 
diff --git a/modules/ui/note_editor.js b/modules/ui/note_editor.js
index 4a15e3adc..e70df71be 100644
--- a/modules/ui/note_editor.js
+++ b/modules/ui/note_editor.js
@@ -90,7 +90,9 @@ export function uiNoteEditor(context) {
         noteSaveEnter
             .append('h4')
             .attr('class', '.note-save-header')
-            .text(t('note.newComment'));
+            .text(function() {
+                return _note.newFeature ? t('note.newDescription') : t('note.newComment');
+            });
 
         noteSaveEnter
             .append('textarea')
@@ -140,18 +142,26 @@ export function uiNoteEditor(context) {
             .append('div')
             .attr('class', 'buttons');
 
-        buttonEnter
-            .append('button')
-            .attr('class', 'button status-button action')
-            .append('span')
-            .attr('class', 'label');
+        if (_note.newFeature) {
+            buttonEnter
+                .append('button')
+                .attr('class', 'button add-note-button action')
+                .append('span')
+                .attr('class', 'label');
+        } else {
+            buttonEnter
+                .append('button')
+                .attr('class', 'button status-button action')
+                .append('span')
+                .attr('class', 'label');
 
-        buttonEnter
-            .append('button')
-            .attr('class', 'button comment-button action')
-            .append('span')
-            .attr('class', 'label')
-            .text(t('note.comment'));
+            buttonEnter
+                .append('button')
+                .attr('class', 'button comment-button action')
+                .append('span')
+                .attr('class', 'label')
+                .text(t('note.comment'));
+        }
 
         // update
         buttonSection = buttonSection
@@ -187,12 +197,28 @@ export function uiNoteEditor(context) {
                     });
                 }
             });
+
+        buttonSection.select('.add-note-button')   // select and propagate data
+            .text(t('note.newNote'))
+            .attr('disabled', function(d) {
+                return (d.status === 'open' && d.newComment) ? null : true;
+            })
+            .on('click.save', function(d) {
+                this.blur();    // avoid keeping focus on the button - #4641
+                var osm = services.osm;
+                if (osm) {
+                    osm.postNoteAdd(d, d.status, function(err, note) {
+                        dispatch.call('change', note);
+                    });
+                }
+            });
     }
 
 
-    noteEditor.note = function(_) {
+    noteEditor.note = function(_, __) {
         if (!arguments.length) return _note;
         _note = _;
+        _note.update({ newFeature: __ });
         return noteEditor;
     };
 
diff --git a/modules/ui/note_header.js b/modules/ui/note_header.js
index dcaf82d46..63a6a143e 100644
--- a/modules/ui/note_header.js
+++ b/modules/ui/note_header.js
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ export function uiNoteHeader() {
 
         var iconEnter = headerEnter
             .append('div')
-            .attr('class', function(d) { return 'note-header-icon ' + d.status; });
+            .attr('class', function(d) { return 'note-header-icon ' + d.status; })
+            .classed('new', function(d) { return d.id < 0; });
 
         iconEnter
             .append('div')
@@ -35,6 +36,11 @@ export function uiNoteHeader() {
                     .append('div')
                     .attr('class', 'note-icon-annotation')
                     .call(svgIcon('#iD-icon-more', 'note-annotation'));
+            } else if (_note.newFeature) {
+                iconEnter
+                    .append('div')
+                    .attr('class', 'note-icon-annotation')
+                    .call(svgIcon('#iD-icon-plus', 'note-annotation'));
             }
         });
 
@@ -42,13 +48,14 @@ export function uiNoteHeader() {
             .append('div')
             .attr('class', 'note-header-label')
             .text(function(d) {
+                if (_note.newFeature) { return t('note.new'); }
                 return t('note.note') + ' ' + d.id + ' ' +
                     (d.status === 'closed' ? t('note.closed') : '');
             });
     }
 
 
-    noteHeader.note = function(_) {
+    noteHeader.note = function(_, __) {
         if (!arguments.length) return _note;
         _note = _;
         return noteHeader;