A.J. Robinson, at the executive committee meeting of Central Atlanta Progress (CAP) Wednesday morning, announced his intention to retire from the Downtown improvement organization.
In an exclusive interview, Robinson reflected on his tenure with CAP.
“When I took this job, the 191 building was 17 percent occupied,” Robinson said. “The Macy’s building was empty. The Ellis Hotel was still the Winecoff. The Gulch was still the Gulch. There was nothing around Centennial Olympic Park but the Embassy Suites Hotel.”
A search committee, chaired by developer Egbert Perry, will start looking for Robinson’s successor with assistance from BoardWalk’s Sam Pettway.
Once a new head of CAP has been named, Robinson said he likely will stay on as the volunteer chair of the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (ADID). That was a role he had when he was selected to be the CEO in 2003.
Craig Jones, who has chaired ADID since 2003, will then focus his efforts on chairing the board of the Stitch, a park that will bridge over the Downtown Connector.
“I’m really not going anywhere,” Robinson joked. “This is really a bump back to the future.”
Robinson said he expects it will take until the end of summer to find his successor. That means he will stay through the World Cup, where Downtown Atlanta will be in the spotlight.
“I think we are in a really exciting place in Downtown today,” Robinson said. “It is a great opportunity for someone to come and push us up even further up the ladder.”
David Cummings, chair of CAP’s board, said the sentiment in the executive committee after the announcement was one of gratitude for his leadership in Downtown and the city.
“It will be hard to replace A.J. in regard to his institutional knowledge,” said Cummings, a technology entrepreneur who is redeveloping South Downtown. “The experience he brings to the table is unparalleled. These will be extremely large shoes to fill.”
Craig Jones agreed.
“A.J. is the single most extraordinary guy I’ve ever worked with,” Jones said. “He’s really a visionary. He started talking about the Stitch 20 years ago. And he’s also got the execution piece. It’s rare to have to have both at an excellent level.”
Under his leadership, Robinson was involved in bringing development around Centennial Olympic Park, including the Georgia Aquarium, the College Football Hall of Fame and most importantly, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, working with then-Mayor Shirley Franklin to make that a reality.
“A.J. has brought tremendous business acumen and experience to all his work,” Franklin said Wednesday morning. “But the most important thing he’s brought is his heart and soul, his sense of humor and hope. When you work with A.J., you get it all.”
One of Robinson’s last moves involved the rebranding of CAP and ADID under a central umbrella, Downtown Atlanta Inc., which was unveiled at the organization’s annual meeting in February.
Cummings said efforts to improve Downtown Atlanta are complex, given the number of government players, social challenges, hotels, major events, sports and entertainment facilities. It is also the historic heart of Atlanta.
But there’s also strong momentum Downtown with the development of Centennial Yards, which is filling in the Gulch, South Downtown, Underground Atlanta and several other projects that are underway.
In looking for the next CEO of the organization, Cummings said the search will include both national candidates who could offer a fresh perspective and local candidates who are really plugged in to the Atlanta business and civic community.
“There are a bunch of reasons why people will be attracted to this position,” Jones said.
Robinson, who just turned 71, said he will continue to serve on NCCHR’s board and in his other civic roles, including as co-chair of the Spring, an intown Jewish cultural organization.
He reflected that he was only 48 when he joined CAP after working with Portman Holdings for decades. Many of the needs Downtown then continue through today.
“There’s always something for us to work on,” Robinson said.
