Metro Atlanta ranks 10th out of the nation’s top 15 metro regions for investment potential in commercial loans, according to a new report by the industry watcher Trepp. In a small way, the bankruptcy of a popular bicycle business with four shops in the region shows why metro Atlanta isn’t ranked higher.
Author Archives: David Pendered
David Pendered, Managing Editor, is an Atlanta journalist with more than 30 years experience reporting on the region’s urban affairs, from Atlanta City Hall to the state Capitol. Since 2008, he has written for print and digital publications, and advised on media and governmental affairs. Previously, he spent more than 26 years with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and won awards for his coverage of schools and urban development. David graduated from North Carolina State University and was a Western Knight Center Fellow.
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Environmental impact of future inland port cited as state plans review of freight network
The environmental review is underway for a planned inland port to be built northeast of Gainesville. Presuming it opens, the facility that’s billed as a way to ease traffic congestion in metro Atlanta is likely to be heralded as a success as the state House prepares to update Georgia’s decade-old rail improvement plans.
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Atlanta police to use body cameras properly or face fines, penalties, chief says
Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields says she knows officers aren’t using their department-issued body cameras properly. That’s why she called for a city audit of camera usage and is implementing what she called a “straight forward” set of policies about how cameras are to be used and videos to be stored – to be followed by stiff penalties for rule-breakers.
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Posting CEO pay of non-profit hospitals part of proposed reform of health system
Five CEOs are paid a total of more than $9 million a year to run non-profit hospitals in metro Atlanta, according to the hospitals’ latest available tax returns. These salaries, and other hospital financials, are to be made more readily available to the public as the part of a proposed effort by the state House to “revolutionize” health care delivery.
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Atlanta hires new lobbyist as issues at Capitol include proposed take-over of airport
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has hired a new chief lobbyist for the city, who got her lobbying badge for the city on Wednesday as Atlanta prepares to deal with issues including a proposed state take-over of the management of the city’s airport.
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State’s birding art contest for students attracts gifted young artists
Young artists are again invited to participate in a state contest to draw a bird in a contest, this one to appear on the T-shirt of the 14th Annual Birding Competition. The instructions sound pleasant enough, but a glance at a recent winner shows the skill that socially engaged youngsters bring to the event.
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Atlanta Fed District voices concerns over economy, other districts sound same note
The real-time snapshot of the Southeast regional economy released Wednesday by the Federal Reserve cites concerns over politics and trade. This notion of unease tracks comments in a speech the Fed’s vice chairman delivered last week, when he observed that patience is the watchword at the start of 2019.
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Brookhaven’s new $40 million parks bond earns top credit rating; city already spending proceeds
Brookhaven hasn’t wasted a minute in ramping up projects with the $40 million bond for parks and facilities voters approved in November 2018. Just four days after Moody’s Investors Service awarded the bonds its highest rating, the Brookhaven City Council approved two contracts related to parks improvements.
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Atlanta’s tree ordinance a sore spot among residents as city eyes a new code in July
Atlanta’s aged tree ordinance of 2001 looks so good that some folks say they’d be happy if the city would enforce it – until it can be updated. Meanwhile, the city says it’s on track to update the existing tree ordinance in July.
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Season opens for ‘poor man’s salmon,’ which helped Washington beat the Brits
The commercial season has opened in two Georgia rivers for a fish once known as the poor man’s salmon, a herring that some revere for its role in preventing George Washington’s troops from dying of starvation as they camped near Valley Forge.
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Atlanta Streets Alive slated to receive $200,000 from city to support three events
Atlanta Streets Alive has scheduled three events this year and the City of Atlanta intends to provide the sponsor with $200,000 to help cover the cost of closing streets to vehicles so that pedestrians and non-motorized conveyances can have their afternoon on the asphalt during each event.
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Gov.-elect Kemp views strong state tax revenues as he ponders first budget proposal
Incoming Gov. Brian Kemp has the benefit of delivering his first budget proposal to the Legislature as the state economy continues to expand and spin off an increasing amount of tax revenues, according to an economic outlook contained in a new policy brief by Georgia’s state economist.
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Fulton County has two years to fix property tax assessments, court ruling states
The court ruling in December that upheld Fulton County’s tax bills for 2017 highlighted a number of chronic issues that plague the county’s property tax assessments. The county has two years to fix known problems, as state law compels the state revenue commissioner to review the county’s digest in 2019.
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Construction costs skyrocket, niches remain – such as Houston’s site near Lenox Mall
The site of a former Houston’s restaurant, across Lenox Road from the mall, is just the type of property that could accommodate a trophy asset the current and near-future economy could support. This comes at a time a new report from CBRE suggests some potential commercial developments may not make much economic sense because of skyrocketing construction costs in metro Atlanta.
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To climb from poverty, metro Atlanta’s poor children need positive role models
Put simply, poor children in metro Atlanta aren’t moving up the economic ladder. That was the case in 2013, and that remained the case in 2018, according to studies released by an affiliate of Harvard University.
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Flying into ATL for sex with minor girls nets two men convictions on federal charges
Two men arrested separately at Atlanta’s airport have been convicted of federal charges of traveling to Atlanta to have sex with a minor child. The incidents show that even as airport officials focus on spotting victims of the sex trade who travel through the airport, predators pass through it, as well.
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Federal funds to cover lion’s share of retooling of dangerous stretch of Ga. 316
A crash-plagued intersection west of Athens, on Ga. 316, is to be made safer through construction of a diamond interchange that has received significant federal funding, the Georgia Department of Transportation announced Tuesday.
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Feds approve seismic testing off Georgia’s coast for gas, oil; environmentalists sue to halt
The federal government has authorized a company to harass animals in federal waters off Georgia’s coast in order to search for deposits of oil and gas. This testing is a first step to offshore drilling and the federal permit, plus four others, has been challenged in federal court by nine environmental groups.
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Give the gift of the Atlanta BeltLine, urges BeltLine’s non-profit fundraising arm
The Atlanta BeltLine Partnership, Inc. has a few ideas for gifts to give during the holiday season, ranging in price from $5 for a set of postcards to $5,000 for a membership in the Founders Circle in the elite status of Bridgebuilder.
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Marcia Bansley, John Pruitt, Raphael Bostic among those now advising Atlanta Audubon
Marcia Bansley, founder of Trees Atlanta, John Pruitt, retired anchor of WSB-TV, and Raphael Bostic, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, are among the seven members of a new group of advisors created to help Atlanta Audubon continue to expand its outreach.
