Tears were flowing freely on Jan. 28 at a ground-breaking ceremony for Tapestry Development’s 60 affordable housing units in downtown College Park next to the MARTA station.
Author Archives: Maria Saporta
Maria Saporta, executive editor, is a longtime Atlanta business, civic and urban affairs journalist with a deep knowledge of our city, our region and state. From 2008 to 2020, she wrote weekly columns and news stories for the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Prior to that, she spent 27 years with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, becoming its business columnist in 1991. Maria received her Master’s degree in urban studies from Georgia State and her Bachelor’s degree in journalism from Boston University. Maria was born in Atlanta to European parents and has two young adult children. She launched SaportaReport in February 2009.
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Public safety a prominent theme at Buckhead Coalition lunch
Although the name “Buckhead City” was barely mentioned during the annual meeting of the Buckhead Coalition on Thursday, Jan. 26, the issue was definitely present in the room.
Posted inColumns, Maria's Metro
Westside Future Fund offers lessons on building communities from the ground up
The Westside Future Fund has a delicate balancing act. How can one revitalize a community without displacing legacy residents because neighborhoods have become unaffordable?
Posted inColumns, Maria's Metro
Tyler Perry willing to buy FORSCOM building at Fort Mac
Media mogul Tyler Perry is interested in acquiring the prominent Forces Command (FORSCOM) building at Fort Mac upon learning that the laboratories for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would emit fumes into the atmosphere.
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Rodney Bullard: Beloved Benefit will now be part of new entity – The Same House
The Beloved Benefit, championed by Chick-fil-A’s Dan Cathy, is shifting to a new entity called: “The Same House.”
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Gov. Brian Kemp at Georgia Chamber breakfast says housing is economic development issue
At Wednesday’s Eggs & Issues breakfast hosted by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, newly reelected Gov. Brian Kemp opened the door for the state to start tackling the issue of housing affordability as an economic development issue.
Posted inColumns, Maria's Metro
Southern Co. leadership moves continue smooth transition with several ‘firsts’
Southern Co. continued its tradition of smooth leadership transitions when it announced that Chris Womack, CEO of Georgia Power, will succeed Tom Fanning as CEO of the regional utility on May 24.
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Arthur M. Blank Sports & Entertainment makes executive changes
Leadership changes are afoot within the Arthur M. Blank Sports & Entertainment (AMBSE) organization as a way to ensure a growing executive team.
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Central Atlanta Progress to honor key downtown leaders
Few people have done more to strengthen downtown Atlanta than Arthur Blank. As a way to acknowledge Blank’s contributions, Central Atlanta Progress will present him with the legendary Dan & Tally Sweat Award at its annual meeting on Feb. 14 at the Georgia Aquarium at 11:45 a.m..
Posted inColumns, Maria's Metro
New Year’s traditions weave past and present with hope for the future
By Maria Saporta Growing up, New Year’s was always the pinnacle for our family during the holidays. We didn’t celebrate Christmas because of our proud Jewish heritage, but we also didn’t celebrate Hanukkah because we were not practicing or observant Jews. So, from an early age, the holiday we really celebrated was New Year’s. My […]
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Historic Oakland Cemetery receives major city grant to complete campaign
Atlanta’s historic Oakland Cemetery has successfully completed its $12.5 million capital campaign thanks to a $1.5 million grant from Invest Atlanta, the city’s economic development arm.
Posted inColumns, Maria's Metro
2022 HOPE Global Forum – Atlanta can be a model city for economic inclusion
The ninth annual HOPE Global Forum in Atlanta did not disappoint.
Once again, top business, civic and government leaders convened in Atlanta to share best practices of how to reduce poverty in lower-income communities and how to stimulate new economic wealth among those who need it most.
Posted inColumns, Maria's Metro
Mayor Andre Dickens on Atlanta Committee for Progress: ‘Atlanta is a group project’
The Atlanta Committee for Progress has been a pivotal organization for every Atlanta mayor since Shirley Franklin in forging a relationship between City Hall and the Atlanta business and civic community. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens is continuing the tradition
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MARTA elects new board chair in a spirited debate
At its Thursday meeting, the MARTA board elected a new chair, accepted the resignation of two board members, disclosed that the Atlanta Streetcar has been taken out of service for safety reasons and unanimously approved bus rapid transit as its preferred mode of service to Clayton County.
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Georgia World Congress Center’s Frank Poe to retire in two years
Frank Poe, executive director of the Georgia World Congress Center Authority, has agreed to extend his tenure until the end of 2024.
Posted inColumns, Maria's Metro
At long last: Zoo Atlanta to get new animal veterinary facility
Currently, Zoo Atlanta is been operating out of an animal care facility that used to be a City of Atlanta lawn care maintenance facility. Within two years, the zoo will soon be getting a new animal health center – one that will be 10 times larger than the current veterinary facility.
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Doug Shipman names three new Atlanta City Council committee chairs
By Maria Saporta Nuanced leadership changes on the Atlanta City Council were announced Monday by Atlanta City Council President Doug Shipman. The major power of the president of the Atlanta City Council is being able to name the chairs of council committees and appoint the members to each of the committees. In an embargoed interview […]
Posted inColumns, Maria's Metro
Proposed new storage facility at Atlanta BeltLine and Piedmont Park a blow to city’s urban design
You’ve got to be kidding. That is my initial reaction to the news that a new storage facility is being proposed along Monroe Drive – steps away from a major node of the Atlanta BeltLine, Piedmont Park and the Virginia-Highland community.
Posted inColumns, Maria's Metro
Metro Atlanta Chamber accentuates the positive at its annual meeting
A spirit of boosterism filled the Coca-Cola Roxy Theatre at the 163rd annual meeting of the Metro Atlanta Chamber Nov. 17 as the organization highlighted its new strategic direction focusing on the economy, talent and community.
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Blank Foundation doubles down on efforts to improve the Westside
The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation is hitting the refresh button on its strategy for the Westside.
