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.
By Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on Jan.6, 2017
For four years, South Carolina-based WRS Realty has been pursuing a deal to buy Underground Atlanta – becoming the sole bidder to buy the property from the City of Atlanta.
But now, WRS has until the end of January to close on the sale of Underground, a transaction that has been delayed several times because of the complexities involved in the deal.
One of Atlanta’s most colorful restauranteurs is retiring.
Mani Roy gained local and national acclaim for serving celebrities and politicians at his Midtown restaurants – Touch of India and most recently Desi Spice.
But last week, Roy sold Desi Spice to another restauranteur, who will keep the same name, the same menu and the same chef.
One of the quiet heroes of the Civil Rights movement – Dr. Leslie W. Dunbar – passed away Jan. 4, just three weeks shy of his 96th birthday.
Dunbar, a political science professor at Emory University professor until 1951, when he joined the Atomic Energy Commission as chief of community affairs.
By Maria Saporta As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on Dec. 30, 2016 The Task Force for Global Health, based in downtown Decatur, is the second-largest nonprofit in the United States, according to Forbes Magazine’s 2016 list of the largest U.S. charities. The Task Force ranked second only to United Way Worldwide, which had […]
The sale of Turner Field to Georgia State University and Carter closed today – one of the most visible transactions during Mayor Kasim Reed’s administration.
Georgia State,, along with the Carter, Oakwood Development and Healey Weatherholtz joint venture, plan to build a mix of housing, retail, and athletic and academic space on the 68-acre site. Georgia State plans to convert Turner Field into a new home Panthers football.
South Carolina real estate company WRS Inc. has until the end of January to close on the sale of Underground Atlanta.
If the deal isn’t complete by the end of the month it will be time for the city to move on, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said in a phone interview on Wednesday. The sale is delayed because of new title and easement issues related to the abandonment of streets.
Four regional organizations – the Metro Atlanta Chamber, the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta and the United Way of Greater Atlanta – are collaborating on an educational effort called Learn4Life. The goal is to bring the eight public school systems in Cobb, Gwinnett, Fulton, DeKalb and Clayton counties to improve public education in the region.
The coming of a new year heightens our sensitivity to the changes in our life and our city.
This year marked the last Peach Drop as we know it. Sadly, the rain and the cold dampened the final event held at Underground Atlanta before it is sold to WRS Realty in the near future.
The good news is that the historic structures in and around Underground will be preserved as new buildings are constructed as part of the new development.
But there are so many other landmarks in danger of being demolished during 2017 with Atlanta having a spotty record of preserving its most precious landmarks.
By Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on Dec. 30, 2016
After decades of feeling burned by the false promise of new development, Turner Field community leaders have reason to be wary.
This time could be different.
With the sale of the Atlanta Braves’ former ballpark underway, community members say they are forging a closer relationship with the biggest players behind Turner Field’s planned redevelopment, Georgia State University and Atlanta developer Carter.
By Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on Dec. 16, 2016
A collaboration among Atlanta’s four regional organizations – Learn4Life – is going where no other group has gone in the region.
It is working with the eight school systems in the five-county region to figure how to have the most strategic impact on the educational outcomes among the region’s students.
By Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on Dec. 16, 2016
For Greg Block, finding jobs for the homeless has become the fight of his life — literally.
Block, 50, started First Step Staffing, a nonprofit employment agency, in 2006. After a career running businesses and a four-year stint with the CIA, Block wanted to dedicate himself to making life better for the least among us.
“When I first started First Step, I wanted to figure out how can you connect homeless men and women with income and get them out of homelessness,” Block said in a recent interview. The question he sought to answer was how one could build a sustainable organization that could fund itself through business revenue.
Westside Atlanta represents the rise and fall and the impending revival of a community.
The historic core of the community is the Atlanta University Center, a consortium of historically-black colleges and universities. The consortium of the black colleges began in 1929.
“We were in the business of aspirations and dreams,” said Mary Schmidt Campbell, president of Spelman College.
By Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on De. 9, 2016
The highly influential Atlanta Committee for Progress has a new chairman – John Dyer, president and CEO of Cox Enterprises and a 38-year veteran of the privately-held company.
Dyer is succeeding Paul Bowers, president and CEO of the Georgia Power Co., who chaired his last ACP meeting on Dec. 1.
The organization, which includes many of the top business leaders in metro Atlanta, was formed to serve as a high-powered kitchen cabinet for former Mayor Shirley Franklin, and the ACP was embraced by Mayor Kasim Reed during his administration.
The Task Force for Global Health, now on a side street in downtown Decatur, has bought a signature building on W. Ponce de Leon Avenue from DeKalb County for $12 million..
The purchase of the building in downtown Decatyre, which closed Thursday, was made possible by a recent $10 million grant from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation and a $2 million gift from the Conrad Hilton Foundation.
For her 80th birthday celebration, Billye Aaron is continuing a tradition she started several years ago. In lieu of birthday presents, Billye Aaron is asking her guests to donate to her UNCF (United Negro College Fund) scholarship fund.
And her guests have responded. They have met her goal of $1 million in time for the UNCF Mayor’s Masked Ball, the annual fundraising gala. It will be held on Saturday, Dec. 17 at the Marriott Marquis beginning at 6:30 p.m.
By Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on De. 9, 2016
The YMCA of Metro Atlanta, the oldest nonprofit in Atlanta, will be establishing its new home on the Westside about one block west of the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The YMCA, founded in 1858, has been located in the Robert W. Woodruff Volunteer Center (also known as the United Way building) for more than 40 years. United Way of Greater Atlanta has decided to sell the office tower, which has led to its tenants needing to find new quarters.
The YMCA of Metro Atlanta, the oldest nonprofit in the city, is leaving its home of more than 40 years in downtown Atlanta to go to the Westside. It is buying Jordan Hall with plans to demolish the building to build a Leadership and Learning Center that will offer early learning opportunities to Vine City.
After a brutal presidential campaign and election season, it has been a struggle to envision a brighter future for our nation and our world.
My emotions have vacillated from despair about the future of our planet to concern about the future of our cities to empathy for the millions of people seeking a better life – hoping to find comfort and acceptance in America.
With that backdrop, I attended two distinctly different events last week that helped give me hope for the future.
The news that Coca-Cola Co. CEO Muhtar Kent would be succeeded by President James Quincey on May 1 received the endorsement of a former CEO.
Neville Isdell served as Coca-Cola’s CEO from June 2004 through July 2008, when Kent took over the top job.
“It’s been a well-managed transition,” Isdell said. “James has been very successful at everything he has been asked to do. We wouldn’t have hired him if we didn’t think he had the skill set, and he’s demonstrated that in every job he’s been in.”
Police Chief George Turner will be retiring from his post at the end of the year – after spending 35 years with the Atlanta Police Department.
The news was met with sadness from the business-led Atlanta Police Foundation, the organization that has worked closely with Turner since he was made police chief in 2010.
