Original article on WABE by Maria Saporta More than 700 people from around the country descended on Atlanta from Sept. 7 to Sept. 9 to attend the International Development Association meeting at the Westin Peachtree Plaza. The event harkened back to 1977 – the last time the IDA came to Atlanta. At the time, Dan […]
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.
Posted inColumns
Atlanta’s Westside ‘Action Plan’ strives to improve lives of residents
For the past six months, a team headed by prominent planner and urbanist Dhiru Thadani has been working on an action-oriented plan for Atlanta’s Westside communities.
The team recently presented its draft Action Plan at the Transform Westside Summit, and now there will be about two months when community members and stakeholders will be able to respond to the recommendations and ideas.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
Column: CHRIS Kids renamed CHRIS 180 to better reflect nonprofit’s work
By Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on Sept. 2, 2016
What’s in a name? The nonprofit formerly known as CHRIS Kids would say the name should reflect the work of the organization.
That’s why it has changed its name to CHRIS 180 – to both let the community know it doesn’t just serve kids, but it also changes the direction of the lives of the people it serves.
Posted inLatest News
Atlanta hosts International Downtown Association meeting – first time since 1977
By Maria Saporta The last time Atlanta hosted the International Downtown Association, it was in 1977 – a time when Atlanta’s central city was beginning to enter a period of decline. Population was decreasing as growth and development extended to suburban communities – partly due to white flight. And downtown businesses and retailers were beginning […]
Posted inLatest News
Pianos for Peace delights people all over Atlanta
The moment was priceless. A man was walking along the Eastside Trail of the Atlanta BeltLine on Sunday morning wearing a T-Shirt with a peace sign and the following words: “Make Music – Not War.”
The man walked up to a green piano placed on the BeltLine as part of an inspirational initiative called: “Pianos for Peace.”
Posted inColumns
A year after fire, questions plague future of Gaines Hall
Second column in a two part-series. Last week: Revival of Hancock County’s Courthouse in Sparta, Ga.
The story of two eerily similar buildings reveals a tale of two cities.
The Hancock County Courthouse in Sparta caught fire on Aug. 11, 2014. Atlanta’s Gaines Hall caught fire Aug. 20, 2015. Both designed by the same architect – William Parkins – before the turn of the 19th Century.
But the similarities end when we look at how both communities have responded since their respective fires.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
Column: Environmental group Southface names Andrea Pinabell president
By Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on Aug. 26, 2016
The pioneering environmental organization Southface has named Andrea Pinabell to be its next president beginning Jan. 1.
Pinabell currently is the vice president of sustainability and global citizenship of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, where she has been for five years.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
John Williams’ post-mortem on the Post Properties buyout
By Doug Sams and Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on Aug. 26, 2016
It’s been 15 years since John Williams ran Post Properties Inc. Since then he’s started one of the country’s fastest-growing real estate companies. But no matter what he does, Williams may always be known best for the apartment company he started when he was 26 years old.
“Everywhere I go people introduce me as the founder of Post Properties,” Williams says.
Posted inWABE
Commentary: Atlanta wins dispute over Hank Aaron statue
When the Atlanta-Fulton County Recreation Authority announced a deal to sell the 67-acre Turner Field property, it chose to make the announcement next to the statue of Hank Aaron hitting his 715th home run.
Although the Atlanta Braves will be moving to Cobb County after this season, the Hank Aaron statue will remain in the city.
Posted inLatest News
Home Depot Foundation increases support for veterans to $250 million
The Home Depot Foundation is stepping up its commitment to veteran related causes to $250 million by 2020.
The foundation announced the increased commitment Thursday morning as it kicked off its sixth annual “Celebration of Service” campaign.
Posted inLatest News
Public invited to conversation on Atlanta City Design Project on Sept. 1
The Atlanta City Design Project will invite local residents to hear a national perspective from an outsider.
On Sept. 1 at 6 p.m. at Atlanta’s Central Library, Arthur C. Nelson, a professor of urban planning and real estate development at the University of Arizona, will help Atlanta answer several key questions as part of the City Design Project.
Posted inLatest News
Film on Arab Americans seeks to remove prejudices
During the politically volatile season when some people mistakenly mention Arabs, Muslim, Islam and terrorists as if they were interchangeable, voices of reason and understanding are hoping to be heard.
One of those voices is Abe Kasbo, an Arab American who was born in Aleppo, Syria.
Posted inLatest News
City of Atlanta gives ACP update on $250 million infrastructure program
Renew Atlanta – the City of Atlanta entity in charge of investing the $250 million infrastructure bond referendum – has paid $15.2 million on projects and has another $64.3 million in projects under contract.
That was part of the report that Faye DiMassimo, general manager of the Renew Atlanta program, gave to members of the Atlanta Committee for Progress Infrastructure Task Force on Monday morning at a meeting in the Old City Council Chambers.
Posted inColumns
Hancock County Courthouse – ‘Her Majesty’ – is reborn
First in a two-part series. Next week: Sparta’s story a lesson for Atlanta’s Gaines Hall.
SPARTA, Ga. – Take note, Atlanta. The people in Sparta have found a way to cherish their city’s landmarks – showing what can be done when a community believes in preserving its past for future generations.
No building in Sparta tells the story better than the Hancock County Courthouse.
Posted inLatest News
Pulte’s Richard Dugas is proud of how company has responded to challenges
Atlanta-based PulteGroup is in a state of transition.
It recently reduced its workforce – both national and at its corporate headquarters – to lower its overhead costs. It survived a public attack from its founder – William Pulte – against the board and CEO Richard Dugas. And the board is now searching for a new CEO given Dugas announcement that he plans to step down by May 2017.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
Column: CDC Foundation CEO Judy Monroe talks about Zika, Ebola and fundraising
By Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on Aug. 19, 2016
On the day Judy Monroe began her new job as CEO of the CDC Foundation, Feb. 1, the World Health Organization declared the Zika virus was a public health emergency of international concern.
“It changed my starting point,” Monroe said in an interview about her first seven months running the private foundation that supports the work of the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Posted inWABE
Commentary: Georgia’s a central city for global health
The Task Force for Global Health – the largest nonprofit based in Georgia – received a significant endorsement this month. The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation awarded the Task Force with its 2016 Humanitarian Prize – which comes with a $2 million grant.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
Arthur Blank: Changing Westside ‘a 20-to 30-year commitment’
By Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on August 19, 2016
When Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank decided to build a new stadium next to the Georgia Dome several years ago, he had a parallel motive.
“We wanted this to be game-changer for the Westside, a catalyst,” recalled Blank, during an interview Aug. 10 with Atlanta Business Chronicle. “We will get the stadium built. But changing the Westside is going to be a 20- to 30-year commitment.”
Posted inLatest News
Turning Monroe/Boulevard into a ‘Complete Street’ a matter of life and death
More than 400 people came to a community meeting at Grady High School Tuesday evening to explore turning the Monroe Drive-Boulevard corridor into a complete street.
Posted inColumns
Hank Aaron statue to remain in Atlanta – but where is still TBD
It was both symbolic and intentional to announce the pending sale of Turner Field in a tent next to the famous Hank Aaron statue.
It marked a moment. Atlanta may be losing the Braves, but it will always have Hank Aaron and his remarkable legacy – one that extended far beyond hitting homeruns. Hank Aaron built bridges between the races in the days of segregation in the deep South.
