Ever since former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed first gave Tyler Perry the opportunity of buying 330 acres at Fort McPherson five years ago, I have criticized the deal.
My greatest concern was a fear Perry would seal off this incredible public treasure and create a fort inside a fort.
A significant leadership transition has occurred at PEDS, the top advocacy organization for pedestrians in metro Atlanta.
Sally Flocks who founded PEDS in 1996, officially stepped down as its top executive in September.
The struggle continues.
Two different Sundays in two different churches reinforced the fact that we still have so much more work to do to make sure that Atlanta is a place where everyone can thrive.
The recent move by the Atlanta Board of Education to not extend Superintendent Meria Carstarphen’s contract raises serious concerns about the future of Atlanta’s public schools.
I have a sinking feeling about the board’s lack of wisdom or strategic thinking about what the future holds.
For the past few days, I’ve been spending time with my parents.
Although they have been gone for more than 20 years, their spirits shine brightly in Atlanta and within me.
Two recent events really solidified that fact.
An amazing coalition of leaders has formed to support extending the contract of Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Meria Carstarphen.
U.S. Congressman John Lewis (D-Atlanta) has become one of the most outspoken leaders on her behalf – sending a letter to members of the Atlanta Board of Education.
I have joined a cult – in the best sense of the word.
This past weekend, I attended the opening retreat of Leadership Atlanta’s 2020 class, and I will add the mandatory – best class ever.
Our weekend experience has shifted my whole attitude about my decision to apply and participate in this nine-month-long adventure – from trepidation to excitement.
It’s hard to pigeon-hole Alex Garvin. Yes, he’s an architect. But he’s also a professor, an author, a public servant, an urbanist, a visionary and someone who has had a major impact on Atlanta.
Garvin was in Atlanta last week to give a talk Aug. 15 at a luncheon organized by Central Atlanta Progress and the Urban Land Institute –Atlanta
Under the leadership of Superintendent Meria Carstarphen, the Atlanta Public Schools has experienced tremendous – and verifiable – gains over the past five years.
But, for reasons hard to explain, Carstarphen’s future in Atlanta is up in the air.
A real life tug-of-war is playing out at the Fort McPherson Local Redevelopment Authority.
At stake is the future development of 144 acres of the 480-acre property that once was the Fort McPherson army base in southwest Atlanta.
Forget about NIMBY. My protest is NIMFY (Not In My Front Yard).
Grady High School is planning to turn its beautiful front lawn into a parking lot.
The plans are part of the Atlanta Public School’s efforts to improve its schools and accommodate increased student demand.
The behind-the-scenes dealing at Fort McPherson reminds me of Marvin Gaye’s song: “What’s going on?”
The questions are numerous.
Change is hard.
We are witnessing that fact every day – whether it be turning one-way streets into two-way streets or whether it be introducing 10,000 e-scooters on our city’s streets in the past year.
When it comes to Atlanta’s trees, we can never let down our guard. Every day, there’s a new threat to cut down our precious trees.
That’s why we need a strong tree ordinance that protects our tree canopy – preserving our greatest natural amenity and retaining Atlanta’s unique stature as a city in a forest.
Something funky is going on at Fort McPherson – again.
This time it involves the 145 acres under the control of the McPherson Implementating Local Redevelopment Authority.
Back in the 1980s, I had the pleasure of getting to know one of the most flamboyant developers who had entered the Atlanta market – A.C. Toh.
Toh made headlines in the 1980s by proposing to build a high-density international village on a 19-block area on the south part of downtown. Then Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young had taken Toh on a tour of the area, and together they envisioned what the place could be – a bustling new downtown with high-rise residential and office towers.
These days, in nearly every community forum in Atlanta, someone mentions the city’s unfortunate top ranking for income inequality in the nation.
Most often, the studies cited are for the city of Atlanta, which has a population of less than 500,000 people in a region with about 5 million people.
The proposed investment priorities of More MARTA in the city of Atlanta feels as though we’re coming up short.In gauging the response of the proposed priorities and timeline of the More MARTA plan, it appears few are satisfied or comfortable with the plan as it stands.
The 2019 HOPE Global Forum, once again, showed capitalism at its best.
The forum, held at Atlanta Hyatt Regency from May 29 to 31, brought together what has become one of the most diverse gatherings of business leaders and the general public. The 4,000-plus attendees literally came from all walks of life from many different corners of the world.
And the messages were powerful.
When it comes to quality of life measures, Atlanta seems stuck in the middle.The latest example was last week’s release of the annual ParkScore ranking by the Trust for Public Land.
