The Atlanta Committee for Progress, the high-level board of business and civic leaders convened by Mayor Kasim Reed, had its best turnout ever Friday morning – even though the mayor couldn’t be there in person.
Instead, Reed, who is in Washington, D.C. for a meeting on the TransPacific Partnership with President Barack Obama, was video-conferenced into the meeting thanks to the facilities at the Washington, D.C. City Hall and Georgia Power’s headquarters in Atlanta.
By Maria Saporta and Doug Sams
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on Sept. 9, 2016
Two ambitious new projects propose to bridge parts of Georgia 400 and the Downtown Connector to create new “beach-front property” in Atlanta.
On Sept. 7, Buckhead business leaders got their first look at new designs for a proposed half-mile long park over Georgia 400 that would give a district known for glass high-rises and sprawling luxury malls much-needed open spaces.
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 […]
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.
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 […]
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
By Doug Sams and Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on Aug. 19, 2016
Parrot Heads now have a reason to flock downtown.
Jimmy Buffett’s rapidly expanding Margaritaville Holdings plans to bring its restaurant concept to the emerging tourism district around Centennial Olympic Park.
History was celebrated – and made – Thursday in the ground floor gathering space of Vinings Bank.
At one end of the room, former Gov. Roy Barnes (a Democrat) was sitting next the man who forced him into political retirement – former Gov. Sonny Perdue (a Republican), and they were all smiles, happily agreeing to get their picture taken together. Perdue jokingly mentioned how time can change former political foes.
