Shortly after he bought Underground Atlanta in 2020, Shaneel Lalani acquired a nearby downtown high-rise office building, 34 Peachtree St. It took him years to figure out what to do with the 1960 building – convert 20 of its 30 stories to housing. “I think we came up with the right mix for what downtown […]
Tag: Centennial Yards
Posted inMaria's Metro
Vision to dramatically increase passenger rail in metro Atlanta
Sometimes an idea is so grand it takes one’s breath away. That’s the Grand Plan — creating a rail bypass around metro Atlanta to free up hundreds of miles of track that could be used for passenger trains. Compare this idea to I-285, which became a conduit for trucks to bypass the central city. We […]
Posted inMaria's Metro
World Cup spotlights downtown and Atlanta’s global flavor
So far, so great! After speaking with more than a dozen civic leaders, the consensus has been unanimous. Atlanta has shined brightly during the past month of hosting the FIFA World Cup. That includes MARTA, Centennial Olympic Park and Fan Fest, the streets and sidewalks, the attractions and the people. “It’s been a fun atmosphere,” […]
Posted inColumns
Atlanta Mayor Dickens envisions Downtown as a vibrant transit hub
Imagine Downtown Atlanta as fulfilling its historic legacy as a hub for local, regional and intercity transit. This is not just wishful thinking. In the past month, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens shared his desire for Amtrak to move its Atlanta station from the Brookwood Station to Downtown Atlanta — preferably as part of the Centennial […]
Posted inMaria's Metro
Atlanta leaders exploring best site for new Amtrak station
All aboard! Let’s pick the best location for a new Amtrak station in downtown Atlanta. The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) and the City of Atlanta have joined forces to conduct an in-depth $625,000 Passenger Rail Station Alternatives Study to determine where a new Amtrak station should be built in Atlanta. ARC, through federal funds, allocated $500,000 […]
Posted inMaria's Metro
Rail transit key to Downtown revitalization
Atlanta has a strategic opportunity to embrace Downtown revitalization efforts by fueling new and improved transit service. In conversations with about a dozen business and civic leaders, it has become obvious that our city is at a pivotal juncture when it comes to Downtown and transit. First, stars are aligned to bring new life to […]
Posted inMaria's Metro
A vibrant downtown Atlanta emerges as top priority
Downtown Atlanta has a new important ally. The Metro Atlanta Chamber, at its annual meeting on Nov. 21, spotlighted its new initiative, Downtown Reimagined, to help transform our central city into a bustling neighborhood. It’s a welcome development. Downtown Atlanta can benefit from a concerted and collaborative effort to reinvigorate our central business district. “I […]
Posted inLatest News
Centennial Yards to break ground on two buildings and unveiling new logo
Movement is afoot at the massive Centennial Yards development downtown. Centennial Yards will hold its first ground-breaking ceremony on the new construction of two major buildings – a 292-room hotel and a 304-unit residential building.
Posted inColumns, Maria's Metro
Brian McGowan: an Amtrak station at Centennial Yards would be ‘fantastic’
During a standard presentation of the planned $5 billion Centennial Yards project, Brian McGowan spoke of the role the 50-acre railroad gulch has played in the development of Atlanta.
Posted inLatest News
Brian McGowan named president of Centennial Yards
The Centennial Yards Co., owner and master developer of the Centennial Yards district in downtown Atlanta, announced Thursday in a release that it has named former Atlantan Brian McGowan as its president.
Posted inLatest News
Minority-, female-owned businesses received 39.3% of money spent at Gulch
The developer of the Gulch has spent slightly more money with minority- and female-owned businesses than is targeted in the agreement with Atlanta, the developer reported Wednesday during a 10-minute presentation to a committee of the Atlanta City Council.
Posted inLatest News
Centennial Yards begins its $5 billion redevelopment journey with “The Lofts”
The first step in the massive redevelopment of Atlanta’s railroad gulch began Tuesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Lofts at Centennial Yards.
Posted inLatest News
Court hands big win to city, would-be developer in Atlanta’s Gulch
Dislike of deal doesn’t make it illegal, says court.
Posted inLatest News
First Atlanta Gulch tax incentive case lands in Supreme Court of Georgia
Critics say a huge subsidy for the Centennial Yards developer isn’t legal.
Posted inLatest News
Deja vu at the Gulch: Judge rules for tax subsidy procedure, opponents plan appeal
A Fulton County judge says Atlanta followed the rules when a split City Council OK’d bond-backed public subsidies for a proposed private remake of Downtown’s Gulch. Opponents will ask a higher court’s opinion, in a dispute that’s gone on for almost a year.
