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: Underground Atlanta
Posted inMaria's Metro
A personal reflection: My parents to me: ‘We are citizens of the world’
As the city was celebrating the FIFA World Cup finale at the Showcase Atlanta celebration at Piedmont Park on July 19, Mayor Andre Dickens paid tribute to when Atlanta held the opening ceremony of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games exactly 30 years earlier — to the day and almost the actual minute. “Today’s a special […]
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 inStories of Atlanta
The Connection
Among the Stories of Atlanta, is the connection between Underground Atlanta and the impressive collection of ancient artifacts found at the Michael C. Carlos Museum on the campus of Emory University. The thumbnail for this week’s story is a picture of a Coca-Cola advertisement on the side of a building. One of what must have […]
Posted inHannah Jones
A final performance with the sea: Artist to finish nine-step public performance, create Atlanta project next
The ocean is talking and Sarah Cameron Sunde — an interdisciplinary artist based in New York City — is listening.
Posted inHannah Jones
Another era of Underground Atlanta: The city beneath the city
Since Underground Atlanta changed ownership late last year, the folks working there have pushed to re-establish its name and make the underground city a hub of art and entertainment. One key effort is a new initiative adopted in August called the Underground Roots Program, which provides rent-free space to 70 local artists and entrepreneurs along […]
Posted inHannah Jones
Celebrating the art world’s favorite mystery — The art of Banksy
Who is Banksy? For most of us, Banksy isn’t a person but an idea. Each art piece urges us to go against the status quo, and by separating themselves from the constraints of fame, Banksy is truly embodying the messages in their work. There is no Banksy — just the art. “Banksy is the first […]
Posted inKelly Jordan
Art of Banksy opening – Underground Atlanta – Sept. 2, 2021
Read the column from Hannah E. Jones about The Art of Banksy: “Without Limits” here.
Posted inLatest News
Reporter’s Notebook: Atlanta mayoral field reaches 19 and counting
The City of Atlanta has adopted an updated COVID response plan, the COVID-19 Resilience Plan. The report tracks the pandemic status through seven-day averages for new cases and the rate of positive COVID tests and COVID-related hospitalizations. Community vaccination rates are another main focus of the report. The city’s status is represented through a color-coordinated […]
Posted inLatest News
Reporter’s Notebook: Reimagining Peachtree Street
Piedmont Park is ranked #16 on MSN’s list of America’s most beautiful city parks. The park has served as a haven for apartment dwellers seeking fresh air during the pandemic, and this summer will be a place to meet up with friends, enjoy the festivals and soak up some sun. On to other city news: […]
Posted inStories of Atlanta
$5
Five dollars does not go very far these days in Atlanta – or most other places, for that matter. But, there was a time not so very long ago when five dollars could buy a lifetime of memories. One of those times is the subject of this installment of Stories of Atlanta.
Posted inLatest News
Underground’s new owner – Shaneel Lalani – buys nearby office tower
The new owner of Underground Atlanta – Shaneel Lalani – has bought a key office tower two blocks away.
Posted inLatest News
WRS sells Underground to local owner giving it ‘a ray of hope’
A relatively unknown local entrepreneur purchased Underground Atlanta Wednesday from South Carolina-based WRS Inc., who has owned Atlanta’s historic center since 2017.
Posted inStories of Atlanta
The beginning was almost the end
Looking at photographs of downtown Atlanta in the late 1800’s one cannot help but be impressed with the number of railroad tracks that populated the area we now call The Gulch. By some accounts, at the height of Atlanta’s railroad history there were over 350 trains a day that traveled through the city. Atlanta was […]
Posted inLatest News
Liquor, wine, beer: Atlanta to resume issuing alcohol permits to bars, restaurants
A gay-oriented show bar and restaurant at Underground Atlanta is among the businesses that could get an alcohol license approved Thursday at the first meeting since Feb. 25 of the city’s License Review Board.
Posted inLatest News
WRS’ Scott Smith urges Invest Atlanta, ABI to reconsider Murphy Crossing deal
T. Scott Smith, CEO of WRS Realty, said in a telephone interview Friday morning that Invest Atlanta and Atlanta BeltLine Inc. need to revive Place Properties’ proposed Murphy Crossing development.
Posted inLatest News
WRS not part of Murphy Crossing development team for months
South Carolina developer WRS Realty had not been part of the Murphy Crossing development team since Christmas.
Cecil Phillips, the CEO of Place Properties, said Thursday that T. Scott Smith, CEO of WRS, had stepped back from the project last December.
Posted inColumns
Time to revive Atlanta’s New Year’s Eve tradition at the Coke sign
World-class cities have world-class New Year’s Eve celebrations – free events in public places where people can celebrate – out with the old and in with the new.
Sadly, Atlanta was absent this year as we saw the calendar turn from 2019 to 2020.
Posted inStories of Atlanta
From milkshakes to spirits
As of this writing, Underground Atlanta is, for the most part, closed to Atlantans. Cautious optimism is the order of the day as Atlantans concerned about this valuable section of Atlanta’s history await its next incarnation. Perhaps, while you wait, you should consider visiting another of Atlanta’s historic gems, the Michael C. Carlos Museum on […]
