Turner Field to be sold to Georgia State University & Developers

December 21,2015

Carter/GSUF/Oakwood LLC Real Estate Venture won the bid to redevelop Turner Field and about 70 acres of adjacent property, the city and the Fulton County Recreation Authority (AFCRA) reported Dec. 21.

Keisha Lance Bottoms, executive director of AFCRA said that the preferred bidder was selected because of its capability to renovate or replace Turner Field with a major facility; to provide housing, retail and employment opportunities for existing and future residents, to incorporate Atlanta’s sports history into redevelopment proposals and to complete development within five years.

In November, Carter/GSUF/Oakwood, Mercury Youth Organization Inc. and Rita World Pearl Kingdom LLC were announced as the three bidders for the project.

Atlanta-based real estate developer Carter and Georgia State University teamed up in May on a proposal for a $300 million redevelopment of the property around Turner Field for multiple uses, including football and baseball stadiums, retail, residential and student housing.

City officials on May 29 released a request for proposals(RFP) seeking consultants to conduct the Turner Field Stadium Neighborhoods Livable Center Initiative (LCI) study. The RFP sought proposals for the redevelopment of approximately 67 acres, including Turner Field. Bids were sought that would retain, renovate or repurpose the stadium, as well as a detailed redevelopment plan that would generate positive economic impact to the city and surrounding communities.

In July, a group called the Turner Field Community Benefits Coalition delivered a letter to the city that demanded the neighborhood have a bigger role in the redevelopment of the stadium, which will be vacated when the Atlanta Braves move to Cobb County in 2017.

William K. Whitner, chair of the AFCRA board, said the city and AFCRA will begin negotiations to redevelop Turner Field “immediately.”