Central Atlanta Progress Honors Cousins Properties with Economic Impact Award

November 16,2009

ATLANTA, GA – Central Atlanta Progress awarded Cousins Properties Incorporated the first annual Downtown Atlanta Economic Impact Award Tuesday November 10, at Downtown Development Day. The Downtown Atlanta Economic Impact Award is presented each year to highlight a project or significant effort in Downtown that has left a positive mark on the community. Efforts at the One Ninety One Peachtree Tower by Cousins Properties Incorporated, as this year’s winner, have shown catalytic effects in further revitalizing Downtown, well beyond their own footprint.

Cousins, a longtime resident of the Atlanta suburbs, made a bold move in 2006 by purchasing the One Ninety One Peachtree Tower and choosing Downtown Atlanta as its new corporate headquarters. With a mission to revitalize the Phillip Johnson landmark, Cousins bet on bringing businesses back to Downtown. At less than 25% occupancy at purchase, Cousins’ drive pushed the building to currently 76% occupied with 26 new tenants, many of whom were previously not in Downtown.

With an investment of $9.1 million, Cousins developed enhancements including canopies over building entrances, the new restaurants Bistro 191 and the upscale Italian restaurant Il Mulino - New York, lobby renovations, and the eco-friendly Resolution Fitness club.

Central Atlanta Progress further applauds Cousins efforts of redevelopment of the One Ninety One Peachtree Tower resulting in hundreds of new workers to the city center, and most importantly, a big boost of confidence to the real estate community in Downtown and Atlanta.

Media Contact: Sara Milton at smilton@atlantadowntown.com or 404-658-5908.

ABOUT CENTRAL ATLANTA PROGRESS:
Central Atlanta Progress, Inc. (CAP) is a Downtown business association with 211 members. Its mission is to build a 21st century Downtown as the heart of the Atlanta Region – a vibrant community with strong leadership and sustainable infrastructure that is safe, livable, diverse, economically viable, accessible, clean, hospitable and entertaining. It is governed by a 60 plus-member Board of Directors, including an Executive Committee that oversees the monthly operational decisions on behalf of the Board. The Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (ADID) is a 510(c)(3) non-profit organization created by CAP to make Downtown safer, cleaner and more hospitable.