Civic leaders help make downtown the place to be

May 5,2014

If you haven’t noticed, there’s a major surge of activity occurring in the heart of the city.

The significant momentum taking shape in downtown Atlanta right now is impressive.

There are 34 new developments and adaptive reuse projects across all sectors of the real estate market. Most notably for 2014 are the openings of two major attractions: the National Center for Civil and Human Rights and College Football Hall of Fame Atlanta, as well as the highly anticipated Atlanta Streetcar and the renovation of the Polaris Lounge. And don’t forget about our new Atlanta Falcons football stadium, which breaks ground this year, as well.

With all this new investment, we’re seeing an uptick in residential development. Currently, there are four residential projects nearing completion. There’s also a flurry of activity in the hotel market with five new projects underway. Meanwhile, our office market trends see transaction activity that is significantly changing downtown’s inventory. Most importantly, leasing activity is returning with notable large deals, such as Coca-Cola’s move of nearly 2,000 IT employees to SunTrust Plaza; more than 6,500 Coke staff will be working in downtown.

As you can see, downtown is in the game in a significant way. It’s a dynamic intown market that boasts walkable streets, an authentic city atmosphere, numerous transit access points and world-class attractions, while offering a unique value for everyone from startups to Fortune 1000s who want to be part of the momentum that’s occurring throughout the heart of the city and the region. So, why would you want to be anywhere else?!

The central business district’s distinct character cannot be replicated, and Central Atlanta Progress works hard to maintain the strong sense of community found “Only in Downtown.” Since its inception in 1941, CAP has been viewed among its peers as an unparalleled leader in convening ideas and initiatives that spark innovation and positive change for the city and region.

Today CAP sits at the center of downtown Atlanta’s surge of activity. The civic leaders that serve on our board of directors come to the table with a range of viewpoints, yet have a singular mission of maintaining downtown’s vitality and vibrancy. With our board’s thought-leadership and a staff of dedicated employees on the front lines, CAP has been able to successfully implement projects and initiatives that benefit not just the immediate downtown area, but the city, state and region as a whole.

Within downtown Atlanta’s four-square-mile area is a thriving and diverse neighborhood of residents, workers, students and visitors who benefit each day from the fruits of CAP’s labor. Our organization touches nearly every aspect of the city center, be it traffic signalization and streetscape improvements or pop-up art events happening in Woodruff Park.

CAP’s work is everywhere, and our singular focus is to foster a vibrant community. From enhancing the quality of life for our residents to making downtown a more attractive and entertaining location for visitors, our impact is real and it is lasting. The best way to be a part of downtown Atlanta is to be involved with Central Atlanta Progress. For projects large and small, much of the work CAP performs on behalf of the city is done in partnership with our membership base of more than 200 companies. They range from multinational Fortune 500s to local startups, and collectively create the network that is the backbone of the organization. Our members are a varied and engaged group of corporate citizens who contribute their time and ideas, and in return receive the connections and collaborations that only enhance their own endeavors.