Leading Downtown’s Rediscovery

Think you know Downtown Atlanta? Think again. 

Central Atlanta Progress and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District invite everyone to rediscover Downtown at the Annual Meeting and Awards Celebration next Tuesday, February 14th at the Georgia Aquarium. Tickets are on sale now. 

Over the course of 80+ years, CAP has worked behind the scenes, integrating ideas, building partnerships, and coordinating efforts to continually grow the economic prosperity, elevate the quality of life, and improve the image of Downtown Atlanta for businesses and the broader community.

Initially focused on civic leadership, CAP’s scope of work first expanded to include planning, then cleanliness and safety efforts with the creation of the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District in 1995. In the early 2000s, transportation, capital projects, public space management, economic development, and sustainability work were added. Rounding out the list is a reinvigorated commitment to placemaking and unsheltered outreach efforts.

Guided by a comprehensive master plan, CAP and ADID work together under the Atlanta Downtown brand to envision and realize an urban core that meets the needs of residents, students, and visitors alike.

Over the next year, CAP and ADID will keep a pulse on topics that will affect the community and continue to build big ideas like Arts & Entertainment Atlanta and The Stitch, while staying committed to the day-to-day details that affect us here and now. 

• The Stitch – This transformative “highway cap” project will reconnect Midtown and Downtown Atlanta, creating approximately 14 acres of urban greenspace and transportation enhancements. It will be a catalyst for new development with the potential to provide billions of dollars in value creation and over $50 million in new revenue. 
• Arts & Entertainment Atlanta – As a neighborhood activation and economic development project, AE Atlanta fuses local art with advertising t3o fund cultural and public space programming. To date, the program has given over 100 artists and organizations a total of $840,000 in funding. 
• Downtown Investment – Thanks to unparalleled access to stakeholders and their data, CAP and ADID monitor and track development activity in Downtown Atlanta with the goal of attracting new businesses, residential projects, and major events. 
• Placemaking and Public Programming – Ranging from holiday lights to lunchtime concerts and pop-up performances, CAP and ADID support and develop engaging programs to highlight Downtown’s unique character and to add joy and interest to public spaces. Be on the lookout for Valentine’s Day floral installations popping up around Downtown later this month. 

With events like the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, Atlanta is gearing up to once again be in the international spotlight. And while there’s still work to be done, we should all be thrilled for the opportunity to share our city, our culture, and our people with the world.