Key Points
- Central Atlanta Progress hosted “State of Downtown” on Oct. 22, sharing new data and insights into the development of Downtown Atlanta with community leaders.
- CAP unveiled new renderings of the Stitch project and a report that included demographic data of the neighborhood as well as details on the total investments to be made in developing Downtown until 2030.
To kick off Downtown Day, Central Atlanta Progress (CAP), a nonprofit community development organization, hosted a “State of Downtown” event on Oct. 22, sharing new data about the investments and future development of the city’s core.
Speakers included CAP President A.J. Robinson, Mayor Andre Dickens, CAP Senior Project Manager of Research and Impact Brianna Davison, and Emma Bloomberg Professor in Residence of Urban Planning and Design Maurice Cox, who all shared insights into Downtown’s demographics, updates on projects like The Stitch, and visions of a new Downtown ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Key Findings of the State of Downtown Report:
- Residential population: 34,041 (up 44 percent since 2010)
- 54 percent Black, 31 percent white, six percent Asian, and nine percent other
- Most residents (30 percent) are 15 to 24 years old
- Most residents (around 20 percent) make less than $15,000 a year
- Employment: more than 200,000 total jobs across 4,268 businesses
- More than 200 small businesses
- Resident spending: $139.4 million annually
CAP unveiled renderings for the retooled initial phase of The Stitch project, showcasing features of the ¾-mile platform above the I-75/85 connector, including a performance and shade pavilion, interactive water fountain with “fog forest” capabilities, a large playground, gardens, and other social spaces.
Costs for the project will partially be funded by taxes from property owners in the Stitch Special Assessment District, approved by the Atlanta City Council in April. The project is projected to generate more than $9 million in economic value and bring 4,500 jobs to the city.
“North Downtown will no longer be the place that people just pass through. Instead, it’ll be a place where they live, work, and gather. This transformational investment is the missing piece that connects us between Midtown and Downtown,” Dickens said. “The vision also requires us to get the basics right, making daily life better for everyday people. That’s why we are reinvesting in the fundamental things that make neighborhoods safer and make them thrive, like access to fresh food and affordable housing, as well as safe and connected streets.”
The Stitch is one of development projects completed, under construction, or planned for the next five years that represent the $5.2 billion in total investment, according to CAP data. Other projects include Centennial Yards, the 50-acre urban revitalization project near Mercedes-Benz Stadium; the 10-block South Downtown redevelopment; the Georgia State University Campus Transformation; the redevelopment of the Georgia-Pacific Building; and the renovation of the former CNN Center.
Development in the neighborhood from 2023 to 2030 will bring 7,100 residential units, 2,240 hotel rooms, 840 student housing beds, and a total of 1.7 million square feet of commercial space to Downtown.
Read the full State of Downtown report here.
Related stories:
• Weekly outdoor street food festival Smorgasburg Atlanta opening in South Downtown
• A South Downtown location of soccer bar Brewhouse Cafe opening next year, ahead of the World Cup
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