atlanta news & talk
Thu, July 9, 2026

Downtown

267 stories · Inside The Perimeter, Atlanta

Fans gathered at an Atlanta bar to watch a soccer match
Little Five Points Atlanta Magazine

Where to Watch the World Cup Around Atlanta, From L5P to Decatur

Atlanta's soccer bars are prepped for a summer of world-class soccer in their own backyard. Atlanta Magazine's roundup points fans to the Brewhouse Cafe in Little Five Points, Der Biergarten downtown, Manny's in Grant Park, and Fadó in Midtown and Buckhead, plus the 34-day Decatur WatchFest in the Square and pop-up viewing along the BeltLine. Many spots run pre- and post-match parties on Atlanta matchdays.

Rainbow flags and soccer supporters at an Atlanta United match
Downtown Rough Draft Atlanta

Atlanta United's Queer Supporter Group Teams With Pride House for World Cup

All Stripes, Atlanta United's LGBTQ+ supporter group, is partnering with the international Pride House network to keep queer fans safe and welcome during Atlanta's eight World Cup matches, June 15 through July 15. The effort includes watch parties at venues like Decatur WatchFest, embassy and emergency contact tables at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and coordination with organizers on an inclusive stadium environment.

Pastries on display at an Atlanta bakery
Candler Park What Now Atlanta

May's Restaurant Pipeline: Little Tart Pastries in Candler Park, Hawaiian Bros Downtown

What Now Atlanta's monthly roundup of upcoming openings turned up several concepts headed Inside the Perimeter. A French-inspired Little Tart bakery is planned for Candler Park, Hawaiian Bros Island Grill is bringing plate lunches to Downtown, and Under Pressure Wine Bar plans a wine-first room near Chastain. The list is a mix of local expansions and new concepts joining Atlanta's dining scene.

Downtown Urbanize Atlanta

MARTA's New CQ400 Trains Launch for Passengers Today

After years of development and testing, MARTA's cutting-edge CQ400 railcars officially enter revenue service, bringing what the agency calls 'the most technologically advanced trains in the U.S.' to Atlanta's rail network just weeks before the World Cup.

Downtown Atlanta skyline at dusk near the Stadium TAD area
Downtown Atlanta Civic Circle

Dickens Leans on TADs to Fund $5.5B Neighborhood Reinvestment Plan

Mayor Andre Dickens is relying on tax allocation districts to bankroll a $5.5 billion Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative aimed at long-neglected Atlanta neighborhoods. Councilmember Michael Julian Bond has introduced legislation to extend six TADs through 2056, which the mayor's chief of staff projects could generate $5 billion to $7 billion over 30 years. Even at the high end, the initiative will need other public funding sources to reach neighborhoods outside the TAD boundaries.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens at the ribbon cutting for The CTR, formerly CNN Center, in downtown Atlanta
Downtown AJC

Former CNN Center Reopens as The CTR Ahead of World Cup

The building that anchored downtown Atlanta for fifty years under the CNN banner officially reopened Wednesday as The CTR, a redeveloped mixed-use destination with a new atrium, food, art, and the city's new Atlanta Cultural Exchange platform. Mayor Andre Dickens and CP Group, the developers who bought the property, marked the milestone with about three and a half weeks to go before FIFA World Cup matches start drawing visitors downtown.

Georgia primary voter at a Fulton County polling location
Downtown SaportaReport

Mo Ivory Tops Pitts in Fulton Chair Primary, June Runoff Set

Fulton County Board of Commissioners Chairman Robb Pitts will face former Commissioner Mo Ivory in a June 16 runoff after Ivory finished first in Tuesday's three-person Democratic primary. Ivory pulled 40 percent of the vote, Pitts took 35 percent, and Commissioner Marvin Arrington Jr. came in third at 25 percent. Since no candidate cleared 51 percent, the race goes to a second round.

The Westin Peachtree Plaza cylindrical hotel tower in downtown Atlanta
Downtown Urbanize Atlanta

Portman Buys Back the Westin Peachtree Plaza, Renovation Coming

Atlanta developer Portman has acquired the Westin Peachtree Plaza, the cylindrical 73-story hotel that has stood over downtown for fifty years, through its Portman Hospitality Fund I. Marriott International sold the 1,073-key property but will continue to manage it under a long-term agreement. A renovation is planned for what is still Atlanta's sixth tallest building.

Before and after images of a renovated MARTA rail station
Downtown WSB-TV

MARTA Shares Before-and-After Photos of Station Rehab Push

MARTA released progress photos this week from its billion-dollar Station Rehabilitation Program, which is upgrading rail stations and facilities across the system. Several rail stations have already wrapped, with new flooring, new walls, better lighting, and deep cleanings. The work runs alongside the rollout of Breeze 2.0 fare gates and the NextGen Bus Network route redesign.

Keisha Lance Bottoms speaking at her election night watch party after winning the Democratic primary
Downtown Georgia Recorder

Keisha Lance Bottoms Wins Democratic Nomination for Governor

Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms won the Democratic primary for governor outright on Tuesday, clearing the 50% threshold needed to avoid a runoff. She took 56% of the vote, far outpacing former state senator Jason Esteves and former DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond. In November, she will face either Lt. Gov. Burt Jones or healthcare billionaire Rick Jackson, who are headed to a June 16 GOP runoff.

Atlanta City Hall where Mayor Dickens introduced revised TAD legislation
Downtown Atlanta Civic Circle

Dickens Pares Back TAD Extensions to Fund $5.5B Neighborhood Plan

Mayor Andre Dickens is scaling back his push to extend all eight of Atlanta's tax allocation districts. New legislation introduced Monday omits the BeltLine and Perry-Bolton TADs from the extension push, letting them sunset on schedule in 2030 and 2041. The revised Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative also creates a new trust fund for greater accountability.

Atlanta Police Department patrol car
Downtown Capital B Atlanta

Atlanta Police Budget Set to Hit Record High Under New Plan

Mayor Dickens' proposed fiscal 2027 budget includes a $16.5 million increase for the Atlanta Police Department, bringing the total to $324.4 million. That would be the department's largest general fund allocation on record. The Atlanta Citizens Review Board will also see increased funding.

Founders Green park in South Downtown Atlanta with seating and landscaping
Downtown Urbanize Atlanta

Founders Green Opens as South Downtown's New Half-Acre Park

A parking lot at 110 Broad Street has become Founders Green, a half-acre park in the heart of South Downtown's redevelopment. Gov. Brian Kemp and Mayor Andre Dickens led the ribbon-cutting today. The park includes a stage for concerts and movie nights, with El Tesoro's third location opening next door.

Map showing park access in Atlanta neighborhoods
Downtown SaportaReport

Atlanta Cracks Top 20 in National Park Rankings for the First Time

Atlanta placed 18th on the Trust for Public Land's annual ParkScore index, the city's highest ranking ever and four spots up from last year. Now 85% of Atlantans live within a 10-minute walk of a park. Park investment reaches $312 per person when including philanthropic dollars, double the national average.

Heavy rain flooding Atlanta streets during flash flood warning
Midtown Fox 5 Atlanta

Flash Flood Warning as Heavy Storms Slam Midtown and East Atlanta

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for eastern Fulton and west central DeKalb counties Wednesday evening. Rainfall rates reached 1-2 inches per 30 minutes, with localized totals potentially hitting 6 inches. The warning remains in effect until 11:15 p.m.

Interior of CTR food hall in the CNN Center atrium
Downtown Atlanta Magazine

CNN Center Atrium Gets New Life as the CTR Food Hall

The soaring atrium inside the CNN Center is becoming the CTR, an 80,000-square-foot food hall with 11 stalls and seating for 500. Compiled by Robert Montwaid of Chattahoochee Food Works, the CTR sits between Centennial Olympic Park and State Farm Arena with five entrances.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens speaking about the Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative
Downtown Rough Draft Atlanta

Dickens Scales Back His $10 Billion Neighborhood Reinvestment Plan

Mayor Andre Dickens is trimming the Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative, the ambitious plan to steer up to $10 billion into affordable housing and wraparound services for Atlanta's south and west sides. The revised version would let two of the original eight tax allocation districts expire, including the BeltLine TAD, the city's largest, when it sunsets in 2030. The plan has been under scrutiny for a year, and this is the clearest signal yet that the final version will be smaller than the pitch.

Map of Atlanta residential zoning showing single-family land use
Downtown Atlanta Civic Circle

Housing Advocates Worry Atlanta's Zoning Rewrite Won't Add Real Density

Atlanta's planning department is closing in on ATL Zoning 2.0, the first rewrite of the city's land-use code in 44 years. Housing advocates fear the third draft will keep most of the same single-family framework that already locks up more than 60% of the city's residential land. The worry is that a once-in-a-generation chance to legalize duplexes and small apartments quietly slips away.

A Waymo autonomous vehicle driving on an Atlanta street
Downtown 11Alive

Waymo's Cars Are Mapping Atlanta Potholes. The City Isn't Using the Data.

Atlanta is one of five cities where Waymo's self-driving vehicles scan streets and flag potholes as they go. According to 11Alive, the city is not currently using any of that data to inform repairs. It is a small detail with a familiar Atlanta ring to it: the information exists, and the pipeline to act on it does not.

Upper Alabama Street and the fountains plaza at Underground Atlanta in downtown Atlanta
Downtown Urbanize Atlanta

Underground Atlanta Gets a $925K World Cup Glow-Up Before the Matches Arrive Downtown

Invest Atlanta's board approved a $925,000 grant to dress up Upper Alabama Street and Peachtree Fountains Plaza at Underground Atlanta in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The work, paid for out of Eastside Tax Allocation District money, is supposed to wrap within about four weeks of the first matches and is billed as the first of four phases to re-tenant the long-struggling complex.

Georgia primary election ballot guide and sample ballot
Downtown Atlanta Civic Circle

Atlanta Civic Circle Publishes Full Ballot Walkthroughs for the May 19 Primary

Early voting is already underway for Georgia's May 19 midterm primary. Atlanta Civic Circle dropped three new explainers Tuesday morning covering the full ballot, separate walkthroughs for the Democratic and Republican primaries, and a build-your-ballot tool, all aimed at voters who say their sample ballot is too long to read.

Gov. Brian Kemp signs Georgia tax legislation at the state Capitol
Downtown Rough Draft Atlanta

Kemp Signs Scaled-Back Income Tax Cut and Property Tax Relief at the Capitol

Gov. Brian Kemp signed a slate of tax bills at the state Capitol on Monday, including a scaled-back income tax cut and legislation aimed at slowing the rapid increase in homeowner property tax bills. Rough Draft Atlanta reported lawmakers started the year talking about eliminating both taxes outright before settling on the trimmed compromise.

WalletHub ranking map showing Atlanta as the best U.S. city for starting a career
Downtown Urbanize Atlanta

Atlanta Named Best U.S. City for Starting a Career for the Fourth Straight Year

Urbanize Atlanta reported the City of Atlanta has topped WalletHub's annual ranking of best U.S. cities for launching a career for the fourth straight year. The 182-city study weighed 25 indicators across professional opportunity, quality of life, and cost of living, landing on Atlanta in a 2026 graduation season when 69 percent of employers reported difficulty filling open roles.

Ted Turner, founder of CNN and former Atlanta Braves owner
Downtown Atlanta Magazine

Ted Turner, CNN Founder and Atlanta Icon, Dies at 87

Robert Edward 'Ted' Turner III, the creator of CNN and a television pioneer who transformed Atlanta into a global media capital, has died at 87. The billionaire media mogul, former Braves owner, and philanthropist leaves behind a legacy that reshaped both the city and the world's relationship with news.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens delivering remarks on the FY2027 budget
Downtown Rough Draft Atlanta

Mayor Dickens Proposes Nearly $1 Billion FY2027 Atlanta Budget

Mayor Andre Dickens proposed a $994.7 million general fund budget for FY2027, a two percent bump from the prior year. Rough Draft Atlanta reported the spending plan continues funding for the Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative and the city's affordable housing commitment, with rising retirement and healthcare costs accounting for much of the increase.

Atlanta City Hall building exterior
Downtown Rough Draft Atlanta

Atlanta City Council Sets Public Budget Briefings Throughout May

Rough Draft Atlanta reported the Atlanta City Council is holding a series of public budget briefings throughout May as it works through the mayor's proposed FY2027 budget. Each session focuses on specific departments and gives residents a chance to weigh in before the final vote.

Bruce Springsteen on stage at State Farm Arena in Atlanta
Downtown Atlanta Magazine

Bruce Springsteen Turns State Farm Arena Into a Trump-Era Sing-Along

Atlanta Magazine and the AJC both covered Bruce Springsteen's stop at State Farm Arena, where the Boss leaned into politically charged material alongside the catalog hits. The night doubled as a piece of Atlanta concert history, with Springsteen using the room to push back on the Trump administration while the crowd sang back every word.

Alpha Derby Weekend Atlanta attendees in formal Derby attire
Downtown The Atlanta Voice

Alpha Derby Weekend Returns to Atlanta for Year 11, Raises $300K

The Atlanta Voice reported Alpha Derby Weekend returned to Atlanta for its 11th year with city proclamations and more than $300,000 raised for scholarships and community programs. The annual weekend, hosted by the brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha, has grown into one of the city's signature philanthropic events.

MARTA Better Breeze fare gate at a rail station with tap-to-pay readers
Downtown 11Alive

MARTA's Better Breeze Fare System Goes Live for Bus and Rail

MARTA's new Better Breeze fare payment system is now active across the rail and bus network. Riders need the new Orange Breeze card or can tap a credit card or mobile wallet at the gates, replacing the old Blue Breeze card system that the agency has been phasing out.

Atlanta City Hall, where the City Council is voting on housing trust fund transparency
Downtown Atlanta Civic Circle

City Council Pushes Annual Transparency Reports for Atlanta's Housing Trust Fund

Councilmember Matt Westmoreland's resolution would require the Dickens administration to publish annual reports breaking down how the Affordable Housing Trust Fund spends its money, starting with the new fiscal year on July 1. The council's Community Development committee approved it unanimously, with a full-council vote expected next week.

Voter casting a ballot at a Georgia early voting site
Downtown Fox 5 Atlanta

Early Voting Opens Statewide for Georgia's May 20 Primary

Early in-person voting for Georgia's 2026 statewide primary kicks off today, April 27, and runs through Friday, May 16. The marquee race is the open Republican U.S. Senate primary, which has dominated airwaves and pulled candidates through Atlanta TV studios over the weekend.

Downtown AJC

Falcons Add Oklahoma Linebacker Kendal Daniels in Round 4 of NFL Draft

The Atlanta Falcons used the No. 122 pick in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Oklahoma linebacker Kendal Daniels. The selection adds a versatile defender behind the team's existing front seven and continues a draft that opened Friday with the selection of cornerback Avieon Terrell, brother of incumbent AJ Terrell.

Downtown WABE

Hawks Guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker Named NBA Most Improved Player

Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker has won the NBA's Most Improved Player award, the league announced this weekend. The recognition caps a breakout year for the off-season acquisition who has become a steady scoring and defensive contributor on a Hawks roster making a deep playoff push.

Downtown Axios Atlanta

Atlanta Press Club Locks In 2026 Primary Election Debate Schedule

The Atlanta Press Club has set its 2026 primary election debate calendar, with sessions running ahead of Georgia's contested governor and Senate races. The debates have long been a fixture of Georgia's political season and a benchmark for how candidates introduce themselves to statewide voters.

Map of Atlanta's new Downtown Enterprise Zone near Woodruff Park
Downtown Urbanize Atlanta

Atlanta Launches 30-Acre Downtown Enterprise Zone Ahead of World Cup

Mayor Andre Dickens's office unveiled legislation this week creating a taxed zone between Centennial Yards and Underground Atlanta. The city can capture up to 5 percent of gross sales from qualifying businesses inside the zone and reinvest the revenue in downtown revitalization projects.

Atlanta City Council chambers during firefighter pay debate
Downtown Atlanta Civic Circle

Atlanta Firefighter Pay-Raise Bill Advances as Council Grapples With ICE, Homelessness Ahead of World Cup

Councilmember Wayne Martin's legislation, co-sponsored by 12 of 15 council members, directs the city to provide competitive pay by July 1. It follows a union lawsuit over Mayor Andre Dickens's refusal to sign the firefighters' first contract, and lands in the same week the council weighed ICE policy and access to the Policing Alternatives and Diversion Initiative.

Pothole on an Atlanta street
Downtown SaportaReport

Waymo and Waze Partner With Atlanta on Pothole Mapping Pilot

Atlanta is one of five cities (with Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Austin) joining a pilot that combines Waymo's perception systems with Waze's navigation data. The goal is a holistic map of pothole locations to supplement Atlanta's "Pothole Posse" repair crews.

Atlanta firefighters speaking at city council meeting
Downtown Atlanta Civic Circle

City Council Advances ICE Controls, Questions Fire Union Deal

The Public Safety Committee unanimously moved forward two resolutions to limit ICE detention facilities and require documentation of ICE activities during police operations. Meanwhile, dozens of residents criticized Mayor Dickens for refusing to sign the firefighters' union contract that the council ratified last year. Both issues head to the full council vote on April 20.

ICE agents in tactical gear at airport security checkpoint
Downtown Capital B Atlanta

ICE Agents Deploy to Atlanta Airport Amid TSA Staffing Crisis

Federal immigration agents are now working at Hartsfield-Jackson to help with security operations as TSA agents continue calling out during the government shutdown. Mayor Dickens says the agents won't engage in immigration enforcement, but travelers report they're mostly just standing around while security lines remain brutal.

New MARTA Better Breeze faregartes with contactless payment capability
Downtown Urbanize Atlanta

MARTA's Better Breeze System Finally Goes Live Next Week

After months of construction headaches and station detours, MARTA's upgraded fare system launches March 28. The big change? You can finally tap your phone or credit card directly at the gates instead of fumbling with that Breeze card. Not all stations will have the new gear right away, but it's a start toward joining the rest of the civilized transit world.

Artwork by Latryce Marie Golliday displayed at her Redemption exhibition
Downtown The Atlanta Voice

Artist Latryce Golliday's 'Redemption' Exhibition Opens at Candler Hotel

Nearly 30 works of sculpture, photography, and painting fill the historic downtown space as Michigan native turned Atlanta artist debuts her first major solo show. Golliday moved to Atlanta a decade ago and spent the past two years building a full-time artistic practice after years of treating painting as a hobby.

Mayor Andre Dickens speaking at podium during State of the City address
Downtown Capital B Atlanta

Dickens Tackles Atlanta's North-South Divide in State of City Address

Mayor Andre Dickens highlighted both Atlanta's achievements and its persistent inequality problem in his latest address Wednesday night. While celebrating crime reductions and AAA bond ratings, he focused heavily on the economic gap between neighborhoods north and south of I-20, calling it a priority that demands action.

Atlanta firefighters at press conference announcing lawsuit
Downtown Atlanta Civic Circle

Atlanta Firefighters Sue City Over Stalled Union Contract

The firefighters union filed suit in Superior Court demanding Mayor Dickens sign the collective bargaining agreement that city council approved nearly a year ago. Union President Nate Bailey says they've been trying to work with the mayor's office for months without success.

Map showing new Atlanta Streets Alive route from downtown to Westside Trail
Downtown Urbanize Atlanta

Streets Alive Returns Sunday with Brand New Downtown Route

This year's first Atlanta Streets Alive event kicks off Sunday with a new "Beltline to Broad" route running from South Downtown to the Westside Trail in Vine City. It's part of a record eight planned open-streets events for 2026, including some tied to World Cup festivities.

Mayor Andre Dickens at Trinity Center Flats groundbreaking ceremony
Downtown The Atlanta Voice

Mayor Dickens Breaks Ground on Trinity Center Flats Downtown

Mayor Andre Dickens joined developers Monday to celebrate the groundbreaking of Trinity Center Flats at 104 Trinity Avenue SW. The mixed-use project is another big step for the South Downtown corridor and addressing affordable housing shortages. The location puts residents right across from downtown transit options.

Long TSA security lines at Atlanta airport
Downtown WSB-TV

Hartsfield-Jackson Turns Into TSA Nightmare with 2+ Hour Waits

Travelers faced absolutely brutal security lines Monday and Tuesday morning, with wait times hitting over two hours. The mess comes from a perfect storm of weather-related flight cancellations, TSA staffing issues during the government shutdown, and thousands of stranded passengers. Some lines snaked all the way back to baggage claim.

Eggslut bacon, egg and cheese sandwich
Downtown Atlanta Magazine

Viral Breakfast Chain Eggslut Cracks Into Atlanta at Moxy Hotel

The LA-based breakfast phenomenon officially opened March 5 inside the new Moxy Atlanta Downtown hotel, marking their first Georgia location and first in the South. The counter-service spot in the hotel lobby serves their famous brioche buns and soft-scrambled eggs all day, with late-night hours on weekends.

Georgia State Capitol building
Downtown Georgia Recorder

Georgia Senate Approves Fourth Round of Tax Rebates

The Senate gave final passage Monday to HB 1000, providing up to $500 in income tax rebates for Georgians who filed returns in both 2024 and 2025. Single filers get $250, heads of household receive $375, and married couples filing jointly get $500. The Georgia Department of Revenue will determine when to issue the payments.

Atlanta World Cup officials speaking at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Downtown Atlanta Magazine

Atlanta's World Cup Plans Take Shape at Centennial Park

With 95 days until FIFA World Cup matches arrive, Atlanta officials unveiled details for the Fan Festival at Centennial Olympic Park. MARTA will launch its Better Breeze payment system in two weeks and increase service during matches. The airport's long-delayed South Terminal project will also finally open before the tournament.

Atlanta firefighters at a union meeting
Downtown Atlanta Civic Circle

Dickens Attacks Fire Union Leader Instead of Signing Contract

Mayor Andre Dickens missed the firefighters union's Friday deadline to sign Atlanta's first-ever fire contract, which City Council unanimously approved nearly a year ago. Instead of signing, Dickens questioned union president Nate Bailey's legitimacy and claimed 'irregularities' in Bailey's recent re-election. The union is threatening legal action.

Atlanta firefighters at a public meeting regarding union contract negotiations
Downtown Atlanta Civic Circle

Mayor Dickens Skips Firefighter Contract Deadline, Attacks Union Leader

Instead of signing the fire union's historic first contract that City Council already approved unanimously, Mayor Dickens missed Friday's deadline and went after union president Nate Bailey personally. The mayor claims there were irregularities in Bailey's election and says the union needs to redo it in May. This is the city's first-ever firefighter union contract, ratified almost a year ago.

Georgia medical cannabis legislation being discussed in the state capitol
Downtown Georgia Recorder

Georgia House Passes Bill Expanding Medical Cannabis Access

The Georgia House overwhelmingly passed a bill that would modernize the state's medical cannabis program with a 138-21 vote. The legislation expands qualifying conditions, increases possession limits, and allows patients to vape cannabis products. It's another step in lawmakers' gradual effort to make the program more accessible to patients who need it.

Senator Raphael Warnock speaking about housing policy
Downtown Georgia Recorder

Senate Passes Bill Limiting Corporate Home Ownership to 350 Properties

The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed bipartisan legislation with a Warnock-backed provision that would ban large corporations from owning more than 350 single-family homes. The 89-10 vote shows rare bipartisan agreement on tackling housing affordability by limiting institutional investors who have been gobbling up homes across Atlanta and other hot markets.

2026 Georgia Grown Executive Chef class at state capitol ceremony
Downtown Rough Draft Atlanta

Nine Georgia Chefs Named to 2026 Georgia Grown Class

The state just announced nine chefs for the 2026 Georgia Grown Executive Chef class during State Restaurant Day at the Capitol. The program connects chefs with local farmers and producers to showcase Georgia ingredients. It's a smart way to support both our restaurant scene and agricultural communities across the state.

Downtown The Atlanta Voice

Atlanta United Finally Gets First Win of Season, 3-1 Over Philly

Atlanta United broke their winless streak with a convincing 3-1 victory over Philadelphia Union at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, though the attendance of 35,308 was their smallest crowd yet. After three games without a win and plenty of questions about the team, this performance showed they might have their act together. The supporters who showed up were definitely rewarded.

About Downtown

Downtown Atlanta is the city's historic center, home to the State Capitol, the Gulch (under massive redevelopment as Centennial Yards), Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It's been a challenge for decades as a place to actually live, but major investment is starting to change that. The Centennial Yards project alone is a multi-billion dollar mixed-use development that aims to transform 50 acres of underused rail infrastructure into a walkable district.

Living Downtown has historically been cheaper than Midtown or Buckhead, with loft conversions and older buildings offering square footage you can't get elsewhere for the price. MARTA's Five Points station is the transit hub for the entire system. The food scene is growing, with spots like Der Biergarten, Alma Cocina, and South City Kitchen joining the mix. Underground Atlanta is being reimagined (again). It's a neighborhood in the middle of what could be its biggest transformation ever.

Quick Facts

  • Centennial Yards multi-billion dollar redevelopment underway
  • Home to Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Georgia Aquarium
  • MARTA Five Points station, the system's central hub
  • Some of the most affordable ITP loft living

Resources

Planning Unit NPU-M
Zip Codes 30303, 30312
Downtown on Wikipedia
Central Atlanta Progress
MARTA Transit

Nearby Neighborhoods

Castleberry Hill Sweet Auburn Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park Midtown Home to Piedmont Park, the High Museum, and the Fox Theatre
‹ All neighborhoods
Trending
World Cup 2026 · Buckhead News · Decatur News · BeltLine Guide · Weekend Events · Best Restaurants · Summerhill · Grant Park · Old Fourth Ward