JOURNALISM
Atlanta vendors could work before Christmas as Mayor Reed, AJC spar over Reed's handling of issue
- Atlanta’s street vendors could be back in business before the Christmas holiday season if the Atlanta City Council approves Monday the proposal submitted by Mayor Kasim Reed’s administration. Atlanta street vendors Marco Gray (forward) and Larry Miller said they generally support the proposed vending legislation. Credit: City of Atlanta The council is expected to vote for the proposal that was passed Oct. 29 by the council’s Public Safety Committee, though the committee left the door open for any last-minute revisions to ...more
ARC’s State of the Region breakfast returns to message of hope, progress
- The tone of this year’s annual ARC State of the Region breakfast was dramatically improved from the 2012 event. Chris Leinberger, an urban land use strategist who addressed the ARC’s 2013 State of the Region breakfast, said walkable urban places command higher rents and sales prices than car-oriented neighborhoods. Credit: Donita Pendered The 2013 State of the Region returned to traditional themes of hope and progress that were notably absent from last year’s event. The 2012 breakfast seemed overshadowed by a ...more
Post sells Renaissance in downtown Atlanta as corporate revenues dip lower than expected
- Atlanta-based Post Properties has sold its Renaissance community in downtown Atlanta for a price that exceeded the company’s expectations. Post Properties sold its Renaissance property in downtown Atlanta for $47.5 million, a price that “thrilled” the company, CEO David Stockert said. Credit: Post Properties The sales price was a bright spot in a quarterly report released Wednesday that showed the company’s revenue forecast has slowed more than expected. The decline prompted the company to reduce rents in order to maintain occupancy ...more
Ga. Tech students may shape another metro Atlanta community: Three Falcons stadium neighborhoods
- Another game-changing proposal to renew a portion of metro Atlanta is coming out of Georgia Tech and it is to be presented to the public Wednesday. Georgia Tech students have recommended a number of measures intended to benefit neighbors of the future Falcons stadium, which is now projected to cost $1.2 billion to construct, a 20 percent increase over previous estimates. Credit: newstadium.atlantafalcons.com A dozen students studying for their masters degree in Tech’s School of City & Regional Planning have proposed ...more
ARC chairman’s race attracts citizen member, mayor, two county chairmen
- The top elected position at the Atlanta Regional Commission is now open and four candidates are vying for the job – three elected officials and one citizen member. Tad Leithead ARC Chairman Tad Leithead announced Wednesday that he will not seek reelection as chairman. Leithead said he does hope the ARC board will reelect him as a citizen member, a role in which he said he’s served for 14 years. The election is Dec. 4. The candidates include a citizen member, a ...more
Stadium financiers: Donate some of your profits from bond deals to poor communities, councilman says
- Atlanta City Councilman Ivory Lee Young Jr. said Wednesday the financiers who profit from the sale of bonds for the new Falcons stadium should donate some of their profits to the nearby communities. Councilmember Michael Julian Bond (right) debates Councilmember Ivory Lee Young Jr. as NPU-L Chair Yvonne Jones listens. Credit: David PenderedThe proposal indicates the escalation of expectations that the future stadium should transform one of the poorest sections of Atlanta. A $30 million urban renewal fund is proving ...more
Little things could improve life for neighbors of Falcons stadium
- No public urination. No open containers of alcoholic beverage. No loud noises. No open grilling and no tailgating. These requests are on the wish list for the Castleberry Hill neighborhood, a list its residents hope will be included in a pending community benefits deal for the future Falcons stadium. Quality-of-life matters are joined by bigger items, such as a community center with a museum and repairs to bridges and sidewalks.The list is to be presented Wednesday at Atlanta City Hall, where ...more
Falcons stadium benefits deal nearing conclusion, but likely to continue after Wednesday
- Discussions over a community benefits deal for neighborhoods near the new Falcons stadium are heading toward a conclusion but aren’t expected to be finalized at a meeting Wednesday evening. One of three neighborhoods has voted on its wish list from the benefits deal, which includes a total of $30 million in public and private money. Castleberry Hill residents are ready to advance their final proposal, but plans for English Avenue and Vine City still are up in the air because of ...more
Atlanta to pay security firm same amount for five months work as for two years of guarding city venues
- The Atlanta City Council is slated to approve Monday a $3.3 million, five-month contract for a security firm to provide guards at city venues, an amount that’s close what it paid the same company for two years of service, city records show. Norred & Assoc., Inc. is slated to sign a $3.3 million contract extension for five months work. Credit: norred.com The pending proposal is to pay $3.295 for a five-month contract. In May 2011, the council approved a contract for ...more
Willis to Franklin, Woolard, Dickens: Consider your ethics before attacking mine; Franklin fires back
- By David Pendered Atlanta City Councilmember H. Lamar Willis said Friday that former Mayor Shirley Franklin, former council President Cathy Woolard and candidate Andre Dickens are hypocrites for saying that Willis is ethically unfit for public office. Atlanta Councilmember H. Lamar Willis spoke on the steps of City Hall regarding attacks on his integrity by former Mayor Shirley Franklin and former council President Cathy Woolard. Credit: David Pendered Willis made his remarks on the steps of Atlanta City Hall. Willis, who is ...more