Downtown Atlanta is changing, but the goal is bigger than new developments, businesses and attractions. It’s about creating a neighborhood where people can afford to live, work, shop and enjoy everything the city has to offer.
That message took center stage this week as Mayor Andre Dickens joined business and community leaders for the annual State of Downtown Breakfast on Wednesday, October 28, followed by the final stop of the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ National Affordability Tour on Thursday.
Making Downtown a Neighborhood, Not Just a Destination
For years, Downtown Atlanta has been known as a place to work, attend events and welcome visitors. But with approximately 31% of its office space vacant, city leaders recognize that Downtown’s future depends on attracting more residents and meeting their everyday needs.
Major investments are helping reshape the area:
- Centennial Yards: Transforming 50 acres of the Gulch into a mixed-use district.
- South Downtown: Bringing new investment to historic buildings and businesses.
- The Stitch: Planning 17 acres of public green space to reconnect communities divided by the Downtown Connector.
- Housing: Advancing projects at 5 Peachtree and Folio House while supporting homeownership preservation at the Healey and William-Oliver buildings.
Mayor Dickens also highlighted progress in public safety, with overall crime down 19% in Zone 5, which includes Downtown.
Making Everyday Essentials More Accessible
Housing is only part of the affordability challenge. Families also need access to groceries, transportation and other necessities without stretching their budgets further.
That was a major focus Thursday as Mayor Dickens welcomed fellow mayors to Atlanta for a national conversation about rising living costs.
Their visit included Azalea Fresh Market, a grocery store in the historic Olympia Building on Peachtree Street that opened through a partnership involving the City of Atlanta, Invest Atlanta and Savi Provisions.
For years, Downtown residents and Georgia State University students had limited access to a full-service grocery store. The City and its partners helped bring one to the neighborhood after traditional grocery development efforts proved difficult.
At Thursday’s gathering, Mayor Dickens said Azalea Fresh Market had served more than 250,000 customers over the past year.
The effort is also expanding beyond Downtown, with a second grocery location planned for Campbellton Road.
Atlanta’s larger goal is to ensure every resident lives within an accessible half-mile of fresh, affordable food by 2030.
What’s Next for Downtown?
This week’s Downtown Day also highlighted plans for The Stitch, historic preservation, the changing office market, a new dog park at Woodruff Park and the 30th anniversary of Downtown’s Ambassador program.
Together, these efforts reflect a larger vision for Downtown: more housing, better access to everyday essentials, safer streets and public spaces that residents can enjoy.
The measure of Downtown’s progress won’t just be how many new buildings open. It will also be how well the neighborhood works for the people who call it home.
