All Hands on Deck for Downtown
On Wednesday, October 22, 2025, the City of Atlanta hosted its first-ever Downtown Day—a 16-hour, all-hands celebration that spanned from sunrise to late evening.
From major project announcements to small business stops and live music activations, Mayor Andre Dickens and his executive team spent the day walking, talking, and celebrating with residents, partners, and media.
This wasn’t a ceremonial day; it was a hands-on demonstration of leadership in motion. Nearly every corner of the administration was represented—including Chief Operating Officer LaChandra Burks, Deputy Chief Operating Officer Theo Pace, Deputy Chief of Staff Greg Clay, Chief Communications Officer Allison Fouché, and many other members of the Mayor’s Senior Leadership and Cabinet—each leading activations and site visits throughout Downtown.
“Downtown has everything that makes Atlanta, Atlanta—the diversity, the spirit, the hustle—and the momentum we have right now is no accident,” said Mayor Andre Dickens. “It’s by design.”
Starting Strong: State of Downtown Breakfast
The morning began atop the 49th floor of The Commerce Club at the State of Downtown Breakfast, hosted by Central Atlanta Progress (CAP) and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (ADID).
Mayor Dickens opened the day with remarks on his vision to make Atlanta the best place to raise a child, emphasizing Downtown’s role as both an economic engine and a neighborhood of choice.
With keynote speaker Professor Maurice Cox and a presentation of CAP’s State of Downtown report, leaders highlighted record investment and development across the city’s four square miles that anchor Atlanta’s civic and cultural life.
The Stitch: A Reconnection in Motion
At 9:30 a.m., attention shifted outdoors to Mayor’s Park, where COO LaChandra Burks and The Stitch Director Jack Cebe revealed the project’s newest renderings and an augmented-reality experience that lets visitors see the future park overlaying the Downtown Connector.
Burks called The Stitch a once-in-a-generation infrastructure project—one that will reconnect neighborhoods long divided, create jobs and housing, and offer 17 acres of new public space spanning from Ted Turner Drive to Piedmont Avenue.
“The Stitch represents what Atlanta does best,” said COO Burks. “It’s a group project where everyone comes together, puts in the work, and builds something that will stand the test of time.”
By mid-2026, Phase 1 will be shovel-ready, supported by more than $50 million in design funding and partnerships with GDOT, CAP, and federal agencies. The project is expected to generate $9 billion in economic impact and create 4,500 jobs.
Seeing the Progress Up Close
Throughout the day, City leaders fanned out across Downtown to spotlight revitalization in action:
- Sweet Auburn Front Porch – Deputy Chief of Staff Greg Clay and Chief Communications Officer Allison Fouché toured a $37 million mixed-use housing project, the largest in two decades.
- Municipal Market (Curb Market) – Clay met legacy business owners benefiting from Tax Allocation District grants.
- Azalea Fresh Market → Woodruff Park → GSU – Mayor Dickens toured the new fresh-food market, viewed new public art entitled “The Space Within,” and filmed a segment of “Our Place, Our Time,” a social media video series with GSU President Dr. M. Brian Blake and SGA President James Wilson about youth opportunity and World Cup readiness.
- Broad Street Boardwalk & Brown Toy Box – Lunch with local entrepreneurs, live music, and small-business highlights like Stir House, Peppers Hot Dogs, and Brown Toy Box, a homegrown STEAM education brand.
- South Downtown Walk-and-Talk – Mayor Dickens joined Atlanta Ventures to visit shops and projects underway ahead of the 2026 World Cup. These shops include Village Books, Crates ATL, Tyde Tate Thai, and Spiller Park Coffee.
- Atlanta Tech Village – Sylvan – Senior Tech Advisor Donnie Beamer met with tech founders bringing new jobs Downtown.
Every stop was supported by teams from the Mayor’s Office of Communications, Invest Atlanta, and ADID, ensuring real-time storytelling, photography, and resident engagement throughout the day.
Big Projects, Shared Progress
The afternoon carried the same pace, featuring milestone visits to:
- The Center (formerly CNN Center) — Deputy Chief of Staff Greg Clay toured renovations transforming the former food court into a retail and dining hub ahead of World Cup 2026.
- National Center for Civil and Human Rights — COO Burks received an advance tour of the $60 million expansion adding new galleries and classrooms.
- ADID’s New Headquarters — City leaders and members of the Mayor’s Cabinet celebrated ADID’s 30th anniversary and ribbon-cutting at 84 Walton Street, marking the shared office space with CAP.
Later in the day, the Mayor and team toured Centennial Yards’ new Mitchell apartments, meeting residents and discussing the future of the 50-acre redevelopment. The group then crossed to the Carrie Steele Logan Bridge for a community celebration with live DJs and local food from Wild Leap Brewery, just steps away from State Farm Arena, where the Hawks’ season opener capped the day.
Capping the Day: Hawks Game and Community Pride
The evening concluded on a high note as Mayor Dickens and members of the City’s senior leadership team joined the community for opening night of the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena. The Mayor was acknowledged during the first timeout—his final stop of the day and a fitting close to a celebration centered on pride and progress.
The Work Behind the Celebration
Downtown Day wasn’t only about ribbon cuttings. It showcased how coordinated investment—public and private—is delivering real benefits:
- Fresh food access through Azalea Market, Goodr, and the Municipal Market.
- Affordable housing on publicly owned land at 2 Peachtree, 143 Alabama, and 41 Marietta.
- $120 million in AURA revenue bonds driving critical road and infrastructure upgrades.
Together, these efforts demonstrate the city’s focus on making Downtown not just dynamic, but livable for all.
Moving Atlanta Forward, Together
From breakfast briefings to evening celebrations, Downtown Day proved that collaboration is Atlanta’s superpower. City leaders, from operations to communications, planning to development, joined residents, small businesses, and partners to share in the momentum.
“Y’all know how much I love a group project,” Mayor Dickens said. “We’re all in on making Downtown the best neighborhood in the best city to raise a family.”
