AJ Robinson, President Central Atlanta Progress/Atlanta Downtown Improvement District, presented to the Atlanta Midtown group at a recent meeting and shared news on the revitalization of downtown Atlanta. Despite somewhat difficult political situations, the Rediscover Downtown campaign is in full swing. With the immense appeal of being part of an urban community, spaces are now being reinvented for young residents and the area strives to create the right landscape. Most young people moved here for job opportunities in prior years, but are now moving to urban areas strictly for lifestyle.

In the defined area of Downtown, the population stands at 26,850 and with 154,000 jobs along with 34,000 students at Georgia State University, the area is bustling. In addition to the increase in population, development is experiencing a “once in a generation rate of growth” with $6 Billion in new projects in the development pipeline. Both population and employment are expected to continue their upward trajectory over the next 15 years with the potential to add 15,000 residents and 30,000 new jobs.