Atlanta celebrated two significant downtown development milestones on May 20, 2026, as the city prepared to host the FIFA World Cup. City and state leaders attended ribbon-cutting ceremonies for Founders Green — the first dedicated green space in South Downtown — and the unveiling of The CTR, the reimagined former CNN Center.
The CTR, a 1.2-million-square-foot complex marking its 50th anniversary, is being transformed by developer CP Group into a mixed-use hub featuring a revamped food hall and atrium. Chris Eachus, founding partner at CP Group, acknowledged the building's storied past: "In 1987, Ted Turner walked these halls and turned it into a window on the world." CP Group has invested over $200 million into the project and is exploring converting two empty office towers into a hotel and apartments.
Blocks away, Atlanta Ventures held the ribbon-cutting for Founders Green on Broad Street, replacing a paid parking lot that had occupied the space for 70 years. The park features a stage, seating areas, and space for outdoor movie nights and concerts. An excavated sign from a 1940s "pigeonhole parking" operation was discovered during construction. Atlanta Ventures secured a FIFA watch permit, making Founders Green an official World Cup viewing location.
Governor Brian Kemp emphasized the project's significance: "People will gather where giants of our past built the city that we know and love today out of the ashes of what came before."
Eloisa Klementich, head of Invest Atlanta, noted the collective impact: downtown will "look completely different than what it is today" as projects mature into a 24-hour city. The developments join Centennial Yards, a $5 billion redevelopment of former rail lines and parking lots, in reshaping downtown before World Cup matches begin.
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
