Downtown Atlanta in the news.

Downtown Development

Questions Dog the $4 Billion Forge Atlanta Project as Neighbors Wonder What's Next

The proposed Forge Atlanta development promises 2,300 condos, 950 hotel rooms, and futuristic skyscrapers on 10 acres near Castleberry Hill — but the developer reported zero revenue, less than $6,000 in cash, and defaulted on its mortgage. Community leaders are skeptical.

May 11, 2026

Sports

Cosm Brings Immersive World Cup Viewing to Centennial Yards

The 70,000-square-foot immersive venue will broadcast 40 World Cup matches on an 87-foot LED dome, opening June 10 as part of the $5 billion Centennial Yards entertainment district.

May 11, 2026

City Briefings

Show Versus Tell V3M4: Bottle Rocket Opens, 17 New Beat Cops, MARTA A-Line Running, and Founders Green Taking Shape

Bottle Rocket bar opens on Mitchell Street. Seventeen new foot-beat officers deploy to Zone 5. The MARTA A-Line is operational. Founders Green is under construction with trees, lights, and climbing mounds going in. And SoDo Atlanta wins Best in Atlanta Real Estate.

May 6, 2026

Historic

Ted Turner Dies at 87: Downtown Atlanta Loses Its Most Consequential Champion

Ted Turner, the entrepreneur who founded CNN and put downtown Atlanta on the global map, died on May 6, 2026. His decision to base a 24-hour news network in the city center changed Atlanta's identity forever.

May 6, 2026

Downtown Development

Virgin Hotels to Anchor Centennial Yards Entertainment District with 261-Room Tower

Richard Branson's Virgin Hotels makes its Georgia debut with a 14-story, 261-room luxury hotel at Centennial Yards — joining Cosm and Live Nation in the entertainment district, with a 2027 opening and Chops Lobster Bar on the ground floor.

Apr 22, 2026

Downtown Development

MARTA Opens the Rapid A-Line: Atlanta's First New Transit Line in 25 Years

The nearly five-mile bus rapid transit loop connects downtown, Summerhill, and Peoplestown in 15 minutes, running in dedicated red-painted lanes — MARTA's first rapid bus project and Georgia's first BRT line.

Apr 18, 2026

Downtown Development

ATL Culture House: 23,000 Square Feet of Atlanta Creativity Inside the Former CNN Center

The ATL Culture House will occupy nearly 23,000 square feet inside the former CNN Center during the World Cup, featuring performances, exhibitions, and vendors showcasing Atlanta's creative community.

Apr 16, 2026

City Briefings

Show Versus Tell V3M3: Open Container District Goes Live, Smorgasburg Draws 5,000+, and Streetcar #269 Comes Home

Atlanta's first open container district takes effect April 15. Smorgasburg draws 5,000+ every Saturday. El Tesoro and Glide Pizza confirmed opening before the World Cup. And historic streetcar #269, built in 1921, returns to downtown after nearly 80 years.

Apr 8, 2026

City Briefings

Downtown Atlanta's Top Cheerleader A.J. Robinson Steps Down After 23 Years

A.J. Robinson, the hat-wearing president and CEO of Central Atlanta Progress, announced his departure after 23 years leading downtown's most influential civic organization — just as the city enters a historic development boom.

Apr 8, 2026

City Briefings

The BeltLine Rail Debate: Transit, Trails, and Atlanta's Unfinished Promise

A decade after voters approved a special sales tax for BeltLine rail transit, no tracks have been laid. In 2026, city leaders and transit advocates are split on whether the 22-mile loop needs trains — or whether its success as a trail is enough.

Apr 2, 2026

Downtown Development

South Downtown's Historic Rebirth Takes Shape as World Cup Nears

With the World Cup 80 days away, more than a dozen restaurants, MARTA's first new transit line in 25 years, and the 70,000-square-foot Cosm venue are all converging on South Downtown's 16-acre revitalization.

Mar 27, 2026

Food & Drink

South Downtown Becomes Atlanta's First Open Container Neighborhood

Starting April 15, residents and visitors can carry drinks on public sidewalks and streets throughout South Downtown — a first for Atlanta, timed to boost foot traffic ahead of the World Cup.

Mar 12, 2026

City Briefings

Show Versus Tell V3M2: The Junction Reopens, Smorgasburg Launches, and a Jacobs' Pharmacy Bottle Surfaces

Less than 100 days to the World Cup. The Junction sandwich shop returns after 30 years, Smorgasburg Atlanta debuts with 40+ vendors every Saturday, Founders Green takes shape, and crews unearth a 1910s Jacobs' Pharmacy bottle on Mitchell Street.

Mar 4, 2026

Downtown Development

Four-Venue Entertainment Destination Opens in Downtown's Century-Old 207 Peachtree

An Americana bar with live music, an upscale sports club with a 20-foot TV wall, a 10,000-square-foot grand ballroom, and a rooftop lounge with firepits are stacking four floors of nightlife into a single historic building.

Feb 20, 2026

City Briefings

Show Versus Tell V3M1: Broad Street Rising, 85 Peachtree Leasing, and ATL Global Innovation Weekend

Seven general contractors and hundreds of workers are building six days a week across South Downtown. 85 Peachtree apartments launch leasing this spring, Estrellita relocates to 115 Broad Street, and the ATL Global Innovation Weekend brings builders together.

Feb 4, 2026