Focus: Aerotropolis

ECONOMY OVERVIEW

Atlanta 2019 An in-depth review of the key issues facing Atlanta’s economy featuring the exclusive insights of prominent industry leaders

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Aerotropolis: Anchored by Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the region’s largest job center, the Aerotropolis has been driving new economic development in the underdeveloped Southside. Leading the charge are the Aerotropolis Atlanta Alliance and the Aerotropolis CIDs in a truly collaborative effort that crosses many jurisdictional lines. In recognition of these efforts, the Aerotropolis area was recently honored by the Atlanta Regional Commission with a 2018 Development of Excellence Award in the category of “Great Place.”

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Vision and hope: Aerotropolis leaders are leveraging the region’s powerhouse airport to stimulate growth around Atlanta’s main economic driver Supported by investors and thought leaders from many of Metro Atlanta’s Fortune 500 companies, Aerotropolis Atlanta (AeroATL) operates with a vision to leverage Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport’s role as the region’s economic powerhouse, positioning it at the heart of a vibrant community. The word aerotropolis is defined as a city or urban area centered on an airport, and AeroATL intends to be just that: a worldclass metropolis created to stimulate more growth around one of Atlanta’s main economic drivers. The layout, infrastructure and economy of the Aerotropolis revolve around Hartsfield-Jackson, which serves as the commercial core of the city center.

For years the bulk of attention — and economic development activity — in Metro Atlanta has been focused north of I-20 instead of south. Aerotropolis Atlanta was created with a vision to transform Atlanta’s Southside, where housing is less expensive, land is available for commercial development and traffic isn’t as bad. The Aerotropolis area takes in a sizeable portion of the City of Atlanta between Downtown, the airport and the abutting communities of East Point, College Park, Hapeville and unincorporated Fulton and Clayton counties.

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In conjunction with the Aerotropolis Atlanta Alliance, the Aerotropolis Atlanta Community Improvement Districts (CIDs) — the public-private partnership organizations formed in 2013 that serve 15 square miles of property near the airport — play a significant role in the project’s economic stimulation by investing in public safety, infrastructure and way-finding. Made up of commercial, industrial and office property owners who volunteer to self-tax themselves an additional millage to fund projects, both the Airport West and Airport South CIDs work together to create a vibrant community by steadily raising the collective value of AeroATL. World-class vision Aerotropolis Atlanta is a world-class destination for business, connectivity and living. It was conceptualized in 2014 as the driving force behind the revitalization of the area around Hartsfield-Jackson, with a goal to strengthen the urban amenities that give the area its unique character — the most important of which is the world’s busiest airport.

The Aerotropolis Atlanta Alliance is a nonprofit membership organization and a coalition of leading ( )

AEROTROPOLIS INTERVIEW

Catalyst for growth How the Aerotropolis vision is revitalizing the airport region through a collaborative, cross-jurisdictional approach, injecting new life into an underdeveloped area

Shannon James President & CEO – Aerotropolis Atlanta Alliance

What impact has taking a regional approach had on the individual municipalities in the Aerotropolis area?

Historically, the airport-area municipalities have operated in silos. Over a short period of time, our regional public-private partnership has acted as a conduit for enhanced cross-jurisdictional communication and partnerships. These new behaviors have allowed us, as a region, to think comprehensively. We’re also creating an ecosystem that focuses on strategic planning and relationships with Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).

We partner with ATL as an anchor institution for the area, and our partnership is advancing at a rapid pace because they now have a neutral community partner well-positioned to help facilitate opportunities across municipal lines. We’re operating at a very high level when it comes to economic, education and workforce development projects, and we’re fortunate that our local leadership champions a shared vision that we’re stronger together than in competition amongst ourselves. This mentality will only improve our regional economic competitiveness.

What impact did Porsche investing in this area have on the way your key leadership envisioned the Aerotropolis?

The initial formation of AeroATL Alliance was to create vision for the area. When Porsche Cars North America landed its Experience Center in Hapeville, it not only brought vision but also hope to a region. We now have a corporate giant, an international brand that is willing to be the private voice in the community to help lift the tide. Porsche created the first in a long time vertical construction of Class A office space in this market. The Aerotropolis now boasts almost 500,000 square feet of proposed Class A office space approved or under construction and several hundred acres of mixed-use development planned.

In addition to the momentum and energy, Porsche also brought more diverse income scales of local jobs. This

will ultimately lead to more opportunity for development and bringing to fruition the envisioned live-work-play ecosystem. Porsche is the driver and will forever serve as AeroATL’s catalyst. We don’t think people will realize the significance of the Experience Center until 50 years from now. We were able to land an international juggernaut to an area that hasn’t seen this type of corporate investment since Delta, which was almost 40 years ago.

How critical is the success of the first major project, Airport City?

Airport City will serve as the tangible game changer for the AeroATL Alliance concept. The 320 acres of mixeduse development were identified in our 2014 Blueprint of top catalytic sites. Similar to the dynamics of Porsche locating to the area, this mixed-use project as presented provides hope for an improved quality of life for local residents. Now we have more vision and opportunities with a billion-dollar mark behind it. Our hope is that the current and future economic and workforce development initiatives will directly benefit our residents.

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Cinda Herndon-King

Rob LeBeau

Director Atlanta CareerRise

Director WorkSource Atlanta Regional

What is the main focus of the Workforce Development Collective?

The primary focus of the Workforce Development Collective is to implement workforce solutions that connect Aerotropolis businesses with the resources to attract and retain skilled employees, resulting in increased economic growth and prosperity in the region. In short, we are working to link local talent to local jobs — those existing now as well as those coming in the future from the work of the Aerotropolis Alliance. We aim to do that in a streamlined manner in collaboration with a number of service providers in order to maximize the resources we have, to help businesses navigate the geographically fragmented landscape of workforce resources in the area and ensure our efforts are aligned with the industries that are growing good jobs in the Aerotropolis.

What are the collective’s medium-term goals?

In the medium term, we want to expand our partnerships with employers in the industries targeted by the Aerotropolis Blueprint to continue to codesign training and recruitment programs to ensure they have the talent they need to grow and ensure that local residents have access to these opportunities.

We are also working to deliver regionally coordinated services to both individuals and businesses so that accessing workforce resources is as easy as possible.

Lastly, we are looking into the earlier stages of the talent pipeline to make sure students coming from the area’s education system are aware of and can access careers in the Aerotropolis that will provide opportunities for prosperity for themselves and their families.

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( ) business and community members governed by a 31-member board whose primary goal is to unify and improve the various jurisdictions that surround the airport. Counties involved in the initiative include Fulton, Clayton, Henry, Douglas and DeKalb, and cities include Atlanta, Hapeville, College Park, East Point, Fairburn, Chattahoochee Hills, Palmetto, Union City, the City of South Fulton, Forest Park, Jonesboro, Riverdale, Morrow, Lake City and Lovejoy. The Alliance partners with the Aerotropolis CIDs, Fulton Industrial Boulevard CID and South Fulton CID in order to facilitate a comprehensive approach to planning and economic development, including public safety initiatives, improving the physical environment and strengthening quality of life.

Recently, a newly formed Greater Conley CID has become active in Dekalb County and is currently in talks for future partnership with the AeroATL. “The South Fulton CID’s key project is the SR 74 interchange at I-85, which will provide airport commuters a less congested ride,” Joddie Gray, adminstrator of the South Fulton CID, told Focus:. “In addition, we are building a park and ride lot to encourage shared rides to the airport area.”

The ultimate goal of the Aerotropolis partnership is to establish a national and international model for airportarea excellence. In order to carry this out efficiently, three collectives have been established to focus on organizing and aligning stakeholder interest. The first of these is the Economic Development Collective, which provides all economic development directors with a vehicle to focus on marketing the Aerotropolis brand with a unified message.

The second is the Education Collective, which supports gaps in education in conjunction with organizations like Fulton Schools College and Career Academy, Step Up Atlanta and 100 Black Men of South Metro. “The focus of the Education Collective is to share and promote the educational successes of the school systems in the region, advance and support literacy efforts of the school systems in the region and demonstrably promote and support workforce development and postsecondary option efforts of the school systems in the region,” Morcease Beasley, superintendent of Clayton County Public Schools and education collective chair for the Aerotropolis Alliance, told Focus:.

The third is the Workforce Development Collective, which creates bridges between businesses and the workforce by partnering with organizations such as the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia (CEFGA), WorkSource Georgia and Atlanta CareerRise to train and provide placement for residents.

AEROTROPOLIS OVERVIEW

Aerotropolis Atlanta Blueprint The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) spearheaded an effort in partnership with local governments, CIDs and the Alliance to develop the Aerotropolis Atlanta Blueprint, which was completed and adopted by the board of directors in July 2014. The blueprint serves as both a resource for policymakers and a framework for business leaders to guide the development of the area around Hartsfield-Jackson for the next few years.

It provides a strategic vision to leverage the airport as a major asset to drive economic investment and job growth and improve quality of life. Underpinning the blueprint’s outline is an overall forward-driven, shared vision for the future.

In order to carry out this vision, AeroATL’s marketing and branding strategies play a key role in attracting the necessary people and capital to help the area flourish. The blueprint outlines a five-year marketing strategy to reinforce the brand and stimulate investment. The plan consists of establishing a unique Aerotropolis brand, developing marketing communications and media plans and establishing a gateway strategy compatible with the airport CIDs and local branding.

Historically, there has been a great deal of development north of airport; however, this plan intends to move development south. This is evident in recent successes within the Aerotropolis area, such as the 2014 vote to increase the Clayton County sales tax to extend MARTA to the county, Porsche Cars North America opening its $100 million headquarters near the airport in 2015, the BMW training center in College Park breaking ground in 2017 and becoming operational in late 2018, pending redevelopment of Fort McPherson, redevelopment of Fort Gillem and the creation of the South Fulton Parkway Alliance.

The blueprint walks through various current and ongoing projects planned for AeroATL. It addresses issues such as transportation, real estate and environmental concerns. In the Aerotropolis Core, which consists of four main areas within AeroATL — Airport City, Corporate Crescent, International Gateway and Cargo City — many projects are envisioned. These include the creation of an aerospace hub for component assemblies

in the Corporate Crescent, destination outlet retail and air-dependent e-commerce centers in the International Gateway and a bio-logistics hub in Cargo City.

The timeframe of the blueprint is split into two parts: an incubation period and an action plan period. The incubation period marks the first five years following completion of the visioning process for AeroATL and is made up primarily of research and development strategies to begin work on envisioned projects.

The success of these projects is dependent on the organizational structure of the Aerotropolis. The top contributors to this plan are the Alliance board and staff, the ARC and the Airport Area Task Force.

Land-use matters Approximately 38 percent of land within AeroATL is utilized for residential properties, 13 percent for industrial real estate and 13 percent for commercial real estate. The Aerotropolis Core consists of five areas: Airport City at College Park, Mountain View, Corporate Crescent, International Gateway and Cargo City.

These core areas require the most initial focus of all the Aerotropolis region because of their direct proximity to Hartsfield-Jackson as the central business district of the metropolis.

Georgia is a home-rule state, which presents a few challenges for AeroATL when it comes to land use.

Under home rule, there is much localized control of the land that makes up the Aerotropolis. Thus, landuse complications arise when the various jurisdictions that make up the area have different and sometimes incompatible regulations. Nevertheless, the state’s comprehensive planning rules and the ARC, which functions as a multi-county planning and development agency, work to connect the jurisdictions together and coordinate land-use development.

Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) restrictions pose limitations, as well. They limit land use and restrict building heights, as well as increase the cost of building around the airport by requiring special building standards that reduce noise pollution.

Despite these challenges, there are many areas of opportunity for development. The blueprint’s five-year ( )

Historically, there has been a great deal of development north of the airport; however, the Aerotropolis plan intends to move development south.

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AEROTROPOLIS INTERVIEW

Collaborative approach How CID leaders are coming together across jurisdictional lines to guide the redevelopment of the Aerotropolis area

Gerald McDowell Executive Director – Aerotropolis CIDs

How do the CIDs promote public safety and community awareness?

Part of our branding effort is to address the high crime perception of the Aerotropolis area referred to as the South Metro. Through the CIDs and the Alliance, we are partnering with police departments in various counties and cities to enhance and supplement policing already taking place. Since the program began, there are certain criminal activities that are down by 40 percent. We supplement our private security patrols by hiring offduty police officers in full uniform to patrol the two CIDs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our public safety director has a monthly meeting with over 40 different private security companies and police departments within the two CIDs. The safety director has established a system with the security companies, synchronizing the patrol of each company to ensure no area is left vacant.

We make sure not to duplicate our efforts but offer complete coverage throughout the Aerotropolis CIDs. How have the group efforts of the Aerotropolis Atlanta CIDs benefitted businesses in the CIDs area?

Through the collaborative efforts of the Airport West and Airport South CID leaders making up the Aerotropolis CIDs, we recently completed the development of a Master Plan to guide investment of 29 different projects in the Aerotropolis CIDs area through the year 2025, including redevelopment of corridors and transit studies. The completed project will require an investment of $120 to $150 million. The main benefit of us working together is the ability to cross county and city jurisdictions. Because we are working together as the Aerotropolis CIDs, we can leverage those established relationships on either side of the county and have a hand in the high-volume projects we take on. Through this Master Plan we hope to make the Aerotropolis a destination and create an environment where people can seamlessly live, work and play.

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What were the CIDs’ main goals in 2018?

Our main focus for 2018 has been to conduct studies, which began in February 2018. In the summer of 2018, we began a freight cluster study. This was in conjunction with the Atlanta Regional Commission, which awarded us a grant to look at how freight and logistics and other movements occur in the airport area and how to make sure that the appropriate infrastructures are in place to support what’s going on currently and in future growth opportunities. Our largest project that we are excited about for 2018 is the Georgia Department of Transportation transforming the Camp Creek Parkway, 285 interchange, into what’s called a diverging diamond interchange. The interchange will be a two-year build and will allow the bridge to open up in 2020, making the Aerotropolis more efficient in moving traffic.

AEROTROPOLIS OVERVIEW

The AeroATL Greenway is an ambitious land-use plan involving a multi-use network of trails and bike paths connecting the hodgepodge of cities and counties in South Metro Atlanta.

( ) plan for the most efficient use of land within AeroATL begins with the implementation of the ambitious AeroATL Greenway, a multi-use network of trails and bike paths connecting the hodgepodge of cities and counties in south Metro Atlanta. Rough estimates call for about 200 miles of paths that one day will connectto the already existing BeltLine. Once complete, this project could make the BeltLine project look relatively miniscule. In March 2018, the Alliance hosted its last community engagement meeting, and plans are starting to come together for the greenway. Other plans to improve land use include the strengthening of the historic downtown cores of several integral Aerotropolis communities like Hapeville, East Point and College Park. This revival would attract not only residents but also businesses to the surrounding areas.

In an effort to address the airport’s negative impacts on the Aerotropolis environment, Hartsfield-Jackson has begun work on a sustainability initiative in order to mitigate these effects. The goals of this initiative include reducing emissions and waste, increasing green construction and noise reduction. In 2019, Hartsfield-

Jackson plans to open the first fully enclosed recycling and composting facility at an airport to help reduce costs in handling waste.

Talking transit Carefully coordinated transportation planning is essential to the economic well-being of the future Aerotropolis. In June 2018, the Aerotropolis CIDs, in conjunction with public and private partners, launched a $350,000 transit feasibility study in order to identify possible transit models for AeroATL. They hosted an “Innovation Summit” in the fall of 2018 to highlight transportation technologies for transit companies from around the world and expect the full study to be completed by the end of 2018.

Potential transit proposals include new SkyTraintype service to the bustling Camp Creek Parkway corridor, connections from the airport to the Porsche and Delta headquarters and a train to the new Airport City mixed-use development in College Park. VHB, the planning and engineering firm conducting the study, is also considering the option

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AEROTROPOLIS OVERVIEW

Gil Prado Executive Director – Fulton Industrial Boulevard CID

A crucial component of the Aerotropolis, the Fulton Industrial District is the largest industrial corridor in the eastern United States with over 25,000 jobs, $1.5 billion in payroll and 50 million square feet of industrial space in over 550 industrial buildings. The Boulevard CID works to maintain and protect the commercial viability of the district, which provides well-paying jobs and vital services and goods to Metro Atlanta and the State of Georgia. of personal rapid transit vehicles and electric bikes, among other innovations.

The AeroATL CIDs cites two main purposes for the study: 1) to increase and enhance transit access for local residents and 2) to make the Aerotropolis more attractive to travelers, conventioneers and large corporations that might be considering relocating their headquarters there. The ultimate goal is to implement 21st-century infrastructure for the airport area to serve as a catalyst for much-needed economic revitalization and qualityof-life improvements.

The Aerotropolis region includes portions of almost all of Atlanta’s critical transportation corridors and direct access to MARTA. Specifically, the multimodal network within the area includes major interstate highways, MARTA bus and rail service and pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, as well as the rail network and the airport. This adds significant value to the area and has already greatly contributed to AeroATL’s future success by connecting both goods and people to major job centers like Downtown Atlanta and nearby ports like the Port of Savannah.

In additional to proposals put forth by the transit study, the major AeroATL transportation projects expected to launch in the next four years are the Clayton County MARTA extension, South Fulton Parkway access management, last-mile connectivity, a Crescent trolley and general roadway improvements. The statewide Georgia Freight Plan is also of importance to the Aerotropolis over the next few years. The plan identifies a required investment of $18 to $20 billion in freight improvement projects over the next 40 years to boost the state’s economy.

While the area already houses part of Atlanta’s main transportation corridors and benefits from this transportation planning history, AeroATL, led by the Aerotropolis CIDs, is focused on creating a more balanced network across jurisdictional lines in order to ease traffic congestion and dependence on cars moving forward.

Housing stock Housing plays a crucial supportive role in the AeroATL concept. In fact, residential housing makes up 38 percent of the area’s land use. The Aerotropolis region is characterized by a variety of residential populations and housing types, but singlefamily homes are dominant.

The downtown areas in cities like College Park and East Point are experiencing some diversification of housing types, with multifamily infill that supports families, singles and seniors.

There are various advantages of creating housing near an airport. The most obvious reason to live near an airport is access to plane travel, which is especially beneficial for those who travel a lot for work. Additionally, airports provide huge advantages to businesses in today’s fast-paced global economy. And of course, with thousands of workers associated with an airport-driven economy, there is a great opportunity to better use the existing and potential housing stock to house those working at Hartsfield-Jackson, reducing commute times and thereby minimizing congestion and air pollution. AeroATL allows for localized, convenient housing growth.

It is important to note that housing surrounding an airport comes with its fair share of challenges. These include noise, health and environmental concerns.

Housing plays a crucial supportive role in the AeroATL concept.

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AEROTROPOLIS OVERVIEW

Nevertheless, the vision under AeroATL intends to mitigate these concerns with a number of joint efforts, including both safety and green infrastructure initiatives. In terms of safety, the Aerotropolis Blueprint sets out a plan to increase security patrols in the Aerotropolis area. With regard to green infrastructure, Aerotropolis is initiating its greenway concept, as well as advancing the Roosevelt Highway Plan and the airport’s Sustainable Management Plan.

contribute to livability and the creation of community hubs. Several additional historic resources within AeroATL are recognized by the National Register of Historic Places. Cultural resources include Spivey Hall and the Georgia Archives. A challenge that comes with preserving so many historic and cultural resources is the different governing rules for different locales within the Aerotropolis, which is something that is currently being addressed in the blueprint’s five-year plan.

Community and greenspace There are over 3,200 acres of parks and greenspace in the Aerotropolis area.

Natural resources are spread throughout the region and include streams, parks and conservation land.

These resources form an integral part of the identity of the area, and AeroATL intends to promote each of these resources to enhance the local quality of life.

One of the largest developing Aerotropolis projects is the previously mentioned AeroATL Greenway, which will increase community access to the bodies of water surrounding AeroATL, as well as beautify the area and make it more environmentally friendly. The project is currently in its research and development stages with more to come. Urban agriculture also plays a role in the formation of AeroATL’s identity. Clayton County’s Mountain View area has a successfully developing hydroponics business, while the famous Atlanta State Farmers Market is housed conveniently in Forest Park.

The area’s historic and cultural resources offer important contributions to local identity as well. All of the educational institutions, libraries, churches, nonprofits, town halls, MARTA stations and more

Economic clusters In order to accelerate the economic growth of the Aerotropolis region, the blueprint identifies agribusiness, logistics, aerospace, multimedia and biolife science as target industries for economic development in AeroATL. As part of the diverse economy of Atlanta, AeroATL seeks to add to rather than draw from existing economic hubs, essentially creating economic sub-regions. Some of the main development strategies include increasing the number of media companies in the Aerotropolis; building on the existing educational institutions on the south side to create an educational cluster; attracting more corporate headquarters and supporting small business growth; promoting tourism, hospitality and entertainment in walkable neighborhoods and at the area’s convention centers; and reducing worker inflow and outflow, encouraging people to live, work and play all in one place.

AeroATL recognizes that sustainability and smart communities are important. It is currently working with investors and builders to encourage sustainable and tech-forward projects in the Aerotropolis region.

There are over 3,200 acres of parks and greenspace in the Aerotropolis area.

Alvin Nash CEO – Development Authority of Fulton County

Unlike other areas in the country, where airports are typically controlled by authorities, in Atlanta the airport is owned by the city.

90 percent of the airport is in Clayton County. The challenge with the Aerotropolis is bringing together the multiple jurisdictions, multiple cities and multiple counties. There are governance issues and funding issues.

How to make it work is a collective issue.

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AEROTROPOLIS OVERVIEW

Real estate The real estate sector within AeroATL demonstrates promising potential for the future growth of the area.

Specifically, industrial real estate is doing particularly well. The vacancy rate is at 9.4 percent — a 14-year low — and lease rates continue to steadily rise. Approximately 17 million square feet of industrial space is currently under construction in the Aerotropolis area.

The retail sector is also thriving, with a 12.5 percent vacancy rate compared to the 14 percent rate it had after the 2008 recession. A majority of the retail demand is concentrated in food retail.

The office sector of Aerotropolis is also growing substantially. While vacancy rates were last reported at a dull 20.85 percent, occupancy hit its highest point in the last six years, and leasing activity continues to strengthen. Significant increases in demand and limited supply have pushed prices to even higher levels.

A notable major real estate development was revealed in April 2018, when the City of College Park announced a more than $500 million mixeduse development on 320 acres in AeroATL, for now dubbed “Airport City College Park.”

The development is envisioned to consist of Class A office space, 10 hotels, restaurants, retail and residential space. This project has the potential to create thousands of jobs and represents a giant step forward in bringing the Aerotropolis vision to life.

In terms of education, the Education Collective is working hard to address the gaps in the Aerotropolis region. Some initiatives already in the works include a collaboration between AeroATL and Clayton State University, Clayton County School System and Fulton County School System. Partnerships have been formed with Fulton Schools College & Career Academy that will focus on preparing the future Aerotropolis workforce for the target industries in the area.

Workforce development continues to be an anchor focus for AeroATL. In August 2017, the first Construction Ready Georgia training program on Atlanta’s Southside graduated its inaugural class. The month-long construction training program, created in partnership by the Aerotropolis Atlanta Alliance, the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia, HB Next and WorkSoure Georgia, provides trainees with the skills and certification needed to begin careers in the construction industry.

As of June 2018, a total of 92 people had graduated from Aerotropolis-supported workforce programs focused on hospitality and construction, with 92 percent placement.

New programs focusing on logistics and the movie/film industry sectors are currently in the works.

One of the biggest challenges AeroATL faces is its overlapping jurisdictions.

Obstacles and opportunities One of the biggest challenges AeroATL faces is its overlapping jurisdictions. There is a need for county, municipal and economic agencies to identify ways to work together to facilitate the smooth implementation of land-use, transportation, economic and development initiatives. Despite the obstacles, Aerotropolis intends to serve as a bridge builder and intermediary between these jurisdictions in order to work with all of them to unify the area.

Another major challenge is managing the safety and security of AeroATL. Keeping people safe and healthy is a significant factor contributing to the future success of Aerotropolis. To address this need, the Alliance is working on a public safety task force in order to battle preconceptions of the area and mitigate any negative and/ or criminal activity outside the previously mentioned community improvement district boundaries.

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Bright future What is the future of Aerotropolis Atlanta? Moving forward, the entity strives to become the premier organization in the region as the preferred economic and community development partner for HartsfieldJackson Atlanta International Airport. Additionally, AeroATL is positioning itself as the point-of-contact for all site selectors, state project managers and developers near the airport. Their vision is to become the epicenter for cross-jurisdictional communication and the primary resource for workforce and educational initiatives in the Aerotropolis region.

Looking forward, quality of life is of utmost importance for AeroATL. As outlined in the vision and implementation of the five-year blueprint, AeroATL has numerous projects planned in conjunction with other organizations in order to enhance and improve liveability. These projects will focus on broad sectors like transportation, housing, environment and overall beautification in order to make Aerotropolis Atlanta the ideal live-work-play destination in Atlanta.

AEROTROPOLIS CITY SPOTLIGHT

City spotlight: The Aerotropolis vision hinges on the support and collaboration of the many dynamic cities within its bounds Hapeville The City of Hapeville is a founding member of AerotATL, and Mayor Alan Hallman serves on the board of directors. Located in the Corporate Crescent area of the Aerotropolis, the city serves as a direct gateway to Hartsfield-Jackson and houses both Delta Airlines’ headquarters and the Porsche Car North America headquarters. In addition, it offers direct access to major transportation spines like I-85 and I-75.

Hapeville is characterized by stable neighborhoods with little vacant land, but it is experiencing tremendous infill development and redevelopment of single-family and townhouse residences. As the area grows, the City of Hapeville recognizes the need for a wide variety of housing options and is working with the ARC to evaluate current and future housing needs to support the regional workforce, encourage families to move there and allow seniors to remain in the community.

Hotel developments are increasing to support the area, including the additions of the 213-room Solis hotel next to the Porsche North America Headquarters, a 112-room Holiday Inn Express along

I-75, a planned 174-room Embassy Suites off Virginia Avenue and a planned 100-room TownePlace Suites to the west. Retail and commercial developments in the city are geared to mixed use, addressing the needs of residents, local businesses and visitors. One notable project currently underway is a 22,000-square-foot commercial and retail development along Virginia Avenue designed to promote walkability. Additionally, the city is working on the $2.3 million Airport Loop Road improvement project, which includes new sidewalks, curbs and gutters, paving and pedestrian lighting; a $3 million Rail Facilities Corridor Improvement Project along North and South Central Avenues; a feasibility study for a roundabout at Virginia Avenue; and wayfinding and signage coordinated with regional signage to assist visitors in exploring the city.

East Point East Point offers small-city charm with big-city amenities. It is home to the Camp Creek Marketplace, Camp Creek Business Center, South Meadow Business Park and several Fortune 500 companies. It also has its own East Point MARTA station and is highly central

Alan Hallman Mayor – City of Hapeville

The City of Hapeville has been actively engaged in several regional planning and coordination initiatives. Our staff and community have participated in developing the AeroATL Greenway Plan, which will link the communities together through a comprehensive trail plan. We have also been involved with the Urban Land Institute Technical Assistance Panel planning efforts to further plan a multi-modal loop along the AeroLoop.

We have increasingly coordinated with our neighboring municipalities and the airport for development projects that will highlight all of the assets of the region.

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AEROTROPOLIS CITY SPOTLIGHT

Deana Holiday Ingraham Mayor – City of East Point

The City of East Point believes in the initiatives being carried out by the Aerotropolis Atlanta Alliance and is committed to partnering with the Alliance to reach its goals. The city partners and provides support through longtime participation in the Economic Development Collective and newly created 501c(3) initiatives like the recent Community Shoe Distribution with Samaritan’s Feet & BB&T. We also serve in leadership capacities within the Education Collective, where I am heavily active as the co-chair. In addition to the previously mentioned engagement, we also financially support via Gold Level membership and serve on the board of directors.

in terms of connectivity due to its proximity to Fort McPherson and Downtown.

East Point has varied housing stock, and its residential area is best characterized as a series of growth rings, with the center being downtown East Point. As the growth rings extend, the strong, gridlike residential areas with historic character begin to loosen and form a more suburban neighborhood offering larger lots and bigger homes.

East Point has a lot to offer to the success of AeroATL. It is an authentic and creative place that is attractive to certain types of workers and investors. East Point’s Dick Lane Velodrome, a bicycleracing facility and one of only 22 active velodromes in the country, is a perfect example of a unique destination that draws a specialized crowd and can be utilized to promote the area. For that reason, the revitalization of the East Point Industrial District is critical to the success of its incorporation into the Aerotropolis. In particular, East Point’s Main Street has potential for attracting startup activity.

Some projects underway in East Point that will impact the area around the airport include Mallalieu Pointe, a mixed-use development in the city’s downtown area; Arden’s Garden, a manufacturing, retention and expansion project of the fresh juice and smoothie company’s headquarters; and construction of a 260,000-square-foot facility for Americold Inc., a cold storage company that supports Sprouts Farmers Market.

College Park Similar to East Point, College Park has all the benefits of a large city while preserving the neighborliness of a hometown. Its proximity to Atlanta provides residents and visitors alike with easy access to colleges and universities, shopping and other places of interest. The city also boasts being home to Woodward Academy, the largest independent school in the continental U.S., as well as the Main Street Academy, a K-8 public charter school proudly serving the Tri-Cities area.

College Park, like East Point, has a mix of historic homes within a grid-like historic core that transitions to more suburban-style neighborhoods.

It has potential for myriad redevelopment opportunities.

Originating from a land grant in 1846, College Park has the fourth-largest urban historic district in Georgia, with 867 structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This historic district, similar to those of Hapeville and East Point, has the potential to attract businesses and residents to the area.

College Park’s first new mid-rise in 40 years, the Pad on Harvard, is a multi-phase $41 million transitoriented development located at the corner of Harvard and Princeton avenues, just 400 feet from the College Park MARTA station and across the street from Hotel Indigo. Another development in College Park in the Aerotropolis area is the Gateway Center, positioned adjacent to the Georgia International

College Park recently welcomed its first new mid-rise in 40 years: the Pad on Harvard.

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AEROTROPOLIS CITY SPOTLIGHT

Jack Longino Mayor – City of College Park

The City of College Park is accepting the challenge of directing future growth for our community. Enhancing the quality of life for all residents is paramount, as we are continuously researching and collaborating with Aerotropolis to ensure we are investing and developing all areas accordingly so as to offer curb appeal, accessibility, safety and beautification. Some of these projects include support and planning for the AeroATL’s greenway plan; the SkyTrain; the Gateway Center; and much of ATL located in the College Park Corporate Limits, as well as construction of the Arena@College Park Gateway Center scheduled for completion in the fall of 2019.

Convention Center, a $230 million mixed-use project including one Class A office building and two hotels, as well as the Renaissance Hotel. It is connected to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and MARTA via the ATL SkyTrain. And of course, there’s the mixed-use development Airport City College Park, which will bring thousands of jobs to the area.

Fairburn The City of Fairburn is AeroATL’s newest Founders Circle Investor. Located just 15 minutes south of Hartsfield-Jackson, Fairburn is a city of historic homes, buildings and churches with a vibrant and thriving business community. Despite phenomenal growth in business, industry and residential neighborhoods in recent years, Fairburn maintains its traditional smalltown charm while offering the advantages of quick access to I-85 and Metro Atlanta.

Although there are a variety of industries in Fairburn, logistics and warehousing are leading common denominators in this subregion of Metro Atlanta. In recent years, Google, Clorox Co., Smucker’s and Pittsburgh Plate Glass (PPG) have each completed large deals within Fairburn’s hundreds of acres of industrial, manufacturing and warehouse space, which is also home to a 500-acre CSX Intermodal facility.

Expanding its presence as a prime location and key distribution link for global and national distribution, Fairburn continues to support its warehouse and industrial tenants with attractive leasing incentives, fiber optic cable, efficient and green distribution options and superior access to interstate and rail transportation.

The City of Fairburn has a Park and Ride Facility on State Route 74/Senoia Road currently under design.

Park and Ride facilities support transportation infrastructure as multimodal hubs that encourage the use of alternate forms of travel.

The city anticipates that a Park and Ride facility at this location will contribute to fuel conservation, reduction in emissions and reduced travel miles.

The first phase of the proposed Fairburn facility will allow commuters to park their vehicles and commute to work via carpool and vanpool. The second phase will extend services to MARTA and regional express buses with destinations to include Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

The City of Fairburn’s Comprehensive Plan has as its primary goal for the city to be an economically thriving community and desired destination for residents and visitors of all ages. A named objective is to make State Route 74 mixed use with retail, compact homes and townhouses while still meeting the demand for goods and services for the traveling public. With State Route 74 being a regionally significant corridor that facilitates regional trips, a Park and Ride lot is a relevant, strategic and attainable transportation goal.

Union City Union City announced in April 2018 that it was accepting qualifications to develop its proposed Town Center, with 8 million square feet of office space and thousands of residential units. The city’s Historic Green Manor Restaurant was also the winner of the Aerotropolis Alliance’s inaugural small business of the month award. “Union City is not playing it small; we’re playing it big,” Mayor Vince Williams told Focus:.

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AEROTROPOLIS CITY SPOTLIGHT

Elizabeth Hurst Mayor – City of Fairburn

The City of Fairburn is partnering with Aerotropolis Atlanta by quickly transforming into one of the fastest-growing industrial markets in the Southeast. We are optimistic as we continue to look towards 2019. Major efforts are underway to revitalize our city’s historic downtown by supporting the restaurant and retail industry and driving cultural events and activities.

Being connected by rail, MARTA, Interstate 85 and other important strategic highways makes Fairburn accessible for our citizens and tourists to enjoy smooth sailing while transitioning from one business to the next.

“Rebuilding, revitalizing and rebranding Union City has been our main focus since I was elected in 2013.

When we play it big, we show there’s strength in all sectors, which is beneficial for our community, region and state. Having the Aerotropolis Atlanta Alliance relationship with Union City provides a partner that’s monumental from a global perspective.”

Palmetto In Q1 2018, the City of Palmetto welcomed the completion of the Palmetto Logistics Park, a 340acre, 4-million-square-foot master-planned logistics park geared toward the e-commerce industry with its campus-quality infrastructure, Class A design and state-of-the-art technology. “Aerotropolis continues to be a game changer for the HartsfieldJackson Airport region,” Mayor J. Clark Boddie told Focus:. “Redevelopment and new opportunities have arrived. Palmetto offers over 6 million square feet of distribution and warehouse facilities at four locations, with another 1,500 acres for hi-tech development. Our motto is: Come Grow with Us.” South Fulton In April 2018, the City of South Fulton broke ground on Graham Road Industrial, a 300,000-square-foot Class A distribution center, which has the potential to bring 300 jobs to the area. Plans are to have it ready for occupation in early 2019. “I am excited that the City of South Fulton is one of the newest members of the Aerotropolis Atlanta Alliance,” Mayor William “Bill” Edwards told Focus:. “We look forward to working with the Aerotropolis to advance many of the economic development initiatives of the City of South Fulton. Being a part of this alliance allows

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our newly created city to capitalize on our strategic advantage of being perfectly positioned near the world’s busiest airport and allows us to cultivate relationships with members from across the region, bringing us one step closer to fulfilling our mission of becoming a World Class City.”

Chattahoochee Hills Chattahoochee Hills is pioneering a new type of planned community with Serenbe, a 1,000-acre sustainable community built over the past 15 years with abundant strategies to reduce its carbon footprint. In the fall of 2018, One Mado is slated to open in Serenbe’s Mado District as an alternative to the traditional suburban strip mall, offering a mix of health proprietors and more general retail attractions. “Chattahoochee Hills was incorporated around the idea that a city really can have it all: the beauty and contact with nature of rural living and the vibrancy and amenities of in-town life,” Mayor Tom Reed told Focus:. “Our unique zoning, which consolidates development into walkable mixed-use, transit-oriented nodes while permanently protecting 70 percent of the city as parks, forests and farms, ensures economic vitality with unmatched quality of life. None of this would be possible without the economic lift provided by our proximity to the world’s largest airport, which is why our participation in the Aerotropolis Alliance is so important.”

Capital Analytics would like to thank Aerotropolis Atlanta for its contribution in compiling this chapter. To learn more, visit their website: https:// aeroatl.org/.