SUMMER 2012
WHAT’S UP
DOWNTOWN News for Central Atlanta Progress members and Downtown property owners.
Centennial Olympic Park’s Party in the Park
Downtown Atlanta Restaurant Week Learn more on page 4
2 Streetcar Economics 6 CAP/ADID Annual Meeting 8 Transportation Vote 12 Design Awards 16 Woodruff Park News 19 Streetscape Update
Summer 2012
Atlanta S treetcar :
Economic Impact
The Atlanta Streetcar project
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Central Atlanta Progress and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District, in partnership with the City of Atlanta, aim to leverage the federal and municipal investment in the Atlanta Streetcar by encouraging redevelopment along the route of this new transit line in Downtown Atlanta. A deliberate plan and vision document is in development that will outline a strategy for the desired reinvestment along the corridor. The Atlanta Streetcar Development and Investment Strategy Guide will be a road map to both guide investment in the corridor and proactively encourage its realization. It will include the following elements:
is about more than improving
• The Streetcar: What it is, when it will be built, how it will operate, etc.
transportation mobility and access.
• Downtown Context: Qualitative and quantitative information about Downtown to make the case for investment in the Atlanta Streetcar corridor
With more than 80 acres of land and many buildings and structures within two blocks of the route considered underutilized, there are significant opportunities for transit-oriented
• Market Demand: A summary of the projected market demand by land use for Downtown and the Atlanta Streetcar corridor and evidence of the economic development impact of streetcar projects in other cities
Before
After
development that will improve the quality of life for residents, employees, visitors, shoppers, and students throughout the corridor and provide economic opportunity for businesses large and small to prosper.
A rendering of a potential building improvement to attract new tenants.
• The Plan: A vision plan summary with corridor-long drawings and diagrams along with block-by-block conceptual site plans and accompanying renderings and text narratives for key available sites (see the two images above). • Implementation Tools: Information about incentives that are available to support the proposed development Work is underway now by a team of professional planners and designers to complete the guide. It is scheduled to be released during the summer of 2012, so that work can begin immediately to recruit new investment to the Atlanta Streetcar corridor. Special thanks to the Atlanta Regional Commission Livable Centers Initiative and the Urban Land Institute Urban Innovation fund for support of this effort. From left: Ceasar Mitchell, A.J. Robinson, Mayor Kasim Reed,Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Keisha Bottoms, Kwanza Hall, Lamar Willis, Frederick L. Daniels, Dr. Beverly Scott
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Central Atlanta Progress/Atlanta Downtown Improvement District
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Summer 2012
Meet the New Neighbors
New Downtown Restaurants & Retailers • Flowers at the Market, Sweet Auburn Curb Market, opened February 2012 • American Roadhouse, Pencil Factory Lofts, opened March 2012 • Charlot’s Creole Café, Mitchell Street opened April 2012 • Le French Quarter Café, Healey Building, opened May 2012 • Arepa Mia, Sweet Auburn Curb Market opened May 2012 • Fifth Third Bank, Georgia-Pacific building opened June 2012 • High Road Craft Ice Cream, Sweet Auburn Curb Market, opened July 2012 • CVS, Peachtree Center, opened June 2012 • Naan Stop Express Indian Cuisine, Broad Street, opening July 2012 • Big Kahuna Restaurant, SunTrust Plaza, opening 2012 • Ammazza! Neapolitan Pizza, Edgewood Avenue, opening 2012
Save the Date Downtown Atlanta Restaurant Week July 21-29 Many of Downtown Atlanta’s finest dining establishments take part in this fabulous food event. There are no passes to buy, coupons to carry or cards to punch. You simply attend the restaurant of your choice during Downtown Atlanta Restaurant Week and select from a special three-course dinner menu, for $25 and $35 per person, plus tip, plus tax. Town Hall Meeting • July 26, White Oak Kitchen & Cocktails GeorgiaForward Forum September 12-13, The Classic Center, Athens, GA The 2012 Forum will examine how Georgia should orient itself to succeed in today’s global economy and what statewide prosperity should look like and how to achieve it. Downtown Development Day • November 7
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Central Atlanta Progress/Atlanta Downtown Improvement District
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Downtown Dining Boasting more than 300 restaurants, Downtown Atlanta is the hottest spot for connoisseurs and casual diners alike. With a diversity of options, Downtown provides something for every budget, for every night and every one! Agatha’s “A Taste of Mystery” Dinner Theatre Alma Cocina Atlanta Grill BLT Steak Atlanta Café Circa CNN Center Food Court Der Biergarten Durango Steak House Glenn’s Kitchen Legal Sea Foods Lumen Mall at Peachtree Center Food Court Max Lager’s Wood-Fired Grill & Brewery Max’s Coal Oven Pizzeria McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant Meehan’s Public House Nikolai’s Roof Restaurant No Mas! Cantina Park Bar Paschal’s Restaurant Peasant Bistro Prime Meridian Ray’s In the City ROOM at TWELVE Ruth’s Chris Steak House Sidebar STATS Sun Dial Restaurant, Bar & View Sway Sweet Auburn Curb Market Sweet Georgia’s Juke Joint Ted’s Montana Grill Terrace on Peachtree Thrive Trader Vic’s Truva Underground Atlanta w w w. atla ntadow ntow n .com
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Summer 2012
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CENTRAL ATLANTA PROGRESS
2012 Annual Meeting resented by Lanier Parking Solutions, the 2012 Annual Meeting was extremely well-received, and attracted nearly 1,100 attendees to the GWCC’s Sidney Marcus Auditorium. CAP was honored to pay tribute to longtime Downtown champions Bradley Currey, Jr., and Marcia Bansley, this year’s recipients of the Dan Sweat Award and Turner Downtown Community Leadership Award, respectively. Additionally, CAP debuted its “Only In Downtown” video, which highlights some of the most notable attractions, assets and attributes that make Downtown unique.
New 2012 CAP Board Members David Balos, JPMorgan Chase & Co. Marti Blackstock, Parkway Realty
Services
Egbert Perry, Chairman, CAP
Claire Brimmer, Ray’s in the City Cynthia Day, Citizens Trust Bank Walter Dukes, Georgia Power
Company
Doug Franklin, Cox Media Group Lisa Harris, Turner Properties, Inc. John Haupert, Grady Health
System
Richard Jones, Portman Holdings Steve Lindsey, AGL Resources Inc. Kelly Loeffler, Atlanta Dream Eddie Meyers, PNC Financial
A.J. Robinson, President CAP/ADID
Services Group Bill Moseley, Lawson & Moseley John O’Neill, Cushman & Wakefield, Inc. Jeff Portman, AMC Inc. Susan Roe, Atlanta Downtown Neighborhood Association Ken Smith, Jones Day
2012 ADID Board
Robert Sauban, Marcia Bansley, Michael Robison
Chair: Craig Jones, Cousins
Properties
Harry Anderson, The Coca-Cola
Company
Lisa Borders, The Grady Health
Foundation
Curley Dossman, Georgia-Pacific
Corporation
The Honorable Kwanza Hall,
Atlanta City Council Lisa Harris, Turner Properties (new Board Member) Joe Hindsley, Atlanta Hyatt Regency John C. Portman IV, Portman Holdings (new Board Member) Carl Powell, The Integral Group Egbert Perry, Bradley Currey, Jr.,Tally Sweat, A.J. Robinson, Ann Cramer
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Central Atlanta Progress/Atlanta Downtown Improvement District
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Summer 2012
July 31 T Transportation Vote
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RTR Impact (Source: Atlanta Regional Commission) • Collectively, the Atlanta region will benefit from a $9.2 billion savings in fuel and personal time. • Nearly 200,000 jobs will be supported or created by 2040, with two-thirds of them being in high- or mid-paying sectors.
The Regional Transportation Referendum for business and residents across the region on July 31.
• The average metro commuter spends $924 each year due to traffic congestion.
he Transportation Investment Act of 2010 gives metro Atlanta residents the opportunity to vote on a 1 percent sales tax to fund transportation projects throughout the metro area – Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale counties. If approved by metro Atlanta voters, the additional penny resulting from this Regional Transportation Referendum (RTR) will raise $8.5 billion over a 10-year period.
• The 157 projects proposed by the RTR will result in an average decrease in traffic delays of 24 percent percent
Eighty-five percent of this amount, or $6.14 billion, will fund specific interstate highway improvements, state roadways, transit, sidewalks, bike facilities, as well as other projects. The remaining 15 percent of the proceeds, $1.08 billion, will be allocated to every city and county in the region for local projects identified by these governments. All funds raised within the Atlanta region will stay in the region and can only be used to implement transportation projects. On July 31 the voters of metro Atlanta will decide whether this funding will be approved for the list of metro Atlanta transportation projects. A number of significant projects have been proposed for the Downtown community and within the City of Atlanta. With weeks remaining, CAP/ADID encourages metro citizens to learn more about the choices presented and to decide whether to approve a penny sales tax to support these projects. The Regional Transportation Referendum on July 31 is one possible solution to reduce Atlanta’s congestion, create jobs and improve our quality of life. Learn more by visiting www.transformmetroatlanta.com.
Downtown Projects • Three Downtown viaduct replacements: Pryor Street, Central Avenue and Courtland Street • Traffic and pedestrian improvements within key corridors: Peachtree Street, Edgewood Avenue, Auburn Avenue, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Spring Street, Memorial Drive, and North Avenue, among others • Atlanta BeltLine and Atlanta Streetcar Transit and Trails projects in the Northeast and Southwest BeltLine corridors with connections into Downtown and Midtown MARTA stations (approx. 10 miles) • Corridor improvements on Piedmont Avenue • MARTA “State of Good Repair” rehabilitation projects and system upgrades
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Central Atlanta Progress/Atlanta Downtown Improvement District
Don’t Miss July 31- Vote Early! Visit the Georgia Secretary of State’s webpage for an online voter registration application or an application for an absentee or early voting ballot. • July 9: Advanced (Absentee In-Person) Voting begins [O.C.G.A. §21-2-385 (d)(1)] • July 21: Saturday Voting [§21-2-385 (d)(1)]
Getting the Word Out Engage your colleagues, partner organizations, and personal networks in planning to vote on July 31st. With just weeks to go, here are a few easy steps you can take to maximize participation among your employees and others you interact with. Send an Outlook calendar invitation to everyone in your office—Subject “Vote Today: Regional Transportation Referendum” for the morning of July 31. In the body of the calendar invitation, you can use this link to provide them an overview of the referendum and direct them to www. transformmetroatlanta.com. Consider Know the facts. giving your employees an hour or Learn about the two off to vote. Have a letter or email sent to everyone on your staff and any other people in your network about why it’s important to vote on July 31. Also post notices throughout your office in common areas.
projects around the region and in your community.
Wha t is the Reg iona l Tran spor tatio n Refe rend
TR ANSFORM >> METRO ATL ANT
A
High ligh ts of the proj ects : um?
On July 31, 2012 , resid ents acro ss the 10-c ount y Atlan ta Regi on have the oppo rtuni ty to vote on a regio nal refer endu m that, if appr oved will fund $8.5 billio n in spec ific trans porta tion impr ovem ents . This is one pote ntial solut ion to ease cong estio n and give Atlan tans more optio ns for getti ng arou nd.
157 trans porta tion proje
cts
57 miles of new rail and
bus rapid trans it
165 miles of new/ impr oved roads Inter state inter chan ge repai rs 200,0 00 jobs creat ed
& supp orted
$9.2 billio n saved in wast
ed time & fuel
24% bette r traffi c flow on impr oved roads
Every chance you 1.2 millio n poun ds less Scan with your tailpi pe get, speak to pollu tion daily smar tpho ne for more leaders of other 72,00 0 cars taken off infor mati on. the road companies in your Find out more at professional network in metro ww w.TransformMetroAtlant Atlanta. Ask if they also have a a.com plan of engagement for their employees. Share these ideas and others you have with them for getting out to vote.
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Summer 2012
Atlanta Better Buildings Challange
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he Atlanta Better Buildings Challenge (“Atlanta BBC”) is a nation-leading public-private initiative to reduce energy and water consumption 20 percent by 2020 across participating buildings in Atlanta, with a primary focus on a 400-block area in the city’s Downtown Improvement District. The Better Buildings Challenge was initially launched in 2011 at the Clinton Global Initiative as one of the inaugural projects of President Obama’s and the Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Initiative. Atlanta is one of more than 30 cities competing in the program, including Denver, Seattle, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Houston and Washington, DC. Central Atlanta Progress, in partnership with the City of Atlanta and many other local organizations, is leading the way to energy and water efficiency with this exciting program. More than 35 million square feet of building space is committed to the program and the numbers continue to grow. The program offers many incentives to property owners including free energy audits, education and training programs and innovative project financing opportunities. The energy audit identifies various energy conservation measures that buildings can implement to reach their efficiency goals. These range from operational changes to capital improvements. The education and training programs provide information on the latest innovations and technologies in energy efficiency as well as technical training for facility owners and staff. Finally, the Atlanta BBC team is working to identify existing resources for project financing and funding, as well as create new market opportunities. A recent “Meet Your Match” event held at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta offered building owners the opportunity to meet industry professionals to assist in identifying solutions and best practices for meeting the goals of the Atlanta Better Buildings Challenge.
ATLANTA BBC Current Participants:
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55 Allen Plaza Technology Square Research Building Centennial Research Building Embassy Suites Centennial Olympic Park Hartsfield Jackson International Airport AmericasMart CNN Center/Omni Hotel Epsten Group Campus - The Edge GSA Summit Building Morehouse School of Medicine Hugh Gloster Building Ten Peachtree Place Ponce City Market Georgia World Congress Center Georgia Dome Philips Arena Spelman College Science Building Fulton County Government Center Fulton County Central Library Luckie Street Properties Georgia Power Georgia Tech Allen Lamar Sustainable Education Building Georgia State University - 1 Park Place Georgia Pacific Center 330 Marietta Street Coca-Cola North Avenue Tower Centennial Tower 100 Peachtree Street Centennial Park West 260/270 Peachtree Clark Atlanta University - Sage Bacote Hall Peachtree Center Grady Memorial Hospital SunTrust Plaza & Garden Offices St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
Above, clockwise from top left: Fulton County Government Center, 260/270 Peachtree and Centennial Research Building. Opposite page, from top to bottom: Embassy Suites Centennial Olympic Park, Ten Peachtree Place, 330 Marietta Street and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. 10
Central Atlanta Progress/Atlanta Downtown Improvement District
Hyatt Regency Atlanta Emory Midtown
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Summer 2012
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ADDEA Award Winners
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n partnership with CAP, Atlanta Magazine Editor Steve Fennessey presented the Atlanta Downtown Design Excellence Awards at Downtown Development Day last November. The ADDEA is presented annually, and recognizes newly-created and renovated Downtown spaces that demonstrate excellence in design in four categories. The 2011 ADDEA winners include:
• Community/Residential: Georgia Aquarium’s AT&T “Dolphin Tales” Gallery • Hotel: Hyatt Regency Atlanta • Office: Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Building • Restaurant/Bar: Sister Louisa’s Church of the Living Room & Ping Pong Emporium
Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Building
Hyatt Regency Atlanta
Sister Louisa’s Church
Georgia Aquarium
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Summer 2012
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Fresh off of the success of 2011’s Elevate: Art Above Underground exhibition, the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs Public Art Program presents City Bloc, an initiative seeking to answer a need voiced by the art community for more marketing support of temporary art projects in Downtown Atlanta. Through City Bloc, artists, collaboratives and arts organizations will be encouraged to look to Downtown Atlanta as a place to exhibit and perform their works within the month of October.
City Bloc
KISS ME! I’M IRISH!
St. Patrick’s Day Parade This year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade – found only in Downtown Atlanta – featured a 60-foot Kermit the Frog balloon, the world’s largest Irish flag and 4,000 dancers, musicians and Irish enthusiasts. Woodruff Park even got into the spirit, with fountains flowing with green water!
Earth Day Cleanup n April 24, Central Atlanta Progress teamed up with the City of Atlanta, Sustainable Atlanta and the Environmental Protection Agency for a celebration of Downtown community involvement. The first-ever Downtown Atlanta Earth Day Cleanup Challenge brought together individuals, organizations, schools, federal, state and city agencies and community groups with a goal to get out and clean up the city center. The volunteers tackled a host of beautification projects including litter pickup, tree planting, landscaping and more, and ended the day with a celebratory rally in Centennial Olympic Park.
Party in the Park n May, Centennial Olympic Park made a splash with Party in the Park, a new one-day concert that brought thousands to Downtown Atlanta. With a goal of encouraging the community to support live entertainment in Downtown, Party in the Park featured performances from headliner The Flaming Lips, as well as Young the Giant, AWOLNATION, Dawes and Ponderosa.
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Central Atlanta Progress/Atlanta Downtown Improvement District
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Summer 2012
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Woodruff Park News
Portman Film Premieres on GPB
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ummer of 2012 brings new developments to Woodruff Park, including fresh new Bermuda grass, a repaired irrigation system for the entire park, new tables and chairs, and a new playground. The award-winning ATL playground was designed by Jeff Santos, the winner of an international design competition, and was produced by Landscape Structures Inc. Through generous support from Bank of America, the playground will be installed in July and will be located on the northwest corner of the main park area, near Peachtree Street. Zumba is ongoing on Saturday mornings at 9 a.m. near the Water Wall Fountain, while larger-scale events are being scheduled, such as the German Bierfest in August. Suggestions or requests for programming should be directed to Cooper Holland, cooper@atlantadowntown.com, or (404) 658-5980. The Woodruff Park Planter Program has been expanded with the new spring planting already in place, which is further complemented by the expanded landscape projects in the park. This summer, Woodruff Park’s two main fountains will be closed for a short period of time to allow for the repair of an underground water leak near the fountain areas. It is anticipated that the fountains will only be turned off for approximately a month or shorter.
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Central Atlanta Progress/Atlanta Downtown Improvement District
On May 23, 2012, Georgia Public Broadcasting premiered the acclaimed documentary, “John Portman: A Life of Building.” The film, directed by two-time Emmy-winning producer Ben Loeterman, chronicles the career of acclaimed Atlanta architect John Portman. Above, Jarel Portman, Loeterman, Mickey Steinberg and Bruce Burkhardt conduct a Q&A session after the premiere.
Civic Center Redevelopment On behalf of the City of Atlanta, CAP/ ADID recently contracted with a consulting team headed by HR&A to analyze both the operations and functionality of the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center and its related facilities as a profitable business venture for the City and/or a possible redevelopment opportunity for the area. Preliminary findings indicate that the Civic Center could successfully contribute to the television and film industry with its continued use as a sound stage. The 100,000 square foot Exhibit Hall is currently being used to film a television show and has been seen in such movies as Joyful Noise and The Three Stooges. A final set of recommendations for the Civic Center with an outline of next steps will be available from the consulting team in early June.
Tune in to CAP’s ‘Only in Downtown’ Video Downtown Atlanta is home to some of the city’s most unique venues, restaurants and attractions. Be sure to check out our special “Only In Downtown” video, which highlights all of the things that make the city center someplace special. View the video on CAP/ADID’s YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/atlantadowntown.
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Summer 2012
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APD Names Zone 5 Commander
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ajor Wayne Whitmire began his career with the Atlanta Police Department in 1990. After graduating from the Atlanta Police Academy he was assigned to Zone 3, where he served until 1995, when he was appointed as an Investigator/Detective and assigned to the Narcotics Unit. In 1997 he was named Law Enforcement Officer of the month by Airtouch/ Verizon cellular for leading an investigation that led to arrest and the dismantling of the largest phone cloning operation in the Southeastern United States. In 1999 he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant where he served as a Supervisor in Narcotics Unit, Commander of the Intelligence/Organized Crime Unit, and in Field Operations Zone 6. In 2004 he was named “Supervisor of the Year” by the Atlanta Police Department. In 2010 the Atlanta Police Department reinstated the rank of Captain and he is one of the eight initial Lieutenants appointed to the new rank. On November 11, 2010, he was appointed to the rank of Major and assigned to the Airport. In March 2012 he was appointed Zone 5 Commander. Major Whitmire’s strategy is to continue the Atlanta Police Department’s values of “Dedication, Professionalism, and Integrity,” while expanding the focus of balancing customer service and security at the busiest airport in the world.
Marietta/Centennial Olympic Park Drive Streetscape Wraps Up
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owntown’s signature streetscape project is complete! The project installed new street lights, in-ground planters with decorative fencing, above ground planters, trees and lush landscaping along Marietta Street between Park Avenue West and Peachtree Street and Centennial Olympic Park Drive between Marietta Street and Luckie Street. The project also installed new ADA-Compliant sidewalks and ramps and repaved and restriped Marietta Street. This soon to be complete improvement project serves as an ideal corridor to connect Centennial Olympic Park to Underground Atlanta and the Five Points area.
Planters Added on Peachtree
Public Safety Update Crime continues to decrease in Downtown, much of which can be attributed to the diligent enforcement efforts of the Atlanta Police Department, as well as the many partnerships they foster with other public safety agencies and the private sector. Downtown continues to see improvement in larcenies from auto as a result of the Clean Car Campaign.
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Central Atlanta Progress/Atlanta Downtown Improvement District
Peachtree Street between Andrew Young International Boulevard and John Portman Boulevard is under construction! This block will receive new in-ground and above ground planters with lush landscaping and protective fencing to create a fresh and safe pedestrian environment. Construction will be complete in July. w w w. atla ntadow ntow n .com
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50 Hurt Plaza, Suite 110 Atlanta, Georgia 30303 404-658-1877 marketing@atlantadowntown.com
www.atlantadowntown.com
TRANSFORM
>> METRO ATLANTA
On July 31, 2012, voters across the Atlanta Region have the opportunity to vote on a regional referendum that, if approved, will fund $8.5 billion in specific transportation improvements. Find out more at www. TransformMetroAtlanta.com