City Streets Signed Over to a Developer in Downtown Atlanta

In a move that will enable the $350 million redevelopment of Underground Atlanta, the city has agreed to hand over ownership and control of public streets to the developer.

1 minute read

December 24, 2016, 11:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


"The city's decision to give several streets near Underground Atlanta to WRS Real Estate, the South Carolina-based developer lined up to purchase and redevelop the shopping mall, rubbed a lot of folks the wrong way," reports Thomas Wheatley.

In an article from earlier in December, Wheatley explains the details of the deal between the city and WRS Real Estate. Underground Atlanta is a $350 million redevelopment project, and the developers will own and control the streets crossing through the mixed-use project.

More reporting on the deal to sign over city streets to WRS Real Estate is available from Lean Stafford from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Maria Saporta from the Saporta Report.

The focus of the more recent article by Wheatley, however, is the pragmatic response of advocates concerned about the city's decision. Namely, drinking beer.  Specifically, the urbanism advocacy group Thread ATL, is hosting a fundraiser at the Georgia Beer Garden to generate funding for an expected court case.

Thursday, December 22, 2016 in Creative Loafing

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

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