ABSTRACT
The simultaneity of Atlanta's economic and social transformation recalls its informal motto, "a city too busy too hate". Invest Atlanta, the city's economic development agency, and the Metro Atlanta Chamber routinely tout Atlanta's high rankings in publications like Kiplinger's, and Site Selection magazine for categories such as "Top State Business Climate Rankings" and "Best States for Business". The collapse of real estate prices during the recession hit Atlanta's residential and commercial markets particularly hard. The housing collapse came at a time when Atlanta's intown neighborhoods were systematically gentrifying, particularly on the east side. The negotiations involved several public authorities, including the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) and Atlanta's economic development arm, Invest Atlanta. The contrasts between these three major projects—the Atlanta BeltLine, the Ponce City Market, and the Atlanta Falcon's new stadium—highlight the choices facing Atlanta as it navigates its own, distinctive twenty-first century approach to economic development and redevelopment.
