Fostering a Culture of Vision: 70 Years of Atlanta Leadership 2010 ANNUAL REPORT 1 9 4 1 vision and leadership This report represents a year of reflection and celebration of the co-dynamics of vision and leadership that are the sustaining values for Downtown Atlanta. More than any external pressure, Atlanta’s leaders were driven to improve and build this city by their deep desire and pride to see things better for all who lived, worked or visited here. Our bent toward hospitality and community were deeply held by those who were born here and readily adopted by those who moved here. Strong committed leadership is a rare commodity in today’s world, but in the midst of all of the changes in Atlanta since 1941, that virtue has remained our cornerstone. Being a transportation hub makes Atlanta a valuable asset for multiple stakeholders, including Mayor Hartsfield, pictured here. When Atlanta’s leaders banded together in 1941, there was a belief that to achieve its potential, our city needed strategic and responsible investment so that all would benefit. Pictured: Peachtee Street in 1941. 1941 1946 1952 1957 The Central Atlanta Improvement Association (CAIA) is chartered. At CAIA’s request, the Georgia General Delta Air Lines decides to make Assembly enacts legislation to build Atlanta its home. A Highway and Transportation Plan Georgia Plaza Park that is now part Mayor Hartsfield speaks at for Atlanta recommends a Downtown of Underground Atlanta. the CAIA annual meeting freeway system, a modern bus terminal emphasizing the importance on air rights above the “Gulch” and a of the Downtown business unified railroad passenger terminal. community in maintaining “decent race relations.” OUR 70 YEAR HISTORY 1 1 9 7 0 THECREATIONOFTHEAMBASSADORFORCE BY CAP HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE HEALTH OF DOWNTOWN. MOREOVER, IT HELPED ENABLE THE EXPANSION OF GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY BY MAKING DOWNTOWN SAFER AND CLEANER. — Carl V. Patton, Central Atlanta Progress Chairman 2001-2002 President Emeritus, Georgia State University We aim to build a 21st century Downtown as the heart of the Atlanta region – a vibrant community with strong leadership and sustainable infrastructure that is safe, livable, diverse, our economically viable, accessible, clean, hospitable and entertaining. For 70 years now we have owned this mission. mission Decade after decade we have challenged the status quo and raised our horizons to see a future community that was growing stronger to meet the demands and expectations of all its members. And 2010 was no exception to this legacy. While the skyline expanded, so did Atlanta’s reputation for hospitality and hard work. Pictured: Downtown Atlanta, circa 1970. 1960 1961 1967 1971 CAIA and the Uptown Association The launch of Atlanta magazine merge to form Central Atlanta The Uptown Association is formed was an integral piece in building Progress, Inc. (CAP) to focus to promote the Ponce de Leon Avenue / support for the core of the city. By on market-rate housing, faster public investments and support North Avenue corridor. It also worked communicating the stories of vision, Central Area Study – CAP’s first comprehensive for citywide improvements. to promote housing code enforcement courage and achievement of the planning project which focuses on transportation and aesthetic improvements in what people who made up the mosaic issues, envisions MARTA and a massive expansion is now Midtown. of our town, Atlanta magazine of expressway and mass transit systems helped shape our conscience, to better link Downtown with the airport and outlook and sense of home. surrounding suburbs. 2 3 1 9 7 0 PRESIDENT&CHAIRMEN’SLETTER Fostering a Culture of Vision: 70 Years of Leadership TAkINGCAREOFTODAYWITHANEYETOTHEFUTURE Although few of us were around in 1941, we know a thing We convened over 200 stakeholders in the inaugural or two about the status of Atlanta some 70 years ago. GeorgiaForward Conference in Macon to foster solutions What we call “Downtown” today was Atlanta back then, for all Georgians, propelled the 3rd annual BIKEFEST Delta Air Lines decided to make Atlanta its home in 1941 that focused on alternate forms of transportation and and the Atlanta Crackers played baseball at Ponce De hosted the sold-out Downtown Development Day, which Leon Park. And here’s another historical note – there was recognized excellence and featured Bernie Marcus talking a group of business and civic leaders who had a vision to about the economic impact of the Georgia Aquarium, make Atlanta a better place for everyone and they formed including how 50% of visitors come from outside the state. the Central Atlanta Improvement Association to focus their efforts. The much anticipated Georgia State University football team kicked off a successful inaugural season that included We are certainly benefi ciaries of the vision and caring of home games at the Georgia Dome. And the school had a those early leaders who felt strongly that the emerging record enrollment for the 2010-2011 academic year. opportunities for Atlanta required commitment, focus and collaboration to fully realize greatness. But not greatness Redevelopment projects like 200 Peachtree, new dining as an end in itself. There was a sense of stewardship that venues and the continuation of multiple streetscape went along with the desire to conduct business, educate, enhancements and signalization projects show our or serve all who lived and visited here. Certainly, Atlanta commitment to infrastructure improvement that is vital has realized some of the dreams of those leaders who rose to future-looking cities like ours. to the occasion. The mix of people and brands that have been synonymous with Atlanta around the world include: When US Transportation Secretary, Ray LaHood, and The Coca-Cola Company, Martin Luther King, Jr., Georgia US Representative, John Lewis, announced in October Institute of Technology, Ted Turner, Billy Payne, The Home that the U.S. Department of Transportation had granted Depot, Andrew Young, John Portman, Morehouse College, $47.6 million in funding for the proposed Atlanta Streetcar Emory University, the 1996 Olympics, Hank Aaron, Robert project, there was a sense that we had come full circle. Woodruff, Mayor Hartsfi eld, Maynard Jackson and many While we see a multiplicity of challenges and opportunities more who will be recognized for their contributions many before us today, they are similar to those faced by our years from now. forebears some 70 years ago. And we will address those challenges and opportunities with the same dedication Thoughtful planning led to a positive integration of ideas as well as the combination of functionality and beauty, This 2010 report refl ects on some of the characteristics and creativity that they did. We will do it because we care such as urban greenspace like this one located on Peachtree Street. of our planning and development endeavors that have about Atlanta and because we have a vision to make proved valuable year after year. As always, we will share our city better. Come join us! with you what has been collectively accomplished in 2010 in carrying out our mission. In last year’s report, we at 1973 Central Atlanta Progress (CAP) and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (ADID) suggested that Atlanta would prove resilient and equal to the task of thriving in a challenging environment. We have many reasons now to affi rm that judgment. CAP organizes Park Central Communities, Inc., to develop a multi-use project on 78 acres in the Bedford-Pine Urban Redevelopment Area, IN 2010, WE ENGAGED IN A COMBINATION west of Boulevard and north of Freedom Parkway in what was called OF FOLLOWING THROUGH ON OUR the Bedford Pine neighborhood and prior to that Buttermilk Bottom. COMMITMENTS AND AMPLIFYING OUR Slums with unpaved streets gave way to massive urban revitalization and construction of large projects such as the Atlanta Civic Center, the VISION FOR THE FUTURE. S.TaylorGlover, CraigJones, A.J.Robinson, Georgia Power headquarters and new housing development. Bedford Pine is now known as Central Park. CAP Chair ADID Chair CAP President & CAP Vice Chair 4 5 THE ACCOMPLISHMENT I AM PROUDEST OF DURING MY TENURE AS CHAIRMAN OF CAP WAS THE FORMATION OF THE ATLANTA DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (ADID) AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE AMBASSADOR FORCE. THATEFFORTCHANGEDTHEIMAGEOFDOWNTOWN AND STARTED THE ROAD BACK THAT WE ALL ENJOY TODAY. — A. D. Correll, Central Atlanta Progress Chairman 1995-1996 Chairman, Atlanta Equity Investors, LLC sustainability revitalized outskirts in which residences, The bike share program enables employees in Building a sustainable Downtown shops, schools, parks and other amenities 191 Peachtree Tower and the American Cancer is a multifaceted endeavor, but we’re exist close together. “In the 1950s, suburbs Society Center to reserve one of two bicycles for not the only ones thinking about it. In practically were the future,” says University of Michigan short trips during the day. This program provides every facility, hotel, classroom, office and shop, architecture and urban-planning professor, increased mobility options and adds flexibility people are looking for solutions to become Robert Fishman, commenting on the striking for employees taking their lunch breaks, running healthier, serviceable, safer and environmentally cultural shift. “The city was then seen as a errands or incorporating exercise into their sustainable. All of this points to the importance dingy environment.” But today it’s these workday; especially those who use alternative of fostering leadership to serve the rest of the urban neighborhoods that are exciting and commute modes to get to work. community – now and in the future. diverse and exploding with growth. Harvard Business Review, May 2010 Georgia State recently acquired two hotels that Another factor in sustainability is the natural were converted into student housing for the movement of people and their workplaces to WHILE FUTURE DESIGNS AND University. The hotels are adjacent to the main a more convenient or desirable place.