Council’s Two Forts and the Airport Lunch a Success

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The Council’s Two Forts and the Airport event, held on August 26th, was a huge success, attracting over 200 people. The event highlighted the increasing development that is occurring on the south side of Metro Atlanta, particularly at Fort Gillem, Fort McPherson, the Atlanta Airport, and Porsche North America’s new headquarters. These properties all exist within the Atlanta Aerotropolis area, a region that is poised for great growth.

The event featured short presentations, as well as a panel discussion moderated by Scott Condra, Council Executive Committee Member and President of Jacoby Development, by four leaders who are directly involved in redevelopment of the Aerotropolis area:

  • Forrest Robinson – CEO of Weeks Robinson Properties, who has been leading the development of  Fort Gillem for 10 years;
  • Darlene Hawksley – Real Estate & Business Director of McPherson Redevelopment,  who is leading the redevelopment efforts at Fort McPherson;
  • Miguel Southwell – Aviation General Manager of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, who is responsible for the ongoing development of the airport;
  • Joseph Folz – General Counsel & Secretary of Porsche North America and Chair of the Aerotropolis Alliance, who highlighted the ongoing construction of Porsche North America’s headquarters and experience center, as well as plans for the newly created Aerotropolis Alliance

Each of these areas has attracted serious development recently, and there is great room for further growth. Not only is there land perfectly primed for development, but this land has the great benefit of incredible proximity to the world’s busiest airport. The goal is for the area around the airport to become an “aerotropolis”, a community of its own, with all of the “live, work, play” components that are so highly valued in the market.

The Atlanta Regional Commission created a special fact sheet for this event; it highlights the airport region, provides additional details about the newly formed Aerotropolis Alliance and the vision that this group has for that area, and also features key recent developments in the airport area.

To see the ARC’s fact sheet on the area, click HERE.

Thank you to those who attended and to our panelists for their great contribution to the city. We are excited to continue to partner with these and other stakeholders in the continued development of Metro Atlanta area.