We've spent the last two and half years dedicating our careers for this moment and beyond. On Saturday, two days before the first of eight World Cup games is played in Atlanta, we welcomed Atlantans and the world to South Downtown and more specifically Founders Green. Below are the remarks I gave.
The gravity of this moment can only be explained by how many times this moment has defied the odds.
10 years ago a local Atlantan successfully convinced a German development group that investing in real estate south of Five Points MARTA station in downtown Atlanta was a good investment. Atlanta defied the odds.
After nearly everyone left downtown urban cores across the country due to a pandemic, the Germans had had enough of Atlanta too and took a one way ticket back to Berlin. Yet, two team members stayed on, April Stammel and Kevin Murphy. They poured every ounce of belief and energy into finding a new home. Without their stewardship through the roughest time this moment wouldn’t happen. Atlanta defied the odds.
During that time, a few entrepreneurs less than 9 miles up Peachtree Street, had started their companies in a room no bigger than the size of a broom closet, solo, but they were wrapped around a community of other ambitious entrepreneurs. Through the entrepreneurial feats of David Cummings, Kyle Porter, Tope Awotona, Craig Hyde and more they generated the proceeds for the possible investment in South Downtown. Everyone of those companies could have failed multiple times, yet they were acquired at the perfect time. Which allowed for this moment. They defied the odds.
When most people cash out they check out of Atlanta. Not David Cummings. Time and time again he speaks softly but carries massive weight through his actions. He was called crazy by every contemporary when he said let’s go all in on downtown Atlanta. He defied the odds.
The only time we didn’t defy the odds is when we recruited our remarkable team. To each and everyone of you, please know I’m grateful for what you have individually brought to this neighborhood.
Here we are Atlanta. We now have a sense of place in our downtown, not just because of the historic, beautiful buildings, but because of the people. Every tenant who believes this is the future of our city. Thank you for making this the living room of Atlanta.
Lastly, Thank you fellow Atlantans for being here today and being a city where the content of your character matters most. If I’ve learned anything over the past 2.5 years building on the streets in downtown Atlanta, everyone in Atlanta is accessible; regardless of occupation, race, or religion. We are a city where character, kindness, and integrity are everything. So thank you Atlanta for creating that culture. We will let it flourish in South Downtown.
For the next 40 days we hope the World Cup visitors enjoy this new addition to our city, and for Atlantans, let’s enjoy it for the next 40 years. Godspeed and thank you!