Apr. 8, 2004

Imagine Downtown, the extensive strategic visioning and implementation planning process sponsored by Central Atlanta Progress (CAP) and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (ADID), just received a $3.6 million boost for its implementation phase from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation.

"The first phase of Imagine Downtown was an eight-month planning process that intently studied the development potential of five distinct Downtown neighborhoods. It involved thousands of people from the business, governmental and residential communities to help map out how Downtown should grow," said A.J. Robinson, President of CAP/ADID.

The neighborhoods identified as part of the Imagine Downtown process are: the Jones/Simpson/Alexander – Ralph McGill Corridor, Sweet Auburn/Eastside, the Peachtree Street Corridor, the South Central Business District, and Terminus, the area adjacent to and north of the proposed multimodal passenger terminal.

The grant, according to Robinson, will be paid over three years and consists of two parts – $2.7 million in three direct payments and $900,000 that must be matched on a one to one basis by pledges and contributions from the business community and private foundations. “Every day just gets brighter for Downtown with all the momentum we have going," said Robinson, “and today the Woodruff Foundation gave its seal of approval to the Imagine Downtown process."

The $3.6 million Woodruff grant comes right on the heels of a $500,000 grant commitment, also made to the Imagine Downtown process, by Turner Broadcasting System Chairman Phil Kent. "This is solid validation for where CAP and our stakeholders are taking Downtown. It speaks volumes about how we are turning Downtown toward an exciting future," said Scott Wilfong, President and CEO of SunTrust Bank of Atlanta and CAP Chairman.

"Many of us in the Downtown business community have toiled long and hard to get Downtown where it is today," said A.D. "Pete" Correll, Chairman and CEO of the Georgia-Pacific Corp. and a past CAP Chairman. "This is where Downtown turns the corner – we need everyone's support throughout this community to make this work."

Further Information

For more information, contact Richard Orr, 404-658-1883 or richorr@centralatlantaprogress.org.