ATLANTA — Leaders in Atlanta spent Thursday welcoming a new project to the downtown area.
A special groundbreaking ceremony was held for Centennial Yards, formerly known as “The Gulch.” The $5 billion redevelopment project has been in the works on Mitchell Street next to Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
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Thursday’s groundbreaking focused on a 292-room hotel and a 304-unit residential building. Centennial Yards president called Thursday a historic day for the company.
“Centennial Yards is one of the most ambitious developments in the country and today’s groundbreaking on the first ground-up towers not only marks an extraordinary day in Atlanta history but also the celebration of our shared vision for a vibrant Downtown coming to life,” Brian McGowan said.
Channel 2 Action News has been following the Centennial Yards development for years. It used to be the home of Atlanta’s Terminal Station.
Channel 2′s Dave Huddleston got exclusive access back in March to images of how the area will look once it’s completed. McGowan told Huddleston that the project will make downtown a destination for tourists and locals.
“The Gulch, we all know, is...in the heart of the city, of downtown,” McGowan said. “This is going to be a place you’re going to want to take your family and friends when you want to show them Atlanta.”
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The area already has offices, restaurants and shopping centers. Once the project is completed, Centennial Yards will have 4-million square feet of new residential buildings and 4-million square feet of commercial buildings.
McGowan said some of the project will be completed by the time Atlanta hosts the 2026 World Cup. He said World Cup fans will have plenty to do when the project transforms into a tourist destination.
“We’ll have a world-class entertainment district in the heart-and-soul core of the property,” McGowan said. “This is bigger than a Super Bowl. Thirty days of events, and there will be people from all over the world.”
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