We asked two of Downtown’s most influential executives for their thoughts on what makes our city center great and where they see it headed.
Anna Roach, Executive Director & CEO, Atlanta Regional Commission
What makes Downtown special?
Downtown Atlanta has a vibrancy that is second to none in our region. It is so energizing to see the diverse mix of people who bring downtown to life each day: college students heading to class, office workers grabbing a bite to eat, and tourists craning their necks to see the skyscrapers. The Atlanta Regional Commission has proudly called Downtown home for our headquarters for many decades.
I can’t imagine working anywhere else.
Why is Downtown so important to the region?
Every successful region needs a successful urban core. You simply can’t have one without the other. Metro Atlanta’s Downtown is thriving today because it plays such a hugely important role in our region. It remains one of our largest employment centers. It’s home to top-notch higher education and medical facilities. And Downtown is a top tourist destination, boasting world-class museums, major sports and entertainment venues, and convention meeting space – amenities that other regions certainly envy.
What do the next 5 years look like for Downtown?
I couldn’t be more excited about the future of Downtown Atlanta. There is so much going on here. Outside my office window, I can see Centennial Yards blossoming into a major regional destination, and headlines abuzz with news of a tech scene emerging. Nearby, visionary developers are making a big bet on a transformation of historic South Downtown into a vibrant live-work-play neighborhood. Downtown will be easier and better to navigate, thanks to expanded bike-ped infrastructure and transit investments like bus rapid transit lines and a renovation of the Five Points MARTA station. The future of Downtown is indeed bright amidst this perfect constellation of both public and private investment and attention.
Chris Womack, Chairman, President & CEO, Southern Company
What makes Downtown special?
As a region, we have collectively committed to unleashing Atlanta’s economy and have continued to succeed as a result. We haven’t wavered from that commitment for 165 years. And now, we need to double down on that legacy.
Not only is it the right thing to do, but there’s also a clear business case for investing in our community, and in our people. The math here is simple. A thriving community fosters a thriving economy where the next generation of talent wants to live and work. At Southern Company, our commitment to our communities is steadfast. We believe in making communities better, and more resilient because we are a part of them.
In the face of Hurricane Helene’s unprecedented destruction, we stood together, offering our resources and support to those who needed it. And that’s exactly what we need to do now as a region when it comes to the challenges and opportunities we’re seeing in Downtown Atlanta—we need to stand together, reimagine, and act.
Why is Downtown so important to the region?
Downtown Atlanta is the front door to metro Atlanta. It’s our region’s central core, the heart of the economic engine of Atlanta, and the cultural and political hub. We need to revitalize it to keep accelerating our momentum.
What do the next 5 years look like for Downtown?
It means investing in infrastructure. Safety. Cleanliness. It means reimagining Downtown Atlanta to work for everyone—whether you’re a student, professional, small business owner, visitor, or resident. We need to create a neighborhood where everyone belongs.
This is no small feat and will require an abundance of resilience. But together we will get this done. I have no doubt we will accomplish our mission. We will see this dream come true.
If I seem bullish about this, it’s because I am. When we work together, we multiply that impact—driving transformative change across this region we all call home.
