How a $6 billion development is transforming 6 million square feet of downtown Atlanta

A $5 billion to $6 billion redevelopment project is transforming 6 million square feet of downtown Atlanta into a major entertainment district.

Centennial Yards is converting the property formerly known as “The Gulch”—previously a maze of parking lots, open spaces and rail lines—into a hub for hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues.

The complex stands as the second-largest mixed-use real estate project in the United States and one of the largest sports-adjacent entertainment districts currently under construction anywhere in the world.

Located near the venues for the Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United, the site is designed to host weekly events for visitors.

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Brian McGowan serves as the president of Centennial Yards.

McGowan noted that the location originated as a central transportation hub for the city.

“This site is here because all the railroads converged here,” McGowan said.

To relieve downtown traffic congestion caused by the train yards in earlier years, the city constructed elevated bridges called viaducts over the tracks.

“So we have to build everything 14 feet in the air to get up to the street level,” McGowan said. “So it’s extremely complicated construction.”

The development features a central outdoor plaza capable of holding between 2,000 and 3,000 people for live music and events.

The district is incorporating prominent local dining options such as Busy B Cafe, Verooni Napoli and Chops.

“So we wanna make sure Atlantans and when other people come from around the world, around the country, they can experience Atlanta cuisine as well,” McGowan said.