Courtesy of the Midtown Alliance.

The forest of cranes towering over Midtown Atlanta makes it clear that developer interest in the area is intense, and according to the Midtown Alliance’s 2021 annual report, development activity has reached record levels. 

During the year, 5,172 residential units and four million square feet of office space were delivered or under construction, the largest annual amounts in the district’s history, according to the nonprofit group, which has worked to boost the fortunes of the 1.2 square-mile area since 1978. 

Also during the year, the Midtown Development Review Committee reviewed 10 projects representing 811 square feet of office space, 1,983 residences and 54,000 square feet of retail. 

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All of this activity brings an annual economic impact of $19 billion to the city of Atlanta and $30 billion to the state of Georgia, the report states.  

Private entities weren’t the only source of investment in the heart of Midtown. There was $48 million worth of public improvements funded and in the pipeline at year end, with enhancements completed or underway at Arts District Plaza, Commercial Row Commons and 10th Street Park.  

Transportation improvements included new sidewalks, pedestrian-actuated signals and protected bike lanes, all of which helped boost pedestrian counts in the 120-block area by 30% through September. 

“There has never been a more exciting time to be in the city-building business,” the report states. “It will take all of us, but our collective job is about more than just restoring what we had before disruption swept into 2020 and 2021. It’s about making our city better in every dimension.”