Aerotropolis alliance pinpoints districts to spur development in Atlanta airport area

ajc.com

Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi

Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi

The Atlanta Aerotropolis Alliance is targeting specific districts in areas around Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport as potential catalysts for more development in the region.

The alliance, which aims to spur and shape development around Hartsfield-Jackson to create an "aerotropolis" business district in the airport region, is completing a blueprint for the aerotropolis area and envisions several key areas for development.

One is the "airport city," next to Hartsfield-Jackson's domestic terminal, where the airport plans to develop a hotel next to the terminal, an office development and a travel plaza with a gas station.

Another is what the aerotropolis alliance calls the "corporate crescent,"the area just north of the airport that includes the headquarters of Delta Air Lines and Porsche North America.

On the east side of the airport next to the international terminal opened in 2012 is the "international gateway," including the Mountain View area.

The area on the southside of the airport is being dubbed "cargo city," where new south cargo buildings are planned by Hartsfield-Jackson.

The Atlanta Aerotropolis community improvement districts are offering commercial and industrial real estate bus tours for investment and development professionals in May. The aerotropolis CIDs and the Atlanta Aerotropolis Alliance have each developed new "Aerotropolis Atlanta" logos.

The Atlanta Regional Commission is facilitating the aerotropolis alliance, bringing together investors, government officials and nonprofits to help develop the area around the airport.

The aerotropolis concept with a mix of residences, business, retail and entertainment around an airport "is developing all over the world," said Doug Hooker, executive director of the Atlanta Regional Commission, during remarks at a Bisnow event Tuesday on the aerotropolis expansion. "Why not [at] the busiest airport in the world?"

ajc.com

Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi

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Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi

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