Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta could soon get more open space.
The Georgia World Congress Center Authority agreed Tuesday to begin “purchase option” discussions with the Metro Atlanta Chamber to buy its headquarters, which sits on the park’s border near the new College Football Hall of Fame on Marietta Street.
The authority since last year has been eyeing the chamber building, which it wants to demolish in order to create more greenspace. The move would also aim to improve park aesthetics and sight lines, including the view of the football attraction.
Frank Poe, the Congress Center’s executive director, declined to say how much the authority may pay for the site. But he said the two organizations could come to terms as soon as the next 30 to 45 days.
“We want to move expeditiously, but there are still areas that will have to be vetted out,” Poe said after touring the city’s new $1.4 billion Falcons stadium with members of the authority.
The Chamber declined to comment. Earlier reports said the organization would likely move to another downtown of Midtown location.
Authority leaders have eyed the site as an opportunity to expand greenspace for Centennial, which over the years has become a key feature in selling Atlanta as a convention city. Convention officials offer the park, the Congress Center and the Georgia Dome to big groups such as the recent Alcoholic Anonymous convention that brought more than 61,000 people to Atlanta.
The park also has become a central gathering spot for downtown tourism. It has hosted concerts and is within walking distance of attractions such as the Georgia Aquarium, CNN Center and the SkyView Atlanta Ferris wheel.
