by daniel johnson
March 3, 2024
Microsoft promised to develop the region upon its entry, and without that promised development, the region remains in limbo.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens is asking Microsoft to be candid about its plans for a 90-acre tract of city land it originally purchased in 2021 that was meant to become a hub for the tech giant.
as bloomberg According to reports, these plans were postponed to 2023, and Microsoft’s reasoning at the time was that it was reevaluating its real estate portfolio after the global pandemic.
Dickens said bloomberg He wants Microsoft to either do something with the land or return it to city control for development.
“We really want them to develop their property or give it to us so we can develop it,” Dickens said. “Even if you don’t know what you want to do, please tell me what you know you can’t do.”
Meanwhile, Microsoft said in a written statement that the land is critical to long-term development in Atlanta, and has not made any further public comment on the land development.
“While we are still in the design planning stages and details have not been finalized, it is our intention that this project will create a wide range of opportunities and lasting benefits for the community.”
wired reported in April 2023 that a Microsoft campus on land that includes two historically black neighborhoods in Atlanta is driving up housing prices, even though it hasn’t even been developed yet.
The arrangement has some in the community, including Tim City, an English teacher and owner of Da City’s Hookah Café, wondering what will happen next.
said Siti, who is also secretary of the district planning unit, which sits next to the 90-acre site. wired, “There are a lot of people who were seriously invested in getting Microsoft here and wanted jobs and resources of that nature. We’re at a point where they’re either still here or not.”
Citi continued, “I still have high hopes that it can be done. As a business owner, I’m excited about how many opportunities it will bring to the community and how many lives it can change. We know that if we build a Microsoft headquarters and expect to hire a lot of qualified people in our community, that’s going to be truly transformational.”
Dickens’ office had grown concerned about the possibility of Microsoft abandoning the city in 2023. Dickens press secretary Michael Smith issued a statement. wiredDickens said he hoped Microsoft would respect its commitment to Atlanta.
“The announcement of the opening of our campus in 2021 had an economic impact on the surrounding area,” Smith said. “The announcement of development delays has created uncertainty, and the Mayor wants to ensure that Microsoft fulfills the commitments it has made to our city.”
The reason for the urgency from Dickens et al. in Atlanta is that the region’s economy is in decline and has become so exhausted that there are no grocery stores or pharmacies. Microsoft promised to develop the region upon its entry, and without that promised development, the region remains in limbo.
Arthur Toll, president of the Howell Station Neighborhood Association, said: wired He said he worries about what will happen to the community if Microsoft doesn’t arrive.
“This entire region is truly a food desert. The nearest grocery store is over three miles away. When Microsoft came in, they invested in the community, established grocery stores, and built affordable housing. They said they would set up a bank, etc. So what I’m worried about now is what’s going to happen now that they’re inactive.”
relevant content: Mayor Andre Dickens announces major response to Atlanta’s homelessness crisis
