Airport City may start rising this summer

Development to have offices, homes, green space, coffee shops.

A mixed-use develop- ment south metro leaders hope could become a retail and residential destination for the area around Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport could break ground this summer.

Airport City, a 320-acre development in College Park that will include offices, sin- gle family homes, green space and coffee shops, is close to an agreement with its first developer, said Shan- non James, chairman of Aerotropolis Atlanta Alliance, who made the announce- ment Thursday at a meeting of the Atlanta Airport Chamber. He did not disclose the developer.

“We are in the final process of contract negotiations with a residential developer on the residential compo- nent,” he told the audience at the Georgia International Conference Center. “You’re getting exclusive informa- tion.”

If all goes well, construction could begin third quar- ter of this year, he said.

The Alliance, a business group focusing on promoting development around Hartsfield, has joined forces with South Fulton and Clayton counties, cities in the two counties and a raft of business groups to boost economic development south of Interstate 20. Leaders from the different bodies argue that growth in north metro Atlanta has hit its ceiling. They are trying to lure developers who could bring hous- ing and retail on the south side of the city.

“The south side of Fulton County is the future of the metropolitan area,” Fulton Commission Chairman Robb Pitts told the group.