10 Atlanta development stories to watch in 2026Josh GreenTue, 01/06/2026 - 08:11As always, the arena of Atlanta real estate development, transit initiatives, and big infrastructure changes promises to be captivating in 2026.With so much happening in so many corners of the metro, it’s tough to whittle down a shortlist. (That’s a good thing.) But below are 10 picks for development stories that should play out in fascinating ways—or completely stall, to the chagrin of many—all throughout this brand new year. **…****10. Buckhead Village’s (partially) stunted growth spurt.In the beating heart of Buckhead Village’s walkable blocks, vertical growth continued in 2025 with CA Ventures’ 22-story structure at 340 East Paces Ferry Road. It’s a different story in other sections of the village. Directly across East Paces Ferry Road another company based in greater Chicago, Harbor Bay Ventures, advanced compelling plans in 2023 for a 20-story mixed-use tower (working title: Intro Buckhead) that would be partially constructed of mass timber. But no work has started. That’s also the case with another nearby high-rise proposal along Pharr Road, though recent demolition activity there could hint at changes to come. Developers, for now, are mum. The CA Ventures tower’s retail component along East Paces Ferry Road. Niles Bolton Associates…****9. The Stitch—D.O.A. or not?**Hard to believe, but 2026 will mark a full decade since downtown’s highway-capping Stitch concept was first unveiled. Considerable organizational progress, community engagement, and overall momentum in recent years appeared to be for naught when $151.4 million in federal grant funding was rescinded in 2025. But that was hardly a death knell for the Stitch, according to project spearheads Central Atlanta Progress. Overview of possible scenarios for the Stitch’s initial phase (now more compact) downtown, according to Central Atlanta Progress. Rendering: Mack Scogin Merrill Elam Architects; WSP engineers; Hargreaves Jones landscape architects; via CAP/ADIDA retooled, smaller version of phase one aims to be permitted and shovel-ready by mid-2026. Officials say $50 million is secured to move the design phase forward and help create The Stitch Special Assessment District, a measure approved by the Atlanta City Council in April intended to help cover the Stitch’s operations, administration, maintenance, and programs costs, as funded by property-owning taxpayers within the district. When, or if, those shovels will actually turn dirt remains to be seen. **…****8. Crickets at Murphy Crossing.This summer will mark eight years since Atlanta Beltline Inc. closed the deal on acquiring all 20 acres of Murphy Crossing in Oakland City, and still the site sits idle. Beltline development leaders have said a uniquely dense remake of Murphy Crossing could break ground in 2026, following the collapse of an earlier partnership (again) with Culdesac Inc., an Arizona-based firm known for innovative approaches to infill development. The most recent Beltline forecast calls for community engagement and rezoning work throughout this year, followed by the beginning of “land disturbance planning” as temps start to turn chilly again. Trees Atlanta’s new headquarters (bottom left), the Murphy Crossing property, and the Beltline’s Westside Trail. LoKnows Drones; courtesy of Atlanta Beltline Inc.…****7. Amtrak site selection for major hub.**Amtrak’s general and legislative annual report for fiscal year 2025 included a request for nearly $30 million in federal funding to secure a development site for a new intercity rail hub in Atlanta. Will Amtrak pick a site near Georgia World Congress Center or, as the mayor prefers, a plot in the middle of Centennial Yards? Or some other place within a zone outlined last year? By all indications, we should know soon. **…****6. The reactivation (at long last) of Broad Street.Every passing week seems to bring another renovated façade unveiling in South Downtown, peeling back the layers on revived, historic architecture Americans might never find the will and resources to execute again. Should construction schedules pan out, the coming months will start to do the same for a wave of permanent restaurants (plus pop-ups and a town green component), with Broad Street being the epicenter. Clearly, they don’t make ’em like this anymore. How 98 Broad St. and adjoining structures are projected to function soon, in conjunction with a streetscapes project spanning between two MARTA stations. South Downtown…****5. Complete Streets in key places.If you’re a fan of people-friendly ITP streets, you’re in luck in 2026. Protected bike lanes and enhanced pedestrian infrastructure are on tap to debut across the city (and beyond) this year, pending delays. Key projects are coming in: Midtown (full opening of Juniper Complete Street Project); Avondale Estates (overhaul of North Avondale Road/East College Avenue); in Decatur (West Howard Avenue Cycle Track and Traffic Calming Improvements project); and along Boulevard from Grant Park down to Atlanta’s federal prison, among other initiatives. Who says this is fully a car city? How a remade U.S. Highway 278 (North Avondale Road/East College Avenue) is expected to look and function through Avondale Estates’ downtown area. Courtesy of Avondale Estates…****4. Centennial Yards as a welcoming mat for the world.**As of this writing, Atlanta’s first 2026 FIFA World Cup match (featuring Spain, no less) is 160 days away. Thankfully, fútbol fanatics will have more than the unsightly Gulch to greet them as they enter and exit The Benz. Adjacent to Centennial Yards’ first two ground-up towers, including the glittery new Hotel Phoenix, the project’s Entertainment District—set to span roughly 470,000 square feet—is aiming to debut as a culinary and social hub in time for World Cup matches. Recent additions include Busy Bee Café, Shake Shack, and The Irish Exit, a New York City Irish pub, among others. Cosm is on pace to open at some point this year, too. **…****3. The lease-up of a true Atlanta skyscraper.The 1072 West Peachtree skyrise made headlines in late 2025 as the tallest building to reach its max height in Atlanta since before Bill Clinton was president. Rockefeller Group officials recently told Urbanize Atlanta they expect people to actually be living there by this summer. It’s a lot to fill across 60 stories: 357 upscale apartments, eight floors (224,000 square feet) of office space, and 6,300 square feet of retail at street level. The full acre of indoor and outdoor amenities could help. The glassy Rockefeller Group tower’s prominent place on the Atlanta skyline, as seen over the Connector expressway in early October.Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta…****2. The Beltline finally becomes a crosstown commuter, recreation route.It’s been two decades in the making, but the ability to use paved Atlanta Beltline trails to swing from the east side of town to the west, and vice versa, should become reality by June this year, according to the Beltline’s construction projections. That schedule—opening the full Southside Trail prior to the World Cup, basically—has no shortage of skeptics, especially online. But there’s no arguing the impact a fully linked-up Eastside and Westside trails will have. Full scope of Beltline trail and park construction progress, as of December. Red arrows indicate Southside Trail sections planned to be opened in the first half of 2026. Courtesy of Atlanta Beltline Inc.…****1. Atlanta’s first new transit line in … far too long.**Infamously, Atlanta hasn’t expanded its permanent transit system in 25 years, dating back to MARTA’s opening of Sandy Springs and North Springs stations in December 2000. That could change soon. Following delays, MARTA is reporting that the region’s first BRT line—now called the MARTA Rapid A-Line—is targeting a spring or summer debut in 2026. Example of a MARTA BRT vehicle. Courtesy of MARTAThe rapid bus service will link downtown Atlanta to Summerhill, Peoplestown, and the Beltline’s Southside Trail project by way of a 14-stop, five-mile loop. Dedicated BRT lanes, off-board payment, and level boarding at buses’ front and rear doors is all included (pending further delays). The new BRT line could be not just a monumental test case but a transit initiative that helps reshape the city.   **…**Follow us on social media:Twitter / Facebook/and now: Instagram  • Downtown news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)TagsCentennial YardsAtlanta BeltLineBeltlineGulchMARTAAtlanta Regional CommissionStitchStitchThe StitchThe Stitch Special Assessment DistrictCentral Atlanta ProgressBuckhead NewsBuckhead VillageAmtrakSouth DowntownBroad StreetAvondale EstatesComplete StreetsAlternate TransportationAlternative TransportationCA VenturesRockefeller GroupThe Rockefeller Group1072 West PeachtreeMurphy CrossingAmtrakSubtitleFrom Buckhead to Oakland City and especially downtown, the outlook calls for a monumental year aheadNeighborhoodCitywideBackground ImageImageBefore/After ImagesSponsored PostOff

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