BTB Exclusive - Coverage of Central Atlanta Progress meeting
Bobby L. Hickman
March 27, 2008
Crime rates in downtown Atlanta continue to decline, according to A.J. Robinson, president of
Central Atlanta Progress (CAP).
In 2007, downtown accounted for less than 5% of Atlanta's crime – even though about half of
the city's population lives there, Robinson said. Two years ago, about 9% of the city's crimes were
reported in the downtown area, he added.
Robinson gave several reasons for the decline, including the presence of 400 law enforcement
officers, more than 3,000 private security representatives in the area and the Downtown Atlanta
Ambassador Force, a 65-member group created by CAP that patrols 220 blocks. CAP also arranged
funding for more than 100 Security cameras in key downtown areas that feed into the Atlanta Police
Department.
The comments came during CAP's annual meeting on March 26. Robinson and Tom Bell, CAP's
chairman, noted that downtown has made considerable progress towards recovery since the tornadoes
two weeks ago damaged the World Congress Center and Cabbagetown areas. "We've got a lot of windows
ordered," Robinson said. He added CAP recently completed several projects to make downtown more
accessible, which also helped the tornado recovery effort.
Robinson noted that $180 million in renovations are underway at several Atlanta hotels, with
other new accommodations also coming onto the market this year. The city now has 27,000 downtown
residents, with 12 new residential projects completed over the past year, he said. Robinson also
pointed out that CAP and the Atlanta Development Authority have lined up $60 million in new market
tax credits, which the groups plan to begin allocating over the next three months.
Bell pointed to several other downtown projects which are just getting underway. Those
include an expansion to AmericaMart that will add 250,000 square feet of meeting place; the
redevelopment of the former Macy's at 180 Peachtree, which will convert the bottom three floors
into retail and restaurants; and the Green Line project in the Five Points Station area.
At the 66th annual CAP meeting, the group also presented two awards for outstanding service.
Dr. Carl Patton, president of Georgia State University, received the Dan Sweat Award, which
recognizes leaders who carried on the traditions of former CAP President Sweat's accomplishments.
The Turner Broadcasting Community Leadership Award went to Norman Koplon, a fire protection
engineer who recently retired after 40 years in several positions with the Atlanta city government.