In their search for funds to cut into their $1 billion infrastructure backlog, the City of Atlanta has been looking to sell off some of their less desirable property. And as anyone who has been there in the past decade can tell you, little in this town is more undesirable than Underground Atlanta. So it came as no surprise Wednesday when its sale was announced by Mayor Kasim Reed to WRS Inc., a real-estate developer out of South Carolina. WRS purchased the property for $28.5 million, resulting in what the city claims will be an annual savings of some $8 million.
WRS plans to turn the space into a mixed-use retail center as well as condos, an ambitious makeover which will be welcomed by anyone other than the street vendors used to hawking key rings and fake sunglasses.
Said Reed in the city’s press release, “The sale of Underground Atlanta is another milestone in the revitalization of our downtown corridor. WRS Inc. brings a high level of expertise and strong track record of successful developments to an area of the City in need of a fresh approach. Based on the city’s track record with Ponce City Market, the Lakewood Fairgrounds (now EUE Screen Gems) and Buckhead Atlanta, I am confident that we will succeed in transforming Underground Atlanta into a vibrant component of our city’s commercial business district.”
Mike Bobo to head west?
University of Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo used to be a prime target of ridicule for Georgia fans who thought his conservative play-calling was holding the Bulldogs back from meeting their lofty expectations. That notion has disappeared in the past several seasons though, as the team’s offenses have set records and consistently ranked at or near the top of the SEC. Toss in the fact that he is a strong recruiter, and Bobo has gone from being a scapegoat to one of the most underrated, (and underpaid) coaches in the league.
It’s not just Georgia fans who have noticed the recent success though; Colorado State, former home of recently hired Florida Head Coach Jim McElwain, will interview Bobo for their vacant coaching position this week. While not necessarily known as a powerhouse, Colorado State would offer a platform for a coordinator like Bobo to hone his head coaching skills before, (ideally) making the jump to a powerhouse program, (as McElwain did).
With a new quarterback in 2015, (who exactly that will be is yet to be determined) and the seat gradually getting warmer for Head Coach Mark Richt, UGA would be wise to use this as an opportunity to bump up Bobo’s salary and keep him around for a little while longer. As long as the offense continues to hum the way it has in recent years Mike Bobo will continue to draw interest from outside programs, but for a team that wants to win and wants to win now, losing a coordinator as successful and talented as Bobo would be a major blow.
Never Bring a Car to a Streetcar Fight
A third reported accident involving the new streetcars downtown occurred yesterday, as seen above. Expect a lot more of where that came from, as Atlanta’s notoriously absentminded drivers are forced to share the road with light rail. Cities like Houston which have built their own streetcar systems in recent years have seen a rash of similar accidents, so expect to hear more on this topic as we get into 2015.
