Significant Developments in Atlanta’s Real Estate Scene
Atlanta — The real estate scene in Atlanta is experiencing significant shifts, marked by key personnel changes, major acquisitions, and ongoing development projects.
Key Personnel Movements
In a strategic move, Artisan Land Cos. has appointed Scott Jones as its partner and chief development officer. Jones’ last major project was the development of the Adairsville Logistics Center, a massive distribution hub located 60 miles north of Atlanta. Jones will also serve as a regional partner and director for Artisan’s land brokerage arm, SSG Realty Partners. Artisan focuses on buying, assembling, and entitling land before flipping it to other developers. According to Artisan CEO David Branch, “We cut a lot of the financial risk for developers by handling master planning, assembling, and other costly work.”
Peachtree Group has also made notable moves by promoting Daniel Puglisi to head a new management division aimed at quick-serve restaurants. The division’s first project involves launching a Starbucks at AdventHealth Orlando hospital. Puglisi aims to establish 100 locations focused on coffeehouses like Starbucks and Dunkin within the next five years, primarily in facilities such as hospitals and universities.
Partners Real Estate has added Shea Meddin and Brooke Gothard as equity partners under John O’Neil in its Atlanta office. Meddin joins from Cushman & Wakefield, while Gothard comes from JLL.
In leadership changes, Atlanta brokerage firm Scotland Wright Associates has promoted Blake Rogers to chief operating officer and president. Rogers, who joined the firm in 2022, will continue to work under CEO Michael Tucker.
Matthews Real Estate Investment Services has named Adrienne Crawford and Lily Heimburger as first vice presidents in Atlanta, focusing on retail leasing. Both previously worked with SRS Real Estate Partners.
Savills has selected Michael Reid as executive managing director and Palmer Thomas as managing director to spearhead its Atlanta office’s industrial services team. Reid and Thomas join from Newmark and JLL respectively.
Notable Property Sales
Atlanta has witnessed several significant property sales. Site Centers acquired the Brookhaven Station retail center for $30.2M from Hendon Properties. The 45K SF property is strategically located near the MARTA station and is fully leased.
California-based Westwood Financial purchased the 49K SF urban retail center, Glenwood Park, for $25.5M from Asana Partners. This property is situated along the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail.
Stonemont Financial Group has bought two medical office buildings, fully leased by Northside Hospital, from Gladstone Commercial Corp. The properties include a 14K SF building adjacent to Northside Hospital’s Forsyth County campus and a 12K SF building at 311 Philip Blvd. in Lawrenceville.
A Marriott International affiliate has paid $50M for the land underneath the Westin Peachtree Plaza at 210 Peachtree St., acquiring the 1.3-acre plot from the state of Georgia.
Leases and Development Projects
Landscape supplier SiteOne Landscape Supply has renewed its lease of 56K SF at Mansell Overlook, a 170K SF suburban mid-rise office building.
Development projects are also progressing. Youngwoo & Associates is petitioning the City of Atlanta to allow a 400K SF data center development at 1611 Ellsworth Industrial Blvd., despite a recent BeltLine data center ban.
Venture South Investments is in the process of developing The Shops at Indian Creek, a new shopping center near the Tanger Outlets in Locust Grove. The project will feature a 48K SF Publix store alongside two retail buildings totaling 18K SF, with completion expected by Q4 2025.
