Key Facts About the 98 14th Street Project
A Historic Investment in Midtown’s Future
On May 19, 2025, the Midtown Improvement District (MID) closed on the purchase of this 4-acre property -- a transformative acquisition that will become a signature public space and civic amenity for Atlanta.
The purchase was funded through a combination of MID cash reserves and the issuance of tax-exempt general obligation bonds.
The purchase price of the property was $46M. The MID acquired this property at a highly competitive rate of $263 per square foot. That’s approximately 63% of the average land sale price in Midtown since 2020, which stands at $415 per square foot.
The Tax-Exempt bonds were financed by SouthState over a 20-year period at a 4.08% annual interest rate.
Midtown Alliance will now lead the effort to transform and revitalize this underutilized site into a vibrant, inclusive public space. This marks a historic and generational opportunity, and truly a first of its kind for Atlanta.
For nearly three decades, our collective efforts have steadily guided us toward this moment. From the visionary Blueprint Midtown master plans to the recent Public Life Action Plan that is activating a network of public spaces, to transforming more than 16 miles of streetscapes and planting thousands of street trees -- every initiative, large and small, has laid the foundation.
Acquiring this property is not only the culmination of these sustained efforts but also a natural and strategic step forward in realizing our long-term vision.
A Rare Opportunity for Public Space
Midtown spans 770 acres, but despite its economic importance, it contains only 1.2 acres of permanently protected public space. This acquisition increases that total by nearly 400%.
We are seizing the opportunity to preserve the last large undeveloped parcel in the core of Midtown - not for more buildings, but for people. Because great cities are defined by great public spaces.
A Strategic Site for Expanding Public Space in Midtown
This property occupies a strategic location at the heart of Midtown’s largest superblock, offering a rare opportunity to create meaningful public space while enhancing connectivity and amplifying the impact of existing assets. By transforming this site, we will unlock new pedestrian connections between major destinations and underutilized green spaces, creating a more cohesive and accessible public realm.
Key Adjacencies:
The Midtown Art Walk – a half-mile pedestrian promenade linking the Midtown MARTA Station to the Woodruff Arts Center and Arts Center MARTA Station.
Three existing but underutilized plazas and greenspaces within nearby private developments. By integrating these spaces, we will effectively expand the public space network by an additional 4+ acres in addition to the 4 acres in this new property.
What’s Next?
Our near-term strategy includes two parallel tracks:
1. Site Cleanup & Interim Access
We will begin by cleaning up the property and making portions of it safe and accessible for public use in the short term. Read more about the interim improvements on our project page.
2. Program & Design Development
Simultaneously, we will engage the community and stakeholders to develop a vision and design plan that reflects Midtown’s identity and aspirations for a signature public space.
Midtown Alliance is proud to lead the visioning and design of this new public space. With a 47-year track record of inclusive, community-driven planning, we have consistently brought people together to shape Midtown’s future. This legacy includes transformative initiatives like the Blueprint Midtown process which sparked a wave of investment and revitalization over the last 25 years - laying the foundation for the vibrant district we know today.
Once a final concept and cost estimates are in place, we will move into detailed design and launch a charitable capital campaign to fund the improvements. At this stage, we have not yet established a specific campaign goal. Since the final program and design for the public space are still in development, we do not yet have the detailed cost estimates required to determine the total funding needed.