Downtown Atlanta is home to more than 34,000 residents, and visits have recovered to 85 percent of pre-pandemic levels, according to the 2026 State of Downtown report Downtown Atlanta Inc. released October 28. The findings arrived on the city’s second annual Downtown Day, alongside new renderings of The Stitch, the planned park over the Downtown Connector.
Key Takeaways
- Visits to downtown Atlanta have returned to 85 percent of pre-pandemic levels.
- Developers have added 201 multifamily housing units downtown since January 2026.
- About 1 in 3 downtown residents is under 25.
- Retail occupancy in South Downtown has reached 90 percent as new shops and restaurants open.
- The Stitch has $50 million secured for phase one and is applying for a $60 million federal resilience grant.
- Kyle Waide, president and CEO of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, takes over Downtown Atlanta Inc. on December 1.
State Of Downtown Report Shows A Growing Residential Base
Downtown Atlanta Inc., the umbrella organization for the former Central Atlanta Progress and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District, presented the 2026 State of Downtown report at a breakfast on October 28. The numbers point to a neighborhood shifting from a weekday office district into a place where people live.
More than 34,000 people now call downtown home, and the population skews young, with about 1 in 3 residents under 25. That reflects downtown’s mix of college campuses, transit lines, and entertainment venues. Since January, 201 new multifamily units have opened. Shirlynn Fortson, vice president of planning and economic development at Downtown Atlanta Inc., said residents matter because they “create consistent demand for restaurants, retailers, services, and public spaces.” Unlike convention crowds or game-day traffic, residents spend money downtown every day of the week.
Retail is following that demand. In South Downtown, new shops and restaurants have pushed retail occupancy to 90 percent. Visits across downtown have climbed back to 85 percent of pre-pandemic levels. The report credits investment in The Stitch, the renovation of the former CNN Center, and campus upgrades at Georgia State University.
Office Vacancies Remain A Downtown Challenge
The report does not hide the difficult numbers. Downtown still carries millions of square feet of vacant office space, a holdover from the shift to remote and hybrid work. Mayor Andre Dickens told the breakfast audience, “We can’t build downtown’s future around the market 20 years ago,” and pointed to housing as central to the next phase.
For property owners and small businesses, that shift matters. Empty office floors mean fewer weekday lunch customers, while new residents bring evening and weekend traffic. Downtown’s recovery now depends on how quickly housing and mixed-use projects can make up for the office demand that has not come back.
The Stitch Moves Toward Phase One Construction In 2027
The Stitch remains downtown’s long-range project. Atlanta Downtown Stitch Inc., the nonprofit formed to build and run the project, plans a park of about 17 acres over a three-quarter-mile stretch of the Downtown Connector. The park would reconnect Downtown and Midtown across I-75/85, and the full project is estimated at more than $700 million.
Phase one begins with street and infrastructure work in 2027, and the park cap will follow. Jack Cebe, president and CEO of Atlanta Downtown Stitch Inc., said the project has secured $50 million for phase one from sources including the City of Atlanta and the Atlanta Regional Commission. The Stitch lost more than $150 million in previously awarded federal funding in 2025. It is now applying for a $60 million federal grant for infrastructure resilience, since the park is designed to capture more than 3 million gallons of rainwater a year that could otherwise flood the Downtown Connector.
The latest public designs show an indoor-outdoor Gateway Pavilion along Peachtree Street, cafe space, and green space. New renderings were on display again during Downtown Day.
Downtown Day Puts The Neighborhood On Display
Downtown Atlanta Inc. and the City of Atlanta presented the second annual Downtown Day on the same day as the report. The program included a lunchtime party on the Broad Street Boardwalk, games at Centennial Yards, and a salute to the Downtown Ambassadors who keep streets clean and safe. After the inaugural event in 2025 and a summer of World Cup crowds, organizers say Downtown Day will now return every year.
Kyle Waide Takes The Helm At Downtown Atlanta Inc. In December
The report also marks a leadership change. Kyle Waide, who has led the Atlanta Community Food Bank since 2015, becomes president and CEO of Downtown Atlanta Inc. on December 1. He succeeds A.J. Robinson, who led the organization for nearly 23 years. Waide inherits a downtown with a growing residential base, an office market still searching for demand, and a park project that needs more funding to move forward.
FAQs
How Many People Live In Downtown Atlanta?
More than 34,000 people live in downtown Atlanta, according to the 2026 State of Downtown report. About 1 in 3 residents is under 25.
What Is The Stitch In Atlanta?
The Stitch is a planned park and neighborhood built over the Downtown Connector (I-75/85) to reconnect Downtown and Midtown. It is led by the nonprofit Atlanta Downtown Stitch Inc.
When Will Construction On The Stitch Begin?
Phase one starts with street and infrastructure work in 2027. The park cap over the highway will follow those improvements.
Who Is The New Leader Of Downtown Atlanta Inc.?
Kyle Waide, president and CEO of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, becomes president and CEO of Downtown Atlanta Inc. on December 1, succeeding A.J. Robinson.
