Atlanta leaders celebrate West End Mall redevelopment and launch Atlanta Local Legacy program

Councilmember (District 4) and city representatives gathered at the West End Mall in Atlanta to mark the site’s planned redevelopment and to publicize the city’s new legacy business program.

The gathering recognized the Mall West End’s role in the neighborhood and highlighted the Atlanta Local Legacy program, which the speaker said "is geared towards supporting Atlanta businesses that have been operating for more than 30 years or who contribute to the history, culture, and identity of the city of Atlanta." Councilmember (District 4) said the program and the redevelopment aim to preserve community history while accommodating future growth.

The event combined ceremonial remarks with remarks from legacy business owners. A legacy business owner who identified themselves as a long-standing tenant said, "We were a legacy tenant, have been there for 45 years. 45 years is a long time, but it doesn't feel like a long time because we've had such a wonderful role with such good hearted, honest, well intentioned customers." Another legacy business owner said being awarded a proclamation was "an honor" and noted their connection to the community for about 25 years.

Speakers described the redevelopment as a large mixed-use project. A project representative at the event said, "we'll have just under 1,800,000 square feet of new space. So in comparison, the mall's about 280,000 feet. So much larger, but housing and retail and services." Event organizers framed the redevelopment as "mixed use, mixed income" and emphasized community engagement in planning: "We wanted to do this hard job the right way with the community in mind," an event speaker said.

City and Invest Atlanta were identified as partners in launching the Atlanta Local Legacy initiative; the Councilmember said the city and Invest Atlanta "came together to launch Atlanta's very first legacy business program" earlier this month. The program was described as intended to recognize and support businesses that have helped shape Atlanta’s culture and economy.

The program criteria, the square-footage figures for the new development, and the length of tenure for legacy tenants were presented at the event; no formal city action or vote was recorded during these remarks. The gathering served as both a farewell to the existing mall configuration and a public announcement of the redevelopment plans and the legacy-business support effort.