Atlanta is trying to stitch a hole in its downtown. Centennial Yards, a $5 billion mixed-use district from CIM Group, is rising on roughly 50 acres of former railyards known as The Gulch, a long-vacant gap between downtown and the stadiums. The first pieces are opening for the 2026 World Cup.
Project Scope
The Centennial Yards Company, backed by CIM Group and the City of Atlanta, is building residential towers, hotels, retail, and entertainment across multiple phases. Early deliveries include a 304-unit apartment building, the 292-key Hotel Phoenix, and about 95,000 square feet of retail, all targeted ahead of the World Cup. The headline venue is a Cosm immersive dome, a 70,000-square-foot, three-level building with an 87-foot LED dome, set to open in 2026. The full district runs through roughly 2030.
Why It Matters
The Gulch has defeated developers for decades, a literal void in the center of a major city. Filling it with housing and entertainment, timed to a global sporting event, is a high-stakes urban bet. If it works, Centennial Yards reconnects downtown Atlanta to its sports district. If it stalls once the World Cup spotlight moves on, it becomes a cautionary tale about event-driven development.
Related: construction races the 2026 World Cup deadline.
Project Team & Details
| Developer | Centennial Yards Company (CIM Group) |
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| Status | Under Construction |
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| Funding Source | Public-Private Partnership (P3) |
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