“After not hearing much news about the relocation of the Porsche Cars North America headquarters for almost a year and a half, Porsche announced today that it has finally broken ground on its new facility. Sitting on the former site of a Ford Taurus assembly plant located close to the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the new building will employ 400 workers (including the addition of 100 jobs), and it will also include a training center, museum and 1.6-mile test track.

Officially called One Porsche Drive, Porsche said construction should be completed during the second half of 2014, but it isn’t clear whether the road’s name was changed to Ferdinand Porsche Avenue as a reader tipped us off to last month. Matthias Mueller, President and CEO of Porsche AG, and Detlev von Platen, President and CEO of Porsche Cars North America, were both on hand for the ceremony as well as Georgia Governor Nathan Deal and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed.” — via autoblog.com

Official Press Release from Porsche…

Porsche Cars North America Celebrated a Landmark Groundbreaking

A new destination is born: Porsche breaks ground on cutting edge American headquarters.

Atlanta. Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), importer and distributor of Porsche sports cars, Cayenne SUVs and the Panamera four-door sports sedan, today celebrated a landmark groundbreaking of its new headquarters, to be known as One Porsche Drive. Located adjacent to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the 26.4-acre site is the first complex to be built in the “Aerotropolis Atlanta” business district.

Employees from Porsche Cars North America and its affiliates Porsche Financial Services, Porsche Business Services, and Porsche Consulting attended the event alongside executives from Porsche Group companies in North America and Germany, as well as local dignitaries. Most of Porsche’s North American operations will be consolidated under one roof once the new facility is finished in the second half of 2014.

“Porsche’s presence has been embraced by Atlanta and the state of Georgia for the last 14 years,” said Matthias Mueller, President and CEO of Porsche AG. “We’re happy to reciprocate the sentiment with this new facility, which contributes to the state’s economic development and also adds a bit of glamor to the local community.”

Mueller also reminded the audience of the lasting love affair of the Americans with Porsche, which goes back to the early fifties and is a powerful incentive for the company to safeguard and nurture this extraordinary relationship. “Our investment here in Atlanta is a testament to our belief in the future of this great nation and, above all, our confidence in this very important market,” he said.

Ultimately, One Porsche Drive will house 400 employees, including 100 jobs that will be new to Georgia. In addition to corporate offices, it will also be comprised of a Technical Service and Training Center, a Conference Center and a Museum. As an industry first, the Porsche headquarters campus will feature a Customer Experience Center including a 1.6-mile test track and handling road course to showcase the capabilities of Porsche’s industry-leading vehicles.

“This world-class facility underscores our commitment to customers and dealers in the United States, which remains the single largest market for Porsche vehicles,” said Detlev von Platen, President and CEO, Porsche Cars North America. “Today’s ceremony also symbolizes Porsche putting down permanent roots here in Atlanta, a city we have proudly called home since 1998.”

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and Georgia Governor Nathan Deal were among the event attendees.

“I am delighted to extend a warm welcome to the first tenant of the Aerotropolis development site,” said Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed.  “Porsche’s presence here underscores the City of Atlanta’s continuing commitment to attract world-class companies and iconic brands to our city.  Furthermore, it sends a clear and unmistakable signal to other companies that Atlanta is open for business.”

Neighboring facilities currently include the Delta Air Lines world headquarters, Wachovia Bank’s principal processing center and the world’s busiest airport, which served more than 92 million travelers in 2011.

“Porsche’s new headquarters is a terrific asset to Georgia’s economy and a unique travel destination for the millions of travelers who arrive in our great state each year,” said Nathan Deal, Governor of Georgia. “I’m confident One Porsche Drive will become a renowned address that stands for vision, innovation and success – as well as one of the greatest driving experiences in the world.”

About Porsche Cars North America

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), based in Atlanta, Ga. is the exclusive U.S. importer of Porsche sports cars, the Cayenne SUV and Panamera sports sedan. Established in 1984, it is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Porsche AG, which is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, and employs approximately 220 people who provide parts, service, marketing and training for 191 dealers. They, in turn, work to provide Porsche customers with a best-in-class experience that is in keeping with the brand’s 63-year history and leadership in the advancement of vehicle performance, safety and efficiency.

At the core of this success is Porsche’s proud racing heritage that boasts some 30,000 motorsport wins to date.

For Porsche apps: http://www.porsche.com/usa/entertainment/apps/

Note: Photos and video footage are available to accredited journalists on the Porsche Press Database at http://press.porsche.com

Current residents:  join our private group page on Facebook.

What: “East Point Celebrates the Holidays“.
When: Friday, Dec.4th from 5-7:30pm
Where: City Hall (2777 East Point Street)

Yes, it will be snowing this year during the event (thanks to some amazing equipment used by Disney to produce snow)! This is the annual tree lighting event. Come out and listen to Canton Jones sing holiday favorites in front of City Hall or take a stroll around Downtown and listen to the various musical groups also singing holiday favorites (on White Way, West Cleveland Ave. & Main Street).

There will be:

• Hot cocoa/apple cider/popcorn/baked goodies available
• Santa’s workshop (free crafts for kids in a heated tent)
• Professional photos available with Santa Claus (also in a heated tent)
• And Snow creating a Winter Wonderland!

Come and enjoy a wonderful holiday event with family and friends and see what is possibly the only snow you will see in East Point this year!

For more information visit www.DowntownEastPoint.com.

P.S. Volunteers are still needed to help at the event. Please email generalinfo@downtowneastpoint.com if interested in helping!

“The city of East Point is now offering “Green Power” to our business and residential utility accounts. Green Power is a way to bring electricity generated by cleaner, renewable resources to our consumers. Green Power is energy that is generated from solar, wind, bio-mass or landfill gas. The renewable energy is cheap; however, the technology to generate the power is very expensive. Green Power is available to residential customers in 100 kilowatt hour blocks. Each block costs $2.50 and represents about 12 percent of the average household’s typical monthly power bill (1200 kWh). Customers can purchase as many blocks as they wish. Green Power is also available to commercial and industrial customers and will be sold based on their total energy consumption.

The environmental impact of traditional energy resources like coal, natural gas, oil and nuclear power can be significant. Although no energy source is impact-free, renewable resources create less waste and pollution. An investment of an additional $2.50 per month on your power bill, over the course of year, is the environmental equivalent of driving 151 fewer miles (in an average car) or planting 1/10th acre of fully mature trees.

For more information on the Green Power Program please call (404) 270-7061.”

[Click Here for Registration Information]

Even addresses may water on Monday, Wednesdays & Saturdays.
Odd addresses may water on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays.

As a reminder, the most efficient times of day to water are after sundown… or in the wee hours of the morning before sunrise.

If you are interested in serving on the board, please email Lance (Lrhodes@eastpointcity.org) as soon as possible. This board does require a high level of energy and time to dedicate to the creativity of the program.

There are some exciting days ahead for East Point. I believe The Main Street Board will become one of the most important pivotal opportunities in moving our city into a cycle of momentum that will propel us forward in our development.

Jennifer Fine is an outstanding leader with a vision to succeed. She is a joy to work with and always “roles up” her sleeves to give a hand.

Main Street Mission

“To preserve and enhance the downtown area as the heart of East Point; communicating a sense of place, community pride, and heritage, while providing for a successful business and residential environment.”

Overview of Program

East Point is one of 100 Georgia cities that has been designated as a Main Street city by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Using a simple but effective four-point approach modeled on a concept originated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Main Street is a revitalization process that improves all aspects of a commercial district.

Our successful Main Street Program works in these four areas:

· Promotion
· Design
· Economic Restructuring
· Organization

Main Street Board Members

There is a nine member Main Street Board made up of business owners, community stakeholders and professionals who have a commitment to downtown.

What is the Main Street Program?

Main Street is a downtown revitalization program that combines economic development principles with historic preservation. East Point became a Main Street City in 1999 in an effort to change the dying face of our downtown. Although there is much to be done, great milestones have been made because of the focused commitment to revitalize downtown. The City has grown a development staff to facilitate this process of renewal in the central business district. Main Street Director, Senior Planners, Economic Development Director, and the East Point Business and Industrial Development Authority (BIDA) all have a role in the success of business influx and downtown improvements.

Why is Downtown important?

Downtown is a reflection of how a community sees itself. When large industries consider a location one key factor they look at is the downtown – is it alive and viable? The Central Business District is often a major tourist draw, it is where City Hall and the pulse of the city is. Our central business district is an employment center. It represents a large concentration of businesses and serves as an incubator for new businesses.

MAIN STREET WINS AWARD
Nearly 80 Georgia communities recognized for downtown development excellence. East Point was one of the cities recognized and received an award for achieving “national main street” accreditation.

For more information about the Main Street Program, membership and upcoming events visit www.downtowneastpoint.com.

Councilman Lance Rhodes
East Point City Council
1257 Spencer Ave.
East Point, GA 30344
Lrhodes@eastpointcity.org
404-234-5022

“Over the next few weeks demolition equipment will rip up the concrete slabs on the 128-acre site along I-75. Recession aside, work appears to be on track to redevelop the Hapeville site, to be called Aerotropolis Atlanta, into a mixed-use project adjacent to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

By fall, Phase 1 — light industrial and parking construction — is expected to be under way. Jacoby Development Inc., the developer that turned an old steel mill into Atlantic Station — a live-work-play mini-city in Midtown — is the developer for the $1.5 billion project. Aerotropolis Atlanta is zoned for office space, hotels, retail, restaurants, a light industrial business park and a 4,000-space airport parking facility…” (more…)

Former Ford plant site nears Phase 1  (AJC – May 26, 2009) »

The Fulton County BOE has approved The Main Street Academy’s 2009 start-up charter school petition. It has been nearly 3 years since the dream began, and this evening we enjoyed the success we have worked so hard to achieve. Thank you to the 50+ people and families that showed up, it was an impressive sight and one I will not soon forget. I was honored to speak on behalf of TMSA, our families and communities, and I am proud to have worked beside some tremendous people these past few months. It’s time to believe. We’ve done it. Thank you all for your continued support. let’s enjoy this win for a while, then it’s time to go to work. Stay tuned.

David Shaginaw
Founding Committee Member
The Main Street Academy
www.tricitiescharter.com

If you’d like to make a donation to support TMSA, visit their web site and click the “Donate via PayPal” button.

“While other submarkets stitch together development projects in this treacherous economy, the south side of Atlanta is laying whole fabric with major development and redevelopment deals.

In the process, there is a changing landscape — and perception — of real estate south of Interstate 20…”

Interesting article from the Atlanta Business Chronicle on the developments coming to the South Fulton and Tri-Cities area.

“There’s a common thread to the stories of how many homeowners came to live in East Point, inside the Perimeter on Atlanta’s southside. Many discover it by accident and report a happy ending that includes affordable homes, friendly neighbors and a convenient location…”

Great article about East Point in the AJC today.