With the clock ticking, Mayor Kasim Reed said Monday he was confident he and a South Carolina company looking to take Underground Atlanta off the city’s hands could strike a deal.

Reed earlier this month told officials with WRS Real Estate Investments they had until the end of January to agree to a deal to buy the struggling downtown attraction or he would seek a different buyer.

In Monday’s exclusive interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Reed said the ultimatum worked.

“That was effective,” he said. “Everybody is working real hard. Everybody is in the final stages of the process. I’m trying to remain forceful without being unreasonable.”

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