Metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta

Did Georgia derail Atlantans in sale of historic train yards?

Pullman train maintenance yard. (Fang Liang/2007 AJC file photo)
Pullman train maintenance yard. (Fang Liang/2007 AJC file photo)
By Bill Torpy
May 1, 2017

For years, the Pratt-Pullman train yards have sat there dilapidated, a destination for the odd movie crew or a stream of graffiti artists.

During that time, several groups and developers have expressed interest in making something out of the 27-acre state-owned property, an east Atlanta site that includes numerous historic structures. The surrounding Kirkwood neighborhood is now a hot destination and the property was almost begging for something to happen.

Finally, the state put the land up for sale and this month went with a Hollywood producer’s offer of $8 million. He wants to go with a studio. And homes. And businesses. And green space.

Sounds cool, although two of the other developers — Atlanta-based firms — argue the state somehow was suddenly in a hurry to get rid of the property and even bent the process to help the moviemaker, costing state taxpayers a bunch of money. Why?

Read the full story on MyAJC.com.

About the Author

Bill Torpy, who writes about metro Atlanta for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, joined the newspaper in 1990.

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