As many of you know, Underground Atlanta has had a mixed past since opening in 1969. It began successfully and was the place to be in downtown Atlanta through the mid-70s. By 1980, however, crime riddled the area and other bar competition had made Underground Atlanta cease to be profitable. After closing and re-opening in the late 80s, Underground has still struggled to this day to become the bustling hub of entertainment and commerce that it originally was.
So what can be done about the area? I can’t honestly consider it ever becoming a desirable shopping district again, especially with Lenox Mall and Atlantic Station showing how successful malls in Atlanta should be done. Much has been proposed, from tearing it down and creating a new park like that of Centennial Olympic Park, to building a Black Music Hall of Fame or even a new arts center, taking a page from Midtown. Whatever the change, it is apparent that Underground Atlanta is not working right now- especially for the economy of downtown Atlanta. Underground has reached this state of becoming the place that families steer clear of while visiting and being renown not for its shopping and nightclubs but its crime, violence, and tacky stores.
A popular proposal has been to add a casino to Underground, part of a much larger movement to add 5-6 casinos in Georgia. This would bring in tons of much needed revenue to programs like HOPE as well as diverse tourism to the area. I, however, propose something entirely different that could improve the area as well as impacting every Georgia State Student. I feel the area should be acquired by GSU and restructure it as the newest building on campus. It would help the school expand the campus and would further increase the visibility of the school throughout downtown. If GSU continues to grow, the need for a new building on campus will become necessary, and the acquisition would be favorable to the public.
No matter what the final decision, I just hope that something changes with Underground in the next 5-10 years, because I feel it is just squandering the prime real estate it currently sits on. Whether or not Georgia State would be interested remains to be seen, but as Underground stands now I don’t see it contributing anything positive to Atlanta anytime soon.
Mr. Oliver, this was a great piece and your ideal of having GSU expand the campus to the Underground area is genius!!! It is obvious that there is a lack of brains of what to do with the place and to put college student and professors on top of the land, and generating a hub of thinking and new ideals is exactly what the patient needs, “A thinking brain on top of body”. At present, Underground Atlanta is the headless entertainment center, just a body flapping in the wind. I hope someone in power sees your great ideal.
Thanks for column!
I couldn’t have worded it better myself! A hub of thinking vs. the current hub of tacky knick-knacks and crime. I as well hope someone takes this idea to heart and does something with the location, and fast!
I’ve always thought Underground could be turned into a campus cultural center. Build some dorms there, maybe an event center, and some greenspace. Make it a hub of activity and GSU and downtown will both benefit.