ATLANTA — Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed spoke only to Channel 2 Action News about Atlanta-based Turner Broadcasting's plans to upgrade two landmark properties.
“I think it’s important,” Reed said.
Channel 2 Investigative Reporter Aaron Diamant spoke exclusively with Reed just hours after Turner announced it’s considering way to overhaul local real estate footprint.
“This is not a time of talk,” Reed told Diamant. “This is a time of groundbreakings.”
On Friday, Turner told employees that the company is evaluating ways to modernize downtown’s CNN Center, but plans are still in the very early stages.
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Turner did confirm it will sell its 50 percent stake in the Omni Hotel.
Earlier this month, Turner launched a major campaign to reimagine its Techwood campus in Midtown.
The company’s moves come at the same time, the city of Atlanta is working with the Atlanta Hawks and other partners to renovate Philips Arena and redevelop downtown’s west side into an entertainment district.
“I think this is just another positive signal towards the development community that that corridor is going to be amazing,” Reed said. “The whole west side is going to be amazing to be honest.”
CNN Center serves as one of the main entryways to Philips. Reed told Diamant he’s confident a renovation deal will be reached within the next three to four months.
Reed says he’s expects Turner’s plans to integrate well with the city’s plans.
“I think they’re surprisingly aligned,” Reed said.
Turner’s chief financial officer, Pascal Desroches, echoed that sentiment echoed in a memo to Turner staff.
“As we participate with the city and the community to bring this vision to fruition, we will augment our planning work to include a closer look at how we may use CNN Center in the future,” Desroches wrote.
About half of Turner Broadcasting's 6,000 Atlanta employees work at CNN Center. The company eliminated about 900 local jobs to cut costs about two years ago.
Cox Media Group
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