Something big appears to be cooking in Clayton County’s kitchen.

A groundbreaking ceremony and other festivities have been announced Friday for a Jonesboro Road multipurpose entertainment complex in Morrow that’s expected to cost significantly more than the Atlanta Braves’ Truist Park, officials announced this week.

The proposal by Roman United, self-described as a “leading commercial property development firm” with completed projects around the world, would cost $800 million and span 26 acres. Project leaders are being tight-lipped prior to a press conference, rendering unveiling, and ceremonial groundbreaking at 5711 Jonesboro Road in Morrow on Friday morning—except to call the mega-venture “futuristic” and “state-of-the-art.”

The $800-million venture's proposed location (bottom, in red) in relation to Atlanta's airport and downtown, according to project leaders.Google Maps

The complex “will address the need for a mixed-use development in Clayton County and is anticipated to bring close to $100 million a year in economic impact,” according to project officials.

The event’s address indicates the deal involves the vacant Lake City Crossing shopping center on Jonesboro Road, located across the street from The National Archives at Atlanta complex. (Google Maps imagery indicates the Jonesboro Road strip center has been largely empty for more than a decade.)

Another clue could be a promotional Facebook post from November that makes vague references to a Dubai connection. It indicates the project will feature a 26,000-seat amphitheater, 25-story luxury hotel, and nine additional mixed-use towers of at least 20 stories that would capitalize on proximity to Atlanta’s airport, located roughly eight miles away.  

Location of the vacant Lake City Crossing shopping center, where Roman United's development is/was planned. Google Maps

Longtime Atlanta news anchor Karyn Greer is scheduled to host Friday’s groundbreaking ceremony. Numerous Clayton County city and county-level officials also expected to attend, alongside Roman United CEO and founder Jacques Roman.  

Plans call for Larry Vincent, Development Authority of Clayton County’s executive director, to share first renderings and discuss the project’s economic impact.  

The Lake City Crossing shopping center, as seen from Jonesboro Road in November 2021, reportedly looks the same today. Google Maps

No details regarding how the entertainment complex would be financed have been revealed. But project reps said this week phase one of the development is scheduled to be finished in August next year.

Given all of the above, any guesses what Friday might bring?

CORRECTION, Aug. 24, 12:29 p.m. News anchor Karyn Greer is no longer with CBS46 but begins a new role with WSB-TV soon. 

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