Fresh off its 20th birthday, Atlantic Station has brought in experienced new management with a goal of reinvigorating the district. And they want to hear from you. 

As of Aug. 1, Fort Worth, Texas-based Trademark Property Company has been handling all retail management, leasing, and general operations at the 138-acre neighborhood, which has worked to brand itself as the “Heart of ATL.”

Elsewhere in the U.S., Trademark has redeveloped, developed, or invested in 24 million square feet of development over the past 30 years, including well-known districts Galleria Dallas, Annapolis Town Center, and Market Street-The Woodlands near Houston. Its current portfolio includes 19 properties, with three developments in the pipeline. 

Trademarks officials say they specialize in programming for communities, “artful placemaking,” and retail leasing strategies aimed at “brands that resonate with today's consumers,” per an announcement.  

For Atlantic Station, Trademark has hired a general manager with intimate knowledge of the brownfield redevelopment, Sean McIntosh, to head the 585,590-square-foot retail portion. McIntosh formerly worked as Atlantic Station’s general manager from 2006 to 2013, before moving on to work with Jamestown, Oliver McMillan, and other companies. 

Courtesy of Trademark Property Company

Plans in coming weeks call for McIntosh to meet with Atlantic Station tenants and surrounding neighborhoods as Trademark rolls out a survey to collect community feedback. Trademark also plans to hire an Atlanta-based senior asset manager to beef up its local presence and Atlantic Station oversight, per company officials. 

“Our first step is listening and understanding the community,” Terry Montesi, Trademark’s founder and CEO, said in the announcement. “We will thoroughly evaluate the property's strengths and opportunities to bring this iconic destination to the next level.”

Atlantic Station has seen several high-profile business closures over the past year, including Banana Republic, DSW shoe store, and Publix, the property’s lone grocery store. Prior to those closures, 74 percent of respondents to our in-house reader poll last summer rated Atlantic Station at three stars or lower, with nearly 750 votes tallied. 

More positive news came in February, when Atlantic Station owner Hines announced a slate of new retail concepts including MINISO, a Japanese-inspired Chinese company, and three restaurants. Nordstrom Rack, an off-price version of the Seattle-based luxury retailer, plans to open in the former DSW shoes space in October. 

Courtesy of Trademark Property Company

Another win came in March, when popular rankings website Niche crowned Atlantic Station the No. 1 place to live among 18,000 “best” neighborhoods across the U.S. (Next door, Midtown claimed the No. 6 spot on that list.) 

As it stands, Atlantic Station counts almost 8 million square feet of mixed-use development—the equivalent of more than six Bank of America Plaza towers. But after 20 years, what’s still missing? And what can it do better? 

The inquiring minds of new management want to know.   

Residential and greenspace section at the 138-acre district. Courtesy of Trademark Property Company

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