Leaders of downtown’s highway-capping The Stitch hope fresh visuals and a Thursday event with Atlanta movers-and-shakers will help propel the project forward, as actual construction—albeit vastly scaled back—is on the horizon. 

The latest round of Stitch renderings was unveiled today during a summit at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, as led by Atlanta Downtown Stitch Inc. president and CEO Jack Cebe and other officials.

Panelists included Georgia State University president Dr. M. Brian Blake, Truist leadership, Atlanta’s chief of staff Courtney English, and CP Group founding partner Chris Eachus, whose company owns nearby Bank of America Plaza and The CTR (formerly CNN Center), per organizers.  

At the downtown event titled “You Are the Thread,” Stitch leadership revealed that Phase One construction is set to start in 2027. But as of now, that will include only street improvements near the project site—on Ralph McGill Boulevard, as well as Peachtree and Courtland streets—meant to set the stage for later work. 

Revised plans for streetscape improvements and other work to ready the area for The Stitch's highway-capping component. Courtesy of Atlanta Downtown Stitch Inc.

Planned social spaces around Phase One's Gateway Pavilion, looking north into Midtown. Courtesy of Atlanta Downtown Stitch Inc.

Actual cap construction will begin once funding allows, with a goal of eventually creating a thriving new neighborhood between Midtown and downtown.

“Today’s event rallied city leaders around the project’s progress and future,” a rep wrote to Urbanize Atlanta via email, “inviting them to become stewards of the project within the community.” 

Fresh visuals show more detailed plans for a Gateway Pavilion and other Phase One structures that would be used for social gatherings such as concerts near a large greenspace, with a backdrop of downtown skyscrapers (and possibly future new high-rises) beyond. 

Now formally in the works for a decade, a retooled, smaller version of The Stitch’s 5-acre first phase was unveiled a year ago. 

Depiction of Phase One's Gateway Pavilion in winter. Courtesy of Atlanta Downtown Stitch Inc.

Evening concert at the planned Stitch shade structure, with existing downtown landmark buildings shown in the distance. Courtesy of Atlanta Downtown Stitch Inc.

Officials have said $50 million is secured to move the design phase forward and help create The Stitch Special Assessment District, a measure approved by the Atlanta City Council in spring 2025 intended to help cover The Stitch’s operations, administration, maintenance, and programs costs, as funded by property-owning taxpayers within the district. 

Considerable organizational progress, community engagement, and overall momentum for the Stitch in recent years appeared to be for naught when federal government officials rescinded $151.4 million in grant funding in 2025. But project spearheads have insisted that was a temporary setback and not a death knell. Find more fresh renderings and context in the gallery above.

Below is a Before/After preview of how The Stitch’s initial highway-capping phase is now expected to look and function (pending funding). The set of three images is from the north view (first), east, and then west.