The Atlanta Beltline is one of the most ambitious urban revitalization projects in the country, transforming a 22-mile loop of former railroad corridors into a connected network of trails, parks, transit, and mixed-use development encircling the city of Atlanta. Conceived in 1999 as a graduate thesis by Ryan Gravel, the Beltline was envisioned as a way to reconnect Atlanta’s neighborhoods while promoting sustainable growth, mobility, and economic opportunity.
Since its inception, the Beltline has catalyzed billions of dollars in public and private investment, reshaped underutilized industrial land, and become a defining feature of Atlanta’s urban fabric. It has spurred new housing, commercial development, job creation, and access to greenspace, while also prompting important conversations around equity, affordability, and inclusive growth.
Today, the project is supported by Atlanta Beltline, Inc. (ABI), which oversees implementation, and the Atlanta Beltline Partnership, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works to engage communities, raise philanthropic support, and advance equitable development outcomes along the corridor. Together, these entities help ensure the Beltline continues to serve as both an economic engine and a community asset for the city.
New City Properties is a commercial real estate development firm with a focus on creating unique non-commodity places where community can grow and flourish. The company has a specific concentration on the preservation of structures with historic character and exploring ways to repurpose them for modern use. Based in the Southeast, New City Properties is principally focused in Georgia and Tennessee.
Maitland Thompson serves in a project management role for New City’s direct investments and consulting operations, assisting with design, construction management, and financing activities. Prior to joining New City, Maitland worked at Jamestown, where he helped to develop and execute on the firm’s strategy for several mixed-use development projects throughout the Southeast. Maitland graduated magna cum laude from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Banking and Finance. Afterwards, he worked with KPMG in a financial consulting role and subsequently spent a year developing educational courses for an Argentine brokerage firm in Buenos Aires and Patagonia before returning home to Atlanta. He is a CFA charter holder, member of the Urban Land Institute, and currently resides in Inman Park.
Located in the Historic Fourth Ward along the Atlanta Beltline’s Eastside Trail, FORTH Hotel offers a seamless blend of guest rooms and suites, elevated dining and cocktail experiences, an outdoor pool, and state-of-the-art wellness amenities. Built by Brasfield & Gorrie, the hotel’s design—featuring landscaped grounds and green roofs—connects thoughtfully to Historic Fourth Ward Park. The project also includes multi-level restaurant spaces, extended-stay apartments, and curated outdoor amenities. A two-story fitness club provides group fitness and spin studios, physical therapy services, and country club–style locker rooms with steam rooms and saunas. For guests seeking a more relaxed pace, nearby bike shares offer easy access to the park’s 17 acres of green space.
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Fourth Ward is a new mixed-use development currently under construction on Atlanta Beltline’s Eastside Trail. This nearly one million square foot project includes office space and street-level retail organized around a central public plaza. Located on 12 acres adjacent to the Historic Fourth Ward Park, and two blocks from Ponce City Market, the Fourth Ward Offices were completed in late 2022. The project features world-class architecture and is one of the largest and most transformative mixed-use developments on the Atlanta Beltline. It features an imaginative blend of public and private spaces to seamlessly integrate into an already thriving community. Fourth Ward merged a future-looking sustainability agenda with a design that activates the public realm. Three new office towers expand local civic and cultural amenities, as well as introduced a modern new workplace for future office tenants.
New Realm Brewing is an American craft brewery and distillery started in 2016 by co-founders Carey Falcone, Bob Powers and Mitch Steele. The Company has a flagship brewery and restaurant in Atlanta, GA, a production brewery and restaurant in Virginia Beach, VA, and a brewery and restaurant in Charleston, SC. New Realm’s core principles are quality, creativity, authenticity, and striving for perfection, all with a customer-centric community-focused commitment and approach.
Barton Lowrey is the Vice President of Community Development at the Metro Atlanta Chamber (MAC), where he focuses on recruiting and retaining jobs and investment from existing industries within the Atlanta MSA. Before joining MAC, Barton served as the Director of Statewide Projects at the Georgia Department of Economic Development, supporting the state’s sales and marketing efforts by attracting new business investment from companies relocating to the State of Georgia. He also served as a development officer for the Atlanta Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America and Darlington School.
Barton began his career working for United States Senator Johnny Isakson. Barton holds a B.B.A in Real Estate and a B.S.Ed. in Sport Management from the University of Georgia. A Georgia native, Barton currently resides in Atlanta with his wife (Betsy), daughter (Mary), and son (Jake)
Laurie Prickett is a seasoned economic development leader dedicated to driving inclusive growth and global opportunity for the City of Atlanta. She serves as Senior Vice President of Economic Development at Invest Atlanta, the City’s official economic development authority focused on strengthening Atlanta’s economy and global competitiveness through public-private partnerships, business attraction, and strategic initiatives.
Laurie joined Invest Atlanta in 2022 as a Strategic and International Program Manager and quickly became a key contributor to the agency’s economic development strategy. She led impactful programs such as the Creative Industries Grant Fund and played a central role in shaping the organization’s grocery strategy—efforts that expanded opportunities for local businesses and supported community-driven economic outcomes. In recognition of her leadership and contributions, Laurie was promoted to Assistant Director of Economic Development in 2024 and subsequently advanced to Senior Vice President, where she now helps guide Invest Atlanta’s economic development priorities and partnerships.
Prior to her work at Invest Atlanta, Laurie built an international trade and public service career. She served as the Trade & Investment Manager for the UK’s Department for International Trade (DIT) at the British Consulate-General in Atlanta, where she represented the UK’s Southeast regional interests across key sectors including consumer goods, creative industries, and sports, engaging in trade missions, policy work, and business outreach. Before that, Laurie was a Consular Officer at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., handling complex casework and serving on the Rapid Deployment team supporting British nationals during crises in Haiti (2010) and Japan (2011). Laurie holds a B.A. in Political Science with a concentration in International Affairs from Georgia State University and an M.A. in Contemporary European Studies from the University of Bath (UK) and Charles University (Prague, Czech Republic).
Outside of her professional work, she is deeply committed to community and cultural engagement. Laurie lives in Marietta, Georgia, with her son Logan.
Quasandria “Q” Curry is an Atlanta native whose academic and professional journey has made a profound impact on her community. Holding a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in community counseling, she is a shining example of the power of education and perseverance. Q takes immense pride in her roots as an alumnus of the renowned Albany State University, an institution known for its unwavering commitment to excellence. Beyond her impressive academic achievements, Q is a Certified Anger Management Specialist and an active member of several prestigious organizations, including the National Counseling Association, the National Rehabilitation Association, and the Georgia Rehabilitation Association. Her commitment to community and leadership extends to her membership in the esteemed Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
With a career spanning over 21 years, Q has dedicated herself to the cause of workforce development. Her diverse experience encompasses working in various settings, including alcohol and drug treatment centers, court-mandated counseling programs, adolescent residential treatment facilities, and supporting victims of abuse and trauma. She has also provided critical assistance to individuals diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, justice-involved youth, individuals with profound disabilities, and job seekers in search of vocational employment opportunities, demonstrating her versatility and compassion.
In 2021, Q took on a pivotal role at CareerRise, Inc, an Atlanta-based workforce intermediary organization. She assumed leadership of their place-based workforce development initiatives on the west side of Atlanta, known as Westside Works. Under her leadership, Westside Works has undergone a remarkable transformation, expanding its program and service offerings with a strong emphasis on trauma-informed, human-centered practices and equity. Q’s tenure at Westside Works has been marked by several significant achievements. Firstly, she has successfully built high-demand career pipelines, paving the way for countless individuals to access meaningful employment opportunities. Additionally, Q’s visionary approach led to the creation and effective deployment of a regional Digital Navigation and Upskilling service, serving as a vital community resource that offers a holistic learning experience. Perhaps one of Q’s most notable contributions is her ability to foster collaboration between local residents, employers, and community leaders. Through this collaborative spirit, she has spearheaded the development of innovative programs, tailored to residents’ interests, that redefine traditional experiential learning. This approach has resulted in the creation of new professional development courses and resources, further cementing Q’s legacy as a trailblazer in the field of workforce development.
Corey assists corporate clients in identifying, analyzing and securing optimal commercial real estate solutions. He leads the market research and data retrieval offering the absolute best recommendations to clients ensuring that decisions made are thoroughly vetted and informed.
With over 15 years of commercial real estate experience, Corey has been instrumental in helping small and large businesses align their objectives with their real estate requirements. He has led or had material participation in commercial real estate transactions totaling over $100 million. He has extensive experience in forecasting, analysis, project management, site selection and contract negotiation. Corey began his career with Colliers International as an Asset Manager overseeing the day-to-day operations of a Class A and B office and retail portfolio totaling over one million square feet. Corey also served as Senior Leasing and Property Manager for SugarOak Holdings, a Herndon, VA based company, for an Atlanta office portfolio consisting of approximately 200,000 square feet. He went on to serve as a corporate real estate specialist with Kimberly-Clark Corporation overseeing transactions both state-side and internationally. Corey’s vast experience in the commercial real estate arena has positioned him as a thought-leader and innovator in the industry. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance.
Corey’s civic and business affiliations include Empire Board of Realtist-Commercial Council Chair, RealNex Product Advisory Board Member, and University of Alabama Red Elephant Club. Additionally, he is a member of the National Association of Realtors, the Atlanta Commercial Board of REALTORS and the Alabama “A” Club. He is a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM).
Edrick J. Harris is a seasoned real estate development professional with more than 20 years of experience leading complex new development and redevelopment projects throughout the Southeast. He currently serves as Senior Vice President of Development for Prestwick Development Company, where he oversees the firm’s development strategy with a focus on affordable multifamily housing, independent senior living, and tax credit acquisition and rehabilitation.
Edrick holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental (Real Estate) Development from Southern Polytechnic State University and a Master’s degree in City Planning from the Georgia Institute of Technology. His background blends technical planning expertise with hands-on development leadership, allowing him to successfully manage multiple elements within large-scale, mixed-finance projects.
Throughout his career, Edrick has worked alongside and under industry leaders, including Herman J. Russell, gaining experience that spans mixed-income, mixed-use, and neighborhood revitalization developments. His portfolio includes several landmark projects, such as The Villages of Carver, a $63 million total redevelopment of a former 105-acre Atlanta Housing Authority site into 220 multifamily units with townhomes, a community center, and the Carver YMCA; Historic Westside Village, a $21 million development featuring 150 family units; The Legacy at Castleberry Hill, a $75 million mixed-use project including residential units, a 200-room hotel, restaurant space, and Sky Lofts; and Sky Lofts, a $31.3 million development comprising 208 family units.
Edrick’s work reflects a deep commitment to thoughtful, community-centered development and the successful execution of projects that create long-term value for residents and neighborhoods alike.
A combination of multi-use trail and linear greenspace, the Eastside Trail was the first finished section of the Atlanta Beltline in the old rail corridor. Stretching from Piedmont Park in Midtown to Reynoldstown east of the city, the Atlanta Beltline Eastside Trail is full of beautiful views, great food and street art. Today, it is also the most established area on the Beltline with many restaurants, rooftop bars, breweries, food halls, and attractions.
As Vice President of Economic Development, Kelvin Collins leads a comprehensive strategy to increase equitable economic outcomes for residents and businesses of the Atlanta Beltline. Prior to ABI, Collins spent 15 years in leadership roles in both private and public sectors, advancing economic development solutions for low-income communities in New York City. Most recently, he served as the Chief M/WBE Officer at NYC Department of Education – the nation’s largest public-school system. His previous roles include President & CEO of the Harlem Commonwealth Council (HCC) and Assistant Commissioner at the NYC Department of Small Business Services. He is a graduate of Midwestern State University, Texas.
Bryson Levisay is a Government Affairs professional based in Atlanta, Georgia, with experience in strategic public sector engagement and community development. He currently works with Atlanta BeltLine, Inc., where he supports government affairs initiatives and contributes to advancing one of the most transformative urban development projects in the city. Bryson’s role involves coordinating external partnerships, tracking public policy impacts, and strengthening relationships with local stakeholders to further the BeltLine’s mission of inclusive economic and community growth. A graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Bryson brings a strong foundation in public policy, urban issues, and community engagement to his work. At UCLA he engaged in student leadership and extracurricular activities, including athletics and club involvement, where he honed skills in teamwork, strategic thinking, and communication — attributes that continue to shape his approach to professional challenges. Based in Atlanta, Bryson is deeply invested in civic initiatives that connect neighborhoods, enhance public spaces, and support equitable development throughout the region. He is known for his proactive approach to building coalitions across government, nonprofit, and community sectors to help drive meaningful impact across Atlanta’s urban landscape.
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