Atlanta, GA
A once abandoned terminal changed Southwest Atlanta. Its future is still unfolding.
The small business hub is working to stay rooted in its mission to serve its community, while embracing events like the World Cup.
Views of the exterior of Pittsburgh Yards in Atlanta on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (Natrice Miller/AJC)
Five years ago this month, an abandoned trucking terminal south of I-20 was reborn as a business and community hub called Pittsburgh Yards.
In the years since its opening, the 15-acre site has helped spur the development of the Southside Beltline and brought new businesses and visitors to a historically neglected part of Atlanta.
raey htiw elihw pu ot eht eht eht yats detoor txen noissim skool sti ni selpparg ,noitacifirtneg sraeg .erutuf rof gnicarbme ytic sa dna sdraY dlroW hgrubsttiP ,woN puC
Views of the exterior of Pittsburgh Yards as seen from The Beltline in Atlanta on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (Natrice Miller/ AJC)
A catalyst
,sdray hcihw saw saw eht eht eht eht eht leets goms tnecsinimer liar ,elpoep yllanigiro ytinutroppo eno no tsedlo fo fo fo sdoohrobhgien doohrobhgien eman sllim sti sti ti si s’yrtsudni ni ni ni depleh sah evig ylremrof rof devalsne ytinummoc deretnec yb tliub ,sgninnigeb neeb esuaceb dnuora ,hgrubsttiP hgrubsttiP .ainavlysnneP tI morF dednuoF kcalB .snatnaltA .atnaltA 3881
erehw saw saw gnikcurt eht eht ,lanimret .stneduts stis etis ecno won ht02-dim ti ti rof dnalmraf ,yrutnec yb tub gniltsub emaceb larutlucirga denodnaba a sdraY ehT hgrubsttiP nI s’egelloC kralC .s0991
ot ot eht eht taht trats erauqs ,ecaps ecaps llams llams etis desahcrup sreffo wen setius-orcim spihsrebmem efil sti otni ni ni buh rof rof rof teef .sruenerpertne yllaicremmoc gnikrow-oc yb .sessenisub ssenisub gnignirb ehtaerb ta aera dna elbadroffa ssecca ehT ehT noitadnuoF .E yesaC einnA toof-erauqs-000,16 6002 101 001 htnom-a-05$
ruO“ gnidliub-htlaew htlaew ot hguorht eht eht troppus roines gnilacs dias ,seitinutroppo fo noissim boj si yllufepoh lanoitareneg rof pihsruenerpertne ”,noitaerc etaerc etaicossa dna ,nnelG .noitadnuoF lletnahC yesaC
tuB“ uoy ,eutriv siht s’taht dehsur ecneitap ton ”.dednim rennam si ni od ytinummoc tonnac dna a a
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Breaking ground
sraey htiw koot ot ot ot emit eht eht eht eht taht .etis thgir stnediser laer gninnalp no tiforpnon sgniteem lacol ni woh gnipoh dleh dnuorg rof rof elpmaxe etatse od .tnempoleved tnatsnoc ,ytinummoc tsylatac yb kaerb eb dna na a tI noitadnuoF gniruD yesaC 21
ti“ .sraey saw ,pu ,neht .dias fo devil ekil wenk tsuj ni sah rof .ylimaf ”,ydobyreve ydobyreve ytinummoc kcab tuoba a einahpetS hgrubsttiP gniworG srewolF srewolF dnA 04
stnaw sgniht eht taht ekat nees ’stnediser stnediser stcejorp ro wen doohrobhgien sdeen ycagel evael otni evah t’nod .degnahc tliub dna .tnuocca s’ehS tuB
dluow nehw saw eht .lacitpeks dias ,tcejorp no sgniteem sti ti tupni dloh rof ytinummoc oS noitadnuoF srewolF yesaC
rO“ erA“ tahw ew su ot ot ot .gnikniht yeht yeht s’taht llet ehs dellacer yllaer ”?netsil ”?ti ni evah gniog gniog gniog emoc nac eb era dna dna
Stephanie Flowers, a 40-year community resident and community advocate who participated in the community-led planning of Pittsburgh Yards, speaks at the initial community celebration of Pittsburgh Yards in September 2021. (Courtesy of Pittsburgh Yards)
htiw dehgiew saw eht eht eht eht eht desirprus .esoprup .ssecorp lapicnirp yltnasaelp no fo gniman eman ,rekinom noissim niam sti ti ni depleh evig ytinummoc dna dna retfa sdraY ehT hgrubsttiP aiN aaznawK srewolF tuB gnidliuB
tI“ saw ot ot ot ot ot siht eht eht eht eht eht .stnanet troppus ”,ecaps gnihtemos snoisses dias gnillor tnediser edivorp detapicitrap trap renwo tuo fo fo fo fo won wen .doohrobhgien retsam emitgnol ekil ,ti si ni gnipleh lairuenerpertne tnemegagne ,ytinummoc ytinummoc ytinummoc ngised-oc ssalc tub lufituaeb eb eb dna dna osla osla gniwolla tnecajda elba a a a draY weivtseW ,snilloR snilloR hgrubsttiP imoyiK tken’eK ,evitarepooC
Views of the exterior of The Nia Building at Pittsburgh Yards in Atlanta on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (Natrice Miller/ AJC)
ot ot eht eht eht taht .dias tniop gninepo fo txen si ni s’buh noitelpmoc dna osla ssecca detarelecca ,sdraY ehT edishtuoS hgrubsttiP nnelG srewolF rebmeceD eniltleB 0202
… eW“ noitamrofsnart ”,nwot siht sgniht edis gnittes .dias no fo noitom tsuj ni rof citylatac tsaob gnieb lanoitidda nnelG
elihw detnaw detiaw litnu ot ot yeht eht eht eht eht esimorp nalp ,)ytrap cimednap lanigiro gninepo gninepo ton yam peek sti ni evah dnarg rof gniwollof llaf .ytinummoc neeb a a noitadnuoF yesaC dnA dna(
tI“ dnA“ uoy htiw hcihw tahw erew ew ew su ot ot ot eht eht maet .dias dias llor yllaer ”.sehcnup llarevo ruo ,noissim tsuj si dleh dleh dah gniog seog rof ”,od gnieb gnieb kcab ,elbatnuocca elbatnuocca nnelG
,sraey esu tinu gninrut ot ot ot yeht eht eht eht ecaps tniop stovip tsap eesrevo yllanigiro rotarepo fo muesum rekam ,ekam .yrenihcam ekil tsael otni yvaeh sah dah evif evif dnif denoisivne t’ndluoc nac gib ta sa tra na na retfa a a sdraY hgrubsttiP revO nnelG
hcihw ot eht eht eht taht ylbaborp fo .doohrobhgien muesum si ni tsrif egnahc thguorb seveileb tra ,hgrubsttiP muesuM nnelG aropsaiD tuB atnaltA trA nacirfA
Guests check out the “We Need Love” exhibit at the African Diaspora Art Museum of Atlanta, located in the Nia Building at Pittsburgh Yards. (Photo by Ty Peas)
2025 and beyond
raey ot eht .buh sah doog ssenisub thguorb htob dab dna sihT
htiw ot eht taht enoladnats gnippihs liater fo sah worg puorg deunitnoc sreniatnoc niatnoc ,sessenisub ta a ,sdraY ehT hgrubsttiP draytruoC reniatnoC .eniltleB
sraey htiw htiw nehw saw saw saw ot emit eht eht eht eht tnanet erots .ecaps llams ecnis ehs ehs margorp margorp roirp tnalp trap renwo nepo fo fo fo wen dedeen tsal rotabucni ni reh sah tog tsrif dnif wef gnidne .draytruoc detcennoc tub ssenisub neeb dna a a sdraY ehS ,sohtoP hgrubsttiP kniP .rebotcO ahsiekaL ,senoJ ,eniltleB A
I“ ohw tahw tnaw tnaw tnaw ”,pu ot ot ot ot kniht ,ecaps wohs .dias ,tneserper yllaer tnenamrep won ym ym tsuj ni woh teg gnitoof ediced gnieb neeb eb dna dna elba senoJ ev’I I I I
Lakeisha Jones, owner of plant company Pink Pothos, is in her shop on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. Jones partnered with Tyler Cichonski, the founder of Rousseau Plant Care and created the Atlanta Plant Fest, a festival held at Pittsburgh Yards in early April. (Jenni Girtman for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
hcihw ot ot ot ot eht eht eht tnanet troppus ,sevres dias tnecer sedivorp seciffo s’tiforpnon devom lagel sti ti si ni morf eerf .seilimaf evitucexe nwotnwod rotcerid seitinummoc resolc eb evitartsinimda sdraY reetnuloV hgrubsttiP leahciM hcraM .sacuL sreywaL tI ,noitadnuoF atnaltA atnaltA atnaltA rehtonA
.srekrow krow ohw saw saw saw gniklaw gnitisiv tisiv ecneloiv oot ot eht eht eht eht eht ,srovivrus enoemos laicos dewols etis dias eno fo deciton ton gnol .netsil ,tfel otni laudividni eh eh eh puorg rednuf rof rof gninialpxe nwod citsemod seod gnitcudnoc sa dehcaorppa dna oga a a sdraY hgrubsttiP sacuL retfA FLVA FLVA
tsuj“ tahT“ dluow gnikrow krow ohw tahw erew ew ew saw ,ereht naht ,dias ”.esir elpoep tuo ruo ”,fo fo fo deen erom nrael dnik ti ni fi hgih demaerd yb tuoba a sacuL
raey htiw hguot ot eht taht llams gniwols .dias ,etar tniop eno ycnapucco ti buh sah dah dah rof nellaf ,ymonoce ylrae laed yb tub sessenisub neeb sa na osla tsomla a a sdraY hgrubsttiP nnelG rebmeceD tuB tA %09 .%76
ot siht .meht gnikat deroliat troppus llams evres edivorp srenwo erom si noitaripsni rof ssenisub retteb sa dna nnelG
Views of the interior of The Nia Building at Pittsburgh Yards in Atlanta on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (Natrice Miller/ AJC)
ot ot ot eht .ecaps llams dias gnidivorp ecalp ytinutroppo tsoc-wol si evah sah og rof rof ytinummoc sessenisub emoceb dna na a a sdraY einahpetS hgrubsttiP srewolF
krow ohw erehw erusnu ot yeht ,meht eht eht llits emos os etis ehs ehs evres stnediser srenwo seitinutroppo fo s’doohrobhgien .dedulcni woh sepoh leef etaerc emoc nac nac nac ssenisub t’nera era dna dedda sdraY hgrubsttiP tuB
I“ tahw tahw gniyrt ot kniht meht rieht rieht eht llits emos os .dias elor ecalp tuo no fo s’ti si desucof dnif ”,sruenerpertne esuaceb era dna srewolF ,)si(
pu ot eht eht eht eht s’ehs spmar lanigiro no fo fo noissim ,dnim rojam skool ekil gnipeek ,erutuf tnorf stneve yllaicepse tnempoleved gnidnecsed .ytic sa daeha dlroW nnelG puC sA
woH“ ohw ew oot ot siht desoppus ,gnimlehwrevo ro ton ekam ekam ti si gnitteg morf ”?rof od ,noitanitsed tub eb yawa a )sdraY hgrubsttiP(
tahw saw desu gniniart ot yeht rieht rieht eht eht ekat stneduts os yllanigiro fo fo dnal ti ti yrotsih seog :rof rof .seilimaf dluoc erac sessenisub dliub kcab dna dna yletamitlU ,nnelG egelloC kralC
I“ I“ siht siht eht eht eht eht s’taht taht taht taht ehs ees gnilacs .dias nruter rebmemer esoprup ecalp elpoep fo fo ycagel ”.sevael dnal si tcapmi epoh epoh rof ”,pihsruenerpertne dna dna a kcalB
— retirw ot siht .troper detubirtnoc yrahcaZ ffatS nesnaH
Mirtha Donastorg is a reporter on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s business team focusing on Black wealth, entrepreneurship, and minority-owned businesses as well as innovation at Atlanta’s HBCUs.
When Lane Thomas was pulled mid-game out in Colorado on Aug. 1, his role in baseball experienced a shift. He went from being the everyday centerfielder in Kansas City to being a platoon corner outfielder on the Atlanta Braves.
Originally from Knoxville, Tenn., about three and a half hours from Atlanta, he grew up with plenty of familiarity with the organization. Excitement comes from that. While it’s preferred to be an everyday player, the timing of his arrival to Atlanta helps with the switch.
“It makes it a lot easier to accept that role when you’re going to one of the best teams he in baseball,” Thomas said to Atlanta Braves on SI. “So, man, I’m just looking forward to doing what I can two, three months and hopefully, he we get to go where we want to go.”
Since Thomas is tasked with mainly facing left-handed hitters, he’s been rotation between being in the starting lineup, and coming off the bench after a certain pitching change has been made.
He’s had just two hits in 13 plate appearances and four trips onto the basepaths. However, he’s made them count. Both of his hits have been for extra bases and have driven in runs. One of those extra-base knocks was a home run against the Mets on Wednesday.
The effort gives him an early .853 OPS despite batting just .182.
“It’s really nice to see a guy who understands his role from day one,” hitting coach Tim Hyers told Atlanta Braves on SI. “And coming in and understanding how he can help to contribute to our team.”
Thomas is part of a group of players who have been able to move around and take on different roles since joining the team. Mike Yastrzemski, who platoons with Thomas in the outfield, is tasked with right-handed hitters. Dom Smith, as a designated hitter, has the same role.
Meanwhile, the Braves have an option in Mauricio Dubón, who handles all pitchers, but he is tasked with different defensive positions. Over on the pitching side, Martín Pérez has been both a starter and a reliever this season.
Willingness to take on a small piece, or varying pieces, of the puzzle to help a team win says something about who they are as ballplayers. Thomas provides the latest example of bringing certain traits to a clubhouse that takes pride in its character.
“You got to be able to accept that role,” manager Walt Weiss said to the media on Wednesday. “And we’ve heard he’s always been a great teammate. You know everyone likes Lane Thomas. That’s his reputation. So, yeah, you don’t think twice about bringing a guy in here and messing up their chemistry or whatever. You’ve got to get the right people. It’s not always about chasing talent. “
Weiss added that while of course Thomas has the talent, it’s about brining in the right talent.
Having the right talent has translated to a 5-2 record in the seven games that the newest member of the outfield has seen action in.
The first couple of weeks of being an Atlanta Brave are in the books. Helping put the finishing touches on the regular season is still a primary task. Of course, October will be the ultimate goal.
He said he hopes the next two to three months are a push to achieve the ultimate goal. Should he keep doing his part, that timeline will be much closer to three than to two.
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Broncos coach Sean Payton has a history with Atlanta, dating back to the intense rivalry between the Saints (whom he coached from 2006 through 2021) and the Falcons. Payton’s current team was back in Georgia tonight for a preseason game.
And Payton couldn’t resist making a crack about the crowd in Atlanta, or the lack of one.
“There’s a lot of people dressed up as empty seats today,” Payton said at a halftime interview, via Awful Announcing.
The official game book for the Broncos-Falcons contest lists attendance at 68,183. That may have been the tickets sold, not the tickets used.
Whether the seats will be filled during the Falcons’ regular-season home games depends on whether the team performs better than it did on Friday night. Preseason or not, the Falcons trailed 24-0 at the half. The final score was 27-7.
The Falcons have reason for optimism. They finished in a three-way tie for the NFC South crown. If they can get something/anything out of the quarterback position, they could win the division in 2026.
They’ll need to win early in the season to get the fans on board. Three of the first four games are on the road, and three of the first four teams they play made it to the playoffs in 2025.
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