A Message From Buckhead Coalition Chair Eric Tanenblatt

The Buckhead Coalition is in the quality-of-life business—tangible things like transportation infrastructure and public safety that profoundly shape what it means to live, work, or play here—and business is good.

By prioritizing policies and partnerships that fuel economic growth and opportunities for upward mobility, we’ve created a unique place where families and businesses can grow and millions of visitors can enjoy world-class shopping, sports, arts, entertainment, and dining venues.

In recent weeks, Atlanta has been ranked among the best places to live in the United States, the number one city to start a career, the country’s top destination for summer travel, and one of the top 25 cities for parks and green space.

A population on the rise – and getting younger

The U.S. Census Bureau reported last month that Atlanta’s population has exceeded half a million residents and the region has become the sixth largest in the country, surpassing the Philadelphia and Washington, DC metropolitan areas.

Moreover, Buckhead’s population is trending younger. According to the 2020 Census figures, the median age for Buckhead’s residents is 37.9. However, the biggest single demographic bracket is millennials at 34% of the population. That is followed by Generation X at 19.8% and Baby Boomers at 18%.

A hub for sports and entertainment

Major events will also continue to come to Atlanta, generating enormous economic impact for our city, region, and state.

Among them is the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will host eight matches, including a semi-final. Analysts are already projecting the tournament will become the largest sporting event in history, with more than a billion people watching worldwide and hundreds of thousands in Atlanta cheering in person.

An emerging global tourism destination

With all this great news on Atlanta’s horizon, we should begin promoting Buckhead as the region’s top tourist destination. We have so much for which to be proud.

Our luxury hotels, boutiques, art galleries, entertainment venues, and award-winning food and dining options are second to none in the Southeast. Our shopping is legendary, featuring some of the region’s largest upscale stores.

But there’s so much more to experience in Buckhead than what can be found in the bottom of a luxury shopping bag. We have the Atlanta History Center, Chastain Park, Bobby Jones Golf Course, Bitsy Grant Tennis Center, Buckhead Theatre, Lenox Mall, Phipps Plaza, Miami Circle’s many art galleries, and Buckhead Village. Our scenic parks (like Chastain, Charlie Loudermilk, and the Blue Heron Nature Preserve) also give residents and visitors a special place to relax in nature.

Forbes Magazine recently wrote, “Buckhead, Atlanta’s prestigious financial district, is particularly hitting it off with luxury buyers. Its spacious, service-oriented condos are encouraging the development of trendy restaurants and community spaces nearby, propelling the city’s economy forward and enhancing connectivity within the city.”

As former Georgia Governor Zell Miller was fond of saying, when you see a turtle sitting on a fence post, you don’t think the turtle got there himself.

Thriving, dynamic cities are a lot like that turtle: they didn’t just happen on their own. Buckhead became a global destination thanks to decades of hard work and vision by the Buckhead Coalition and its many public and private sector partners.

We’ve all enjoyed the enormous returns on our quality-of-life investments at the Buckhead Coalition, so let’s not stop now.