City Council Weighs Gulch Deal, Questions Remain

The Gulch deal would be the biggest real estate deal Atlanta has ever done, and it’s complicated, said Councilmember Matt Westmoreland.

John Bazemore / Associated Press

All week, City Council has debated and questioned a proposed deal to develop the Gulch — about 40 acres of railroads and parking lots beneath what is now State Farm Arena.

The developer, CIM Group is asking for up to $1.75 billion in public funds to turn the chronically empty Gulch into a massive mixed-use project.

To do it though, CIM Group needs City Council to sign off on some of the public financing, and after three public meetings on the topic just this week, it’s still not clear whether enough councilmembers are convinced.