Things are moving fast in the 404 this week. From Commissioner Ted Terry's bold AI Tech Dividend resolution hitting the Finance Committee to the high-stakes $33.7M seller-financed gamble downtown, we are seeing the literal foundation of the 2026 city being built in real-time. This is not just growth — it is a race against deadlines that will define the city's skyline and its social equity for years to come.
The AI Dividend: DeKalb's Plan for Tech Wealth
Commissioner Ted Terry has introduced a first-of-its-kind resolution: the DeKalb For The People AI Tech Dividend Fund. As data centers continue to boom across Georgia, Terry is proposing that 50% of the tax revenue from these facilities be funneled directly back into the community. The plan would split the funds between environmental restoration — like greenways and forest buffers — and direct resident equity, including library upgrades and utility assistance for neighbors living near these industrial zones.
Read more: Commissioner Terry's full resolution and the DeKalb County data center text amendment.
The Forge's $33.7M Gamble: Why March Could Be Make-or-Break
While headlines celebrated the official launch of the 10-acre Forge Atlanta site downtown, the real story is in the fine print. According to recent reporting from Bisnow, the deal was secured via seller financing from McCall Railroad LLC — the same entity that saw this exact property fall into foreclosure under the last developer back in 2023.
The developer, Webstar Technology Group, is in a high-stakes race against time. The seller-financed note must be fully satisfied or refinanced by March 2026, with a potential extension to April. If the firm cannot lock in permanent institutional funding by then, the property could revert back to the seller — effectively putting the $3.8B vision back at square one. For context on how we got here, Bisnow's earlier reporting tells the full backstory.
Coming Soon: The Business Certification Roadmap
With the World Cup expected to bring a $500M economic impact to Atlanta, the competition for city and transit contracts is entering a high-stakes phase. I recently sat down with Asia Noel for a deep dive on the MBE (Minority Business Enterprise) and DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) landscape — a conversation that is quickly becoming the gatekeeper for local business growth in 2026.
The full conversation drops next week, where Asia shares her perspective on why businesses need to get ahead of the 2026 backlog now to ensure they are not left on the sidelines when the global spotlight hits the 404.
If there is one theme for Atlanta this week, it is preparation. Whether it is DeKalb County preparing for the AI era, the Forge team preparing for a massive financial pivot, or Asia helping you prepare for the World Cup contract rush — the 404 is in a season of building. The cities that win the next decade are the ones that do the work now, before the cameras arrive.
