James_May-June_2026_web - Flipbook - Page 10
and development downtown. “The
more you get people downtown,
on the streets, the more people
feel safe and comfortable,” Zimmerman says. “It’s just a great
package right now.”
More people are living downtown now as well in condos and
apartments. They provide a yearround base for restaurants and
businesses in between the trade
shows and sporting events.
The public relations benefits of
major international events such as
the World Cup and Olympics is also
incalculable and couldn’t be purchased at any cost,” Zimmerman
underscores.
Lakes Especially Popular
Among the many visitor attractions in Georgia, in addition
to the mountains and the sea, are
the many beautiful freshwater
lakes. Among the well-known
ones are Lake Oconee (popular for
golf, boating and luxurious places
10
JAMES M AY/JU N E 2 02 6
THE FUTURE CENTENNIAL YARDS
like the Ritz-Carlton), neighboring
Lake Sinclair in central Georgia’s
“Lake Country,” Lake Blue Ridge,
Lake Rabun, Lake Allatoona, Lake
Chatuge (all with great mountain
views), Carter’s Lake near Ellijay
and the 78,000-acre Clarks Hill
Lake (Lake Thurmond) that borders South Carolina. Perhaps the
largest of these popular lakes is
man-made Lake Lanier. It was developed to provide a reliable water
supply for the exploding growth
of metro Atlanta, but has evolved
into much more than that with
hotels and restaurants, boating
and fishing, water skiing and many
other activities all within a short
drive from Atlanta.
