Atlanta 2035 built or broken?

Atlanta 2035: Built or Broken?

Atlanta is growing rapidly. But growth alone does not guarantee a city that is connected, attainable, resilient — or distinctly its own.

The Atlanta we experience in 2035 will be shaped by choices being made now. What gets built? Who can afford to live here? What infrastructure will growth demand? And what might we lose along the way?

Atlanta 2035: Built or Broken? brings those questions into the center of the room through Conversations in the Round.

We'll hear from people who see how cities get built from very different vantage points: a strategist who understands the economics behind what gets built and what doesn't; a veteran planner who knows what it takes to govern growth when interests collide; and an entrepreneur rethinking the infrastructure that will power the cities ahead.

Together, we'll ask:

Why is the city we say we want so difficult to build?

And, closer to home: What choices does Atlanta need to make now to grow well by 2035?

No master plan. No easy answers. A conversation about the choices we still have time to make.

Program

5:30 pm     Registration, mingling and interactive exhibits

Complimentary lite bites, wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverages will be served

6:30 pm     Welcome & Opening Remarks

6:40 pm      Spoken Program: Conversations in the Round

7:45 pm       Spoken Program Concludes

8:30 pm       Program Concludes

Conversation #1: Why Is the City We Want So Hard to Build? 

Speakers: Geoff Koski, President, KB Advisory Group & Atlanta City Planning Commissioner Jahnee Prince

Facilitator: Jacqui Chew

Geoff Koski brings more than 20 years of experience helping cities and developers assess what gets built, where, and whether the numbers add up. As president and owner of Atlanta-based KB Advisory Group, he advises public and private clients across the Southeast on housing markets, economic development, and financing redevelopment.

His work gives him a practical perspective on the choices shaping Atlanta’s future: how to meet housing needs, make development financially viable, and use public investment effectively. He chairs ULI Atlanta’s Livable Communities Council and teaches Real Estate Development Methods at Georgia Tech, preparing future planners and developers to understand—and challenge—each other’s assumptions.

As Atlanta grows, Jahnee Prince helps shape how the city makes room for its future. Atlanta’s City Planning Commissioner since 2022, she leads work on the city’s Comprehensive Development Plan, simpler permitting, and policies that support affordable housing and safe, walkable neighborhoods.

Jahnee brings 25 years of experience spanning land use, transportation planning, and economic development. Before joining Mayor Andre Dickens’ cabinet, she spent eight years as a national city planning consultant and served as deputy director of planning and sustainability in DeKalb County. Her experience across consulting and local government gives her a practical perspective on how community priorities, development pressures, and public policy meet—and what it takes to turn plans into places where people can thrive.

Conversations #2: Powering the City We Haven't Built Yet

Speaker: Ben Damiani, CTO at Cherry Street Energy

Facilitator: Claire Angelle

Ben Damiani works on a question central to Atlanta’s growth: how can the buildings we use every day generate more of the energy they need? As chief technology officer at Cherry Street Energy, he helps commercial properties put solar power, battery storage, and smarter energy systems to work.

An electrical engineer and entrepreneur, Ben has co-founded three companies and helped raise more than $300 million for U.S. solar businesses. His solar cell innovations have reached large-scale manufacturing—and the panels installed at the White House. He holds a Ph.D. from Georgia Tech and brings experience across the United States, Europe, and Asia to the practical challenges of making clean energy part of a city’s infrastructure.

This evening is made possible by: