With restructured development team, Fort Mac revamp could get back on track

The dilemma that seems to have snagged the progress of Fort Mac’s proposed redevelopment might be coming to an end.

This summer the planned redevelopment of former U.S. Army base Fort McPherson appeared to be in jeopardy, due in large part to disagreements between the Fort Mac Local Redevelopment Authority—a government agency formed by the State of Georgia to oversee the site’s rebirth—and the project’s master developer, Macauley Investments.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported in July that racially charged tension between the LRA—the agency was formerly headed by Brian Hooker, a black man—and Macauley Investments—run by Stephen Macauley, who is white—was problematic.

Hooker resigned from the post in late July and has been temporarily replaced by Invest Atlanta executive Alan Ferguson.

Now, according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Macauley Investments has teamed up with David Moody, CEO of C.D. Moody Construction, to overhaul the 145 acres of Fort Mac that isn’t owned by film mogul Tyler Perry.

The new joint venture, dubbed “Moody-Macauley,” could try to make up for lost time and get the massive mixed-use project back on track. (Macauley had tried to get the LRA to approve a master project area agreement back in February, to no avail.)

The restructured development team has also enlisted Euclid Walker, managing partner of Parkway Investments, as its financial partner.

Moody and Walker are both Morehouse men, the paper pointed out.

Macauley, who previously told Curbed Atlanta the team would break ground by August, predicted for the ABC that Phase 1 construction will break ground in 2020.

That potentially $25 million phase would span roughly 24 acres and include a mix of residences, retail, arts spaces, and more.

The Fort Mac board is scheduled to next meet October 17.