The new architect is expected to submit a blueprint for the new stadium on a site south of the Georgia Dome.
The south site of the stadium is occupied by a church while the corner of Northside Drive and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive is occupied by Mt. Vernon Baptist Church. No construction activity on these sides is expected without the full cooperation of the churches. State officials, however, are in discussions with the church management. The state is also expected to make an offer to purchase Friendship Baptist Church located across ML King from Mt. Vernon.
State officials want the architect to plan for the south site as it has more challenges than the north site. The south site is currently occupied by Mt. Vernon and the Dome’s orange parking lot.
ML King Jr. Dr. would have to be re-designed to accommodate the outer edge of the new stadium. The ML King redesign would run through the current property of Friendship Baptist church.
State officials plan to purchase the necessary property by August 2013, failing which, the stadium plan is expected to shift to the more spacious north site. Construction on the stadium would probably need to begin around mid-2014 if the franchise plans for the stadium to be opened in time for the 2017 NFL season.
Earlier this month, Invest Atlanta has approved sale of $200 million in construction bonds for the project, paid by hotel-motel tax revenue. Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank will invest $800 million for the project.
