By Karen Cohilas - bio | email
January 14, 2009
ALBANY, GA (WALB) - Albany Tomorrow's final meeting Wednesday, wasn't final. Not enough members showed up to constitute a quorum, so the board couldn't take any action on legal issues that still must be resolved. But as the sun starts to set on ATI, members take time to reflect on their accomplishments.
In the early years, when ATI was first starting out, Carter's Grill was one of the first places members met to discuss their plans for the city. John White said, "We need to build a city. Not just to revamp what's here, but just build a city, in a sense."
Rebuild out of the ruins from the flood of 1994. In its final days, board members return to Carter's to talk about all they've accomplished. White was one of the founding members. He said, "It has been gratifying to see us come from where we were and the changes we've gone through, the challenges we've faced and reached and surpassed in many instances."
The Hilton Garden Inn, Ray Charles Plaza, Law Enforcement Center, Bridgehouse, Riverquarium, are just some of the projects ATI managed. Projects that will permanently leave a mark on this community.
Board Chairman C.W. Grant said, "The city history is going to have to record in the last 8 years, the tremendous progress, in terms of revitalizing downtown Albany that ATI did." Transforming a community by bringing in outside investors to take on major projects.
White said, "We wanted to build a city and I think we've come a long ways in that direction." Sending the board members in a new direction.
John White says one project he's worked on personally is the development of a Ray Charles Museum to be built on the East side of the river. He hopes to meet with the Ray Charles Foundation next month.
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