Centennial Hill


Centennial Hill is district at the northern edge of Downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The name was originally coined by Hines Interests and applied only to their planned development in the area. Although the development was never started and the land later sold, the name remained and became associated with the whole neighborhood. Due in part to the Georgia Aquarium and to renewed interest in city living, Centennial Hill is undergoing a development boom estimated at over US$1 billion. This includes Allen Plaza, an eight-block mixed-use development that flanks Ivan Allen, Jr. Boulevard and encompasses several side streets. Comprising sleek glass skyscrapers that now house Southern Company and Ernst & Young looming over the Downtown Connector, in addition to W-Atlanta Downtown Hotel, Allen Plaza has already given a sleek new look to Centennial Hill.
The center of the neighborhood is considered to be the intersection of Ivan Allen Boulevard and Spring Street. The boundaries of the neighborhood are generally acknowledged to be North Avenue to the north, Baker Street to the south, Luckie Street to the west and the Downtown Connector to the east. About half of that area consists of the Centennial Place residential community, which in 1996 replaced Techwood Homes, which in 1936 had been the United States' first public housing project. Previous to the 1930s the area was a slum called Tanyard Bottom or Tech Flats.