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Piedmont Park business owners asking lots of questions about historic expansion

The expansion will happen at Piedmont and Monroe, home to several businesses who say they have no idea what is going on.

Piedmont Park business owners are asking a lot of questions after Friday's announcement from Mayor Kasim Reed that the park will undergo its largest expansion in history.

In his final press conference as Atlanta mayor, Reed said the city had two signed letters of intent to sell property at the corner Piedmont Road and Monroe Drive.

“This will be a street corner transformation that will lift the curtail and set a visual stage we've never had before,” Reed said.

The city will contribute $20 million to the initial acquisition. Carol Tomé, CFO of The Home Depot and a member of the Atlanta Committee for Progress, has volunteered to lead the philanthropic effort raise up to $80 million in private funds to acquire all the remaining property and fund the park design and construction.

An anonymous philanthropist contributed $2 million to support the initial $20 million acquisition.

RELATED | Largest expansion in Piedmont Park history announced

It's been eight months since Bryan Castano opened his dream gym, Equilibrium Fitness. Piedmont Park is in its back yard.

On Friday, he learned his gym and the other businesses at Clear Creek Center Plaza are in the expansion's crosshairs.

“The way the message was delivered, it wasn't the most professional way,” Castrano said. “I heard about it from the news and from the members. I've heard nothing from my landlord.”

The city of Atlanta wants to expand Piedmont Park for a whopping $100 million. The expansion includes more greenspace, improved walking trails and access points and a connection to the Beltline.

“I'm happy with Piedmont Park,” Castrano said. “It's a beautiful situation that's happening. At the same time, it's also working against us, the one thing that's our big selling point. Now they are taking over.”

Navneet Kaur and her family visit the park a couple of times a week.

“I think it's good,” she said. “The more greenspace we have, it's better for the environment and the people.”

But Kaur said she doesn't want these business owners to have to move.

“That won't be good,” she said. “They should stay. They should figure out something.”

The city will contribute $20 million to the initial acquisition. Carol Tomé, CFO of The Home Depot and a member of the Atlanta Committee for Progress, has volunteered to lead the philanthropic effort raise up to $80 million in private funds to acquire all the remaining property and fund the park design and construction.

An anonymous philanthropist contributed $2 million to support the initial $20 million acquisition.

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