U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner visited the Centennial Yards development in Atlanta, Georgia. The 50-acre project is located within one of the city’s Opportunity Zones and features a range of new residential and commercial properties under construction.
During his visit, Secretary Turner toured the site with stakeholders and met with key partners to discuss the project's role in revitalizing downtown Atlanta. He stated, “Since day one, President Trump has made it clear that housing affordability is a top priority of this administration. Centennial Yards shows how HUD is delivering on that promise – championing innovative, data driven solutions like Opportunity Zones to transform forgotten communities into vibrant neighborhoods bustling with new businesses, housing units, and economic development.”
Opportunity Zones were established through the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) to encourage investment in underserved areas. According to HUD, these zones have led to nearly double the number of new housing units in designated regions, an increase of more than 300,000 residential addresses, higher home values by over 3.4 percent, and attracted over $89 billion in investment while creating more than half a million jobs. The department also reports that more than one million people have moved out of poverty as a result.
The program became permanent following the passage of President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, which provided significant tax cuts for working families.
Secretary Turner reviewed ongoing construction at Centennial Yards and met with project leaders who presented a model outlining long-term plans for the development.
