Katharine Kelley’s appointment as Coalition and CID CEO marks return to local leadership
After a four-month national search, the Buckhead Coalition and Community Improvement District have selected Katharine Kelley as their next leader—bringing home a Buckhead native whose development projects have transformed Atlanta’s urban landscape.
Kelley, president of Green Street Properties and the developer behind iconic projects like Ponce City Market, will assume the dual CEO role in January 2026. Her appointment addresses longstanding concerns about local representation, marking a return to having a Buckhead resident lead the community’s most influential organizations.
“As a Buckhead native and resident, my DNA is rooted in this community,” Kelley said. “This brings together so many of the threads in my life,” Kelley told the Atlanta Business Chronicle. “What’s exciting to me is the chance to bring all that together now for this broad footprint of the entire Buckhead community… It’s sort of a dream come true.”
Development Dynasty
Kelley’s passion for transformative development has deep roots. Her father, Blaine Kelley, developed major Atlanta projects including the Concourse Corporate Center’s iconic “King” and “Queen” towers and Windward Development in Alpharetta, before shifting focus to urban redevelopment like Midtown Promenade Two.
Her own inspiration came early. As a teenager visiting Boston, she discovered what she called “people places”—projects like Quincy Market that reinvigorated downtowns through mixed-use development, she told the Atlanta Business Chronicle in 2012. That vision has guided her 30-year career developing more than $2 billion in properties.
Portfolio of Transformation
Kelley’s projects read like a greatest-hits list of Atlanta’s urban renaissance. At Jamestown, she helped develop the $350 million Ponce City Market, transforming the historic Sears building into 1.1 million square feet of offices, retail, and apartments. The project earned LEED Gold certification and the Urban Land Institute’s Global Award of Excellence.
At Post Properties, she pioneered New Urbanism in Atlanta with Post Riverside. When the company considered conventional garden apartments for a Chattahoochee River site, Kelley convinced them to try something revolutionary—using renowned architect Andrés Duany’s firm to create 537 apartments and offices connected by tree-lined sidewalks that echoed pre-automobile America.
Her other projects include South Downtown’s revitalization, Glenwood Park, and mixed-use developments that consistently emphasize walkability and community connection.
Academic Foundation
Unlike many developers, Kelley brings academic credentials specifically relevant to her new role. She wrote her master’s thesis on self-taxing business districts while earning her real estate development degree from Columbia University. She also holds an MBA from Harvard and a bachelor’s degree from UNC.
This background provides both theoretical understanding and practical experience in the community improvement district mechanisms that drive Buckhead’s progress.
Civic Leadership Track Record
Kelley’s commitment to civic engagement extends beyond development. She served as president of the Rotary Club of Atlanta, sat on the City of Atlanta Zoning Review Board, and currently chairs the board of The Westminster Schools. In 2023, she received the Atlanta ULI ChangeMakers Award for her influence in shaping the city’s development trajectory.
“The only way we were able to achieve these big, lofty goals on the development side was working closely with neighborhoods, businesses, city and regional partners,” Kelley told the Atlanta Business Chronicle. “Every one of those projects involved that kind of collaboration.”
Unanimous Choice
The search committee, led by Russell Reynolds Associates, evaluated candidates nationwide before selecting Kelley. Board members praised her unique combination of technical expertise and community connections.
“Having worked closely with her over the years, I’ve seen firsthand her deep commitment to civic engagement and her impressive track record in urban development,” said Jonathan Rodbell, Coalition chair.
Matt Rendle, Buckhead CID chairman, called Kelley a “perfect fit,” praising her expertise in urban planning and relationship-building as key skills for leading the organizations.
Challenges Ahead
Kelley inherits significant challenges, from traffic congestion and public safety concerns to the need for continued infrastructure investment. Recent years have brought high-profile crime incidents, debates over Buckhead cityhood, and office market struggles.
However, Kelley views these as part of a broader Atlanta story. “Refreshing infrastructure, staying focused on public safety, homelessness and affordable housing are broad things that I think the entire city is focused on,” she told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “They’re no different in Buckhead.”
Her experience with complex projects like Ponce City Market—which required navigating historic preservation requirements, environmental standards, neighborhood concerns, and securing $50 million in historic tax credits—suggests she’s prepared for the intricate problem-solving that characterizes successful CID leadership.
Vision for Growth
“Atlantans now have examples of what a great public realm looks and feels like,” Kelley told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “As they’ve had a taste of that, they want even more of it.”
This perspective aligns with major initiatives like HUB404, the proposed nine-acre highway-capping park over Georgia 400 that could define Buckhead’s next generation of development.
“Buckhead is poised to play a great role in Atlanta’s future,” Kelley said. “I’m excited to work alongside our Coalition members, the Buckhead CID board, civic partners, and residents to drive growth that benefits both our community and the broader metro Atlanta region.”
Transition and Legacy
Kelley succeeds Jim Durrett, who led the CID for 17 years and both organizations for five years. “I am delighted that Katharine has accepted the call to lead both Buckhead organizations,” Durrett said. “Her appointment signals a promising and exciting trajectory.”
The incoming leader inherits organizations with significant resources—the CID has raised over $90 million in self-imposed taxes for infrastructure improvements, while the Coalition represents 125 senior executives from Atlanta’s most influential businesses.
Kelley approaches the role with respect for her predecessors’ legacy. “I’m aware of and grateful for all the history that precedes me—whether it’s Sam Massell and now the tremendous legacy Jim is leaving behind,” she said. “They’re big shoes to fill, and I’m grateful for the chance to build on all of that strength.”
Coming Home
For Kelley, who lives in Buckhead with her husband Chad Riedel and their three children, the appointment represents both professional achievement and personal commitment to her hometown.
As Buckhead continues evolving, Kelley’s unique combination of development expertise, civic leadership, and deep community ties positions her to guide the community’s next chapter.
Katharine Kelley will officially assume her role as President and CEO of the Buckhead Coalition and Buckhead CID in January 2026.
