CreateATL is a community collaboration space located in Historic Adair Park, Atlanta. Our mission is to foster innovation and resilience by providing a platform for social entrepreneurs, community organizations, and local businesses to collaborate and address the city’s challenges. By repurposing a former scrap metal facility, we have created a resilient ecosystem that serves as a hub for creativity, sustainability, and community engagement.

Within our space, we offer flexible workspaces, event venues, and resources to support a diverse range of activities. Our members and partners engage in various initiatives, including plastic recycling, sustainable agriculture, and equitable coffee sourcing. By focusing on transit-oriented development and adaptive reuse, CreateATL aims to connect neighbors and empower them to bring their innovative ideas to life.

At the core of CreateATL’s development philosophy is the concept of M.A.C.S., which stands for Micro Adaptive Cultural System. This approach emphasizes the importance of small-scale, adaptable, and culturally integrated developments that can be replicated across different neighborhoods. Traditional urban planning often overlooks these aspects, leading to developments that may not align with the unique needs and identities of local communities.

The M.A.C.S. framework consists of four key components:

1. Micro: Utilizing industrial-zoned properties under 2.5 acres to create intimate and manageable spaces that can be tailored to community needs.

2. Adaptive: Repurposing existing buildings to serve both business and neighborhood requirements, ensuring flexibility and sustainability in design.

3. Cultural: Elevating cultural moments by celebrating local music, art, and entertainment, thereby enriching the surrounding neighborhood and fostering a sense of belonging.

4. System: Documenting an open-source process that can be replicated, with transit, resilience, and commerce as the foundational pillars.

By implementing the M.A.C.S. model, CreateATL addresses common urban planning missteps, such as disconnected industrial properties and displacement due to rising commercial rents. This system ensures that developments are community-centric, adaptable, and culturally relevant, ultimately contributing to the creation of beloved communities throughout Atlanta.

CreateATL is proud to host a variety of retail partners and community organizations that align with our mission:

• Scraplanta: A 501(c)(3) environmental arts nonprofit that operates an art supply thrift store within CreateATL. Scraplanta promotes environmental awareness and artistic expression by collecting and reselling pre-loved craft materials, making the arts more accessible and sustainable for the community.

• Sassy’s Cafe: A cafe serving up tea, coffee, juices and pastries while supporting the local ecosystem of founders or women-owned businesses – whether that’s Atlanta’s own Colette Bread & Bakery, Transcendence Coffee’s syrups, Radio Roaster’s beans, or even the USDA certified organic loose-leaf teas from Heavenly Teas.

• Radical Adventure Riders – Atlanta Chapter: An organization that promotes cycling and adventure, encouraging inclusivity and exploration within the Atlanta community.

• Joyful Jarra – A local refillery that lets you grab sustainable home products and supplies.

In addition to our retail partners, we collaborate with various organizations and members, including:

• Southern Fried Queer Pride (SFQP): A community organization that fosters the arts and advocacy for the queer community in the South.

• Canopy Atlanta: A journalism nonprofit that collaborates with residents to report on issues that matter to Atlanta’s neighborhoods.

• ARC Southeast: CreateATL participates as a Plan-B Outpost for this group focused on maintaining access for reproductive health.

• Pangea Farms: An aquaponics project that uses plants to create a cycle that can sustain marine life and feed.

These partnerships enhance the vibrancy of CreateATL, creating a dynamic environment where creativity, sustainability, and community engagement thrive.

By embracing the M.A.C.S. development model and fostering collaborations with like-minded organizations, CreateATL is redefining urban development in Atlanta. Our focus on small-scale, adaptive, and culturally integrated spaces ensures that our initiatives are deeply rooted in the communities we serve. Through this approach, we aim to create resilient neighborhoods where innovation and culture flourish, contributing to a stronger and more connected city.