ATLANTA—Atlanta is making a lot of comeback headlines these days, from multifamily to industrial and even office space. Like any market, the are advantages and challenges for developers and landlords in Atlanta.

GlobeSt.com caught up with Brian Leary, president of Crescent Communities' commercial and mixed-use group, to get his take on the fundamentals of Atlanta's office market in part one of this interview series. Be sure to check this afternoon's Atlanta edition for part two, in which Leary will discuss why Atlanta is seeing so much interest from industrial developers and his take on the mixed-use trend.

GlobeSt.com: What are the inherent challenges in Atlanta's commercial real estate market?

Leary: Atlanta's inherent challenges relate to the fact that it has taken longer than some to rebound post-recession and that no progress has been made with regard to regional mobility in the past six years of stimulus spending nationwide. Long seen as the grasshopper to other regions' ant-like approach to thoughtful preparation, Atlanta can make an impact by returning to its roots as a “can do” place, competing in every metric and delivering on the promise of the highest quality of life.

GlobeSt.com: What are the advantages, generally, of developing commercial real estate in Atlanta in the current climate?

Leary: The main advantage is that Atlanta is inherently a real estate town. It's no accident that Tom Wolfe chose the capital of the South for his Man in Full tome.

The quality and sophistication of the community is exceptional, raising the standards across all product types. While often excluded from the “Gateway Market” club, Atlanta's disproportionate collection of Fortune 500 companies, the world's busiest airport, temperate climate, right-to-work environment, critical mass of institutions of higher learning and location at the nexus of three interstate highways deliver an advantage for growing business—and thus building the buildings for these businesses.

With Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Atlanta truly is a gateway city for the 21st century. Atlanta welcomes the world's top 1% as they leave behind their country, language, family, currency, and economy to start the “American Dream” in the city known worldwide as the home of Dr. Martin Luther King and the 1996 Olympics.