Atlanta Commercial & Development Trends
Leasing Activity
Leasing activity in Atlanta varies significantly by sector, reflecting structural shifts in how businesses use space.
Industrial Leasing
Industrial space remains the most active commercial sector in metro Atlanta. The region’s logistics infrastructure—including Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, Interstate access, and rail connectivity—continues to attract distribution and e-commerce tenants.
In Q3 2025, industrial leasing activity totaled 8.2 million square feet, representing an 18.1% increase quarter-over-quarter even though activity was lower than the record leasing levels seen in prior years. Major logistics and supply-chain tenants drove much of the demand.
Atlanta’s industrial market continues to benefit from its status as one of the largest distribution hubs in the southeastern United States, supporting retailers, manufacturers, and third-party logistics providers.
Office Leasing
Office leasing remains uneven but is showing signs of stabilization after several years of disruption from remote work trends.
CBRE reported that net absorption turned positive at 304,000 square feet in Q4 2025, signaling that companies are once again committing to space—particularly higher-quality buildings.
The recovery in office leasing is largely concentrated in Class A and amenitized buildings, reflecting a “flight to quality” where employers seek modern workplaces to attract employees back to the office.
Retail Leasing
Retail activity has remained relatively stable compared with office, though some softening has occurred. Retail vacancy reached approximately 5.3%, slightly above the five-year average, as tenants reposition second-generation space created by previous closures.
Fitness, entertainment, and experiential retail concepts have been particularly active in leasing space across metro Atlanta.