America is Porsche’s biggest market and the carmaker takes pride in providing customers with track days, so the moves make a lot of sense. The circuit will reportedly be similar to the Porsche Silverstone facility in England.
The old Ford Plant has been leveled and the ground has been scrubbed of environmental hazards left from years of industrial use, so Porsche will need to start from scratch. This is not a bad thing, as Porsche likes to create centers that impose a certain heritage and presence.
The lease on the current suburban location will end in 2013 and it’s likely that new facilities will take a number of years to complete. The move could involve a couple hundred sales and marketing jobs to Atlanta's Southside.
Fulton County Commissioner William Edwards, whose district includes the Hapeville site, could not confirm the move, but he said Hapeville’s mayor has been working hard to fill location that would suite Porsche.
“This is just the first step. South Fulton has always been misrepresented as a bunch of poor black folks and poor white folks. Other people are finding out that it’s a diamond in the rough,” Edwards said.
“It’s really good for us because we’ve been sitting over there with the project vacant for a while,” said Hapeville Mayor Alan Hallman. “Assuming the rumors are true, it will jump start the entire Jacoby development. Everyone has been sitting on their hands waiting on the first person to throw the first pitch.”
Porsche could make an official announcement soon and we will keep you updated on the subject.
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