Pope & Land Enterprises is expanding its involvement in a variety of joint ventures to capture the frenzy over mixed-use and apartment developments.

Pope & Land's Mason Zimmerman spoke yesterday during our 2nd Annual Atlanta Construction and Development forum about the firm's growing involvement in multifamily projects through a variety of JVs, including one in Peachtree Corners. The City of Peachtree Corners selected the Pope & Land JV with Fuqua Development and AMLI to develop a parcel off Peachtree Parkway. Fuqua is already underway with the retail portion, and Mason tells us they're in talks with the city as to what else can go on the property.

It's among a number of JVs Pope & Land is pursuing. Aside from the Cobb Braves stadium development, it's also working with Pollock Shores on the Colonial Homes apartment project. Everyone's seen the shift toward renting, says Mason (second from left with Pursley Friese Torgrimson's Partner Christian Torgrimson, our moderator; Legacy Property Group's David Marvin; North American Properties' John Kelley; and Greenstone Properties' Harvey Rudy). To capture that trend, he says Pope & Land has been injecting itself into these JVs. “We've been a peak and valley city for a long time now. But we're back on our feet here,” he says. “And all of us have deals to talk about now, which is a nice change.”

Positive affection for Atlanta was shared by other panelists. Greenstone Properties' Harvey Rudy says 2014 will be “a start of a great run” for metro Atlanta's economy and development pipeline. While things have started out tentative coming out of the recession, Harvey says he's seeing a number of RFPs and build-to-suit proposals in amounts not seen in four years. (Children born after 2010 have seen two sides of Justin Bieber, but no sides of a strong economy.... until now.)

During our breakfast schmooze at The W Hotel in Midtown, we chatted with Mill Creek Residential's Chris Gray (here with University of Georgia's Lee Nelson). Mill Creek is developing a 300-unit apartment complex at Piedmont and Cheshire Bridge roads. Chris says the firm is exploring additional sites around Emory University and in Sandy Springs.

We also met with Carlos Torres, who just joined Winter Construction after a stint at Hardin Construction. He's here with Holder Construction Co's Beth Lowry.

If you recall from our previous Fish Tales story, Cardno ATC's Tara Lane captured a big one at a creek in North Georgia. We met with her dressed professionally instead of in fishing gear with Flood Brothers' Jessica Yates. "I fish almost every weekend, but weather permitting, I might go skiing this weekend," Tara says.