Meet Perry Ardell | Founder of The Urban Atlanta

We had the good fortune of connecting with Perry Ardell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Perry, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
One of my favorite quotes is, “Build your own dreams, or someone will hire you to build theirs.” It’s a powerful reminder that if you have dreams, you owe it to yourself to pursue them wholeheartedly. When you look at life from that perspective, it’s hard to settle for anything less than what you truly want. If you’re not actively working towards your own goals, you might end up spending your life helping someone else achieve theirs.

As for affirmations, I tend to go with the flow and believe that what’s meant to be will happen. This mindset keeps me grounded and helps alleviate anxiety about the future. At the same time, I believe we create our own luck—it takes hard work, a positive outlook, and an openness to opportunities. So while I trust in the process, I also stay proactive in shaping my own path.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The Urban Atlanta is both a passion project and a business that provides short-form journalism on social media, focusing on real estate developments, urban planning, and city news. Growing up, I was inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit that runs in my family—both my grandpa in Ohio and my great-grandpa in Bolivia started businesses that still exist today. That same drive to build something of my own led me to create The Urban Atlanta shortly after graduating from the University of Georgia in 2022.

While I still work full-time, The Urban Atlanta has given me a creative outlet and an entrepreneurial path that I hope to pursue full-time one day. It combines my skills in community building, branding, and social media with my deep connection to Atlanta, where I was born and raised. My interest in real estate and urban development inspired me to address a gap I saw in the media landscape: while many news outlets cover these topics, they often don’t have a strong and engaging presence on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube—where my generation consumes most of its information.

The Urban Atlanta creates engaging, short-form videos—usually around 30 seconds—that highlight new developments in the city. We focus on making information easily accessible so that residents can stay informed and have a voice in shaping Atlanta’s future. The goal is to empower people to get involved and influence the city’s growth in a way that is bottom-up, rather than top-down.

What sets us apart is our understanding that media consumption is shifting, and we’re meeting people where they already are—on socials. The response has been incredible, with tens of millions of people interacting with our content. I’m proud of the value we’ve provided, and I believe this kind of accessible, high-quality information helps people become more engaged with their city.

We also use our platform to highlight local Atlanta businesses, creating a virtuous cycle that benefits both our audience and the community. By promoting these businesses and events, we’re helping them grow while also informing residents about the great things happening around them.

This journey is just beginning, and I’m excited to see where it takes us as The Urban Atlanta continues to grow and evolve.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are a few must-visit spots in Atlanta that come to mind. First is the Atlanta BeltLine, a historic 22-mile railroad corridor now transforming into a multi-use path. Although it’s still relatively new and not fully completed, it perfectly captures Atlanta’s vibe as a hub of culture and community. It’s a place where the city’s energy truly shines. We’d start at Piedmont Park, tossing a football and kicking a soccer ball around, then walk down the Eastside BeltLine towards Krog Street Market. After grabbing some of Gus’s dumplings, we’d head further down to Ladybird Grove and Mess Hall for drinks and live music. Finally, we’d continue along the BeltLine, taking in the art, city views, and nature.

Next is the Chattahoochee River. Atlanta is known as the “city in a forest” because of its lush greenery, but unlike most major cities, we don’t have a prominent body of water. So, we make the most of what we do have—the Chattahoochee. Whether you’re fishing or tubing down the river with a cold beer in hand, it’s a quintessential Atlanta experience.

A visit to Buford Highway is also a must. It’s home to an incredible variety of authentic international cuisines—from tacos to Thai food, pho, and pastries. With over 100 international restaurants along the highway, it’s like a global food tour in one stretch, and a stop here is essential.

Finally, we’d head to Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza in Buckhead for some people-watching and retail therapy. These malls offer a solid shopping experience and showcase the more commercial side of Atlanta.

There’s so much more to see—Centennial Olympic Park, the World of Coca-Cola, SkyView Atlanta, concerts at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, events at State Farm Arena, not to mention the Appalachian Mountains to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, just a few hours’ drive away. Not sure if it’s possible, but if I could squeeze it all in, I would!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
To be honest, I would like to shout out the entire city and all the people in it, even those I have not met. The city as a whole has shaped who I am; I have such admiration and optimism for the future of Atlanta and I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing now if there weren’t people who paved the path before.

Website: https://beacons.ai/urbanatlanta/mediakit

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theurbanatlanta/

Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theurbanatlanta