In 2015, media mogul Tyler Perry bought 330 acres of Atlanta’s former Fort McPherson Army base for $30 million. It has 12 purpose-built sound stages, 40 historic buildings protected under national heritage rules, and 200 acres of open green space. Eleven years later, the large site has become one of North America’s biggest production facilities. The project is one of Georgia’s most notable urban redevelopment efforts. It combines the facilities needed for major Hollywood productions with buildings and land that date back to the 19th century.
The property sale was completed in June 2015. Forty buildings within Fort McPherson’s 33-acre historic district are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The 330-acre campus has 12 specially designed sound stages, with the largest covering 60,000 square feet. It also includes a 75,000-square-foot water tank, custom-built backlots that recreate city streets and suburban neighbourhoods, and 200 acres of protected green space. He started his studio business in 2006 and bought a smaller production facility in Southwest Atlanta in 2008. In 2008, lawmakers introduced the Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act. The law offered tax credits of up to 30 percent for qualifying film, television and digital productions. City reports stated that Georgia’s entertainment industry generated more than $5 billion in economic impact by fiscal year 2014.
“The closing of this deal represents the start of a new period of job creation, business expansion and community development in South Atlanta,” Reed said in a statement published on the official Tyler Perry Studios platform. “I am thrilled to have my vision for Tyler Perry Studios come to life in South Atlanta,” Perry said in comments released by the City of Atlanta press office. “From the 30 people who showed up for my first play 20 years ago, to the millions who stand with me faithfully today, ‘Thank you,'” Perry said. “This dream belongs to all of us.”
As part of the purchase, Perry committed to protecting the site’s historic buildings and features. “I am looking forward to the day when Fort McPherson is a catalyst for change in one of our most important neighborhoods. Instead of tearing down the original buildings, the studio made the 19th-century brick quarters, officers’ homes and parade grounds part of its working film locations. The project also added modern production facilities. The purchase marked a major expansion for Perry. “I believe Atlanta provides a wide array of talent. Every single person, from the skilled production crew, to the artists and entertainers, are a vital component to making our films and TV shows come to life. ” State tax policies also helped support the studio’s growth. To manage the growing number of film-related applications, Atlanta created a dedicated Office of Entertainment to help coordinate permits and local hiring. Looking back on his journey from his early days in theatre to owning one of the country’s leading production facilities, Perry thanked the people who had supported him. In a statement published by his production company, he shared his appreciation for the audience that had followed his career.
Today, these historic structures serve as administrative offices and filming areas where productions can recreate scenes from earlier periods.