Ben Johnson.jpg

Ben Johnson

Ben Johnson is a freelance writer based in Atlanta and is a communications professional with more than 35 years of experience in the global commercial real estate and financial services industries. He is the former editor and publisher of National Real Estate Investor magazine and wrote the only biography on Sam Zell published by Penguin Group in 2009.

Screenshot 2025-04-23 at 7.56.38 AM.png
Development and Construction
//
Recreation and Entertainment
Triumph Amid Tragedy: Oklahoma City’s Journey to the 2028 Summer Olympic Games
Commemorating the 30th anniversary of the tragic bombing in downtown Oklahoma City finds the city itself experiencing nothing short of an amazing urban renaissance, after having pivoted from a suburban focus to a vibrant celebration of its central business district.
April 23, 2025
 • 
Ben Johnson
OKCNM-Sunburst-Chairs-1000.jpg
Design and Planning
30 Years Later: The Oklahoma City National Memorial
Husband and wife architectural team Hans and Torrey Butzer were living in Berlin, Germany, in late 1996 when a contest in Progressive Architecture magazine caught their attention. The competition called for designing a memorial to the victims of the tragic bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995.
April 16, 2025
 • 
Ben Johnson
OKC-Downtown-Stadium-1024.jpg
Development and Construction
//
Recreation and Entertainment
New Stadium, Entertainment District Are Last Puzzle Pieces for Downtown Oklahoma City
A major investment in the long-term future of professional soccer is set to dramatically transform the last major land parcel in downtown Oklahoma City. Thanks to a successful public/private partnership, America’s 20th-largest city is seeing a continued resurgence in its downtown.
March 13, 2025
 • 
Ben Johnson
Gensler 2019 proposal.jpg
Design and Planning
//
Mixed-Use
Atlanta’s West End: $450 Million Redevelopment Planned with Mixed-Use and Mixed-Income Affordable Housing
A recent announcement from the Atlanta city government has once again sparked conversation around the redevelopment of a once-vibrant mall in Atlanta’s historic West End neighborhood.
November 12, 2024
 • 
Ben Johnson
Sphere1024.jpg
Design and Planning
Need for Speed: Formula 1 Is Driving Billions to American Cities
Move over IndyCar. Formula 1 racing is finally gaining traction in the United States. Places as diverse as Las Vegas, Austin, and Miami (and their respective states) are reaping major economic windfalls from permanent and temporary grand prix racetracks, along with first-class fan amenities and facilities, for this international sport.
June 18, 2024
 • 
Ben Johnson
Single,Family,Homes,In,A,Row
Issues and Trends
//
Attainable Housing
What’s Next for the U.S. Build-to-Rent Industry?
Housing affordability is an ongoing challenge, one that has been exacerbated in the last few years by rising interest rates and home prices. One alternative that is proving popular is the build-to-rent (BTR) model, which includes communities with apartment-style or single-family homes, or a combination of both.
May 29, 2024
 • 
Ben Johnson
Members Sign In
Don’t have an account yet? Sign up for a ULI guest account.
Forgot Password?