One could call Jim Irwin an accidental developer. Today, at the young age of 47, Irwin is one of the most respected developers in Atlanta because of his commitment to creating spaces and places where people want to visit, live and work. A motto for Irwin: “Let’s build a city I’d want to live in.” Irwin was an English major and football player at Dartmouth College.
Then he served as a legislative aide to the late U.S. Paul Coverdell (R-Ga.) and then U.S. It was Gramm who told Irwin: “Don’t get stuck here.
You need to move back home and get your business degree.” Irwin returned to Atlanta to get an MBA from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University, uncertain about his career goals. Both her parents were architects, Joe and Keren League, who met when they were working for the esteemed Atlanta architectural firm Jova/Daniels/Busbee. His in-laws suggested real estate might be a solid career move.
Keren then introduced Irwin to Chris Schoen, who was working with Barry Real Estate. Irwin began working with Hal Barry and Schoen while finishing up his business degree. Jim Irwin at the offices of New City Properties in front of a model of his development along the Atlanta BeltLine next to Historic Fourth Ward Park.
(Photo by Maria Saporta.) At the time, Schoen owned a baseball team in Fort Wayne, Ind., and he wanted to develop a stadium. He brought on Irwin to help shepherd the project. While envisioning the development, Irwin suggested sinking the field rather than going vertical, keeping it at ground level.
By sinking the field, the stadium could remain open and accessible to the community when baseball games weren’t taking place. An open running track became a popular neighborhood amenity. “One of the reasons it was so powerful for me, I learned that if you can create connections with the nearby surroundings, you can have a greater impact on the community,” Irwin said of Parkview Field.
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