What’s Next for the Atlanta BeltLine? Citywide Conversation Recap

***UPDATE: Take the Survey!***

  • The Atlanta BeltLine is crafting an Implementation Plan that will guide the project’s development over the next 20 years. This survey is critical to our planning efforts, where we ask you, the public, to help select the best criteria for evaluating projects. Take the survey here!

More than 80 residents representing varying communities, interests and backgrounds gathered on Thursday, November 15 at Central United Methodist Church to learn about the next steps for the Atlanta BeltLine.  How do we chart the course for the remaining 19 years of this 25 year project? The Atlanta BeltLine Implementation Plan will be the compass that will guide Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. (ABI) and its partners in the execution of this transformative project for the City of Atlanta.  The Implementation Plan is a 20-year plan in five year increments that will serve as a long range strategic plan. It will evaluate and prioritize the project’s core components, which include transit, trails and parks.

Atlanta BeltLine Citywide Conversation Implementation Plan
Over 80 people filled the room to give their input regarding the next steps of the Atlanta BeltLine. Photo credit: Christopher T. Martin.

The purpose of this series of public meetings is to provide understanding of how the plan will be developed, discuss how the public’s input will be incorporated, and share insight into how the decision-making process will be made based on a host of prioritized project criteria.

Implementation Plan draft trails priority matrix
People gave their feedback on what they felt the priorities should be for trails and parks.

ABI’s Chief Operating Officer, Lisa Gordon, opened the meeting and provided a brief introduction of the project team, led by Perkins+Will, along with the Collaborative Firm. Beth McMillan, ABI Director of Community Engagement, facilitated the presentation and provided an overview and history of the Atlanta BeltLine from conception to date, identified stakeholders, shared how previous studies fit into the current process, what the implementation plan means, and the purpose for the meeting. Michael Hightower of The Collaborative Firm explained the approach, process and outcomes. There was a breakout session where attendees were asked to review and rank project criteria, followed by a criteria input and suggestion sessions.

Atlanta BeltLine Citywide Conversation Implementation Plan
Attendees were given time to evaluate and rank their choices for what criteria are most important to them when planning the Atlanta BeltLine. Photo credit: Christopher T. Martin.

Two notable feedback items including adding potential ridership as a criteria for trails (much like studies are done for transit) and factoring in the level of blight in an area when gauging the potential for redevelopment.

Presently we are in phase two of the six-phase approach to the Implementation Plan development which involves citywide meetings and study group meetings.  Please join us at one of the upcoming study group meetings!  We will be presenting the same presentation at each study group, so feel free to attend the meeting most convenient with your schedule, or view the presentation and comment below.

The following Atlanta BeltLine Study Group meetings will all take place from 6:30-8:00 p.m.:

  • Westside Study Group:
    Monday, Nov. 26, 2012
    Atlanta Community Food Bank
    732 Joseph E. Lowery Blvd. NW, 30318
  • Southwest Study Group:
    Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012
    West Hunter Street Baptist Church
    1040 Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard, SW, 30310
  • Northside Study Group:
    Monday, Dec. 3, 2012
    Piedmont Hospital
    1968 Peachtree Road, NW, McRae Auditorium Bldg #1984, 30309
  • Southeast Study Group:
    Monday, Dec. 10, 2012
    Trees Atlanta
    225 Chester Ave, 30316
  • Northeast Study Group:
    Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012
    MLK Recreation Center
    90 Boulevard, NE, 30312

View the implementation plan presentation from the citywide conversation and study groups for a preview before the meeting.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Beth McMillan, Director of Community Engagement at bmcmillan@atlbeltline.org
Lynnette Reid, Atlanta Beltline Community Engagement at lreid@atlbeltline.org

3 thoughts on this article. Join the discussion below

  1. It’s nice to see the community coming out to share their voices. Anything to take the pressure off our highways and decreasing our collective carbon footprint, is A+ in my book.

    I hope that this project can become a reality while the kids are still young.

  2. couldn’t come to the meeting, but i think the first priorities should be getting all the property needed for the beltline, brownfield remediation and expanding the right of way on all of it, and immediately identifying bridges and tunnels that need to be expanded or replaced so the city can work on it. for example, even if the funding isn’t around for the beltline trail or transit in, say, ormewood park, the bridges down there could already be identified and put on the city of atlanta’s to do list, so when the bridge finally does get replaced, it will be ready to put everything in.

    it’s like clearing kudzu— you don’t start planting flowers before you get the entire yard cleaned up, and especially not before you buy the house! we need to make sure the property is ours, it’s cleared and ready to drop the transit and trails right in when the funding becomes available.

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