Story Maps: Mapping the Beltline’s Equity Efforts

The Atlanta Beltline strives to ensure that all Atlantans benefit and prosper from the economic growth spurred by the project, but what does that look like concretely? A new collection of data-driven stories exploring the impact of the Beltline’s investments and equity work seeks to break that down to a personal and statistical level with the roll-out of the ArcGIS StoryMaps.

Focusing on affordable housing, economic development, quality of life, and community engagement, these Story Maps combine data from publicly available sources such as the American Community Survey, as well as ABI-initiated surveys, with personal narratives from Beltline residents to provide a greater picture of how the Atlanta Beltline is impacting communities.

The Story Maps culminate a three-year partnership between ABI and Neighborhood Nexus. The Investment Data Explorer, also released this month, is a data-driven tool designed to measure progress toward the equity and inclusion vision in several key areas – housing affordability, economic development, transit access, inclusion, and quality of life. The Demographic Data Explorer, which debuted in June 2020, uses public data to provide insight into growth and change over time in Beltline neighborhoods. Together, these data-driven tools help track progress toward project goals and flag demographic and economic trends that may require policy intervention.

To read these Story Maps or peruse the data tools, visit our dedicated Story Maps page.