Atlanta Beltline’s Top 10 of 2024

Hear that sound? It’s the sound of progress. We’ve had another remarkable year at the Atlanta Beltline, and we’re so excited to share with you some of our most boast-worthy achievements.

10. New Look + New Website to carry this project into the future

It’s no secret that the Atlanta Beltline is one of the hottest projects in town, and after nearly twenty years, it was time to give our brand a fresh, new look that will resonate with the community and visitors alike for years to come. We also created a brand-new website to improve the user experience and enhance how we talk about the breadth and depth of all the projects, programs, and progress that make up one of the largest redevelopment projects in the country.

9. Named Best Place to Work and many other recognitions

Of course, we think the Beltline project and team is great, but it’s even more rewarding when those accolades come from the outside. 2024 had no shortage of recognitions, including:

• Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Best Places to Work: Atlanta Beltline, Inc.,

• Award of Excellence in Urban Design from American Society of Landscape Architecture: Atlanta Beltline,

• Georgia Trend’s GEORGIA 500 – The State’s Most Influential Leaders ,

• OnConferences’ Top 50 DEI Professional Winner: Nonet Sykes,

• Atlanta Business Chronicle's 2024 40 Under 40 Award: Natalie Jones,

• Georgia’s American Public Works Association’s 2024 Project of the Year Northeast Trail Segment 2 Bridge Project, and

• HouseATL 2024 Housing Retention Hero: Atlanta Beltline Partnership.

8. Funding for a new bike park and trails at Westside Park

We announced earlier this year the generous $8 million donation from the Chestnut Family Foundation to Atlanta Beltline Partnership to help fund the new bike park and trails at Westside Park. Set to be one of the most unique and inclusive bike facilities in Atlanta once completed, it will feature 2.25 miles of mountain bike trails catering to various skill levels, a pump track, a bicycle playground, jump lines, a skills course, and hiking trails. And all the intown, outdoor enthusiasts said, “Huzzah!”

7. Supporting the community with health and wellness programming

We’re not just enhancing urban life through trails and parks: we’re also connecting people to each other through programming that motivates, educates, connects, and inspires. This year, we were thrilled to partner once again with the Big Tigger Foundation to host Big Tigger’s Beltline Bikefest at Westside Park where we gave away over 250 bikes to students from Atlanta Public Schools.

We also hosted over 300 free fitness classes. Yes, you read that right, free. It’s never too early to get a jump on your New Year’s resolution and sign up for a class from one of our amazing fitness instructors.

6. Bold, thoughtful, inclusive new public art

It’s no secret that public art is part of what makes the Beltline experience so great. This year, we welcomed new murals and sculptures, dance performances, style writing, and, of course, the beloved Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade.

5. Attracting more international attention

The Beltline attracts visitors from all over the world, curious to know what we’re doing and how we’re doing it. This was probably the first year, however, that we welcomed royalty (that we know of anyway) with the official visit of Their Royal Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands.

4. Supporting Small Businesses!

We love the small businesses that make the Beltline what it is, and we are committed to helping entrepreneurs flourish. This year, we saw 27 new businesses graduate from the Business Solutions Office accelerator program, Beltline Business Ventures. We also launched an art incubator, Beltline Business Ventures: Artists Edition.

Particularly exciting, $635,000 in grants were awarded to support small businesses and commercial improvement districts, fulfilling a long-time objective to provide capital funding. This was made possible, in part, thanks to the passage of the Special Service District, which unlocked funding from other sources to support small business programs.

3. Advancing development for trail construction, affordable housing and commercial space

We have made great strides to advance our affordable residential housing and commercial space strategy. Most notably were planning and development advancements for Beltline-owned properties at 425 Chappell Road in the Bankhead/Historic Westin Heights neighborhood, 356 University Avenue in the Pittsburgh neighborhood, and 579 Garson Drive in Buckhead. We also made an important land acquisition needed to complete Segment 2 of the Northwest Trail at 2100 Peachtree Road.

2. Exceeding affordable housing goals

We surpassed our annual affordable housing goal of 300 affordable housing rentals with an additional 319 units created or preserved this year. This brings us to 3,874 units of affordable housing created or preserved since 2006. That’s 68% of our 5,600-unit goal!

1. Construction Progress!

And last, but definitely not least, Beltline construction is advancing at lightning speed. We started construction on three new segments and hosted the ribbon-cutting of Northeast Trail—Segment 1. 85% of the trail is now completed or under construction, and we wrapped the year up with 20 active construction and design projects underway. In other words, there will be a lot of ribbon-cuttings to celebrate in the next 18 months!

As you can see, we are relentless in moving the Atlanta Beltline project forward, and the results speak for themselves. All of this is for you—Atlanta, so thank you for your support and enthusiasm of the People’s Project. We look forward to seeing you out on the Beltline!