The Atlanta Beltline Joins the Global Stage

Between hosting White House staff along the Eastside and Southwest Trails, being featured at the global development conference Montréal C2, and welcoming the Sundance Selection Committee, the Atlanta Beltline has attracted the attention of a lot of major domestic and international players within the past few months.

Perhaps the biggest of these visits, however, was that of the Dutch Royal Couple in June.

The Beltline was chosen as a stop on His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Máxima’s four-day United States tour so the couple could hear more about the initiatives we’re taking to address affordable housing, sustainability, and more.

We were proud to talk to them about the incentives we’re offering developers to make affordable housing part of their housing mix, and our land acquisition strategy, which has resulted in nearly 90 acres of land where we can control development. We also shared about our Legacy Resident Retention Program, which is helping Atlantans cover the cost of rising property taxes through 2030.

The visit wasn’t just about them learning from us, though. It was the first step for us in establishing a relationship with one of the world’s leaders in micro-modal transit and pedestrian-friendly public transportation.

As we continue to build out the trail, transit along the corridor is the next phase of development. It has always been at the core of the Beltline vision, and it’s an addition we know will help further reconnect communities, improve health outcomes, and expand access to a range of basic services like retail, grocery stores, schools, healthcare and more.

Now, thanks to the Royal Couple’s visit, we’ve opened up a communications channel we can use to ensure the transit we provide alongside the Beltline is the best version possible.

With more major events coming to Atlanta and the Beltline in the coming years (including next year’s MLB All-Star Game and the FIFA World Cup in 2026), we’re excited to continue serving as a global beacon for equitable, inclusive and sustainable city life.