Atlanta Parks

[Martinman]

Originally Posted by smArTaLlone

Clearly the Midtown rendering borrows from the Broad street plaza which has turned out well.

The decking has grown on me. The planters help it a lot but I still think it needs a focal point in the center. Overall its a great short term project to improve the public realm of this city.

[alco89]

Donors aren’t that interested in helping fund a park in Buckhead that would go over Georgia 400, according to a story in Reporter Newspapers.

A feasibility study by Coxe Curry & Associates suggested that donors be asked to fund just $25 million of the proposed $250 million project, rather than the $75 million originally imagined. The rest would come from public sources, according to the story.

Several potential donors wondered whether they should donate to the park because it would benefit private businesses. They also wondered whether other projects in the city should have a higher priority for funding.

https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/...-400-park.html

[smArTaLlone]

The proposed Commercial Row Commons project will benefit the Midtown community in two ways: first, the realignment of the intersection will create usable, public space that can be utilized by the adjacent Commercial Row retailers and the neighborhood as a whole; second, the realignment of the Peachtree Place and Peachtree Street intersection will improve safety and connectivity for all user types.

On July 21, Midtown Alliance will be hosting a pop-up session on the corner of Peachtree Street and Peachtree Place from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM to display multiple concepts and solicit community feedback on design and enhancements.

[smArTaLlone]

[smArTaLlone]

[Martinman]

Do it!!!!

The head of Chick-fil-A is looking to sandwich a park in Midtown over the interchange, a bold stroke for the second-generation leader of one of Atlanta's corporate giants as the city continues to rise.


Cathy has been hosting an unknown number of meetings with various Midtown property holders and government officials over a plan that would develop a park along North Avenue that would cap the Interstate 85/75 interchange, bridging together Midtown proper with Georgia Tech.

Bisnow confirmed at least one such meeting on Aug. 10 at the Georgia Department of Economic Development, where Cathy met with economic development officials and Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Russell McMurry to discuss the idea of a green space over the Downtown Connector near North Avenue.

“I am told the meeting was just to present the concept and understand more about what the state and federal requirement would be in a project of this type of scope,” GDOT spokesperson Natalie Dale said in an email.

https://www.bisnow.com/atlanta/news/...terstate-92473

[smArTaLlone]

That's interesting. I wonder what prompted Cathy to get involved with something like this.

[smArTaLlone]

More info from the ABC...


https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/...g-idea-to.html

Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy is working with Georgia Tech on a long-term master plan that would cap the Downtown Connector to create a park that links Midtown with the heart of Tech's campus, according to multiple sources.

Cathy pitched the idea in a meeting last month to Georgia Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson and Department of Transportation Commissioner Russell McMurry. The Aug. 10 presentation was confirmed by Georgia DOT spokeswoman Natalie Dale.

Chick-fil-A declined a request for an interview, but issued a statement saying "Dan Cathy has many contacts in the Atlanta real estate world, and occasionally has discussions about opportunities that interest him."

Georgia Tech President "Bud" Peterson deferred comment to Cathy, but in an email said of Midtown: "The past 10 years have seen explosive growth in Technology Square, largely due to the rapidly expanding innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. The influx of a number of innovation centers coupled with the talent and technologies at Georgia Tech are continuing to draw attention and make this area highly desirable for large companies and startups alike. As a result, real estate values have increased dramatically and space is at a premium.”

[smArTaLlone]

• Video Link

[smArTaLlone]

https://atlanta.curbed.com/2018/9/6/...t-park-oakland

Friends of Memorial Drive Greenway announced this week a capital campaign that will aim to raise $200,000 via private and corporate donations by December—en route to an ultimate goal of $1 million by 2021.


Construction on initial park improvements will begin this fall, starting with the installation of bench seating, trash cans, and shade trees on the parcel where movies are shown, she said.

Further improvements are slated for 2019, though construction details and timing are dependent upon corporate and private funding. Construction is expected to continue through 2022 and beyond.

[Street Advocate]

"Former Atlanta BeltLine Inc. president and CEO Paul Morris will conduct a feasibility study to build a park over the connector that could link Midtown with the heart of Georgia Tech’s campus.

The effort is being led by Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy, who is also involving Georgia Tech, Atlanta Business Chronicle reported Aug. 4...

...It’s too early to know the cost of capping the Connector through Midtown, though it’s likely in the hundreds of millions.

Building a park over the Interstate likely would be a public-private partnership. It’s uncertain how much Cathy would be willing invest in the overall project, but he’s committed to the initial funding, Morris said.

“What we have to figure out is what is feasible before we can know what it will cost,” Morris said. “There are probably going to be multiple alternatives that will come from that.”

First priorities are an environmental and engineering analysis, and “then we can consider the cost and what do you get for your dollars,” Morris said...

...Cathy has been holding meetings with stakeholders about the project. He recently pitched the idea in a meeting to Georgia Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson and Department of Transportation Commissioner Russell McMurry.

The Aug. 10 presentation was confirmed by Georgia DOT spokeswoman Natalie Dale.

The upcoming study, which could take up to three years, is meant to be inclusive and transparent, Morris said.

The process will involve public feedback."

https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/...-downtown.html

[smArTaLlone]

It’s uncertain how much Cathy would be willing invest in the overall project, but he’s committed to the initial funding, Morris said.

I suppose this somewhat explains Cathy's involvement. If there's already some $$$ behind it, then this might have a chance of happening athough it would be costly due to the fact that the section across from GA Tech is not all below grade.

[Neighbor]

Kudos to Cathy for taking the initiative to try to spearhead this project and make his city better.

I do not understand why Atlanta's mega wealthy and corporate flagships do not take greater ownership of the betterment of our city. Cities like NYC have a history of their elite building projects for the public's benefit and yet I can't think of one for ATL.

Why is there not more public pressure on someone like Arthur Blank to contribute to the completion of the beltline or the stitch?? It wouldn't bother me at all if they get naming rights and some statues or something, just as long as these fantastic projects get completed. I think it is disgraceful that there aren't more elite in our city behaving like Cathy.

[Kh9142]

Originally Posted by Neighbor

Kudos to Cathy for taking the initiative to try to spearhead this project and make his city better.

I do not understand why Atlanta's mega wealthy and corporate flagships do not take greater ownership of the betterment of our city. Cities like NYC have a history of their elite building projects for the public's benefit and yet I can't think of one for ATL.

Why is there not more public pressure on someone like Arthur Blank to contribute to the completion of the beltline or the stitch?? It wouldn't bother me at all if they get naming rights and some statues or something, just as long as these fantastic projects get completed. I think it is disgraceful that there aren't more elite in our city behaving like Cathy.

I think the Woodruffs could fit in that category.

[smArTaLlone]

More bike infrastructure going in around Centennial Park




https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq0BlqlBWuJ/

[Street Advocate]

What’s going in on the second photo?

[smArTaLlone]

Originally Posted by Street Advocate

What’s going in on the second photo?

Centennial Olympic Park Under Renovation Until 2019

[Martinman]

Some renderings of the plaza makeover at the ATT building.

HGOR has been engaged by Icahn Properties to assist in the re-positioning of 675 West Peachtree, former Bell South/AT&T building in Atlanta, Georgia. The 50-story, 1.4 million sf complex was opened in the early 1980’s. The Brutalist Style of the buildings and the largely empty 35,000 sf plaza has resulted in over 35 years of under-utilization of Midtown Atlanta’s largest outdoor space.

The concept developed by HGOR seeks to reverse the pattern and create a true anchor sector of Midtown, transferring the space to a true destination, engage with the public realm and add value to the real estate. A 37-foot high trellis established a strong indoor/outdoor relationship, while reducing the scale and providing iconic street level imagery. The multi-leveled plaza is simplified and the introduction of an 8,000 sf artificial trunk panel provides feasibility for a variety of activities. Construction will begin in Fall 2018.

[smArTaLlone]

https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2019/02/08/plans-filed-for-first-phase-of-westside-park-at.html?iana=hpmvp_atl_news_headline#i/10748626

Site work could start at what will become Atlanta’s largest park.

A permit was filed in Atlanta to kick off the first phase of the Westside Park at Bellwood Quarry.

When complete, it will encompass around 280 acres, topping the 185-acre Piedmont Park.

The permit is for site demolition, tree removal, grading and erosion control “in anticipation for the land development of Westside Park.” The work could cost about $7 million.

The first phase of the work also will include trails connecting to the Proctor Creek Greenway.

[Street Advocate]

PATH's Lakewood Trail from SE BeltLine to South Bend Park:
https://www.atlantaga.gov/home/showdocument?id=40305
https://www.atlantaga.gov/home/showdocument?id=40307
https://www.atlantaga.gov/home/showdocument?id=40309

IMO, not the best alignment. Would have preferred to see the trail parallel the creek where possible to Pittsburgh Yards. Not sure if that was entirely possible due to the area being a wetland, however a "trail" that parallels a street is probably just going to wind up a sidewalk.