Atlanta Beltline - Emerald Necklace

[pksiv]

Owner starts fencing off Beltline property

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/atl...etbeltline.html

[jhelm]

February Beltline updates:

http://www.beltline.org/media/docs/BeltLin...er_02262007.pdf (2/26/07)

http://www.beltline.org/media/docs/BeltLin...date_013007.pdf (2/8/07)

Enjoy

[pksiv]

Looks like Wayne Mason has finally had enough... hopefully something good will be built on this land. Personally, my preference is for at least one good restaurant on Piedmont Park. Right now Park Tavern has a monopoly and I think their food and service suffers because of it.

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/atl...ltlineland.html

[Martinman]

First BeltLine park announced - Atlanta Business Chronicle

The new park, south of Grant Park at the intersection of Boulevard and Engelwood Avenues in southeast Atlanta, has 21 acres of mostly commercial and light industrial property.

The Boulevard Crossing park site is one of the nine park 'jewels' originally identified by the nationally renowned urban designer Alex Garvin in his 'Emerald Necklace' study.

Ultimately, the BeltLine's five-year plan envisions eight to 10 parks being built in the first five years of the project, with another 20 added as the project grows.

[krazeeboi]

So has all of the necessary land been acquired by the city?

[Martinman]

So has all of the necessary land been acquired by the city?

Yeah thats why they're announcing it as the first Beltline park. The Trust for Public Land has been buying up as much land as possible along the Beltline to preserve as greespace and eventually sell to the city when public funds become available and thats what happened here.

[krazeeboi]

^That's great! I didn't know that the land had been acquired yet, so it looks like the Beltline is that much closer to being a reality. I think this one project may do more to urbanize Atlanta than any other single project.

[Martinman]

Here are some excerpts from an email sent out by the Beltline Inc. regarding Beltline progress.

-Land Acquisition Update. We are pleased to report land acquisition activities for parks and trails throughout the BeltLine are ahead of schedule with nearly 200 acres of greenspace in place thanks to the efforts of the City in conjunction with the Trust for Public Land. Meanwhile, the City's investments to fund key BeltLine acquisitions such as the purchase of the Bellwood Quarry now total more than $55 million. The goal of the BeltLine's Five-Year Plan was 585-625 acres of greenspace and we are well on our way to achieving that objective.

-After an extensive Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process we have selected six design/engineering teams to support the master planning effort that begins in earnest next month. The contracts are for the creation of detailed plans for coordinated development of greenspace, parks and trails.

-More than $15 million has been raised during only the first six months of BeltLine Partnership's Capital Campaign toward a goal of $60 million.

-With more than $1.5 billion in new investment and more than 50 new projects underway within the BeltLine TAD Area, the BeltLine is already generating new jobs and stimulating economic activity throughout Atlanta.

[ryanmckibben]

^All that sounds great, but I would question whether the Belltline was the catalyst for all 50 of those projects that are currently under way.

[ironchapman]

And now for the latest update on the Beltline's progress...

Atlanta BeltLine creates partnership with Raney, Barry Real Estate

Atlanta BeltLine and NE BeltLine principals Ben Raney and Barry Real Estate Cos. will jointly own and develop the northeast corridor of the BeltLine property currently owned by Wayne and Keith Mason, pending final due diligence and financing arrangements. Early in 2007, Raney began working on buying the five-mile stretch of the BeltLine in northeast Atlanta from Gwinnett County developer Wayne Mason, who dropped his plans for BeltLine development in 2006.

It's good to know some more people are trying to work on it. I hope it works out for them.

[Martinman]

This is the key part of it...

When the deal is complete, the city will then own 20 percent of the BeltLine right of way.

Negotiations are already under way for the rest of the Beltine right of way which is owned by the DOT and railroad companys. Things are moving forward nicely I think.

[pksiv]

This is the key part of it...

Negotiations are already under way for the rest of the Beltine right of way which is owned by the DOT and railroad companys. Things are moving forward nicely I think.

This is good news, although I think there is a section on the West side that is still an active rail line....

Edited August 8, 2007 by pksiv

[Martinman]

This is technically not Beltline news but its on the Beltline.

The Piedmont Park conservancy is about to begin fundraising for phase I of the 53 acre expansion which will include the following...

The new pedestrian bridge which will cross the Beltline tracks from the Clear Creek Corridor to the Upper Meadow

An interactive water feature, similar to the one in Centennial Park, will be located in the Upper Meadow

The popular dog park will get a serious upgrade

Edited August 8, 2007 by Martinman

[Martinman]

Here's a pic of the hordes heading to the Dave Matthews Band concert (no cars allowed) that raised money for the park expansion.

The AJC had an awesome photo of the concert with the skyline in the background but I can't find it.

Edited September 19, 2007 by Martinman

[ATLman1]

^^^^^ I was there it was insane!

[krazeeboi]

The affordable-housing advocacy group Georgia Stand-Up recently conducted a study that shows that in the past six years, property values within an eighth of a mile of the proposed Beltline rose at a rate much faster than most other parts of the city. Values rose most sharply in the southern part of the proposed loop. If the city does not set up tax breaks and other incentives to help low-income homeowners keep their houses, the proposed 22-mile loop of park and trails ringing downtown will create a circle of wealth and an outer ring of concentrated poverty, warns Dan Immergluck, the Georgia Tech professor who conducted the analysis.

[Martinman]

The AJC has news on another major park thats being planned along the Beltline. This one will be across North Avenue from the Ponce Park development (City Hall East). The goal is to initially build a 13- 16 acre park which will eventually be expanded to 35 acres. The Trust for Public Land has already acquired about 10 acres for the park.

The city of Atlanta plans to spend up to $30 million on a stormwater pond system that's intended to be the centerpiece of a new intown park near the proposed Beltline.

The City Council recently voted to transfer $30 million from the Watershed Management Department to Atlanta Beltline Inc., which will manage the project. Atlanta Beltline will choose the design and construction firms.

The 4.7-acre water feature, which is scheduled to be finished by the end of 2009, will have one or two ponds with fountains, wetlands, walkways and possibly a boardwalk over the water.

AJC Article

[pksiv]

The AJC has news on another major park thats being planned along the Beltline. This one will be across North Avenue from the Ponce Park development (City Hall East). The goal is to initially build a 13- 16 acre park which will eventually be expanded to 35 acres. The Trust for Public Land has already acquired about 10 acres for the park.

AJC Article

Does anyone know of the status of the Ponce Park project ?

Edited October 2, 2007 by pksiv

[Martinman]

Its still moving forward. They had planned to begin development this year on the one of the buildings south of North Avenue but I'm not sure where that stands. I know they had to rework plans in order to save the Masquerade building.

The city will be using City Hall East for some functions until 2009. The developers don't take control of this monster until then.

[teshadoh]

^ No, redevelopment (though that may include greenspace).

[Jim856796]

^ What portion of the redevelopment will include greenspace?

[Martinman]

^ What portion of the redevelopment will include greenspace?

Here is a more current map, though the new park space is a little hard to see. Also the entire loop with be connected with multi-use trails.

This map better highlights the new park space (orange).

Edited October 15, 2007 by Martinman

[Jim856796]

As part of the North Avenue Park, should the City Hall East be renovated or demolished? If so, what will it become?

[FriskyDingo]

As part of the North Avenue Park, should the City Hall East be renovated or demolished? If so, what will it become?

City Hall East is part of the Ponce Park development...although part of the actual Sear's Building (City Hall East) is slated for demolition as are two of the parking decks, the main portion of the building is to be incorporated into Ponce Park. You can see the front tower of the 1926 original building in the development plan below. It faces the left top corner of the first rendering and is Building A in the second rendering, facing Ponce de Leon Ave.

[Martinman]

As part of the North Avenue Park, should the City Hall East be renovated or demolished? If so, what will it become?

Here's a little more on what it will become.

182,610 square feet of retail space, 154,380 square feet of office space and 1,167 residential units.