Atlanta Beltline and Parks Updates 2013 (upper-class, money, property)

[cwkimbro]

Originally Posted by K-SawDude

It looked like a lot of the build-out for the trails and parks in the NW corridor were scheduled for tiers 2 and 3. The two major parks--the Westside Reservoir and Waterworks--are well behind the initial schedules they had advocated for.

I understand that this isn't always the Beltline's fault. Mayor Reed, City Council, and Watershed Management haven't been pushing as hard as they can to open up the Waterworks Park, for example. But I've been to these Beltline meetings in the NW corridor. I've been around town on the Beltline tour. The NW side is definitely getting more "back-burnered" compared to the other sectors of the city.

Well keep in mind everything is behind schedule, because of the economy and set backs from the housing bubble.

The majority of the funding was through the TAD, which is mostly where the new developments are. They aren't pulling in as much tax money, since many of the new buildings slowed down -and- existing prices stagnated for a few years.

I think the problem the Northwest has overall is that there isn't completely clear idea yet of where transit will go. They really need to focus investments to make walking/biking paths link stations, so it makes it hard to initiate investments that need to sync with the transit component in the future.

The parks planned for that area are also very large and costly in comparison to others. There are some security concerns with the reservoirs to overcome and the making the quarry into a lake/reservoir will be very expensive, which will make that a slower process. They will probably try to get extra money from the state and federal government to assist as a reservoir project.

However, your points are well made. The TAD should probably want to build off the momentum from Huff RD and Midtown west and encourage more, since that goes into the TAD coffers. They should probably consider doing some partial smaller parks, either as a cheaper section of the larger parks or as a new park near the new residences to show forward progress. They don't have to fill the quarry with water to start the park north of the quarry.

[K-SawDude]

Exactly, cwkimbro. I'm not bringing this up in a "I want it ALL NOW!" sort of way. It's really more of a political concern. The Beltline runs the risk of dampening enthusiasm (at best) and building opposition (at worst) from Westside residents if the project outlay looks like they're ignoring this part of the city while building out all the other sectors. Why not take on some smaller, cheaper pieces? One proposal I quite like is a memorial/historical marker park and/or some pocket parks near the intersections of Marietta and Northside, or Marietta and Howell Mill. It also seems doable to open up small-ish parks on some sides of the Waterworks that are well away from the water itself (e.g, the intersections of 17th/Northside and Huff/Howell Mill). I also like your idea of picking off a manageable piece of the huge Reservoir Park project and opening that up first (and doing the expensive stuff later).

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by K-SawDude

Exactly, cwkimbro. I'm not bringing this up in a "I want it ALL NOW!" sort of way. It's really more of a political concern. The Beltline runs the risk of dampening enthusiasm (at best) and building opposition (at worst) from Westside residents if the project outlay looks like they're ignoring this part of the city while building out all the other sectors. Why not take on some smaller, cheaper pieces? One proposal I quite like is a memorial/historical marker park and/or some pocket parks near the intersections of Marietta and Northside, or Marietta and Howell Mill. It also seems doable to open up small-ish parks on some sides of the Waterworks that are well away from the water itself (e.g, the intersections of 17th/Northside and Huff/Howell Mill). I also like your idea of picking off a manageable piece of the huge Reservoir Park project and opening that up first (and doing the expensive stuff later).

But they will be doing this. As projects become possible they will connect sections. Westside Park Phase 1 with hiking trails and such starts construction in Tier 1.

[K-SawDude]

Originally Posted by jsvh

But they will be doing this. As projects become possible they will connect sections. Westside Park Phase 1 with hiking trails and such starts construction in Tier 1.

Good to hear. It would help immensely (IMO) if the city/Mayor Reed would increase the parks budget.

[cwkimbro]

Originally Posted by K-SawDude

Good to hear. It would help immensely (IMO) if the city/Mayor Reed would increase the parks budget.

I thought you might want to look through this

http://beltline.org/wp-content/uploa...on-round-2.pdf

I don't think the city (proper) can give any more money towards parks. They are so backlogged on basic infrastructure maintenance as it is. (sewer, roads, etc..)

This is why the TADs and CIDs are so important for new development

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by K-SawDude

Exactly, cwkimbro. I'm not bringing this up in a "I want it ALL NOW!" sort of way. It's really more of a political concern. The Beltline runs the risk of dampening enthusiasm (at best) and building opposition (at worst) from Westside residents if the project outlay looks like they're ignoring this part of the city while building out all the other sectors. Why not take on some smaller, cheaper pieces? One proposal I quite like is a memorial/historical marker park and/or some pocket parks near the intersections of Marietta and Northside, or Marietta and Howell Mill. It also seems doable to open up small-ish parks on some sides of the Waterworks that are well away from the water itself (e.g, the intersections of 17th/Northside and Huff/Howell Mill). I also like your idea of picking off a manageable piece of the huge Reservoir Park project and opening that up first (and doing the expensive stuff later).

I'm just concerned about the Beltline getting whupsided with all the development going to the NE. As discussed earlier, there are 50+ projects in the NE quadrant and very few elsewhere.

On a slightly different note, does anyone know where the affordable housing is in the NE quadrant and how much is it going for?

I know there were the 28 units sold at Edgewood Crossing but do any of these other new developments include affordable housing?

[joey86]

Atlanta BeltLine Inc. releases names of the five finalists for next CEO | SaportaReport

[cqholt]

Google street view was seen on the Eastside Trail today.

[joey86]

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[joey86]

City settles suit, plans to build park in Family Dollar space | www.myajc.com Family Dollar wanted to build another store in southwest Atlanta. In order to prevent this, the city bought the land and is turning it into a new park. Great news in every way!