Meet Atlanta's New Planning Director Tim Keane (2015, neighborhood)

[HH82]

Atlanta has just hired a new planning director from Charleston, SC named Tim Keane. Here is a clip of him speaking in Charleston about traffic congestion:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akohIR6pPbQ

And here is an article about him leaving Charleston for Atlanta from the Post and Courier:

Charleston Planning Director Tim Keane leaving for Atlanta - Post and Courier

[cqholt]

He is pro-streetcar, bike, and walking. Looks like he could be a good fit.

[HH82]

Originally Posted by cqholt

He is pro-streetcar, bike, and walking. Looks like he could be a good fit.

That was my thinking too.

[HH82]

I also don't think it's coincidence that Tim Keane has had dealings with WRS on their Horizon District project in Charleston. He may be being brought in to help steer the Underground Atlanta redevelopment. I'm sure that's not the only reason, but it probably didn't hurt his chances.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by HH82

I also don't think it's coincidence that Tim Keane has had dealings with WRS on their Horizon District project in Charleston. He may be being brought in to help steer the Underground Atlanta redevelopment. I'm sure that's not the only reason, but it probably didn't hurt his chances.

Didn't think of that, but good call. The UA redevelopment is very important to the future of downtown and must be done right the first time. I attended a JLL event earlier this year where the president of WRS was there. He talked a lot about making it a neighborhood and creating a place for residents, not visitors.

[Tryska]

He has good hair.

[HH82]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Didn't think of that, but good call. The UA redevelopment is very important to the future of downtown and must be done right the first time. I attended a JLL event earlier this year where the president of WRS was there. He talked a lot about making it a neighborhood and creating a place for residents, not visitors.

Here's hoping. Their history is very car-oriented, but so are all the areas they developed. This is the first time they've developed anything in the center of a major city with transit in mind. I'm staying positive about them getting it right. Tim Keane appears to be of the right mindset for this task if that's what he was brought in for. I hope he comes in with an ambitious plan for the rest of South Downtown too. Charleston is a pretty cool town.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by HH82

Here's hoping. Their history is very car-oriented, but so are all the areas they developed. This is the first time they've developed anything in the center of a major city with transit in mind. I'm staying positive about them getting it right. Tim Keane appears to be of the right mindset for this task if that's what he was brought in for. I hope he comes in with an ambitious plan for the rest of South Downtown too. Charleston is a pretty cool town.

As long as citizens stay involved and hold WRS to what we think it should be, then this project will come out good.

[HH82]

Originally Posted by cqholt

As long as citizens stay involved and hold WRS to what we think it should be, then this project will come out good.

Hopefully, this guy has the spine not to give in to guys like Fuqua that go completely against neighborhood planning and then circumvent the entire community development process.

[jsvh]

Sounds like a promising move by the city.