What would happen to suburban mixed-use development (Avalon, ect) if MARTA rail had expanded to the suburbs? (Atlanta: crime, hotel)

[Need4Camaro]

This is something I've been quietly wondering about.

Let's say that aproximately 2 decades ago, MARTA rail successfully made entry to suburbs in Cobb, N.Fulton, Gwinnett, Rockdale, Douglass, Newton, and Henry.

Now fast forward alittle over a Decade from that point and we have miniature downtown's, mix use development, or dense suburban districts, sprouting up around the metro How would mix-used miniature downtown's like Avalon / Downtown Alpharetta, Downtown Lawrenceville, Marietta, ect be affected by this?

A.) They might have had more trouble getting off the ground, or may entirely not exist at all and we would instead see Atlanta becoming more centralized and focused on Downtown as walkability and feasibility to commute or even shop there without a car or even those with a car would have the option of a more reliable means of reaching there without needing to sit in traffic. Another problem is despite the increased connectivity, everything must pass through the hub of Downtown Atlanta before transferring to commute in their direction keeping Downtown the more preferred node.

B.) No effect. MARTA rail would neither hurt nor help the suburban developments and they would operate pretty much as they do today, independently of the local transit as these developments only attract a local base of shoppers / residents.

C.) They benefit as connectivity to them from Downtown and other suburban entities increase drawing in more potential shoppers, commuters (residents who live there that commute to other areas in the metro), and draw stronger businesses (probably tech) around their vicinity making them more viable hubs of residency and job centers... The core of Downtown Atlanta may or may not adversely suffer as more locations around the metro become viable job hubs.

Thoughts?

[AnsleyPark]

I'd guess choice "B". I believe, for the most part, that an expanse MARTA would, mainly, aid work commuters.

[Citykid3785]

I've got to draw on other cities as examples. And generally speaking, cost of the system aside, transit has helped most areas that it's connected, at least from a vibrancy standpoint.

In the Twin Cities, you have light rail that travels from DT Minneapolis & St. Paul, through the suburban airport, ultimately ending at the Mall of America (MOA). By all non-financial measures, it's been a success. And from a tourist's point of view, you can see the appeal, you can fly into the airport and hit up both MOA and DT without ever needing a car.

Some will argue that MOA caused the death of DT Minneapolis as a shopping destination, which is mostly true, but that happened well before the light rail connection. If DT atlanta were to suffer as a hub, we need to delineate if that was because of the transit, or simply because the retail didn't keep up with the times.

To address the often brought up viewpoint of transit bringing crime to the burbs, in this case I did read a few articles discussing the use of the under-mall light rail station as a make shift homeless shelter. This bothered people, and has been hard to stop because the homeless are allowed to use the public space.......to a hard to control extent. I will say that I never noticed the crime or homelessness spilling over into MOA itself.

[AtlJan]

C., If you look at suburbs of NYC in CT and NJ, those with a walkable downtown and a train station with access to the city have done very well.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by AnsleyPark

I'd guess choice "B". I believe, for the most part, that an expanse MARTA would, mainly, aid work commuters.

I agree with this.

[MattCW]

I think the appeal of the mixed-use islands like Avalon would drop in favor of TODs and denser development around the stations themselves.

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by MattCW

I think the appeal of the mixed-use islands like Avalon would drop in favor of TODs and denser development around the stations themselves.

Ironically, Avalon was intended to accommodate a MARTA station.

[Need4Camaro]

Originally Posted by Gulch

Ironically, Avalon was intended to accommodate a MARTA station.

I was feeling the same way about this, it looks and feels like a MARTA rail station was supposed to be there.

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by Need4Camaro

I was feeling the same way about this, it looks and feels like a MARTA rail station was supposed to be there.

Mark Toro (head of North American Properties which developed the complex) is a huge supporter of a Red Line extension and sited Avalon to take advantage of it.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by Gulch

Mark Toro (head of North American Properties which developed the complex) is a huge supporter of a Red Line extension and sited Avalon to take advantage of it.

As I understand it North American sold the retail for $500 million. No telling what the office, hotel and residential components are worth.

This would be an amazing opportunity for the business community to get involved in helping to support transit funding.