City plans to remove people-friendly project on Peachtree Street (Atlanta: best cities, live)

[arjay57]

Well, the man is in real estate. I guess he knows what his clients want and don't want.

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Well, the man is in real estate. I guess he knows what his clients want and don't want.

Some of the most myopic people I've ever met worked in real estate.

[LynnHarris1]

Letters show downtown heavyweights support shared Peachtree lanes

Westin Peachtree Plaza, AmericasMart, office tower owners put support in writing.

Leaders with downtown’s neighborhood organization have provided Urbanize Atlanta with letters showing that owners of some landmark properties most vital to downtown’s economy avidly support a shared streets project the City of Atlanta plans to dismantle soon ..."

https://urbanize.city/atlanta/post/p...nted-permanent

SOURCE: Urbanize Atlanta

[primaltech]

Every freaking photo they take of it, there's literally zero people on the sidewalks, which are literally wider than any sidewalk in Atlanta. Not a way to make your case for needing to widen them further into the street.

I just think the downtown stretch of Peachtree St is a weird battle for urbanists to pick. That one's actually not an issue, and you're just clogging the traffic up for no real reason. Whereas that racetrack off-ramp known as West Peachtree St, all along all the new high-rise developments in Midtown, go do your thing there. (And while you're at it, rename it to something that doesn't include "Peachtree" in it.)

[demonta4]

Originally Posted by primaltech

Every freaking photo they take of it, there's literally zero people on the sidewalks, which are literally wider than any sidewalk in Atlanta. Not a way to make your case for needing to widen them further into the street.

I just think the downtown stretch of Peachtree St is a weird battle for urbanists to pick. That one's actually not an issue, and you're just clogging the traffic up for no real reason. Whereas that racetrack off-ramp known as West Peachtree St, all along all the new high-rise developments in Midtown, go do your thing there. (And while you're at it, rename it to something that doesn't include "Peachtree" in it.)

Blocking the lanes to vehicle traffic resulted in an average 27 percent increase in pedestrian uses along the section of Peachtree, while cutting back car numbers by 11 percent. Along with a survey, the demonstration project showed “visitors and residents desire a more vibrant and inclusive downtown, with walking and biking areas as top priorities,” the city’s announcement read.

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[Smocaine]

This was a stupid project. Downtown is a ghost town, Peachtree Street in that area is already as pedestrian-friendly as you would ever need it to be. What is the point of blocking the lanes?



As consistently and historically bad as the mainstream Atlanta leadership is, the urbanists pick the worst battles and the stupidest hills to die on. Cutesy stuff like this is such a waste of time and effort. That thing they're doing at Peachtree & Peachtree Place in Midtown is actually worthwhile and makes sense, and look at that, it hasn't been canceled. Although, can anyone explain why it's taking like a year? It does NOT take that long to install a small section of sidewalk. Must be a healthy amount of grift in that project.

[arjay57]

It probably won't happen in any of our lifetimes, but it would be nice if someday there are bike lanes on Peachtree in Midtown.

[primaltech]

Midtown's done a few great improvements recently that are good for both cars and peds (win-win, that's how to do it). Like, for example, 12th St didn't use to connect, which was stupid, and now they fixed the alignment of it and it nicely connects at the W Peachtree intersection, along with also making an inviting large sidewalk to go with it:

https://www.google.com/maps/@33.7844...7i16384!8i8192

That looks good all around, and without planters in the roadway obstructing traffic.

(Midtown still has the ugly power poles to contend with, but that's more an aesthetic issue.)

Here in Seattle I see proof all the time that urbanism and street vibrancy and walkability can easily co-exist with 4-lane streets. Westlake Avenue thru South Lake Union is 4 lanes (including streetcar/bus lanes, and turn lanes) + street parking lane, and it's a very active pedestrian corridor.

Just provide the consistent high density and get rid of the parking lots/decks, and the people will walk on the sidewalks.

[testa50]

2 lanes is plenty for Peachtree Street, and some of the pedestrian improvements were necessary (the midblock crossing in front of Peachtree Center). Too bad to see this go, especially during Dragon Con when the sidewalks are overflowing.

[ShenardL]

The planters were only useful when there was a big thing going downtown like the SEC Championship game or Dragoncon, that's when you saw a lot of people walking in that area. But if Centennial Yards is completed and there's revitalization in this area then more of these types of projects should happen.