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Looking at unused or underutilized land area within the city limits, and current zoning, Atlanta appears to have less opportunity to add residential density, but I believe it may actually increase its urbanity and walking scores more so than these two Texas cities over the next decade. All of these cities are still being serious outpaced by other cities like Seattle, Austin, Nashville, and ugh even Philadelphia
The mention of Phadelphia is odd since there has never been a time when it has not been significantly more urban and walkable than Atlanta in its core and across the entire city and that will probably always be the case, barring something unforeseen.
That said, when looking at the other Sunbelt cities you mentioned (Austin, Nashville) compared to Atlanta in particular, I'm not sure it's accurate to say that they are seriously outpacing Atlanta here. The biggest distinction is that Atlanta's core is larger than the other two, consisting of two CBDs--divided by a major highway no less, which brings its own set of challenges when it comes to creating more consistent density and developing synergy. There has been much development and improvement in the core of Atlanta, but it's not condensed.
Hopefully that gets off the ground as it will be a nice addition to connect neighborhoods, it will compromise the trail experience though with trains running next to joggers. Dallas is very picky about what goes in along its trail systems, but our streetcar is expanding too, just not along greenways.
And that's what makes the Beltline unique and much more than just a trail. There really isn't anything else like it anywhere else in the country at this point.
Hopefully that gets off the ground as it will be a nice addition to connect neighborhoods, it will compromise the trail experience though with trains running next to joggers. Dallas is very picky about what goes in along its trail systems, but our streetcar is expanding too, just not along greenways.
You need to learn about the origins of the Beltline Plan—as well as the Comprehensive Beltline Plan.
And that's what makes the Beltline unique and much more than just a trail. There really isn't anything else like it anywhere else in the country at this point.
My, y’all are a congenial bunch. I was born and raised in Atlanta, and still have family there, and it is where my heart still lies. In terms of available land, Atlanta seems to have much less land on which to build in its core, as it has very well established residential zones with significant SFH requirements. As it should. Much of the core area industrial/light industrial has already been spoken for (e.g. Atlantic Station) or will soon be so (the “Gulch”). Dallas still has a lot of this ripe for redevelopment, and Houston seems to have this, plus a lot of gentrification that can happen just outside of its downtown. Atlanta does appear to have more of a will to build, as well as a will to connect (I.e the “Beltline”) vis-a-vis Dallas and Houston, but in terms of new commercial and residential towers, transit oriented development, etc., that seems to have fallen behind some of these other “up and coming” or “reemergent” cities. I’m neither happy nor proud of that. I closely followed Atlanta’s development since the late ‘80’s, and yes, it does seemed to have slipped a bit globally since the last decade. Is it doing enough to increase positive residential density to assuage the clusterf-ck that is it’s highway system? I’d love to see it dominate any list of metros outside of the tier of NY/LA/CHI.
I dont see how you think Atlanta has falling behind in TOD when we just got finished giving examples of how because of MARTA,it seems to be urbanizing faster.
Several cities are growing faster and building more commercial and residential but that is not the same as urbanization.
Those residential neighbohoods where you have SFH are adding higher density to their mix.
Look at the Choosewood neighborhood with that development called The Beacon. https://www.thebeaconatlanta.com/
Then there is Summerhill which is massive. You know Atlanta and you know the area around former Turner field is a parking lot wasteland, What GSU has done and continues to do is huge. Just less than 2 years ago there was nothing but a seedy Georgia Ave with boarded up old buildings.
Memorial Dr is the most impressive in the entire city in my opinion. From Downtown all the way almost Moreland is nothing but high density development. When I move there I will definitely be moving around that area. New movie theater,grocery stores,restaurants etc.
West Midtown is another area that just became a bonafide neighborhood which was nothing but industrial a few years ago but now is an high density residential construction zone.
All this to say its not like other cities are growing like this or faster some are but as it pertains to the cities you mentioned ,Atlanta due to its more urban layout is doing a better job of improving the urban experience by infill, projects that are making the city more cohesive.
Whats going on at many of the MARTA stations is remarkable as it is transforming areas.That is definatley something Atlanta is doing better than its other Southern neighbors
People keep referencing the Beltline as an advantage Atlanta has over the other two, do you think Dallas doesn’t have a trail system as well? You’d be pretty surprised by the extensive trail system here. The Katy trail alone is a superior trail system to the Beltline.
Houston has impressive trails as well.
Its not just a "trail". You minimize what it is by using a term that lacks the scope of what the Beltline is.
Its won awards globally as it has increased the city's urban footprint. The Beltline runs through many areas that has made those areas more thriving with the rise in urbanization with transit being a major part of its design. This is why it has won awards globally. https://beltline.org/2014/05/22/atla...l-competition/
Its so successful many cities are looking to do the same in part.
Quote:
The Katy trail alone is a superior trail system to the Beltline.
Yeh..thats a hard no.
The Katy Trail is nothing in scope like what the Beltline is. Its 3.5 miles long and the Beltline when completed will be 22 miles looping the city with new parks as part of its component. The Beltline also connects to other trails with more in the works that reach the suburbs.
What about the other rail systems here outside of DART? There’s 3 commuter rail lines and a 4th (the Silver Line) underway. I know the TRE trains go pretty darn fast, I assume the other commuter rails do too.
DFW has a lot more rail options than Atlanta metro.
A lot more rail options doeent mean more access.If it did more people would be riding those options than MARTA which they dont.
I was only mentioning that MARTA in someways functions as a commuter trains as it goes further than DART.
Its one rail system but its more complete .
Daily ridership for DART-98,700
Annual-29.7 million
A lot more rail options doeent mean more access.If it did more people would be riding those options than MARTA which they dont.
More options can indeed mean more access, and in Dallas's case that may be true as it all depends on coverage. Lower ridership then wouldn't be due to a lack of access, but lower capacities (remember that whole light rail vs heavy rail argument you were making earlier?).
Ummmm...Dallas has a plan to link its trails. The project is called “The Loop”. It will be a 50 mile loop around the core of Dallas. https://theloopdallas.org/
A 9 mile section is expected to start soon
Dallas to take first steps to connect trails from White Rock Lake to South Dallas
Ummmm...Dallas has a plan to link its trails. The project is called “The Loop”. It will be a 50 mile loop around the core of Dallas. https://theloopdallas.org/
A 9 mile section is expected to start soon
Dallas to take first steps to connect trails from White Rock Lake to South Dallas
Will it have light rail like the Atlanta Beltline? I think that is the biggest distinction between the Atlanta Beltline and other trail projects.
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