By Saba Long
Atlanta is an unfinished city. Don’t worry. All cities are. But, the real magic of cities is the process of adding to their canvases.
Atlanta is at a tipping point. The region is also, perhaps to a lesser extent.
The constant war in our growth continues to be identifying holistic solutions over death by balkanization.
The Atlanta Regional Commission has convened a 100-plus person advisory panel comprised of Millennials – of which I am a member – from around the 10-county region to address three critical issues: world-class infrastructure; healthy, livable communities; and the innovation economy.
Over the past two months, I have attended a handful of sessions and dinner meetings to discuss the future of the region. While we each had to initially choose an issue to focus on – world-class infrastructure was my pick – the individual discussions in each cohort are nearly identical.
Take Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. It neatly fits in the world-class infrastructure category, right?
Not so fast. It has a $70 billion economic impact on the state of Georgia, a robust public arts program and is the cornerstone of the upcoming Aerotropolis development.
Last year, metro Atlanta welcomed more than 40 million visitors. What good is world-class infrastructure without healthy, livable (and affordable) communities? What innovative economy lacks both?
The viewpoints of my Millennial peers mirrored a recent Modern Atlanta discussion: Designing an International City – Atlanta’s Transportation Revolution.
Naturally, the conversation turned into an “expand transit” rally.
A panelist, one of our own, Maria Saporta put things into perspective. Atlanta, like many cities, devolved. We were once Terminus, the transportation hub, but white flight amongst other factors halted – and in some instances- reversed our trajectory.
But, there are many projects on the horizon that have the capacity to catapult the city into greatness. Perhaps even more importantly, they will break down the ITP (inside the perimeter) vs. OTP (outside the perimeter) barriers that have hindered the region.
The Atlanta BeltLine is the one economic development project that fully ignores the car. Everything is about building and connecting healthy, livable communities that emphasis walking, biking and transit.
MARTA has three rail expansions, plus a possible commuter rail line that could impact the 19-county region. Where the BeltLine will transform Atlanta proper, the Chattahoochee River will serve as a connector to Carroll, Coweta and other counties miles away from Peachtree Street. Imagine being able to conveniently take transit – or bike – from inside the perimeter to a natural water feature. What would that do to quash the regionalism debate?
We have big, important plans. Like any well-designed object, the devil is in the details.
it is with great pleasure, i welcome The Millennials!