New Westside greenspace shows potential for expanded Atlanta Waterworks Park

December 3, 2018, 9:17 pm/3 Comments

In a wonderful beginning, Atlanta welcomed its newest green space on Sunday – a 4.5 acre site that offers dramatic views of the city’s skyline.

The new greenspace is a result of the persistent hard work by a grassroots community group – Friends of Atlanta Westside Park and the Upper Westside Improvement District – to clear the overgrown land from brush, weeds and dead trees and create a park-like setting at 17th Street and Northside Drive.

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Saying good-bye to a grand old tree

November 26, 2018, 5:38 pm/23 Comments

For years, my neighbor, Ingrid, and I would take our dogs at the break of dawn to walk around the lakes at Piedmont Park.

It was a tradition we enjoyed – even on the coldest day of the year when a local television station interviewed us wondering why we were out walking on such a cold morning.

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Georgia Forward hopes new governor will adopt its vision

October 15, 2018, 5:44 pm/2 Comments

Macon, GA – Nothing like a hurricane to bring the state closer together.

Eight years ago, Georgia Forward launched its first forum to unify the state by convening leaders from every corner of Georgia.

It also happened to be a gubernatorial election year, and both candidates for governor – Nathan Deal and Roy Barnes – participated in the forum via a video teleconference.

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Metro Atlanta also wants ‘More MARTA’ – as transit gains favor

October 8, 2018, 6:13 pm/5 Comments

More MARTA started out as a vehicle to bring more transit to the City of Atlanta.

Now it’s turned in to a cry for More MARTA in metro Atlanta.

Although the More MARTA $11.5 billion project list was tied to voters in the City of Atlanta passing an additional half-penny MARTA sales tax to be invested within the city, the last two MARTA board meetings were filled with people who wanted “More MARTA” in their jurisdictions.

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Charleston Mayor Joe Riley: ‘You can never stop listening’

October 1, 2018, 4:36 pm/1 Comment

A fascinating conversation between two public servants took place last week – thanks to ULI Atlanta. It was a conversation that should become a guiding platform for how Atlanta can evolve into a next generation city.

The conversation took place between former Charleston Mayor Joseph Riley Jr. – who has been described as the best mayor in the country, serving his city for 40 years; and Atlanta Planning Commissioner Tim Keane, who worked for Riley for eight years before coming to Atlanta.

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Music Midtown is an urban balancing act

September 17, 2018, 8:59 pm/5 Comments

The hosting of Music Midtown in Piedmont Park continues its delicate balance of having an incredible outdoor musical festival in the midst of densely populated neighborhoods inconvenienced by its impact before, during and after the two-day weekend.

The 2018 Music Midtown was no different.

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Gwinnett’s Charlotte Nash on MARTA: ‘We are ready to roll’

August 6, 2018, 6:30 pm/6 Comments

By any measure, Charlotte Nash is a poster child of Gwinnett County.

She has lived her entire 65 years in Gwinnett, one of the few among the county’s 920,260 residents as of a year ago. When she was born, Gwinnett had fewer than 40,000 residents.

Nash now serves as board chair of the Gwinnett County Commission. Over the years, she has had a front-row seat to view changes in the county, one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation over the last 30 years.

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