When it comes to quality of life measures, Atlanta seems stuck in the middle.The latest example was last week’s release of the annual ParkScore ranking by the Trust for Public Land.
Category: Maria’s Metro
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Gwinnett leaders still dreaming of more transit
Despite the MARTA referendum loss in Gwinnett County on March 19, county and transportation leaders stand firm on the need to bring transit to Georgia’s second largest county.
“Regardless of the way the vote went in March, there is so much need for transit and mobility relief in Gwinnett,” said Charlotte Nash, chair of the Gwinnett County Commission.
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Preserving both Maynard Jackson’s and MLK’s legacy on Sunset Ave.
My life was transformed at 234 Sunset Ave. – the home of Martin Luther King Jr., Coretta Scott King and their four children.As I have written before, my closest friend in 1966 to 1968 was the oldest of the King children – the late Yolanda King. I had the incredible good fortune to spend the night in the home, to get to know Martin Luther King Jr., and the entire family
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Pittsburgh LINK trip will offer Atlanta lessons in equity, innovation and the arts
About 110 Atlanta leaders will be attending the 23rdannual LINK (Leadership, Involvement, Networking, Knowledge) trip to Pittsburgh from May 15 to May 18.The LINK trip will be a little different this year as organizers have decided to make the experience more intentional and more impactful by targeting certain lessons that are particularly relevant to Atlanta.
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With lawsuit settled, it’s time to preserve Paschal’s and Gaines Hall
For nearly five years, the city of Atlanta has been in a legal battle with Clark Atlanta University over the ownership rights of nearly 13 acres of land in the heart of Westside community.On April 18, the two sides lay down their arms and agreed to a settlement where the city agreed to pay $750,000 in legal fees that CAU had incurred due to the litigation (in which CAU won every case).
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Modular homes can help solve Atlanta’s housing affordability crisis
Longtime Atlanta business leader – Cecil Phillips – has a solution to the city’s affordable housing crisis. Modular housing.Make no mistake. This is not your grandfather’s mobile home. The modular homes being proposed and developed by Phillips match the quality and amenities of new home construction – except they can be built much more quickly and cost significantly less money.
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Atlanta – be proactive, not reactive – in building airport relationships
The city of Atlanta dodged a bullet when the 2019 state legislature failed to pass a bill to either takeover Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport or to create a legislative oversight committee to oversee the airport’s operations.Even Gov. Brian Kemp, in comments before the Rotary Club of Atlanta on April 8, seemed to breathe a sigh of relief when asked about the airport issue..
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Opening up Peachtree Street to people rather than cars
Atlanta Streets Alive is helping change how we view our city’s streets.More than 120,000 Atlantans turned out on Sunday for the Atlanta Streets Alive along Peachtree Street from south downtown to 16thStreet.It was the perfect opportunity to test out a proposal by the City of Atlanta to reimagine three key blocks of Peachtree Street – from Margaret Mitchell Square to Baker Street.
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City and APS launching a pilot program to turn school lands into public parks
It’s such a simple notion.Atlanta can greatly add to public green space and parks by partnering with the Atlanta Public Schools to open up school property to the public.The idea is getting traction in Atlanta. The city of Atlanta, the Trust for Public Land, the Urban Land Institute-Atlanta and the Atlanta Public Schools are about to launch a pilot program that would welcome the public to use school grounds after hours and on weekends.
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Leadership in Atlanta continues to change and evolve
In the 1960s, a small group of about a dozen white businessmen held a tight grip on power in Atlanta.
That group included Robert Woodruff of the Coca-Cola Co., the top Atlanta bankers of the day – Mills B. Lane of Citizens & Southern; Billy Sterne from Trust Company Bank; James D. Robinson Jr. of First National Bank; Jack Tarver of the Atlanta Journal and the Atlanta Constitution; Atlanta Mayor Ivan Allen Jr. (who ran the office supply business started by his father); Larry Gellerstedt Jr. of Beers Construction; the top executives of Southern Bell, Georgia Power, Atlanta Gas Light among others.
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Stalled Herndon Square project exposes Atlanta Housing’s shortcomings
The saga of the redevelopment of Herndon Homes is multi-layered and complex. In multiple interviews with people familiar with the project – one truth is apparent. Promises were made to the community. And promises were broken.
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State’s proposed take over of Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport misguided
A proposal in the state legislature to take over Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport would be hilarious if it weren’t so darn scary.Republican legislators, who usually argue for more local control and government closest to the people, are attempting a heavy-handed takeover of Georgia’s economic jewel – Atlanta’s airport.
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‘The Stitch’ seeks to bridge the divide created by the Downtown Connector
Ever since the Atlanta region began carving the city apart with highways in the 1950s and 1960s, civic leaders have explored ways to reconnect the disjointed areas by bridging over our interstates.In 1981, the late Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson was about to end his second term in office. President Jimmy Carter, who had just lost re-election, was looking for the right place to build his presidential library.
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E-scooters and bicycles need their own lanes in Atlanta
Move over automobiles. People are taking over.
In the central areas of Atlanta, a phenomenon of “micro-mobility” is transforming the way people are getting around.
E-scooters, one-wheelers, Segways, electric bicycles and regular bicycles (devices that usually travel at less than 15 miles an hour) are demanding their fair share of the street.
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Special Atlanta moments with two music masters – Itzhak Perlman and Gary Brooker of Procol Harum
Two 73-year-old musicians graced town over the weekend – performing in new venues – and proving that music bridges over generations and locations.
Itzhak Perlman, the internationally-renowned violin virtuoso, performed at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts, on Saturday evening. And the next night, Procol Harum’s Gary Brooker and his band performed at the City Winery next to Ponce City Market.
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Atlanta loses a key Fortune 500 HQ with SunTrust merger
This one really hurts.
Losing the corporate headquarters of SunTrust hit Atlanta below the belt – just as the city was basking in the light of hosting the successful Super Bowl LIII.
After all, one goal in Atlanta’s hosting of the Super Bowl was to promote the city’s brand as a great place for business.
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NFL praises Atlanta’s walkability during Super Bowl, but Northside Drive still lacking
Funny how the world works.
For decades, Atlanta has been viewed as an auto-centric, sprawling city with few accolades for being pedestrian-friendly or transit-accessible.
But listening to the folks from the National Football League and the Super Bowl Host Committee, Atlanta is being portrayed as a totally different city.
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New legislation shows Atlanta’s City Council is no longer a ‘rubber stamp’
For decades, Atlanta has had a strong mayor form of government with little push back from the Atlanta City Council.
But the past year under the leadership of City Council President Felicia Moore and the election of seven new members of Council, a totally different legislative body has emerged.
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King holiday – ‘celebration is fine; action is better’
I love Atlanta most during the annual King holiday week.
It gives us a moment reflect and recalibrate how well we’re doing in light of the lofty vision and ideals that Martin Luther King Jr. shared with us in his sermons, speeches and letters.
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We need to preserve our historic treasures on Peachtree Street
Be on the lookout.
Several historic buildings along Peachtree in downtown and Midtown are in jeopardy – facing an uncertain future as development encroaches on Atlanta’s most famous street.
