Atlanta BeltLine Archives

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King Williams

Nipsey Hussle, new developers Ryan Gravel, Donray Von and transforming The Mall West End

April 21, 2019, 11:33 pm/2 Comments

By King Williams “When we speak of place-making, we assume that the place being made was devoid of life, culture and context. Place-making indicates that nothing exists. It is inherently colonialist. Place-keeping uplifts an area’s culture, provides resources and enriches.” – Miranda Kyle, Atlanta Beltline Arts and Culture Program Manager On the afternoon of Sunday, […]

Let’s start talking highway removals in Atlanta

March 31, 2019, 7:04 pm/3 Comments

By: King Williams What started as an initial tweet on my Twitter timeline concerning freeway removals has led to a great online conversation on what to do concerning our highways. So hear me out before you say “we don’t have money for X, Y, and Z.” The city and state are willing to spend money […]

Atlanta BeltLine to data centers: Please stay away

March 19, 2019, 7:43 pm/6 Comments

To protect the Atlanta BeltLine from unsightly data centers, Atlanta is trying to set some boundaries around their size, proximity and appearance. The move begins as the city and region are emerging as a hotbed for buildings that house computer systems.

The future of Metro Atlanta transit is pending on Gwinnett County

March 11, 2019, 10:20 pm/3 Comments

By King Williams Gwinnett County, the soon-to-be-largest county in Georgia by population, is the state’s most diverse county – representing a microcosm of what the future of American politics and economic development could look like. Gwinnett currently is a majority-minority county, meaning that no racial or ethnic group dominates its population. Gwinnett’s county-level leadership on […]

Clyde Higgs is the new CEO of Atlanta BeltLine Inc.

February 14, 2019, 9:10 am/0 Comments

The board of Atlanta BeltLine Inc. has selected Clyde Higgs, the interim executive, to serve in the permanent CEO role.

The board met in executive session Wednesday morning when members selected the future CEO of the complicated, multi-faceted project. But the board did not identify the new CEO at the time.

18 best, worst and most important trends in 2018 (Part 1)

December 17, 2018, 7:49 pm/0 Comments

By King Williams The following is a compilation of the 18 best, worst, and most important trends and developments emanating from within and throughout metro Atlanta and the state of Georgia for 2018. This list was compiled by me with input from people within SaportaReport and beyond. The list comes from a combination of hard […]

Give the gift of the Atlanta BeltLine, urges BeltLine’s non-profit fundraising arm

December 16, 2018, 4:47 pm/1 Comment

The Atlanta BeltLine Partnership, Inc. has a few ideas for gifts to give during the holiday season, ranging in price from $5 for a set of postcards to $5,000 for a membership in the Founders Circle in the elite status of Bridgebuilder.

Re-imagination of State Farm Arena inspired by Atlanta BeltLine

December 9, 2018, 5:16 pm/0 Comments

By Guest Columnist THAD SHEELY, chief operating officer of the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena

Just over a week ago, Elton John played his farewell tour in the new State Farm Arena, creating a neat symmetry to a weekend nearly 20 years earlier when he performed for the grand opening of Philips Arena in 1999. As both Elton and Atlanta have changed over that time, so too has the arena – that was a different time and a different place.

Atlanta BeltLine starts CEO search, plans for future

November 24, 2018, 9:35 pm/0 Comments

As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on Aug. 10, 2018

The Atlanta BeltLine Inc., in the midst of a transition in leadership, has adopted a new affordable housing strategy and has been actively engaged in acquiring land as well as making sure BeltLine transit remains on the City of Atlanta’s More MARTA plans.

Atlanta BeltLine at critical spot, seeks leader, debates transit

November 24, 2018, 4:08 pm/0 Comments

As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on July 13, 2018

Atlanta BeltLine Inc. stands at a critical juncture — at a time when its leadership is in a state of flux.

Brian McGowan, president and CEO of the city agency since September, has accepted a position to become CEO of the Greater Seattle Partnership and will be stepping down from the BeltLine in mid-August.

Photo Pick: Last days of Fall in Piedmont Park by Frank Fuerst

November 15, 2018, 7:19 pm/0 Comments

Thanks to our reader Frank Fuerst for this beautiful image “taken on a sunny Fall day in the SE corner of the park, near where a future segment of the BeltLine will run.”

Photo by Frank Fuerst

King Williams

New mobility options like Uber and Bird present challenges for transit

November 5, 2018, 8:45 pm/1 Comment

I remember growing up in the 1990’s daydreaming during community meetings while my mom and countless advocated for better MARTA bus service in our section of Decatur. As a kid, the walks seemed endless – miles between our apartment complex and South DeKalb Mall – our connection point for buses and the occasional expensive cab ride.

Affordable homes along Atlanta BeltLine: A different perspective on the number built

August 28, 2018, 6:54 pm/4 Comments

The Atlanta BeltLine would be almost halfway to its goal of creating 5,600 affordable homes if it could count all the affordable homes that were subsidized by a government and built within a mile-wide corridor centered on the BeltLine, the BeltLine’s interim CEO told members of an Atlanta City Council committee Tuesday.

Atlanta BeltLine’s Brian McGowan taking new job in Seattle

July 6, 2018, 9:24 pm/5 Comments

It’s official. Brian McGowan, president and CEO of the Atlanta BeltLine Inc., will become CEO of the Greater Seattle Partners, a new regional economic development organization in Seattle, Washington.

“I really struggled with this decision,” McGowan said in a telephone interview shortly after formally accepting the position. “I do love Atlanta. I’m always going to try to stay connected to Atlanta.”

Photo Pick: Railway tunnel in nature by Michael Halicki

April 30, 2018, 8:00 pm/0 Comments

Michael Halicki shares this beautiful photo of a railway tunnel that “bridges history and nature,” in South Atlanta.

David Pendered

Gateway park at PATH400 in North Buckhead to be expanded with donated land

January 22, 2018, 4:13 pm/1 Comment

A major gateway to PATH400 is to be expanded now that a benefactor has donated a half-acre of land at Mountain Way Park. The park is being developed alongside and beneath Ga. 400, on land that was earmarked as a park on a map that dates to 1938.

City seeks to demolish four houses along BeltLine as market doesn’t warrant their upkeep

January 8, 2018, 7:05 pm/2 Comments

Crytocurrency doesn’t have a thing on real estate along the Atlanta BeltLine when it comes to the adrenalin rush of speculative investing. The city’s proposal to demolish four derelict houses reminds of that, along with the tatty condition of some dwellings in BeltLine neighborhoods that are supposed to be poised for a gold rush.

Pedal Power by Kelly Jordan

October 16, 2017, 2:19 pm/0 Comments

Click to enlarge each photo:

Oakland Cemetery – Day in the Park by Kelly Jordan

Moon Ride – Piedmont Park by Kelly Jordan

Moon Ride -Piedmont Park by Kelly Jordan

Moon Ride – Little Five Points by Kelly Jordan

Waffle House Museum – Avondale Estates by Kelly Jordan

Photo Fence – Beltline by Kelly Jordan

Marietta Square by Kelly Jordan

East Atlanta Strut by Kelly Jordan

Broad Street – Streets Alive by Kelly Jordan

Streets Alive – Five Points by Kelly Jordan

Woodruff Park by Kelly Jordan

97 Estoria – Cabbagetown by Kelly Jordan

Krog Street Market by Kelly Jordan

North Avenue Smart Corridor kickoff by Kelly Jordan

Submitted Photos, Kelly Jordan

Photo Pick: Photo Fence on the Beltline by Kelly Jordan

August 21, 2017, 11:10 am/0 Comments

Click each photo to enlarge

Photo Fence on the Beltline by Kelly Jordan

Joshua McFadden talks about his work. Photo by Kelly Jordan

Sam Barzilay (r), Co-founder of The Fence project talks about selections. Photo by Kelly Jordan

Photo Fence on the Beltline by Kelly Jordan

David Pendered

Can the BeltLine save Atlanta? Panel discussion to explore its past, present, future

August 20, 2017, 10:24 pm/1 Comment

Four men with considerable perspectives on the Atlanta BeltLine are to convene Aug. 31 at the Atlanta History Center for what could be a wide-ranging discussion on the nation’s largest urban renewal project. Panelists include two original BeltLine visionaries and a scholarly author, and a moderator who once oversaw a non-profit that propelled the BeltLine concept and secured $40 million worth of land for it.