Plan Sought to synchronize downtown projects
by Dave Williams — Atlanta Business Chronicle
The Atlanta City Council wants to start managing the approaching wave of growth downtown before it gets out of control.
That’s the idea behind a resolution calling for a task force of political, business and community leaders to come up with a master development plan to tie together a list of separate projects — including the College Football Hall of Fame, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, a Multi-Modal Passenger Terminal (MMPT) and the planned Falcons football stadium — into a cohesive economic magnet.
“We have all these wonderful projects already happening,” said Councilman Lamar Willis, the resolution’s chief sponsor. “But one thing the city hasn’t done is a master plan that would allow for synchronization rather than just having several good projects.”
The pitfalls of not coordinating growth are apparent in the history of the last few decades in downtown Atlanta, particularly in its southern end.
Underground Atlanta has underperformed its potential as a tourist destination. Across from the Georgia Dome and CNN Center lies the Gulch, an unsightly stretch dominated by parking lots now being eyed as the future home of the MMPT.
Another sea of parking lots surrounds Turner Field, an area Atlanta’s economic development agency, Invest Atlanta, hopes to turn into a sports and entertainment complex.
Willis said it’s a history of ambitious projects like the Dome and Turner Field that haven’t attracted additional development to their surrounding communities, a history he doesn’t want repeated.
“We don’t have this many projects happening in a small area frequently,” he said. “We really need as a city to make sure we do some things along the way to encourage additional investment.”
Willis’ resolution calls for the committee developing the master plan to include representation from Invest Atlanta, MARTA, Georgia State University, the Downtown Neighborhood Association and Central Atlanta Progress, a downtown business organization.
A.J. Robinson, president of Central Atlanta Progress, said the timing is right for such an effort.
“The real estate industry is beginning to recover, and people are talking about new projects,” he said. “The idea is to look at this with a holistic approach and figure out what we can nurture along.”
The resolution enjoys widespread support on the City Council. It is being co-sponsored by the council members whose districts include portions of the downtown area, and it passed the council’s Community Development Committee Jan. 15 without opposition.
Councilman Howard Shook, a member of the committee who represents Buckhead, said an economically vital downtown is important well beyond its borders.
“Every city only has one downtown,” he said. “If your downtown is not thriving, you’ve got a problem.”
The resolution calls for spending up to $500,000 to develop the proposed master plan.
Willis said that would be enough to hire consultants to put together a professional product.
“From my experience being involved in things like this, that’s what it takes to make sure the end result is tangible and usable,” he said.
The resolution provides for the committee to hold at least six meetings, including at least two public hearings. The panel would be required to submit the plan within six months.
Development planners
The Atlanta City Council wants to start managing the approaching wave of growth downtown before it gets out of control.
That’s the idea behind a resolution calling for a task force of political, business and community leaders to come up with a master development plan to tie together a list of separate projects — including the College Football Hall of Fame, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, a Multi-Modal Passenger Terminal (MMPT) and the planned Falcons football stadium — into a cohesive economic magnet.
“We have all these wonderful projects already happening,” said Councilman Lamar Willis, the resolution’s chief sponsor. “But one thing the city hasn’t done is a master plan that would allow for synchronization rather than just having several good projects.”
The pitfalls of not coordinating growth are apparent in the history of the last few decades in downtown Atlanta, particularly in its southern end.
Underground Atlanta has underperformed its potential as a tourist destination. Across from the Georgia Dome and CNN Center lies the Gulch, an unsightly stretch dominated by parking lots now being eyed as the future home of the MMPT.
Another sea of parking lots surrounds Turner Field, an area Atlanta’s economic development agency, Invest Atlanta, hopes to turn into a sports and entertainment complex.
Willis said it’s a history of ambitious projects like the Dome and Turner Field that haven’t attracted additional development to their surrounding communities, a history he doesn’t want repeated.
“We don’t have this many projects happening in a small area frequently,” he said. “We really need as a city to make sure we do some things along the way to encourage additional investment.”
Willis’ resolution calls for the committee developing the master plan to include representation from Invest Atlanta, MARTA, Georgia State University, the Downtown Neighborhood Association and Central Atlanta Progress, a downtown business organization.
A.J. Robinson, president of Central Atlanta Progress, said the timing is right for such an effort.
“The real estate industry is beginning to recover, and people are talking about new projects,” he said. “The idea is to look at this with a holistic approach and figure out what we can nurture along.”
The resolution enjoys widespread support on the City Council. It is being co-sponsored by the council members whose districts include portions of the downtown area, and it passed the council’s Community Development Committee Jan. 15 without opposition.
Councilman Howard Shook, a member of the committee who represents Buckhead, said an economically vital downtown is important well beyond its borders.
“Every city only has one downtown,” he said. “If your downtown is not thriving, you’ve got a problem.”
The resolution calls for spending up to $500,000 to develop the proposed master plan.
Willis said that would be enough to hire consultants to put together a professional product.
“From my experience being involved in things like this, that’s what it takes to make sure the end result is tangible and usable,” he said.
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