Atlanta is certainly not a city you associate with forward thinking urban planning. Despite being a fairly pleasant American city, Atlanta suffers from both a massive growing suburban population to a famous traffic problem. However, there isn’t a city in North America attempting to improve itself more. Perhaps the two biggest initiatives undertaken by the city right now are the Midtown Mile and the Belt Line. Atlanta is trying to create a richer urban environment within the center of the city by increasing public transport, retail as well as parkland. I briefly discuss the Midtown Mile and Belt Line below.
Midtown Mile: The Midtown Mile is an attempted to attract over 1 million of square feet along a large stretch of Peachtree Street through the center of Midtown making it the primary shopping destination within the inner city. However, the Midtown Mile initiative also emphasizes density along with creating an increasing residential population. Midtown Mile Website
The Belt Line: The Belt Line initiative undertaken by the Atlanta BeltLine Inc. will create both an increasing park and recreational presence in and around the inner city of Atlanta as well as building a new light rail line which would run in a circular track around both downtown and midtown Atlanta linking many various tourist attractions and neighbourhoods more easily. Belt Line Website
As a whole, it is very refreshing to hear such large and forward thinking initiatives happening in a city such as Atlanta. I’m very interested to see these move forward.
P.S. I just wanted to wish happy holidays to all the readers of my blog.
