UWCID Masterplan - 01 Report BIG IDEAS

Page 1

Summer 2021


Acknowledgments Thank you to the following dedicated individuals for their time and leadership in the creation of the Upper Westside Masterplan. This plan also would not be made possible without the community's guidance, support, and enthusiasm in crafting a strong vision for the future of the Upper Westside.

Upper Westside Improvment District 2020 Board of Directors President: Chris Faussemagne – Third & Urban Vice President: Quill Healey II – Healey | Weatherholtz Dustin Hillis – Atlanta City Councilmember McKittrick Simmons – Sweetwater Holdings Co. Nathan Hedges – Allen Morris Company Tim Holdroyd – City Realty Advisors Stuart Meddin – The Meddin Company Lisa Archer – Jamestown Properties Tony Zivalich – Georgia Institute of Technology Malloy Peterson – Selig Enterprises Staff Elizabeth Hollister – Executive Director Adeline Collot – Program Director

Consultant Team MKSK Toole Design Group James Lima Planning + Development TSW

Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan


City of Atlanta Keisha Lance Bottoms – Mayor

City Council Felicia A. Moore – Council President Carla Smith – District 1 Amir R. Farokhi – District 2 Antonio Brown – District 3 Cleta Winslow – District 4 Natalyn Mosby Archibong – District 5 Jennifer N. Ide – District 6 Howard Shook – District 7 J.P. Matzigkeit – District 8 Dustin R. Hillis – District 9 Andrea L. Boone – District 10 Marci Collier Overstreet – District 11 Joyce Sheperd – District 12 Michael Julian Bond – Post 1 At Large Matt Westmoreland – Post 2 At Large Andre Dickens – Post 3 At Large

Department of City Planning Office of Design Office of Zoning & Development

Department of Parks and Recreation Department of Transportation Strategy and Planning

Department of Watershed Management

Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan


Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan


Contents Introduction

6

Background

10

Purpose & Process

14

Community Engagement

16

Recommendations

20

Overview

22

Transportation and Mobility

24

Parks and Greenspace

50

Community and Economic Development

70

Arts and Culture

90

Implementation Matrix

100

Appendix Existing Conditions & Analysis Community Engagement Summary Land Use & Zoning Memorandum Real Estate Market Summary

Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan


Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan

6

Section 1: Introduction


section 1

Introduction

Section 1: Introduction

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Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan


upper westside masterplan Welcome, We're Delighted You're Here Before we dive in, let us answer a few questions you may be asking.

Q: What is the Upper Westside?

Q: How is the CID Funded?

Upper Westside is a distinctive community identity spanning across several neighborhoods in the northwestern quadrant of Atlanta. The term first appeared in a 2004 plan adopted by the city and has been embraced by the many neighborhoods it encompasses to reference the larger Atlanta submarket.

A: We have amazing commercial and industrial property owners who agreed to pay extra taxes each year to fund our improvements. In return, our staff work hard to leverage their dollars and find additional public and private funding to match each dollar they contribute.

Q: How long has the CID been around? A: Our organization started in 2016. In just four years we have invested over a million dollars into public safety measures, improved traffic infrastructure, and created multiple greenspace and beautification projects.

Q: What’s the Upper Westside Improvement District? A: We’re a Community Improvement District (CID) which is a quasi governmental not-for-profit focused on creating smart urban growth within our boundaries created in 2016. Unparalleled growth in this historically industrial area has brought many new residents and businesses who are asking for better transportation options, more open spaces, and additional safety improvements for the district.

Q: Can you name a couple projects the CID has completed? A: Greenspace projects include the 4.5 acres Waterworks Greenspace at Northside Drive & 17th Street and the public plaza in front of West Egg Cafe. Transportation projects included restriping Howell Mill Road at 14th Street to include dedicated turn lanes and installing two crosswalks complete with flashing beacons to make crossing Howell Mill Road at Brady Avenue and Channing Drive safer. We've also invested in public art by hiring talented artists to paint utility boxes across the district and a mural on the wall at the MARTA facility on Brady Avenue. This masterplan will serve as our roadmap for implementing future projects.

Q: Explain “smart urban growth”? A: We improve multi-modal connectivity so you can safely walk/bike/scooter/take transit/drive to neighborhood destinations. We expand access to greenspace. We work to improve public safety.

Q: What are the CID's boundaries? A: Roughly Collier Rd. to the north, Northside Dr. to the east, Jefferson St. to the south, and Marietta Blvd. to the west. However, our boundaries grow almost every year.

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Section 1: Introduction


ell Mill Rd

Underwood Hills Ch a Hills Park

Northside Dr

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Road NW r e lli o C

The Upper Westside study area is located in Neighborhood Planning Units C, D, E, J, K, and L and in Atlanta City Council Districts 3, 8, and 9.

Channing Valley

Collier Hills

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tta

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Berkeley Park

Loring Heights

Blandtown Proposed Beltline Alignment

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Huff Rd NW

17th St NW

Rockdale

West M ariet t

14th St NW aS

W tN

Home Park

Westside Park

Howell Station

10th St NW

Marietta St Artery

Grove Park Study Area Current UWCID Boundary

Section 1: Introduction

Georgia Tech

Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy NW Bankhead 9

English Avenue Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan


Background A Look at Where We've Been, to Guide Where We Are Going Industrial Beginnings

Community Growth

Atlanta’s Upper Westside economy was fueled by commerce brought in by the railroad. The primary railway owned by the State of Georgia, the Western & Atlantic Railway Line - which put Atlanta on the map runs through the heart of the district. If you stand on the bridge at White Provisions you can catch a glimpse of a train going by on one of these historic rails through the Howell Interlocking Junction on its way to Five Points downtown.

This railroad-spurred industrial boom led to the creation of neighborhoods to house the growing workforce. During the late 1800s, neighborhoods like Howell Station emerged and became home, albeit geographically segregated, to both black and white railroad workers and their families.

In the 1890s rail spurs came to the area and a mill, factory, stockyard, and other businesses followed soon after. Many of the historic buildings still exist today and are recognized by the National Register of Historic Places such as the Goat Farm Arts Center which used to be E. Van Winkle's Gin & Machine Works. The Marietta Street Artery is home to the Howell Interlocking Junction, a triangular railroad junction built in the late 19th century where four rail lines intersected. Today this area has one of the largest intact concentrations of historic industrial and commercial buildings in Atlanta. They include the Laura Haygood Grade School (now Atlanta Union Mission), White Provisions and Star Provisions building, and Brickworks (formerly Palmer Brick Company and Ragsdale Mule and Horse Company). The Miller Union Stock Yards’ extensive barns (pictured on the right) were long ago demolished, but its name lives on today.

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As industry grew and expanded in the area, adjacent farmland began to transform into residential communities. In the 1920s Berkeley Park and Northside Park (later renamed Underwood Hills) were developed to serve local industry including the Seaboard Coastline Railroad, the White Provisions Company, and Atlantic Steel (now the Atlantic Station development). Public Transportation The area was connected to the region by the first interurban streetcar line "Atlanta-to-Marietta" established in 1905 by the Georgia Railway and Electric Company. The Ashby Street Car Barn that once serviced the line can be found within the present-day King Plow Arts Center. Streetcars ran on Howell Mill Rd, Marietta St, and Northside Dr up until the late 1940s. Legacy residents recall when the streetcar reached the end of the Howell Mill line at Collier Rd and the “motorman” would reverse the seats and steering column. The streetcar had to switch tracks in front of White Provisions and sometimes would wait while cows, pigs, and horses were herded across the street to the stockyards.

Section 1: Introduction


Top Left: Historic photo of the Atlanta streetcar serving local destination Exposition Mills. Top Right: Railroad yards in Atlanta, 1864. Middle Left: News clipping of Northside Drive Soap Box Derby, c 1939/1940. Middle Right: Atlanta Stock Car racer Charlie Scott, 1956. Bottom: Historic photo of the Miller Union Stock Yards.

Section 1: Introduction

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Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan


Modern Transformation The industrial heritage of the Upper Westside is a primary driver of the growth and transformation occurring across the district today. Global shifts in manufacturing and logistics, coupled with a strong demand for intown real estate and escalating commercial rents have resulted in an exodus of some industrial users. Some industrial sites which made up the Chattahoochee Industrial District, created in the mid-20th century, are transitioning into vibrant mixeduse redevelopments taking advantage of direct access to Downtown, Midtown, and Buckhead. Other industrial sites are being leased by high-tech start-ups developing innovative new products, drawn to the proximity of Georgia Tech's talent. Light industrial businesses like breweries, showrooms, and ecommerce warehousing operations abound. Some legacy industrial owners who also value the location continue to grow and invest in their local operations, providing critical middle-wage jobs. Non-industrial employers have taken note of the locational benefits of the Upper Westside, and businesses are setting up shop across the district. The Upper Westside is one of the most desirable submarkets in the region, bringing vitality to the community. Structural Challenges The transformation of the Upper Westside has brought to the foreground many of the underlying structural issues that must be addressed to ensure a sustainable and equitable future. The railroads that spurred the industrial development of the Upper Westside divided the district into smaller isolated subareas, with limited roadway connections between one another and the city at large. The limited number of roads in the district, originally designed only for heavy duty vehicles, are now experiencing unprecedented congestion as the number of residents, workers, and visitors of the Upper Westside exponentially grows. Few options for getting around by means other than a personal vehicle exist. The need for safe access to nearby destinations without using a car is paramount to sustain this level of redevelopment. The Upper Westside is at a critical juncture. The area has evolved from an undefined agglomeration of industrial space interspersed with residential neighborhoods into a powerhouse metro destination. There is great need for strategic planning to build on its successes and address its challenges.

Above: Renderings of Recent Development across the Upper Westside. From Top: Star Metals, The Interlock, The Works, 8West

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Section 1: Introduction


CSX-Tilford Yard NS-Inman Yard

Collier Rd Chattahoo

chee Ave

Blvd ietta

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CSX-Howell Yard

BLANDTOWN

UNDERWOOD HILLS BERKELEY PARK

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Rail Crossings

Railroad Corridor

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The Upper Westside is divided into smaller isolated sub areas by the network of legacy rail infrastructure weaving its way through the district. Only three north/south roads bridge over the rail: Northside Drive, Howell Mill Road, and Marietta Boulevard.

Howell Mill Rd Collier Rd

CSX-Tilford Yard

Chattahoochee Ave

NS-Inman Yard

Just four east/west roads bridge over the rail: Collier Road, Chattahoochee Avenue, Huff Road, and West Marietta Street.

CSX-Howell Yard Northside Dr Huff Rd

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N Marietta St

Section 1: Introduction

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Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan


Purpose & process Planning for Livability The Upper Westside's success hinges on creating a livable district where streets, buildings, and public spaces are crafted first and foremost for people. Decades of research has shown that our built environment has tremendous influence on our experiences and life outcomes. Investment in the public realm (streets, sidewalks, trails, parks, and greenspaces) is one of the biggest drivers of economic value and one of the most equitable ways to reinvest in our communities. In the context of intense development pressure, creating vibrant and equitable spaces requires proactive strategic planning. The Upper Westside Masterplan lays out the strategy for where to invest in the public realm to improve quality of life and set a higher standard for private development design. The masterplanning process spanned 15 months, from January 2020 to March 2021 and included four major phases of work: Existing Conditions Analysis, Community Input, Planning & Analysis, and Masterplan Development. The key themes addressed in this masterplan are:

Building on the unique strengths of the Upper Westside to ensure long-term vibrancy. Providing safe connections to surrounding neighborhoods, campuses, and destinations, such as Westside Park, the BeltLine, and the Georgia Tech campus. Strengthening roadway and trail networks to improve multimodal transportation connectivity. Creating lively and welcoming public open spaces accessible to all. Collaborating with public and private entities to create a livable urban environment that is green, walkable, safe, and beautiful. Crafting a replicable model for inclusive growth.

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Section 1: Introduction


Project Schedule Board & Stakeholder Interviews

My Upper Westside Mailers

Interactive Mapping

Existing Conditions

City Staff Briefings

Board Workshops

Planning & Analysis

City & Public Review

Draft Masterplan

Community Engagement

District Tour & Audit

Vision Survey

Section 1: Introduction

Text Message Campaign

Neighborhood Visioning Workshops

Masterplan Workshop

15

Board Workshops

Plan Adoption

Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan


community engagement Shaping Place, Building Community Central to the Upper Westside CID Masterplan is the notion that those who live or work in the Upper Westside must be engaged in a way that creates civic pride, identity and ownership. The Masterplan process was an opportunity to involve residents and employees who have newly relocated to the district as well as those who do not regularly attend public or neighborhood meetings. Through this process, participants were simultaneously shaping place and building community. To cultivate this sense of stewardship, the planning team embraced an approach to community engagement that was sustained and inclusive. Throughout the planning process the team talked, listened, explored, and collaborated with community members in a variety of ways. The following pages summarize the engagement performed during this process and how the planning team adapted its strategy to prioritize the health and well-being of the Upper Westside community in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak. Detailed summaries of the community engagement results can be found in the Appendices.

The Masterplan was a collaborative process that included:

6

4

Neighborhood Workshops

UWCID Board Workshops

51

360ft

155

279

Wikimap Comments

Online Survey Respondents

Stakeholders Interviewed

312

6k

4.6k

9.7k

SMS Survey Text Messages

Postcards Mailed to Residents

Unique Visitors to the Website

Page Views on the Website

of Multi-colored Yarn

2month 6

150ft ~1k

Asynchronous Workshop

Long Cycle Track

Upper Westside Mailboxes

Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan

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Pins, Pom Poms, and Sticky Dots

Section 1: Introduction


My Upper Westside Masterplan: Community Engagement Toolkit District Tour & Audit On January 22nd, the planning team hopped in a passenger van and explored the district with 9 Upper Westsiders to kick things off. Project Website Finding a digital home for the Masterplan was a critical part of ensuring the process was accessible and transparent. The website was updated at key milestones and included project announcements, presentations and digital engagement activities. Since launching on February 17th, 2020 it has been viewed by 9,700 times by 4,600 unique visitors. Email List Masterplan updates and invitations to participate were sent to Upper Westside CID's active newsletter list which includes residents, all commercial property owners who joined the CID, business owners, employees, students, and visitors. During each engagement activity, participants were invited to share their email to stay in the loop as the plan progressed. Stakeholder Interviews On February 26th & 27th, 2020 the planning team sat down with 51 individuals from 42 organizations to explore the dynamics of the Upper Westside and share ideas for its future. Public Meeting #1 - Gone Analog Out of the blue, a pandemic took hold of the world so the planning team pivoted the planned in-person St. Patrick’s Day event into a series of digital and analog exercises that introduced participants to the planning study while providing a space to share ideas. These exercises included a visioning postcard campaign mailed to nearly 6,000 residents complete with custom “Upper Westside Mailboxes” installed in each of the CID’s neighborhoods where postcards could be returned. This analogue activity was accompanied by an online vision survey and a series of printable children’s activities (Bingo, Draw Your Park) available on the My Upper Westside project website. Neighborhood Visioning Workshops During the month of June, we hosted Neighborhood Visioning Workshops for each of the six Upper Westside communities: Berkeley Park, Blandtown, Channing Valley, Howell Station, Marietta Street Artery, and Underwood Hills. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak these gatherings were conducted digitally via Zoom and featured a variety of interactive exercises to explore a collective vision for how each neighborhood wished to grow over the next decade and discuss the transportation, greenspace, and land-use strategies needed to achieve it.

Section 1: Introduction

Online Interactive WikiMap Throughout the months of May, June, & July a digital web-based interactive map allowed participants to share their go-to-spots, desired routes, and big ideas for the Upper Westside. During this period 155 comments were shared. SMS Intercept Survey In June, the planning team placed temporary yard signs at key locations across the Upper Westside asking passersby to share their thoughts about the district by texting a keyword to a dedicated project phone number. The signs asked residents and visitors alike to answer simple questions focused on neighborhood pride, transportation & mobility, and public greenspace. During the comment period 62 unique respondents joined the conversation. Public Meeting #2 Asynchronous Masterplan Workshop A retail space in The Works was transformed into a community space featuring installations on the history of the Upper Westside, an introduction to the Upper Westside Improvement District, and a series of interactive activities designed to solicit input on the future of public space, transportation and mobility, and development character in the district. The space also featured an installation of exclusive Upper Westside photography and a Traffic Garden where children could practice observing stop signs, crosswalks, oneway signs, and railroad crossings. The space was open weekdays 10a-6p and weekends 10a-4p through the months of August and September. UWCID Board Engagement Throughout the planning process the project team engaged with Board Members via interviews (March 16th & 17th) and workshops (May 20th, June 17th, September 16th, & October 21st) to learn from their experience, explore plan ideas, and establish capital project priorities. Agency Partner Engagement At various points during the planning process the team engaged agency partners representing key stakeholder groups across the Upper Westside. This included meetings with Altanta BeltLine Inc. and various offices within the City of Atlanta's Department of City Planning, including the Office of Zoning & Development and the Atlanta City Studio. Draft Masterplan Outreach Throughout the months of March and April 2021 a digital web-based outreach platform, Konveio, allowed participants to review the draft My Upper Westside Masterplan and share their feedback. The draft Masterplan page was viewed almost 1,750 times during this review period.

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Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan


"I see a redevelopment and urban resurgence catalyzed by proper planning and strategic zoning on the Westside" - Quote from the Community Vision Survey

Collage of images from the various engagement exercises and touchpoints throughout the Masterplanning process

Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan

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Section 1: Introduction


"We can be a model for Atlanta moving forward if we do it right." -Quote from the Community Vision Survey

Collage of images from the various engagement exercises and touchpoints throughout the Masterplanning process

Section 1: Introduction

19

Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan


Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan

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Section 2: Recommendations


section 2

recommendations

Section 2: Recommendations

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Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan


masterplan capital projects Roadmap for Shaping the Upper Westside Rooted in the unique qualities and character of the Upper Westside, the Masterplan lays out strategic investments that capture the imagination and endure for the decade and beyond. They focus on projects that fill the critical gap between the market and local government. It is within this space, what markets don’t do efficiently and local governments don’t do quickly, that the Upper Westside Improvement District has the most potential to improve the livability and vibrancy of the district. Eleven "big ideas", or goals, rose to the top as those with the greatest potential to achieve the community’s aspirations. They are described on the following pages and organized into four overarching categories:

1

2

Transportation & Mobility

Parks & Greenspace

Four big ideas to make getting around the Upper Westside easier, safer, and more comfortable!

Three big ideas to make public spaces across the Upper Westside green, livable, friendly, and fun!

3

4

Community & Economic Development

Arts & Culture

Three big ideas to improve the economic competitiveness of the Upper Westside and empower its communities!

One big idea to celebrate the layered history and culture of the Upper Westside!

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Section 2: Recommendations


11 Big Ideas for the Upper Westside 1

Retrofit Roads for All Users

2

Go Off Road

3

Improve the Transit Experience

4

Build Strategic Road Segments

5

Acquire Land for Recreation

6

Reveal Hidden Nature

7

Reclaim Waterworks for the Public

8

Codify Character Through Zoning

9

Influence Future Landmark Developments

10

Support the Georgia Tech Innovation Ecosystem

11

Announce the Upper Westside

Section 2: Recommendations

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Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan DRAFT


2.1

transportation & mobility The following pages explore four big ideas to make getting around the Upper Westside easier, safer, and more comfortable.

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Section 2.1: Transportation & Mobility Recommendations


big ideas for the upper westside 1

2

Retrofit Roads for All Users

Go Off-Road

3

4

Improve the Transit Experience

Build Strategic Road Segments

Section 2.1: Transportation & Mobility Recommendations

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Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan


1

Retrofit Roads for all users Improve existing streets to create walkable and bikeable routes to safely link residents and employees within the Upper Westside and to Midtown, Buckhead, Georgia Tech and Downtown.

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Section 2.1: Transportation & Mobility Recommendations


Credit: Curbed Atlanta

"My vision for the Upper Westside is...a walkable, bikeable, public transportation-connected urban area" Quote from Community Engagement Process

"Intentional connectedness: Broader walkability and sidewalks. And in the long term, mass transit."

What would make the Upper Westside more livable and welcoming?

Section 2.1: Transportation & Mobility Recommendations

Quote from Community Engagement Process

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Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan


Retrofit Roads for All Users "I would love to see more walkability and [new] sidewalks be a focus. The only reason I would move is I do not feel safe pushing a stroller to go anywhere."

The Upper Westside’s topography and railroads have restricted the development of streets connected to the broader metro. This limits the “effective network”, the number of streets connected to other roads. This forces those who want to walk or bike through the district onto just a handful of connected streets with heavy vehicle volumes and freight traffic that feel unsafe.

- Quote from the Community Vision Survey

To improve roadway safety and functionality for all users, especially the most vulnerable, existing roads designed for freight need to be upgraded with safe walking and biking amenities to make traveling in, and through, the Upper Westside easier.

Access to sidewalks across the Upper Westside is lacking in many places.

View of 17th St. at the Hemphill Water Treatment Facility (looking east)

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Section 2.1: Transportation & Mobility Recommendations


40% of the public streets in the Upper Westside are missing sidewalks. 75

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Marietta Street Artery

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Sidewalks on Both Sides Sidewalks on One Side No Sidewalks - Public No Sidewalks - Private 0

N/A

0.5mile

N

Sidewalk Inventory This CID sidewalk inventory revealed a significant number of sidewalk gaps including along major roads where sidewalks are critical for pedestrian safety. There are about 50.6 miles of missing sidewalks throughout the district. There are more than four miles of major roads which have no sidewalk, including portions of Marietta Blvd., Northside Dr., Collier Rd., and Chattahoochee Ave. and about 5 miles of these roads only have sidewalks on one side of the street.

Section 2.1: Transportation & Mobility Recommendations

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Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan


Retrofit Roads for All Users Summary of Capital Projects RR 1

Howell Mill Road

RR 7

Implement the Howell Mill Rd. Bike and Pedestrian Study which called for raised bike lanes, wide sidewalks, and driveways closures to improve safety. Study additional improvements to the intersections at Chattahoochee Ave. and Defoor Ave. to improve vehicular efficiency while improving safety for all users. Improvements will tie into the Renew Atlanta Howell Mill Complete Street Project’s bicycle facilities planned south of Forrest St. RR 2

10th Street

Repair sidewalks, add ADA ramps, and add a signalized mid-block crossing at Watkins St. Develop protected bicycling facilities on the south side of the street. RR 3

14th Street

RR 4

Huff Road

Repair and complete sidewalks, and ADA ramps. Add protected bicycle facilities or a multi-use path, new crosswalks, street trees, furniture, and lighting. The addition of bike and pedestrian improvements will require widening the bridge over the railroad or creating a new parallel bridge. RR 5

Northside Drive

Coordinate with GDOT to improve safety along Northside Dr., especially at high-crash intersections: Marietta St., 10th St., and 14th St. Add signalized crossings for pedestrians at 8th St., 11th St., and Ethel St. Fill sidewalk gaps north of Trabert Ave. Add wayfinding and sharrows between Marietta St. and Northside Dr. to Tech Parkway cycle track. RR 6

Use excess road width to create a north-south streetscape for bikes and pedestrians. Fill sidewalk gaps and add dedicated bicycle facilities, mid-block crosswalks, and landscape enhancements. Realign Elaine Ave. with all-way stop control to improve intersection safety, and repurpose remaining right-of-way into a pocket park. RR 8

17th Street

Complete sidewalks and add bike facilities from Howell Mill Rd. to Northside Dr. The guardrails at the Hemphill Water Treatment Plant will be impacted.

Chattahoochee Avenue

Build wide sidewalks, ADA ramps, and fill sidewalk gaps, add protected bike facilities, add mid-block crossings, and improve the intersection at Howell Mill Rd. The narrow bridge over the railroad may need to be widened or a pedestrian and bicycle bridge may be needed. RR 9

Complete sidewalk gaps and include ADA ramps. Study reallocating a vehicle lane to accommodate protected bicycling facilities.

Ellsworth Industrial Boulevard

Collier Road

Fill sidewalk gaps, add ADA ramps, add mid-block crossings, improve intersections, protect existing bike lanes and extend them to Howell Mill Rd. Add green conflict markings at driveways, and refresh signage. RR 10

Marietta Boulevard

Expand the narrow bridge over the railroad between Huff Rd and W. Marietta St. or add a parallel bike and pedestrian bridge. Extend BeltLine from Huff Rd. to Elaine Ave. Signalize Elaine Ave. intersection. Add pedestrian facilities and fill sidewalk gaps north of Elaine Ave. RR 11

West Marietta Street

Fill sidewalk gaps, add protected bike facilities, upgrade the bridge over the railroads with pedestrian-safe railing, add mid-block crossings, and improve intersection safety along W. Marietta St. and Lois St. A Renew Atlanta project will add ADA ramps and optimize signal timing. RR 12

Defoor Avenue

Fill sidewalk gaps, improve intersection safety at Howell Mill Rd., and protect existing bike lanes. RR 13

Joseph E Lowery Boulevard

Fill sidewalk gaps, add pedestrian-scale lighting, street trees, and furniture, and add bicycle facilities connecting W. Marietta St. to Westside BeltLine Connector.

Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan

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Section 2.1: Transportation & Mobility Recommendations


Retrofit Roads for All Users: Summary of Capital Projects

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Collier Rd

RR 9

Northside Dr

Howell Mill Rd

RR 1

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RR 8 De

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RR 13 Legend Proposed UWMP Bike Facilities (Capital Project) Planned Bike Facilities Existing Bike Facilities Capital Project

Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy

Parks 0

Water

Section 2.1: Transportation & Mobility Recommendations

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0.5mile

N

Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan


2

GO OFF ROAD Create key connections to regional trail networks that link the Upper Westside to neighboring districts and the greater metro area. For purposes of recreation, leisure, shopping, and commuting, develop the off-street trail facilities that will link the Upper Westside to the BeltLine, Silver Comet Trail, Whetstone Creek Trail, Tanyard Creek Trail, Proctor Creek Greenway, Chattahoochee RiverLands, and other regional trail systems.

"My vision for the Upper Westside is...pedestrian and bike bridges across train tracks to connect communities" Quote from Community Engagement Process

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Section 2.1: Transportation & Mobility Recommendations


"Get the BeltLine done...and everything else that goes with it." Quote from Community Engagement Process

"I can't wait for the park and BeltLine to open so we can walk or bike to our favorite spots" Quote from Community Engagement Process

Section 2.1: Transportation & Mobility Recommendations

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Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan


Go Off-Road Off road trails are particularly appealing as a low-stress travel option in this area where every major road is a truck route. Abandoned stretches of former railroads, undevelopable land in floodplains, utility easements, publicly owned land like the Hemphill Water Treatment Plant, right-of-way on abandoned “paper streets,” and wooded buffers between existing developments all present opportunities for off-road trails. Adding trails in these underutilized spaces will help increase network connectivity and create safe and enjoyable routes for pedestrians and cyclists away from vehicular traffic. Several trails reach the edges of the district creating the potential to make connections through the district between larger regional trail networks like the BeltLine and Silver Comet. The Northside BeltLine Trail lies just outside the northeast corner of the CID in the Collier Hills neighborhood, and the Proctor Creek Greenway ends just shy of the district’s southwest corner at the Bankhead MARTA Station. Also to the south of the district, the Westside BeltLine Connector was paved in 2020, and the BeltLine along Marietta Blvd ending at Huff Rd is set to break ground in 2021.

"Trails" were the most requested public space amenity and mobility option during the Masterplan Workshop. - Summary of Findings from the Masterplan Workshop

When complete, the Atlanta BeltLine will transform cycling and walking within the Upper Westside.

View of the Westside BeltLine Connector at Joseph E. Lowery Blvd. (looking west)

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Section 2.1: Transportation & Mobility Recommendations


Few off road trails exist within the Upper Westside today. 75 Collier Rd

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Parks Proposed Connect the Comet Trail

Marietta Street Artery

10th Street Multiuse Path 10th St

BeltLine Study In Progress

Westside Connector

BeltLine In Design BeltLine Under Construction BeltLine Complete Multi-Use Path Proposed Multi-Use Path

Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy

Bicycle Share

PATH Parkway

Proposed Bike Facilities Planned Bike Facilities Bike Facilities 0

Cycletrack

0.5mile

N

Bicycle Facilities & Trail Network There are a growing number of bicycle facilities within the CID, but few of the continuous connections between popular destinations needed to create a useful, cohesive network for cyclists. Two major planned multi-use paths could transform cycling and walking within the CID: the BeltLine and the Silver Comet Trail.

Section 2.1: Transportation & Mobility Recommendations

35

Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan


Go Off-Road Summary of Capital Projects OR 1

Wayfinding Signage Toward Existing Trails

Create consistent wayfinding signage to highlight nearby trails and bicycle facilities, like PATH Parkway. OR 2

Woodall Rail Trail to the Whetstone Creek Trail and Chattahoochee River

Create a new trail along Woodall Creek using the wooded areas in its floodplain. Part of the trail will be constructed by private developers on their properties. It would connect to Whetstone Creek Trail and ultimately the Silver Comet Trail and envisioned Chattahoochee RiverLands trail system. OR 3

Trail to the Proctor Creek Greenway and Bankhead MARTA

Work with Atlanta BeltLine and PATH Foundation to build a trail connection from the Westside BeltLine Connector to the Proctor Creek Trail through a power easement for safe and convenient access to Westside Park and the Bankhead MARTA Station. This would include intersection improvements, signalization, a new rail crossing, and trail construction.

OR 6

Neighborhood Connection to the Waterworks Greenspace

Create a trail linking Forrest St., Trabert Ave., and Green St. to connect the neighborhood and possible future BeltLine to the Waterworks Greenspace and connect to Northside Dr. at Deering Rd. OR 7

Goat Farm and White Provisions District Connection to the Future Atlanta BeltLine

Connect the Westside Provisions District, the Goat Farm, and the Howard School to Westside Paper and the King Plow Arts Center via a trail with pedestrian and bicycle bridge over the railroad tying into a BeltLine spur trail. OR 8

Trail Connection to the Future Silver Comet Trail

Work with Atlanta BeltLine and PATH Foundation to build a trail connection on abandoned rail spur adjacent to the MWest townhomes that crosses under Marietta Blvd. OR 9

Trail on Abandoned Rail Spur behind The Works

Convert former railroad tracks between Chattahoochee Ave. and Collier Rd. into a trail. This will require railroad OR 4 Trail to Westside Park negotiation in order to tie The Works, Logan Circle, and Seaboard Industrial Blvd. properties together. Evaluate Work with the Atlanta BeltLine and PATH Foundation to the potential for a pedestrian and bicycle bridge over the create a direct trail entrance to Westside Park from the Marietta Blvd. section of the BeltLine near Howell Station railroad to connect to Defoor Ave. neighborhood. OR 5

Trail Connection from Tanyard Creek Trail to Underwood Hills Park

Create a connection between Underwood Hills Park and Tanyard Creek Park, Northside BeltLine Trail, Collier Hills, and Buckhead. The trail could leverage a Georgia Power easement with road crossings at Howell Mill Rd., Northside Dr., and Walthall Dr.

Native Vegetation

Wayfinding

Sculptural Bridges

Inspirational Imagery of Trail Improvements

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Section 2.1: Transportation & Mobility Recommendations


Go Off-Road: Summary of Capital Projects

75 Collier Rd

Northside Dr

Howell Mill Rd

OR 5

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Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy

Parks 0

Water

Section 2.1: Transportation & Mobility Recommendations

37

0.5mile

N

Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan


3

Improve the Transit Experience Create safe, convenient, equitable, and appealing firstmile/last-mile mobility options. Link residential areas, high-density employment areas, and retail clusters to MARTA bus and rail stations.

What would make the Upper Westside more liveable and welcoming?

"Better connections to MARTA rail line via the BeltLine light rail" Quote from Community Engagement Process

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Section 2.1: Transportation & Mobility Recommendations


"We need better transportation infrastructure for pedestrians, transit, and vehicles." Quote from Community Engagement Process

My big idea is to "connect the future BeltLine corridor to the Arts Center Marta Station with a Gondola that utilizes vertical space over the water reservoir and 17th Street. It could also connect to the Westside Quarry Park in the future." Quote from Community Engagement Process

Section 2.1: Transportation & Mobility Recommendations

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Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan


Improve the Transit Experience The Upper Westside would be more welcoming and livable if there was "much better MARTA service options including safe and well thought out bus stops."

Access to the regional transportation network is one of the strongest drivers influencing where new businesses decide to locate and maturing businesses choose to grow. The Upper Westside, with its connection to I-75, has become one of the region’s rapidly expanding office sub-markets. However, unlike other nearby office markets, it does not have direct MARTA rail access. To continue to stay competitive, the Upper Westside must improve the bus riding experience and the quality of first mile/last mile connections to MARTA rail. Direct improvements to transit service are beyond the CID’s purview and will require partnership with MARTA.

- Quote from the Community Vision Survey

The Upper Westside Improvement District is taking steps to improve the experience of transit riders across the district.

View of Incremental Improvement to MARTA Bus Stop along 10th Street between Brady Avenue and Howell Mill Road

Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan

40

Section 2.1: Transportation & Mobility Recommendations


The areas with the highest concentrations of transit ridership are around Bankhead Station, Howell Mill Road, and Chattahoochee Avenue.

75 Collier Rd

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Channing Valley

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Howell Station

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10th St

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Proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Station MARTA Rail Stations MARTA Bus Stops Proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Route MARTA Bus Routes MARTA Green Line Transit Trips per Hour (7-9 AM) 1-5 Trips per Hour 5-10 Trips per Hour 10-18 Trips per Hour 18-35 Trips per Hour

50

Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy

Proposed BRT North Ave - Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy

0

0.5mile

N

Transit Routes MARTA operates six bus routes within the CID, and two rail stations are located nearby: Bankhead and Midtown Stations. Routes 12, 14, 26, 37, 50, and 94 all pick up passengers at rail stations, travel in mixed traffic, and run about 30 minutes apart from 5am to 12am, generally 7 days each week. The More MARTA program has proposed bus rapid transit lines, which would run in dedicated lanes, along Northside Drive and Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway/North Avenue, with a BRT station recommended at Northside Drive near I-75.

Section 2.1: Transportation & Mobility Recommendations

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Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan


Improve the Transit Experience Summary of Capital Projects MM 1

Bus Stop Improvements

MM 4

Provide amenities at MARTA bus stops that improve the bus ridership experience including seating, lighting, shade, greenery, art, cooling stations, charging stations, Wi-Fi, and real time bus information. MM 2

Low-Stress Facilities

Provide accessible sidewalks and low-stress bicycle facilities that connect to transit stops/stations along transit route corridors. MM 3

Bicycle Parking

Provide secure bicycle parking at or near transit stop locations in high transit trip frequency areas.

MM 1

MM 1

Seating

Shelter

MM 1

MM 1

Seating

Ride Share Transfers

Designate reserved curb area for ride share transfers in high transit trip frequency areas. MM 5

Micromobility Stations

Provide dedicated drop zones for shared dockless micromobility vehicles, including bikes and scooters, at popular transit stops to facilitate flexible, multimodal trips. MM 6

Microtransit Services

Contract with MARTA or private microtransit providers to offer flexible, on-demand service within the Upper Westside to connect to MARTA rail stations, Midtown, or Atlantic Station.

MM 2

Accessibility

MM 1

Seating & Shade

Real Time Bus Information

Inspirational Imagery of Transit & Multi-modal Improvements

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Section 2.1: Transportation & Mobility Recommendations


MM 6

Microtransit Services

MM 4

Ride Share Transfers

MM 5

Micromobility Stations

MM 3

Bicycle Parking

MM 1

Bus Stop Improvements Inspirational Imagery of Transit & Multi-modal Improvements

Section 2.1: Transportation & Mobility Recommendations

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Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan


4

build StrategiC ROad SEgments Develop missing connections in the local surface street network to relieve congestion, support walking and bicycling, establish transit-supportive development patterns, and unlock economic growth. Take an incremental approach to creating an effective street network that is planned and developed in concert with private investment.

What is the one thing you'd like to see happen in the Upper Westside?

Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan

44

"Street maintenance - including adding sidewalks, bike lanes, & reconfiguring traffic" Quote from Community Engagement Process

Section 2.1: Transportation & Mobility Recommendations


"We need better connections to nearby neighborhoods." Quote from Community Engagement Process

"Traffic, traffic, traffic..." Quote from Community Engagement Process

Section 2.1: Transportation & Mobility Recommendations

45

What about the Upper Westside needs improvement?

Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan


Build Strategic Road Segments The Upper Westside's street network must change to accommodate the needs of an increasingly dense and diverse district. Without considerable investment in building new road connections, the livability of the area will decrease as it densifies.

“Transportation and connectivity is the key to unlocking value in the Upper Westside.”

The pattern of streets that developed in the Upper Westside of Atlanta in the late 19th and early 20th century was geared towards truck traffic that served the needs of businesses associated with the rail industry. Over the past two decades the Upper Westside’s industrial lands have transitioned to a signature mixed-use urban destination. The limited street network cannot accommodate the exponential rise in residents, employees, and visitors who demand expanded transportation choices.

- Quote from Community Engagement Process

The Upper Westside must work with the City of Atlanta and developers to help fill the existing gaps in the street network.

Intersection density in the Upper Westside is almost half that of Midtown and nearly one-third that of downtown!

Intersection Density Downtown

Midtown

Upper Westside

135 Intersections/Sq. Mile

97 Intersections/Sq. Mile

52 Intersections/Sq. Mile

The aerial images above compare the Upper Westside to adjacent urban districts: Midtown and Downtown. The low level of intersection density in the Upper Westside impedes walkability and reflects the legacy of large-scale industrial land use footprints and rail infrastructure that served this geography in Atlanta’s formative years.

Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan

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Section 2.1: Transportation & Mobility Recommendations


The Effective Street Network highlights through-roads within the Upper Westside. 75 Collier Rd

Study

Channing Valley

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Howell Station

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Street Rail Effective Street Network Principal Arterial

Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy

Minor Arterial Major Collector Local Road

0

0.5mile

N

Effective Street Network One tool for analyzing the connectivity of a local street system is the Effective Street Network. This tool highlights through-roads as opposed to disconnected road segments. The Effective Network in the Upper Westside comes down to just a handful of roads which explains the growing congestion: Howell Mill Rd., Chattahoochee Ave., Marietta Blvd., and Huff Rd. Building key missing segments could expand the local street network and help the Upper Westside accommodate future growth.

Section 2.1: Transportation & Mobility Recommendations

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Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan


Build Strategic Road Segments Summary of Capital Projects PUBLIC SECTOR Install key segments that benefit network connectivity RS 1

Huff Road Extension

Extend Huff Rd. between Howell Mill Rd. and Northside Dr. to create a new east-west connection and provide an alternative to 17th St. and 14th St. RS 2

Fairmont Avenue Extension

Extend Fairmont Ave. to connect with Huber St. between Huff Rd. and Chattahoochee Ave. to create a new north-south roadway connection. RS 3

Foster Street Extension

Extend Foster St. to connect with Brady Ave. to create a new north-south connection between Huff Rd. and Brady Ave. and provide an alternative to Howell Mill Rd. RS 4

Ellsworth Industrial Boulevard Extension - South

Extend Ellsworth Industrial Blvd. south to connect with Tilden St. to create a new north-south connection between Huff Rd. and W. Marietta St. and provide an alternative to Marietta Blvd. RS 5

Culpepper Street Extension

Extend Culpepper St. west to Elaine Ave. and east to Trabert Ave. will create a new east-west connection between Marietta Blvd. and Howell Mill Rd. This extension will provide an alternative to Huff Rd. and Chattahoochee Ave. and is broken into two phases: (a) Culpepper Street Extension - West Elaine Ave. to Fairmont Ave. (b) Culpepper Street Extension - East Boyd Ave. to Trabert Ave. RS 6

Trabert Ave Extension

Extend Trabert Ave. across Northside Dr. to connect to Deering Rd. creating a new east-west connection between Howell Mill Rd. and Northside Dr., providing an alternative to 17th St. and Bellemeade Ave.

PRIVATE SECTOR Require new streets to be constructed as properties redevelop RS 7

Huber Street Extension

Create a new east-west connection between Huber St. and Ellsworth Industrial Blvd. to improve network connectivity and provide an alternative to Huff Rd. and Chattahoochee Ave. RS 8

Ellsworth Industrial Boulevard Extension - North

Extend Ellsworth Industrial Blvd. north to connect with Hills Pl. to create a new north-south connection between Chattahoochee Ave. and Collier Rd. and provide an alternative to Chattahoochee Ave. This extension also provides opportunities for improved east-west network connectivity between Logan Cir. and Seaboard Industrial Blvd. RS 9

Jefferson St Extension - East

Extend Jefferson St. east to connect with Hampton Street to create a new east-west connection between Echo St., Marietta St., and Northside Dr. This connection provides an alternative to West Marietta St. and Northside Dr.

Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan

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Section 2.1: Transportation & Mobility Recommendations


Build Strategic Road Segments: Summary of Capital Projects

75

Collier Rd

Howell Mill Rd

Northside Dr

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RS 8

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RS 3 10th St

RS 9 Legend Planned Private Street Proposed New Street (ABI) Proposed New Street (Private) Proposed New Street (Public)

Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy

Parks 0

Water

Section 2.1: Transportation & Mobility Recommendations

49

0.5mile

N

Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan


2.2

Parks & greenspace The following pages explore three big ideas to make public spaces across the Upper Westside green, livable, friendly, and fun!

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Section 2.2: Parks & Greenspace Recommendations


big ideas for the upper westside 5

6

Acquire Land for Recreation

Reveal Hidden Nature

7

Reclaim Waterworks for the Public

Section 2.2: Parks & Greenspace Recommendations

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Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan


5

acquire land for recreation Create tailored and unique solutions for public amenities that support community life. From shady seating to funky pocket parks and dog runs, the Upper Westside should be full of welcoming spaces for all Atlantans.

"We need more community parks that cater to the growing family population."

What is one thing you'd like to see happen in the Upper Westside?

Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan

Quote from Community Engagement Process

52

Section 2.2: Parks & Greenspace Recommendations


My vision for the Upper Westside is "more greenspace with community activity centers of all types" Quote from Community Engagement Process

"My vision for the Upper Westisde is...a dog park (similar to Fetch)" Quote from Community Engagement Process

Section 2.2: Parks & Greenspace Recommendations

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Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan


Acquire Land for Recreation While several of the Upper Westside's neighborhoods are home to public parks, half have no parks. Atlanta's mayor has pledged to create public greenspace within a 10-minute walk of every Atlantan's home. Areas where no greenspace is accessible within 10-minutes are "park deserts". The map on the following page reveals in dark gray that Berkeley Park, Blandtown, the Marietta Street Artery, and the western portion of Underwood Hills are all "park deserts". As the district rapidly densifies, there is a growing need for quality parks and public spaces that reflect the unique character and needs of the community.

My vision for the Upper Westside is "more greenspaces to hang out, walk the dog, or go for a jog!" - Quote from the Community Vision Survey

The City of Atlanta's goal is to provide 11 acres of greenspace per 1,000 residents. In 2020, there were just 24 acres of greenspace for 16,000 residents (~1.5 acres/1,000 residents) in the Upper Westside. To meet this standard the Upper Westside needs ~154 more acres of public space. The Park's Department will need to leverage public-privatephilanthropic partnerships to acquire and develop new recreational land on this scale. While redevelopment will be an opportunity to work with developers to create some additional greenspace, city-owned land such as Hemphill presents a greater opportunity to address the park desert.

Parks come in all shapes and sizes, take for example the Brady Pocket Park located at the intersection of Brady Avenue and Howell Mill Road!

View of the Brady Avenue Pocket Park in the Marietta Street Artery

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Section 2.2: Parks & Greenspace Recommendations


"Park Deserts" - areas without access to a park within a 10-minute walk.

Underwood Hills Park 10.7 acres

75 Collier Rd

Study Area

Underwood Hills

3.5 acres

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Knight Park 2.68 acres

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Park Desert 0

Parks

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Access to Parks & Open Spaces Easy access to parks and open spaces within a community is an important contributing factor to the physical and mental health of its residents, as well as their social and economic well-being. The Mayor of Atlanta has pledged to create greenspace within a 10-minute walk of every Atlantan's home. There are just under 24 acres of public open space in the Upper Westside.  https://10minutewalk.org/

Section 2.2: Parks & Greenspace Recommendations

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Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan


Acquire Land for Recreation Summary of Capital Projects AL 1

Diversify Passive Recreation

AL 4

Build nature-themed playgrounds, dog parks, and skate parks, game tables, and sports courts/ fields, in addition to flexible open lawns. Evaluate opportunities for a much needed regional recreation center with a natatorium.

Identify places for nature trails or canopy walks and areas to picnic, sit and lounge. Seek out locations for scenic overlooks taking advantage of skyline views, nature, and the bustling railroad. AL 2

Connect to Water

AL 5

An overwhelming amount of Upper Westsiders wanted splash pads and a public pool. AL 3

Spaces for Play

Places to Grow

Create community gardens, interactive art installations, and exercise stations.

Support our Ecosystem

Invest in stream restoration projects and green infrastructure, create pollinator gardens, and plant tree groves.

AL 1

Nature Trails

AL 1

Scenic Overlooks

AL 1

AL 1

Canopy Walks

AL 1

Picnic Areas

AL 2

Shaded Seating

Splash Pads

Inspirational Imagery of Potential Programming & Public Open Space Interventions

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Section 2.2: Parks & Greenspace Recommendations


AL 3

Green Infrastructure

AL 3

Pollinator Gardens

Nature Play

AL 4

AL 4

Sports Courts & Fields

AL 4

Game Tables

AL 4

Playscapes

AL 4

Dog Parks

Stream Restoration

AL 4

AL 3

Tree Groves

AL 3

Open Lawns

AL 4

AL 5

Recreation & Aquatic Center

Community Gardens

Inspirational Imagery of Potential Programming & Public Open Space Interventions

Section 2.2: Parks & Greenspace Recommendations

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Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan


6

Reveal hidden nature Leverage overlooked and underutilized natural areas to create publicly accessible greenspace. Identify unbuildable and protected areas such as floodplains, stream buffers, utility easements, and steep topography that may be improved for public enjoyment and outdoor recreation.

"It's natural beauty. I'd love to see more green spaces."

What is the most under-appreciated asset of the Upper Westside?

Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan

Quote from Community Engagement Process

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Section 2.2: Parks & Greenspace Recommendations


What about the Upper Westside needs improvement?

"Controlling the deforestation and replacing some of the lost tree canopy." Quote from Community Engagement Process

I love "the urban feel mixed with the green tree canopy" Quote from Community Engagement Process

Section 2.2: Parks & Greenspace Recommendations

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Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan


Reveal Hidden Nature Parks, trails, and greenspaces are important drivers of economic competitiveness, contribute to health and well-being, and can be leveraged to address equity issues. Given the dearth of public open space in the Upper Westside and its demonstrated benefits, creating new open space is critical to supporting a vibrant district with space for community life.

My vision for the Upper Westside is "a vibrant community with ample greenspace..."

While not overtly green, the Upper Westside has forgotten assets like stream buffers and abandoned railway corridors which can be stitched into a network of public places and spaces. Floodplains, alleys, utility easements, and steep topography all have tremendous potential to be improved and leveraged for passive use. The Upper Westside needs the CID and Atlanta's Department of Parks and Recreation and Watershed Management to collaborate on acquiring new spaces and leveraging existing assets. Without strong partnerships, the Upper Westside will remain a greenspace desert.

- Quote from the Community Vision Survey

Creating a network of greenspace investments in the Upper Westside will support equitable access to greenspace, improve ecosystem services, connect communities, and contribute to a healthier and more vibrant district.

The Woodall Creek and its riparian forest are hidden nature waiting to be rediscovered.

View of the riparian forest along the Woodall Creek in Blandtown

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Section 2.2: Parks & Greenspace Recommendations


On average, parks and open spaces cause property values to rise by ~20%, depending on proximity, the quality and type of the park, and other locational attributes.

75 Collier Rd

Study

 The Urban Land Institute. “America in 2015: A ULI Survey of Views on Housing, Transportation, and Community” (2015).

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75ft Stream Buffer Slopes 10 - 20% 20 -30% 30 - 40% 40% and over Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy

Flood Zones Floodway Base Floodplain Area

Proctor Creek 0

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Natural Resource Inventory Woodall Creek weaves its way through the largely industrial lands on the western edge of the district. The creek-adjacent tree canopy provides numerous benefits to the broader community, such as reducing the urban heat island effect, improving air quality, and providing critical habitat for wildlife. Leveraging this unbuildable land is an effective way to increase public open space while preserving and growing Atlanta's tree canopy.

Section 2.2: Parks & Greenspace Recommendations

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Reveal Hidden Nature Summary of Capital Projects HN 1

Woodall Creek Greenspace

HN 3

Create a publicly accessible and connected network of parks and public spaces along the Woodall Creek for nature space, environmental stewardship, and natural resource management. (a) "Woodall Fork" in Blandtown. Leverage parcels along the Woodall Creek adjacent to Marietta Blvd., Ellsworth Industrial Blvd., Southland Cir. and Fairmont Ave. for public open space. b) "Woodall Hills" in Underwood Hills. Leverage parcels along Woodall Creek adjacent to Hills Pl. and Bolton Dr. for public open space. HN 2

Tanyard Creek Connector

Partner with Georgia Power to expand public access and create public space within electric utility easements. Leverage the easement extending from Howell Mill Rd. at I-75 to the Tanyard Creek Park and Atlanta BeltLine Northside Trail to improve connectivity and access to existing greenspace.

"Collier Connector" in Underwood Hills

Explore opportunities to leverage abandoned and underused rail right of way for linear public space. Leverage the underused CSX rail corridor north of Collier Rd. for linear public space. HN 4

"Parkway Green" in the Marietta Street Artery

Create access to the wooded greenspace between the north and southbound lanes of Northside Dr., on either side of Tech Pkwy. HN 5

Create Temporary Greenspaces on Development Sites

While the City of Atlanta acquires property, work with local commercial property owners to install temporary greenspaces (via license agreements) to fill the gap in public open space.

View of Woodall Creek at proposed "Woodall Hills" greenspace.

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Section 2.2: Parks & Greenspace Recommendations


Reveal Hidden Nature: Summary of Capital Projects

y err rF Rd

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75ft Stream Buffer

Rail Right Of Way

Rail Right Of Way

Underperforming Land

Underperforming Land

"Tanyard Creek" Connector in Blandtown

e lli

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Floodplain "Woodall Hills" & the "Collier Connector" in Underwood Hills

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Floodplain

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Civic Assets

75ft Stream Buffer

Existing Park/Greenspace

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Civic Assets

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I-75 Underperforming Land

Georgia Power Easement

Civic Assets

75ft Stream Buffer Existing Park/Greenspace "Tanyard Creek" Connector in Collier Hills

Section 2.2: Parks & Greenspace Recommendations

N

Existing Park/Greenspace

N

"Parkway Green" in Marietta Street Artery

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Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan


7

RECLAIM WATERWORKS FOR THE PUBLIC Improve access to the historic Hemphill property and create places for the arts, education, and cultural amenities. Create a nucleus of unique civic space at the geographic heart of the district.

Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan

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Section 2.2: Parks & Greenspace Recommendations


What is the most under-appreciated asset of the Upper Westside? "This is such a cool spot, that I can envision could be like the reservoir in Central Park in NYC, with tons of walkers, runners, bicyclists, and picnic-ers enjoying the area."

"I wish I could say the reservoir park, if only they'd take the fence down."

Quote from Community Engagement Process

Quote from Community Engagement Process

Section 2.2: Parks & Greenspace Recommendations

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Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan


Reclaim Waterworks for the Public Cities across the country are reimagining their public facilities to deliver social, economic, and environmental outcomes for their communities. The Hemphill campus presents a unique and significant opportunity to develop a civic space at the heart of the Upper Westside where none exists. The district needs 152 more acres of greenspace to meet the City of Atlanta's target of 11 acres per 1,000 residents. Atlanta's reservoirs were open to the public until the 1990s. The reservoirs' banks welcomed track meets, its gazebo and lodge hosted school proms, and the world class BBQ pit was the centerpiece of festive community events.

Seattle, Washington

Between 2010 and 2020 there has been a 40% increase in population in the District. With new residents moving to the Upper Westside every day, we need more public open space which the 147 acre Hemphill campus can provide. When the City of Atlanta acquired the Westside Park and filled the quarry, the City's reserve water supply increased from just 3 days at the Hemphill Reservoirs to over a month. If we follow in the footsteps of Seattle or Wilmington, we have a unique opportunity to reimagine the Hemphill Reservoirs and deliver a world-class public space for Atlantans.

Boulder, Colorado

Seattle. Buried the reservoir but created a unique water feature in order to provide greenspace in an underserved part of town. The city estimates $200 million in return from this parkland over the life span of the buried reservoirs. Boulder. Developed trails around the reservoirs and allows small boats and deep water swimming. Wilmington. Buried their reservoir and created an open greenspace with two small waterfalls. Wilmington, Delaware

Left: Historic image of the pavilion overlooking the eastern reservoir at Waterworks, Middle: Historic newspaper article of a BBQ at Waterworks, Right: Photo of a track meet in the 1970s around the western reservoir

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Section 2.2: Parks & Greenspace Recommendations


View of the Waterworks Offices

View from 16th St (looking west)

View of the Waterworks Lodge

View from Howell Mill Rd (looking east)

View from Trabert Ave (looking southwest)

View from Howell Mill Rd (looking southeast)

The Hemphill Water Treatment Facility The Hemphill Water Treatment Plant is the City's oldest water treatment facility and is home to several structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The campus dates back to the 1890s and possesses some of the oldest structures in the district, including the distinctive Atlanta Water Works Hemphill Avenue Pumping Station with its recognizable “AWW” smokestack. The reservoirs have 1.75 miles of waterfront and the watershed facilities sprawl across 147 acres in the heart of the Upper Westside.

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Reclaim Waterworks for the Public Summary of Capital Projects Move the Fences

RW 4

Activate the Hemphill Campus with placemaking and arts initiatives. Potential interventions could include the use of light, art, and signage to enliven existing buildings, fences, and fountains.

Move the fence line surrounding the Hemphill reservoirs to capture pockets of greenspace for community access and enjoyment. Trabert Avenue to Reservoir Drive Pedestrian Connection

RW 5

Create a pedestrian connection from Trabert Ave. NW to Green St. NW/Reservoir Dr.

Recapture the eastern reservoir and adjacent land as public greenspace. Focus on improvements that maximize community benefit and ecological performance.

Open the Waterworks Lodge

RW 6

Partner with the Department of Watershed management to open the Waterworks Lodge (corner of Green St. & Reservoir Dr.) as a community space for all.

Cultural Center and Civic Event Space

Rd

Adaptive reuse of the signature historic buildings and surrounding sites as cultural center and civic event space. Notable structures include the Atlanta Water Works Hemphill Avenue Pumping Station and Atlanta Water Works Expansion. g

RW 5

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*for illustrative purposes only

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Section 2.2: Parks & Greenspace Recommendations


RW 4

Fountain Illumination

RW 4

Murals

RW 4

Project Art & Light Displays

RW 5

RW 6

Cultural Center

Temporary Art Installations

RW 5

Green Infrastructure & Access

RW 5

Paths & Playspaces

RW 4

RW 5

Multi-functional Plazas & Splash Pads

RW 5

Slides & Scrambles

Scenic Overlook

RW 6

RW 6

Interpretive Center

Civic Events Space

Inspirational Imagery of Potential Arts, Placemaking, and Public Open Space Initiatives at the Hemphill Water Treatment Plant

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2.3

community & economic development The following pages explore three big ideas to improve the economic competitiveness of the Upper Westside and empower its communities.

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Section 2.3: Community & Economic Development Recommendations


big ideas for the upper westside 8

9

Codify Character Through Zoning

Influence Future Landmark Developments

10

Support the Georgia Tech Innovation Ecosystem

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8

codify character through zoning Use the beloved qualities of Upper Westside neighborhoods as the foundation for future land use decisions. Support new development that enhances the unique character of the district, builds a base of jobs for existing and new residents, and makes the Upper Westside a more inclusive community.

"Love the eclectic character of the individual neighborhoods, the revitalization & adaptive re-use of the older buildings."

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What do you love about the Upper Westside?

Section 2.3: Community & Economic Development Recommendations


"We need to maintain the character of neighborhoods."

"It's affordable still and the neighborhoods feel like they still have character. "

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Codify Character Through Zoning The Upper Westside is made up of six vibrant neighborhoods: Berkeley Park, Blandtown, Channing Valley, Howell Station, Marietta Street Artery, and Underwood Hills. While the character and cherished qualities of each are their own, one shared experience unites them all: unprecedented growth and development pressure. To ensure the essence of each neighborhood is preserved and enhanced, a proactive planning approach is needed to align community vision with market conditions. Through strategic planning the neighborhoods of the Upper Westside can take ownership of their next chapter and set in place the mechanisms which give them a voice in guiding future land use and development decisions. A visioning session was hosted in each neighborhood to capture the residents desires for the future. Results from these sessions can be found in the Appendix.

My vision for the Upper Westside is "a walkable / bikable neighborhood that doesn't sacrifice community for growth." - Quote from the Community Vision Survey

The character of the Upper Westside neighborhoods was consistently cited as one of its greatest assets during the community engagement process!

Photos of homes throughout the Upper Westside neighborhoods

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Section 2.3: Community & Economic Development Recommendations


Cross Creek

Bolton

The Upper Westside is home to six historic neighborhoods Colonial spread across six Neighborhood Homes Springlake Planning Units (NPUs).

Wildwood 75

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Northside Dr

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Grove Park

Atlantic Station

Georgia Tech

2016 CDP Character Areas Intown Corridor Traditional Neighborhood

Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy

Industrial Industrial Live - Work High-Density Residential Redevelopment Corridor

Bankhead

English Avenue 0

Open Space

0.5mile

N

Community Character & Neighborhoods The Upper Westside is comprised of six neighborhoods spread across six Neighborhood Planning Units. Neighborhood Planning Units, or NPUs for short, are citizen advisory councils which advise the Mayor and Atlanta City Council on zoning, land use, and other planning-related matters. This map shows "Character Areas" as outlined in the City's Comprehensive Development Plan, a policy document guiding Atlanta's future growth.

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Codify Character Through Zoning Summary of Projects

CZ 1

Adopt Upper Westside Masterplan

With neighborhood support, get the Upper Westside Masterplan adopted into the City of Atlanta Comprehensive Development Plan to establish an official policy framework. Use the Upper Westside Masterplan aspirations to guide project rezonings. Please see the Appendix for specific recommended land use policies.

CZ 2

Refine and Implement Zoning Changes

Work with property owners, business owners and other stakeholders in a collaborative process to explore and implement proactive base zoning changes that support key ideas of preserving light industrial uses, while allowing the addition of commercial and residential uses in appropriate areas that are compatible with them. Areas should include: (a) Blandtown Rezoning. Explore rezoning some or all of Blandtown’s I-2 (heavy industrial) sites, except the Marietta Boulevard corridor. I-Mix is recommended, but the process will explore all options, as well. (b) Chattahoochee Avenue Rezoning. Explore rezoning some or all of Chattahoochee Avenue’s I-1 and I-2. I-Mix is recommended, but the process will explore all options, as well. (c) Collier Road Rezoning. Explore rezoning some or all of Collier Road’s I-2 sites. I-Mix is recommended, but the process will explore all options, as well. (d) Collier Road Rezoning. Rezone C-1 sites around the intersection of Collier Road and Defoors Road to MRC-1 (mixed residential commercial). (e) Hemphill Historic District or Site. First, collaborate with the Atlanta Department of Watershed Management and Office of Design Historic Preservation Studio (formerly known as the Urban Design Commission staff) to explore designating all or some of the Hemphill (Atlanta Waterworks) site under the City’s Historic Preservation Ordinance as a means of protecting its iconic buildings, structures, and landscapes. If the site meets the designation criteria, start the official process of creating a local landmark or historic district or site. (f) Howell Station Rezoning. Explore rezoning various sites along West Marietta Street from I-1 to I-Mix, from I-2 to I-Mix, from OI to MRC-2, and from C-2 to MRC-3 to improve the quality of design and encourage neighborhood-serving development along this important corridor. Longer term, if the jail closes, collaborate with Fulton County and other stakeholders to pursue zoning changes that would minimize any potential negative impacts on surrounding areas.

CZ 3

Develop an Upper Westside Overlay District

Work with property owners and other stakeholders to develop an Upper Westside Overlay District to codify new zoning standards that align with the vision of the Upper Westside Masterplan. At a minimum, the new overlay should include the following: • Prohibited Uses, Blocks and Street, Multi-Use Trail and Mid-Block Pedestrian Ways, Streetscapes, Open Space and Public Art Incentives, Access Management, Urban Design, Design Review, Administrative Variations

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Codify Character Through Zoning: Summary of Projects CZ 2d 75

Collier Rd

Howell Mill Rd

CZ 2c

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Potential Base Zoning Changes CZ 2a

From I-2 to I-Mix

CZ 2b

From I-1 to I-Mix

CZ 2f 14th St

From I-2 to I-Mix CZ 2c

From I-2 to I-Mix

CZ 2d

From C-1 to MRC-1

CZ 2e

Hemphill Facility

CZ 2f

From OI to MRC-2 To MRC-3 if County Use Ceases From C-2 to MRC-3

CZ 2f

CZ 2f St

Marietta Street Artery

CZ 2f

H e o w ll Station

CZ 2f

Marietta Street Overlay

WM arie tt a

10th St

CZ 2f

From I-2 to MRC-3 Legend Zoning District

Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy

Parcel Overlay District

Section 2.3: Community & Economic Development Recommendations

0

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0.5mile

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9

influence future Landmark Developments Build coalitions across and within organizations to develop a common vision to transform large single-owner sites into unparalleled community assets. Such sites include the Hemphill Water Treatment Plan, the Fulton County Jail, CSX’s Howell Yard, and the MARTA Brady Avenue Bus Operating Facility.

What is the one thing you'd like to see happen in the Upper Westside?

"Zoning codes that allow for more creative use of old industrial properties."

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Section 2.3: Community & Economic Development Recommendations


What is the most under-appreciated asset of the Upper Westside?

"The potential of the area because it was more industrial, meaning there are less constraints on what can physically fit into our open areas."

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Influence Future Landmark Developments The industrial heritage of the Upper Westside, and the resulting patterns of land ownership and development, present the opportunity for transformative redevelopment unlike anywhere else in Atlanta. The Atlanta Waterworks, Fulton County Jail, MARTA Brady Bus Facility, and CSX-owned Howell Yard all represent assets at the heart of the rapidly evolving Upper Westside community with unparalleled opportunities to better connect neighborhoods, improve access to greenspace, increase affordable housing options, and expand economic opportunity. To ensure the future redevelopment of these assets and provide the largest and most equitably distributed community benefit, a proactive planning approach is needed to craft a shared vision for these sites and put in place the policies to ensure they can be realized.

I love "the potential for planned growth that can take advantage of the former infrastructure like the CSX / Tilford railroad area.” - Quote from the Community Vision Survey

The nearly 300 acre Tilford Yard off of Marietta Blvd was cleared in 2018.

Aerial Photo taken 2019 of CSX's Tilford Yard (credit Curbed Atlanta)

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Section 2.3: Community & Economic Development Recommendations


Adjacency to the future Atlanta BeltLine corridor and Westside Park are among the top development drivers in the Upper Westside!

75 Collier Rd

Study Area

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Railways City of Atlanta Fulton County Building Authority of Fulton County Owner listed as “Railroad” Norfolk Southern Railroad Southern Railway (Norfolk Southern subsidiary)

Bankhead MARTA

Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy

CSX Transportation L&N Railroad (CSX subsidiary) Seaboard System Railroad (CSX subsidiary)

0

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0.5mile

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Large Single-Owner Sites A handful of large single-owner sites across the Upper Westside present an outsized opportunity to transform the district, should they redevelop. The Hemphill Water Treatment Facility, MARTA Brady Bus Facility, and Fulton County Jail are all publicly owned assets experiencing increased redevelopment pressure as the district evolves around them. Several privately held railyards within and adjacent to the district are also experiencing similar pressure as the district transitions to a more mixed, livable, and vibrant community.

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Influence Future Landmark Developments Summary of Projects LD 1

Build Diverse Coalitions

Engage and empower the communities of the Upper Westside to organize for community-aligned redevelopment of the large-single owner sites identified above. Support the formation of task forces, committees, organizations, etc dedicated to the transformation of opportunity sites and serve as a trusted partner. LD 2

Codify the Vision

Support the adoption of the masterplan(s) into City of Atlanta, Atlanta BeltLine, and Upper Westside planning doctrine. LD 3

Provide Redevelopment Technical Assistance

Serve as resource for neighborhoods navigating the redevelopment process by providing technical assistance with site plan review, rezoning, community benefits agreements, etc. LD 4

Proactively Plan for Change

Work with the community to craft masterplans for landmark development sites that aligns their vision with market realities. These plans should define consensus on density, connectivity, mobility options, greenspace provision, mix of uses, affordability, and other fundamental planning elements needed to communicate intent and feasibility. At a minimum, development plans for sites over 15 acres should include: •

20% publicly accessible open space;

a connected internal street grid with sidewalks;

a mix of uses and residential product types;

apartment developments should include 3-bedroom units;

public art including but not limited to murals, sculptures, and other installations.

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Section 2.3: Community & Economic Development Recommendations


Tilford Yard (CSX)

HILLS PARK

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iett a Rd

Inman Yard (NS)

Howell Yard (CSX)

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Ave hooche Chatta

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Aerial Imagery of Large Single-Owner Sites Across the Upper Westside

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10

support The Georgia Tech Innovation Ecosystem Leverage the proximity and innovation of Georgia Tech to drive the long-term economic competitiveness of the Upper Westside. Facilitate the growth of Georgia Tech startups in a variety of sectors (including advanced manufacturing) and support equitable economic development objectives through partnership-based projects and programs.

What is the most under-appreciated asset of the Upper Westside?

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Section 2.3: Community & Economic Development Recommendations


Credit: Georgia Institute of Technology

Location! We're lucky to be so centrally located and with such a wealth of resources nearby (shops, restaurants, neighborhood parks, Georgia Tech, Westside Park Reservoir, and the interstate to get you anywhere quickly).

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Support the Georgia Tech Innovation Ecosystem I love the "convenience to Midtown, Downtown, and Georgia Tech. It is the most undeveloped area within the city limits."

Georgia Tech is one of Atlanta’s most important economic engines, generating billions in annual economic impact and employing tens of thousands across the metro area. The institution is also the focal point of the city’s rapidly growing innovation ecosystem, churning out startups and commercialized research at one of the highest rates in the country. The Upper Westside’s proximity to Georgia Tech presents the district with an opportunity to contribute to and subsequently benefit from this prolific activity over the coming years. There is a growing set of best practices for how public, private, and nongovernmental actors can amplify and sustain the momentum created by institutions such as Georgia Tech. Moreover, anchor institutions of this sort are well-positioned to help ensure that the Upper Westside’s future growth is inclusive and aligned with citywide objectives related to equitable economic development.

- Quote from the Community Vision Survey

H

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The Georgia Tech main campus borders the Upper Westside along Northside Dr.

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Technology Enterprise Park g n Jr Blv

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Joseph E. Boone Blvg

Map highlighting the adjacency of Georgia Tech and the Upper Westside.

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Section 2.3: Community & Economic Development Recommendations


Rendering of Proposed Technology Enterprise Park

Plan of Proposed Technology Enterprise Park

Credit: Georgia Institute of Technology

Credit: Georgia Institute of Technology

Entrance

Georgia Institute of Technology: Technology Enterprise Park The benefits the institution confers to the Upper Westside will likely be further enhanced by the completion of Georgia Tech’s new Technology Enterprise Park, a 2.41 million square foot mixed-use innovation campus that will formalize the school’s presence west of Marietta St. and generate nearly 6,000 new jobs and $1.4 billion in annual economic activity in the process. One of Georgia Tech’s stated objectives for the new Technology Enterprise Park campus is to “partner with Westside communities in developing and training the workforce.”

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Support the Georgia Tech Innovation Ecosystem Summary of Projects IE 1

Pilot Living Lab Program

Launch a pilot “living lab” program that enables a small cohort of Georgia Tech startups in the smart city or urban technology fields to use public realm assets located in the Upper Westside as testing grounds, in exchange for access to some of their data and findings. This can grant the Upper Westside district access to emerging smart city technologies and data-driven insights that can help resolve key challenges faced by the district and support future planning initiatives. IE 2

Expansion Space for Georgia Tech VentureLabs

Help connect Georgia Tech VentureLab companies that outgrow universityowned facilities with Upper Westside brokers or landowners to find them industrial and/or flex office space in the CID. IE 3

Startup Space Inventory Map

Add a map-based “startup space” resource to the CID website and catalogue the district’s inventory of industrial and flex office space. This can provide commercial property owners with a platform for marketing their properties and spaces to high-growth companies who wish to stay in the greater Georgia Tech area. IE 4

Georgia Tech Startups Growth Tracking

Partner with VentureLab to track the number of Georgia tech startups who land in the Upper Westside as well as their employment growth over time, reporting on this activity on an annual basis. IE 5

Workforce Development Partnership

Support workforce development opportunities in partnership with Westside Works and/or other training program operators to strengthen economic ties between the rapidly growing Upper Westside and other Westside communities. This goal aligns with the City of Atlanta’s “first source” jobs program. IE 6

Open Space Asset Management

Partner with local environmental management organizations to train stewards who can provide the Upper Westside’s new and existing public space assets with high quality maintenance, creating educational and employment opportunities for local young adults of all socio-economic backgrounds.

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IE 1

Smart City Infrastructure

IE 1

Smart City Infrastructure

IE 2

Flex Office Space

IE 1

Smart City Infrastructure

IE 2

Flex Office Space Inspirational Imagery of Innovation Ecosystem Initiatives

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2.4

arts & culture The following pages explore the big idea to celebrate the history and culture of the Upper Westside.

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Section 2.4: Arts & Culture Recommendations


big idea for the upper westside 11

Announce the Upper Westside

Section 2.4: Arts & Culture Recommendations

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11

announce the upper westside Identify locations for signature public realm improvements that highlight the distinctive character and vibe of the district. Highlight the Upper Westside district and its constituent neighborhoods through gateways, art, and wayfinding signage.

What do you love about the Upper Westside?

"It's funky and unique. Awesome design district rooted in industrial context."

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I'd love to see "public art to memorialize the forgotten history of the area."

Section 2.4: Arts & Culture Recommendations


Credit: Elaine Stephenson Sadowski

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Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan


Announce the Upper Westside Building a well-connected street network complete with space for all users is only one part of getting people to travel around the district without a car. By knitting public art, pocket parks, street furniture, and wayfinding elements into the community, the Upper Westside can foster a culture that prioritizes people over cars. These creative placemaking initiatives can improve connections between not only physical destinations, but also the cultural and social identities that define the Upper Westside. The streets, parks, building facades, and shared spaces across the district can serve as a canvas upon which the stories of the community are told.

My vision for the Upper Westside is walkable, urban, and artful!" - Quote from the Community Vision Survey

The Upper Westside is taking steps to make walking the district easy, fun, and safe!

Photos of placemaking and arts initiatives undertaken by the CID. Top Left: Educational signage of pedestrian improvements along Howell Mill Rd. Top Middle: Sculptural installation promoting traffic calming on Brady Ave. Bottom Left: Upper Westside Mailbox installed at the Brady Pocket Park. Bottom Middle: Caboose birdhouse installed at the Brady Pocket Park. Right: Signage at the Waterworks Greenspace.

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When we asked the public where their “Go-to Spots” in the district were, the majority of participants identified destinations near14th St. & Howell Mill Rd.

75 Collier Rd

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"Go-to Spots" Identified during the public engagement process "Go-to Spots" heatmap Major Thoroughfares Atlanta Beltline Corridor Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy

Neighborhood Park Connection Atlanta BeltLine Intersection Key Decision Points Thresholds

0

Major Gateways

0.5mile

N

Gateways, Decision Points, & Destinations Only a handful of roads traversing the district connect it to adjacent communities. This lack of connectivity to and within the district, means it is important to leverage the few opportunities that exist to celebrate entry into the Upper Westside and guide visitors to its “go-to spots.” The exhibit above identifies the gateways and thresholds into the district at key decision points where major thoroughfares intersect where we can "announce the Upper Westside".

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Announce the Upper Westside Summary of Capital Projects AU 1

Couple Public Space with Existing Civic Assets

AU 2

Create Pocket Parks

Create new parks and plazas throughout the Upper Develop new parks, plazas, and public spaces Westside by converting underperforming and publicly associated with existing civic assets (schools, libraries, owned parcels into places for community life. fire stations, police stations, transit infrastructure, (a) "Forrest Street Greenspace" in Berkeley Park. recreation centers, publicly-owned land, etc) in the Leverage underutilized space near the intersection of Upper Westside. Howell Mill Rd. and Forrest St. as new public space. (a) Fire Station No.23 in Berkeley Park. (b) "Huff Pocket Park" in Blandtown. Leverage (b) MARTA Brady Bus Operating Facility in Marietta Street Artery.

underutilized space near the intersection of Huff Rd. and Ellsworth Industrial Blvd. as new public space.

(c) Fire Station No.8 in Hill Park.

(c) "10th St Pocket Park" in the Marietta Street Artery. Leverage underutilized space near the intersection of Marietta St. and Howell Mill Rd. as new public space.

(d) "Marietta Pocket Park" in Howell Station.

Mural commissioned by the CID at the MARTA Brady Facility near the intersection of Brady Ave. & Howell Mill Rd.

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Announce the Upper Westside: Summary of Capital Projects

et t a

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M ar i Blvd

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Carroll Dr

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Floodplain Fire Station #8 in Hill Park

lvd h Industrial B ort sw E ll

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MARTA Brady Bus Operating Facility in Marietta Street Artery

Rail Right Of Way

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Antone St

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Blvd

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Underperforming Land Fire Station #23 & "Forrest Street Greenspace" in Berkeley Park

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Underperforming Land "Huff Pocket Park" in Blandtown

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Section 2.4: Arts & Culture Recommendations

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"Marietta Pocket Park" in Howell Station

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aS

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Underperforming Land Civic Assets

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"10th St Pocket Park" in Marietta Street Artery

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Announce the Upper Westside Summary of Capital Projects Continued AU 3

Small-Scale Creative Installations

AU 6

Create mini-grants that allow for small-scale creative installations throughout the district. AU 4

Artists to Provide On-Call Services

AU 5

Establish signage & facade grants for business and property owners. AU 7

Conduct bi-annual pooled call for artists to provide on-call services.

Establish Signage & Facade Grants

Create a Brand Family

Create a brand family of environmental graphics that highlight the district by foot and pedal.

Signature Commissioned Art

AU 8

Explore opportunities for signature commissioned art. Engage the local arts and design community for artist selection and design jury participation for signature commissioned art (MOCA, GA, faculty of Georgia Tech Schools of Architecture and Industrial Design, MODA, etc)

Pair Projects with Brand Family

Pair each capital project with discreet Upper Westside brand family element(s) to promote walking / bicycling / transit use and to raise visibility of the Upper Westside Improvement District. AU 9

Build a Walk Campaign

Build a Walk [Upper Westside] campaign with light, affordable, informational signs linked to web-based wayfinding, storytelling, and data collection.

AU 4

AU 5

Mural

Interactive Art

AU 3

AU 3

Immersive Installations

Temporary Sculpture

Inspirational Imagery of Arts, Placemaking, & Wayfinding Initiatives

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Section 2.4: Arts & Culture Recommendations


AU 9

Storytelling

AU 5

Wayfinding

AU 9

AU 9

Wayfinding

AU 3

Installation Art

Wayfinding

AU 4

Mural

Inspirational Imagery of Arts, Placemaking, & Wayfinding Initiatives

Section 2.4: Arts & Culture Recommendations

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2.5

implementation guide The following pages explore how to achieve the big ideas for the Upper Westside.

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Section 2.5: Implementation Guide


big ideas for the upper westside 1

2

3

Retrofit Roads for All Users

Go Off-Road

Improve the Transit Experience

4

5

6

Build Strategic Road Segments

Acquire Land for Recreation

Reveal Hidden Nature

7

8

9

Reclaim Waterworks for the Public

Codify Character Through Zoning

Influence Future Landmark Developments

Section 2.5: Implementation Guide

10

11

Support the Georgia Tech Innovation Ecosystem

Announce the Upper Westside

101

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implementation guide Guide to Getting it Done

• Community & Economic Development • Arts & Culture To the right of each recommendation is the expected timeframe and potential partners for each objective. The timeframe is labeled as near-term if it is a recommendation that can be implemented in five years or less. These near-term recommendations may also be necessary to implement early on in order to enable other recommendations. The timeframe is labeled as medium-term if a recommendation will be implemented in 5-10 years. The timeframe is labeled long-term if an action will take longer than 10 years to implement but is a recommendation that has an ending point. Finally, the timeframe is labeled ongoing if it is a policy that is continually implemented and will never be fully completed. A key of acronyms for the potential partners is also included to the right.

TIMELINE

• Parks & Greenspace

EST. COSTS

• Transportation & Mobility

Implementation Matrix Key Ongoing

5-10 years

0-5 years

10+ years

$ Low cost $$ Medium cost $$$ High cost ABI Atlanta Beltline Incorporated ADA Americans with Disabilities Act ARC Atlanta Regional Commission CoA City of Atlanta

ABBREVIATIONS

The summary matrix on the following pages is a catalog of all the goals, strategies, and objectives introduced in the recommendations chapter of this plan. The matrix is divided into the four plan sections:

Georgia Department of Natural

DNR Resources

Georgia Department of

GDOT Transportation

Georgia Regional

GRTA Transportation Authority Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid

MARTA Transit Authority ROW Right-of-way

TAD Tax Allocation District TCC Traffic Control Center Transportation Improvement

TIP Program

Atlanta's Transportation Bond

TSPLOST Program

Upper Westside Community

UWCID Improvement District Westside Community

WCIA Improvement Association

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Section 2.5: Implementation Guide


Recommended Capital Improvement Project

Next Steps

Timeline

Est. cost

Funding Sources

Responsible Entity Lead

Support

CoA

UWCID, GDOT, property owners

UWCID

CoA, GDOT, property owners, Georgia Tech

TRANSPORTATION & MOBILITY RR

Retrofit Roads for All Users

RR1

Howell Mill Road - Implement the Howell Mill Rd Bike and Pedestrian Study which called for raised bike lanes, wide sidewalks, and driveways closures to improve safety. Implement additional improvements to the intersections at Chattahoochee Ave and Defoor Ave to improve vehicular efficiency while improving safety for all users.

Design, acquire ROW, construction

10th Street - Repair sidewalks, add ADA ramps, and add a signalized mid-block crossing at Watkins St. Reallocate a travel lane to develop protected bicycling facilities on the south side of the street.

Traffic analysis, planning, design, construction

RR2

RR3

RR4

RR5

RR6

RR7

14th Street - Complete sidewalk gaps and include ADA ramps. Study reallocating a vehicle lane to accommodate protected bicycling facilities.

Traffic analysis, planning, design, construction

$$$

ARC TIP, TSPLOST, UWCID, Impact Fees

$$

UWCID, WCIA, Georgia Tech Foundation

$$

UWCID, TSPLOST, Atlantic Station TAD

UWCID

CoA, GDOT, property owners, Atlantic Station TAD

$$$

UWCID, BUILD Grant, WCIA, TSPLOST, Grants, Impact Fees

CoA

UWCID, ARC, property owners, ABI, railroad

GDOT

UWCID, CoA, Georgia Tech, Atlantic Station TAD

Huff Road - Repair and complete sidewalks and ADA ramps. Add protected bicycle facilities or a multi-use path, new crosswalks, street trees, furniture, and lighting. The addition of bike and pedestrian improvements will require widening the bridge over the railroad or creating a new parallel bridge.

Scoping study, design, ROW acquisition, construction

Northside Drive - Coordinate with GDOT to improve safety along Northside Dr, especially at high-crash intersections: Marietta St, 10th St, and 14th St. Add signalized crossings for pedestrians at 8th St, 11th St, and Ethel St. Fill sidewalk gaps north of Trabert Ave. Add wayfinding and sharrows between Marietta St and Northside Dr to Tech Parkway cycle track.

Planning, Vision Zero & GDOT coordination, design, construction

$$$

GDOT, UWCID, Atlantic Station TAD, Georgia Tech Foundation, ARC TIP

Planning, coordination with Dept of Watershed Management, design, construction

$$

UWCID

UWCID

CoA, GDOT, Hines (Atlantic Station)

Planning, design, construction

$$$

UWCID, Impact Fees, LCI, 319(h) Grant

UWCID

CoA, ABI, ARC, property owners

17th Street - Complete sidewalks and add bike facilities from Howell Mill Rd to Northside Dr. The guardrails at the Hemphill Water Treatment Plant will be impacted.

Ellsworth Industrial Boulevard - Use excess road width to create a north-south streetscape for bikes and pedestrians. Fill sidewalk gaps and add dedicated bicycle facilities, mid-block crosswalks, and landscape enhancements. Realign Elaine Ave with all-way stop control to improve intersection safety, and repurpose remaining right-of-way into a pocket park with possible green infrastructure improvements.

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Recommended Capital Improvement Project RR8

RR9

RR10

RR11

RR12

RR13

Timeline

Est. cost

Funding Sources

Responsible Entity Lead

Support

$$$

TSPLOST, UWCID, ARC TIP, Impact Fees

UWCID

CoA, ARC, property owners

Planning, design, construction

$$

UWCID, CoA

UWCID

CoA, property owners

Marietta Boulevard - Expand the narrow bridge over the railroad between Huff Rd and W. Marietta St or add a parallel bike and pedestrian bridge. Extend BeltLine from Huff Rd to Elaine Ave. Signalize Elaine Ave intersection. Add pedestrian facilities and fill sidewalk gaps north of Elaine Ave.

Planning, design, construction

$$$

TSPLOST, ABI, UWCID

CoA, ABI

UWCID, property owners, GDOT

West Marietta Street - Fill sidewalk gaps, add protected bike facilities, upgrade the bridge over the railroads with pedestriansafe railing, add mid-block crossings, and improve intersection safety along W. Marietta St and Lois St. A Renew Atlanta project will add ADA ramps and optimize signal timing.

Planning, design, construction

$$$

ABI, UWCID

UWCID

CoA, ABI, property owners

Defoor Avenue - Fill sidewalk gaps, improve intersection safety at Howell Mill Rd, and protect existing bike lanes.

Planning, design, construction

$$

UWCID, CoA

UWCID

CoA, property owners

Joseph E Lowery Boulevard - Fill sidewalk gaps, add pedestrian-scale lighting, street trees, and furniture, and add bicycle facilities connecting W. Marietta St to Westside BeltLine Connector. Address intersection configuration with West Marietta.

Planning, design, construction

$$$

UWCID, Impact Fees, private partners

UWCID

CoA, property owners

Planning, design, fabrication

$

UWCID

UWCID

CoA, Georgia Tech, property owners

$$

UWCID, private partners, grants

UWCID, PATH Foundation, private partners

CoA, property owners

Chattahoochee Avenue - Build wide sidewalks, add ADA ramps, fill sidewalk gaps, add protected bike facilities, add mid-block crossings, and improve the intersection at Howell Mill Rd. The narrow bridge over the railroad may need to be widened or a pedestrian and bicycle bridge may be needed. Study to consider lane reallocation.

Planning, design, construction

Collier Road - Fill sidewalk gaps, add ADA ramps, add mid-block crossings, improve intersections, protect existing bike lanes and extend them to Howell Mill Rd. Add green conflict markings at driveways and refresh signage.

OR

Go Off-Road to Access the Metro

OR1

Wayfinding Signage Toward Existing Trails - Create consistent wayfinding signage to highlight nearby trails and bicycle facilities, like Tech Pkwy.

OR2

Next Steps

Woodall Rail Trail to the Whetstone Creek Trail and Chattahoochee River Create a new trail along Woodall Creek using the wooded areas in its floodplain. Part of the trail will be constructed by private developers on their properties, allowing public access. It would connect to Whetstone Creek Trail and ultimately the Chattahoochee River and Silver Comet Trail.

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ROW acquisition, planning, design, fundraising, construction

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Recommended Capital Improvement Project OR3

OR4

OR5

OR 6

OR7

OR8

OR9

Next Steps

Trail Connection to the Proctor Creek Greenway and the Bankhead MARTA Station - Work with Atlanta BeltLine and PATH Foundation to build a trail connection from the Westside BeltLine Connector to the Proctor Creek Trail through a power easement for safe and convenient access to Westside Park and the Bankhead MARTA Station. This would include intersection improvements, signalization, a new rail crossing, and trail construction.

Easement acquisition, planning, design, fundraising, construction

Trail Connection to Westside Park - Work with the Atlanta BeltLine and PATH Foundation to create a direct trail entrance to Westside Park from the Marietta Blvd section of the BeltLine near Howell Station neighborhood.

Easement acquisition, planning, design, fundraising, construction

Trail Connection from Tanyard Creek Trail to Underwood Hills Park - Create a connection between Underwood Hills Park and Tanyard Creek Park, Northside BeltLine Trail, Collier Hills, and Buckhead. The trail could leverage a Georgia Power easement with road crossings at Howell Mill Rd, Northside Dr, and Walthall Dr. Neighborhood Connection to the Waterworks Greenspace - Create a trail linking Forrest St, Trabert Ave, and Green St to connect the neighborhood and possible future BeltLine to the Waterworks Greenspace and connect to Northside Dr at Deering Rd.

Timeline

Est. cost

Funding Sources

Responsible Entity Lead

Support

PATH Foundation, Private Partners

ABI, MARTA, Georgia Power, CoA

$$

PATH Foundation, Private partners, CoA, MARTA

$$

UWCID, CoA, Park Pride Atlanta, PATH Foundation

CoA

UWCID, ABI, PATH Foundation, CoA, Dept of Parks & Recreation

Easement acquisition, GA Power coordination, planning, design, construction

$$

Rails to Trails, GDOT, PATH Foundation, TSPLOST

UWCID, PATH Foundation

ARC, ABI, CoA Dept of Parks & Recreation, GDOT

Easement acquisition, planning, design, fundraising, construction

$$

ABI, UWCID

UWCID

CoA, ABI, property owners

Easement acquisition, planning, design, fundraising, construction

$$$

UWCID, private partners, grants

UWCID

CoA, ABI, property owners, PATH Foundation, CSX

Trail Connection to the Future Silver Comet Trail - Work with Atlanta BeltLine and PATH Foundation to build a trail connection on abandoned rail spur adjacent to the MWest townhomes that crosses under Marietta Blvd.

Easement acquisition, planning, design, fundraising, construction

$$

UWCID, CoA, PATH Foundation

UWCID, PATH Foundation

CoA, ABI

Trail on Abandoned Rail Spur behind The Works - Convert former railroad tracks between Chattahoochee Ave and Collier Rd into a trail. This will require railroad negotiation in order to tie The Works, Logan Circle, and Seaboard Industrial Blvd properties together. Evaluate the potential for a pedestrian and bicycle bridge over the railroad to connect to Defoor Ave.

Parcel acquisition/ easement, planning, design, construction

$$$

UWCID, private partners

UWCID, private partners

CoA, railroad, property owners

Goat Farm and White Provisions District Connection to the Future Atlanta Beltline - Connect the Westside Provisions District, the Goat Farm, and the Howard School to Westside Paper and the King Plow Arts Center via a trail with pedestrian and bicycle bridge over the railroad tying into a BeltLine spur trail.

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Recommended Capital Improvement Project

Next Steps

Timeline

Est. cost

Funding Sources

Responsible Entity Lead

Support

MM Improve the Transit Experience MM1

MM2

MM3

MM4

MM5

MM6

RS

Bus Stop Improvements - Provide amenities at MARTA bus stops that improve the bus ridership experience including seating, lighting, shade, greenery, art, cooling stations, charging stations, Wi-Fi, and real time bus information.

Location identification, acquisition, installation

$

MARTA, UWCID, CoA, LCI

MARTA

UWCID, CoA, ARC

Planning, design, construction

$$

CoA, UWCID

CoA

UWCID, Atlanta Bicycle Coalition

Bicycle Parking - Provide secure bicycle parking at or near transit stop locations in high transit trip frequency areas.

Location identification, acquisition, installation

$

MARTA, UWCID, CoA

CoA

UWCID, MARTA, Atlanta Bicycle Coalition

Ride Share Transfers - Designate reserved curb area for ride share transfers in high transit trip frequency areas.

Location identification, design, construction

$

MARTA, UWCID, CoA

CoA

UWCID, MARTA

Micromobility Stations - Provide dedicated drop zones for shared dockless micromobility vehicles, including bikes and scooters, at popular transit stops to facilitate flexible, multimodal trips.

Location identification, design, construction

$

CoA, UWCID

CoA

UWCID, MARTA, APD

Microtransit Services - Contract with MARTA or private microtransit providers to offer flexible, on-demand service within the Upper Westside to connect to MARTA rail stations, Midtown, or Atlantic Station.

Analysis, partnership development, RFQ, operations

$$

CoA, Private partners, MARTA

MARTA, Private partners

UWCID, GRTA

$$$

CoA, TSPLOST, UWCID, property owners

CoA

UWCID, GDOT, property owners

$$$

CoA, TSPLOST, UWCID, property owners

CoA

UWCID, property owners

CoA

UWCID, property owners, MARTA

UWCID

CoA, property owners, railroad

Low-Stress Facilities - Provide accessible sidewalks and low-stress bicycle facilities that connect to transit stops/stations along transit route corridors.

Build Strategic Road Segments

Install key segments that benefit network connectivity RS1

RS2

RS3

RS4

Huff Road Extension - Extend Huff Rd between Howell Mill Rd and Northside Dr to create a new east-west connection and provide an alternative to 17th St and 14th St.

Planning, ROW acquisition, design, construction

Fairmont Avenue Extension - Extend Fairmont Ave to connect with Huber St between Huff Rd and Chattahoochee Ave to create a new north-south roadway connection.

Planning, ROW acquisition, design, construction

Foster Street Extension - Extend Foster St to connect with Brady Ave to create a new north-south connection between Huff Rd and Brady Ave and provide an alternative to Howell Mill Rd.

Planning, ROW acquisition, design, construction

$$$

CoA, TSPLOST, UWCID, property owners, MARTA

Ellsworth Industrial Boulevard Extension - South - Extend Ellsworth Industrial Blvd south to connect with Tilden St to create a new north-south connection between Huff Rd and W. Marietta St and provide an alternative to Marietta Blvd.

Planning, ROW acquisition, design, construction

$$$

CoA, TSPLOST, UWCID, property owners

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Section 2.5: Implementation Guide


Recommended Capital Improvement Project RS5

RS6

Culpepper Street Extension - Extend Culpepper St west to Elaine Ave and east to Trabert Ave will create a new eastwest connection between Marietta Blvd and Howell Mill Rd. This extension will provide an alternative to Huff Rd and Chattahoochee Ave and is broken into two phases: a.

Culpepper Street Extension - West - Elaine Ave to Fairmont Ave.

b.

Culpepper Street Extension - East Boyd Ave to Trabert Ave.

Trabert Ave Extension - Extend Trabert Ave across Northside Dr to connect to Deering Rd creating a new east-west connection between Howell Mill Rd and Northside Dr, providing an alternative to 17th St and Bellemeade Ave.

Next Steps

Timeline

Est. cost

Funding Sources

Responsible Entity Lead

Support

Planning, ROW acquisition, design, construction

$$$

CoA, TSPLOST, CID, private partners

UWCID

CoA, property owners

Planning, ROW acquisition, design, construction

$$$

CoA, TSPLOST, UWCID, property owners

CoA

UWCID, property owners

Require new streets to be constructed as properties redevelop. RS7

RS8

RS9

Huber Street Extension - Create a new east-west connection between Huber St and Ellsworth Industrial Blvd to improve network connectivity and provide an alternative to Huff Rd and Chattahoochee Ave.

Zoning revisions, coordination with CoA and private developers

$$$

Private developer

Private developer

UWCID, CoA

Ellsworth Industrial Boulevard Extension - North - Extend Ellsworth Industrial Blvd north to connect with Hills Pl to create a new north-south connection between Chattahoochee Ave and Collier Rd and provide an alternative to Chattahoochee Ave. This extension also provides opportunities for improved east-west network connectivity between Logan Cir and Seaboard Industrial Blvd.

Zoning revisions, coordination with CoA and private developers

$$$

Private developer

Private developer

UWCID, CoA

Jefferson St Extension - East - Extend Jefferson St east to connect with Hampton Street to create a new east-west connection between Echo St, Marietta St, and Northside Dr. This connection provides an alternative to West Marietta St and Northside Dr.

Zoning revisions, coordination with CoA and private developers

$$$

Private developer

Private developer

UWCID, CoA

PARKS & GREENSPACE AL

Acquire Land for Recreation

AL 1

Diversify Passive Recreation - Identify places for nature trails or canopy walks and areas to picnic, sit and lounge. Seek out locations for scenic overlooks taking advantage of skyline views, nature, and the bustling railroad.

Analysis, planning, design, stakeholder coordination, fundraising

$$$

CoA, Park Pride Atlanta, Grants, Private Contributions

UWCID, CoA

Park Pride Atlanta

Connect to Water - Upper Westsiders want splash pads and a public pool.

Planning, design, construction

$$$

CoA, Park Pride Atlanta, Grants

CoA Dept of Parks & Recreation

UWCID, Park Pride Atlanta

Support our Ecosystem - Invest in stream restoration projects and green infrastructure, create pollinator gardens, and plant tree groves.

Planning, stakeholder coordination, design, construction

$

CoA, Park Pride Atlanta, grants

UWCID

CoA, Trees Atlanta, UWCID

AL2

AL3

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Recommended Capital Improvement Project AL4

AL5

Spaces for Play - Build nature-themed playgrounds, dog parks, and skate parks, game tables, and sports courts/fields, in addition to flexible open lawns. Evaluate opportunities for a much needed regional recreation center with a natatorium. Places to Grow - Create community gardens, interactive art installations, and exercise stations.

HN

Reveal Hidden Nature

HN1

Woodall Creek Greenspace - Create a publicly accessible and connected network of parks and public spaces along the Woodall Creek. a.

b.

HN2

HN3

HN4

HN5

"Woodall Fork" in Blandtown Leverage parcels along the Woodall Creek adjacent to Marietta Blvd, Ellsworth Industrial Blvd, Southland Cir and Fairmont Ave for nature space. "Woodall Hills" in Underwood Hills - Leverage parcels along Woodall Creek adjacent to Hills Pl and Bolton Dr for nature space.

Next Steps

Planning, design, fundraising, construction

Timeline

Est. cost

Funding Sources

Responsible Entity Lead

Support

CoA Dept of Parks & Recreation

UWCID

$$

CoA, Park Pride Atlanta, Grants

Planning, design, installation

$

CoA, Park Pride Atlanta, ArtPlace

UWCID

CoA Dept of Parks & Recreation, Office of Cultural Affairs

Easement acquisition, planning, design, construction

$$

CoA, Park Pride Atlanta, DNR

CoA Dept of Parks & Recreation

UWCID, property owners

Easement acquisition, planning, design, construction

$$

CoA, Park Pride Atlanta, DNR

CoA Dept of Parks & Recreation

UWCID, property owners

UWCID

Georgia Power, ARC, ABI, CoA Dept of Parks & Recreation

Tanyard Creek Connector - Partner with Georgia Power to expand public access and create public space within electric utility easements. Leverage the easement extending from Howell Mill Rd at I-75 to the Tanyard Creek Park and Atlanta BeltLine Northside Trail to improve connectivity and access to existing greenspace.

Planning, design, construction

$$

Rails to Trails, Georgia Power, PATH Foundation

"Collier Connector" in Underwood Hills - Explore opportunities to leverage abandoned and underused rail right of way for linear public space. Leverage the underused CSX rail corridor north of Collier Rd for linear public space.

Parcel acquisition, planning, design, construction

$$

Rails to Trails, CSX, PATH Foundation

UWCID

ARC, CoA Dept of Parks and Recreation, CSX

"Parkway Green" in the Marietta Street Artery - Create access to the wooded greenspace between the northbound and southbound lanes of Northside Dr on either side of Tech Pkwy.

Planning, design, construction

$$

CoA, Park Pride Atlanta, WCIA, Georgia Tech Foundation

UWCID

Georgia Tech, GDOT

Create Temporary Greenspaces on Development Sites - While the City of Atlanta acquires property, work with local commercial property owners to install temporary greenspaces (via license agreements) to fill the gap in public open space.

Coordination, installation

$

CoA, grants, UWCID, property owners

UWCID

CoA, property owners

RW

Reclaim Waterworks for the Public

RW1

Move the Fences - Move the fence line surrounding the Hemphill reservoirs to capture pockets of greenspace for community access and enjoyment.

Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan

At the time of printing, the Department of Watershed Management has not endorsed or approved the proposed plans to open the Waterworks and Hemphill reservoir sites for public access shown in the section starting on page 64. The site has historical significance and is currently part of Atlanta's drinking water infrastructure.

Planning, CoA coordination, design, construction

108

$

CoA

CoA, UWCID

Friends of Atlanta Waterworks

Section 2.5: Implementation Guide


Recommended Capital Improvement Project RW2

RW3

RW4

RW5

RW6

Next Steps

Trabert Avenue to Reservoir Drive Pedestrian Connection - Create a pedestrian connection from Trabert Ave NW to Green St NW/Reservoir Dr.

Planning, design, construction

Open the Waterworks Lodge - Partner with the Department of Watershed Management to open the Waterworks Lodge (corner of Green St & Reservoir Dr) as a community space for all.

Planning, CoA coordination, design, construction

Placemaking & Arts Initiatives Activate the Hemphill Campus with placemaking and arts initiatives. Potential interventions could include the use of light, art, and signage to enliven existing buildings, fences, and fountains.

Timeline

Est. cost

Funding Sources

Responsible Entity Lead

Support

$

CoA

UWCID

CoA Dept of Watershed Mgmt

$

CoA, UWCID, grants

CoA Dept of Watershed Mgmt

CoA Dept of Parks and Recreation, UWCID

Artist selection, design, installation

$$

ArtPlace, private partners, grants, CoA

UWCID

CoA Office of Cultural Affairs, Department of Watershed Management

Waterworks Park - Recapture the eastern reservoir and adjacent land as public greenspace. Focus on improvements that maximize community benefit and ecological performance.

Planning, CoA coordination, design, construction

$$$

CoA, grants

CoA (Watershed & Parks Departments)

UWCID, Park Pride Atlanta

Cultural Center and Civic Event Space - Adaptive reuse of the signature historic buildings and surrounding sites as cultural center and civic event space. Notable structures include the Atlanta Water Works Hemphill Avenue Pumping Station and Atlanta Water Works Expansion.

Planning, CoA coordination, design, construction

$$$

Private partners, grants

CoA Dept of Watershed Mgmt

UWCID, nonprofit partners

COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CZ

Codify Character Through Zoning

CZ1

Adopt Upper Westside Masterplan - With neighborhood support, get the Upper Westside Masterplan adopted into the City of Atlanta Comprehensive Development Plan to establish an official policy framework. Use the Upper Westside Masterplan aspirations to guide project rezonings. Please see the Appendix for specific recommended land use policies.

Coordination, adoption

-

-

CoA

UWCID, community stakeholders

Refine and Implement Zoning Changes - Work with property owners, business owners and other stakeholders in a collaborative process to explore and implement proactive base zoning changes that support key ideas of preserving light industrial uses, while allowing the addition of commercial and residential uses in appropriate areas that are compatible with them. Areas should include:

Coordination, adoption

$-$$

UWCID

CoA Dept of City Planning

UWCID, property owners, developers

Coordination, adoption

$

UWCID

CoA Dept of City Planning

UWCID, property owners, developers

CZ2

a.

Blandtown Rezoning - Explore rezoning some or all of Blandtown’s I-2 (heavy industrial) sites, except the Marietta Boulevard corridor. I-Mix is recommended, but the process should explore other options, as well.

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Recommended Capital Improvement Project b.

c.

d.

e.

f.

Responsible Entity Support

UWCID

CoA Dept of City Planning

UWCID, property owners, developers

$

UWCID

CoA Dept of City Planning

UWCID, property owners, developers

$

UWCID

CoA Dept of City Planning

UWCID, property owners, developers

UWCID, property owners, developers

Collier Road Rezoning - Explore rezoning some or all of Collier Road’s I-2 sites. I-Mix is recommended, but the process should explore other options, as well

Coordination, adoption

Collier Road Rezoning - Rezone C-1 sites around the intersection of Collier Road and Defoors Road to MRC-1 (mixed residential commercial).

Coordination, adoption

Hemphill Historic District or Site - Designate appropriate "Atlanta Waterworks" structures or site as historic under the City's Historic Preservation Ordinance

Funding Sources

Lead $

Coordination, adoption

$

UWCID

CoA (Watershed Mgmt & City Planning Departments)

Coordination, adoption

$

UWCID

CoA Dept of City Planning

UWCID, property owners, developers

Coordination, adoption

$

UWCID

CoA Dept of City Planning

UWCID, property owners, developers

-

-

UWCID

CoA, property owners

Howell Station Rezoning - Explore

Develop Upper Westside District Work with property owners and other stakeholders to develop an Upper Westside Overlay District to codify new zoning standards that align with the vision of the Upper Westside Masterplan.

Influence Future Landmark Developments

LD1

Build Diverse Coalitions - Engage and empower the communities of the Upper Westside to organize for communityaligned redevelopment of the large-single owner sites identified above. Support the formation of task forces, committees, organizations, etc dedicated to the transformation of opportunity sites and serve as a trusted partner.

LD3

Est. cost

Coordination, adoption

LD

LD2

Timeline

Chattahoochee Avenue Rezoning - Explore rezoning some or all of Chattahoochee Avenue’s I-1 and I-2. I-Mix is recommended, but the process should explore other options, as well.

rezoning various sites along West Marietta Street from I-1 to I-Mix, from I-2 to I-Mix, from OI to MRC-2, and from C-2 to MRC-3 to improve the quality of design and encourage neighborhood-serving development along this important corridor. Longer term, if the jail closes, collaborate with Fulton County and other stakeholders to pursue zoning changes that would minimize any potential negative impacts on surrounding areas.

CZ3

Next Steps

Codify the Vision - Support the adoption of the masterplan(s) into City of Atlanta, Atlanta BeltLine, and Upper Westside planning doctrine. Provide Redevelopment Technical Assistance - Serve as resource for neighborhoods navigating the redevelopment process by providing technical assistance with site plan review, rezoning, community benefits agreements, etc.

Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan

Stakeholder engagement

Coordination, adoption

-

-

UWCID

Neighbors, community stakeholders, business owners, property owners

Coordination

$

-

UWCID

CoA, property owners

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Section 2.5: Implementation Guide


Recommended Capital Improvement Project LD4

Proactively Plan for Change - Work with the community to craft masterplans for landmark development sites that aligns their vision with market realities. These plans should define consensus on density, connectivity, mobility options, greenspace provision, mix of uses, affordability, and other fundamental planning elements needed to communicate intent and feasibility.

Next Steps

Plan and host informational neighborhood meetings

IE

Support the Georgia Tech Innovation Ecosystem

IE1

Pilot Living Lab Program - Launch a pilot “living lab” program that enables a small cohort of Georgia Tech startups in the smart city or urban technology fields to use public realm assets located in the Upper Westside as testing grounds, in exchange for access to some of their data and findings. This can grant the Upper Westside district access to emerging smart city technologies and data-driven insights that can help resolve key challenges faced by the district and support future planning initiatives.

IE2

IE3

IE4

IE5

Timeline

Coordination, program launch

Est. cost

Funding Sources

Responsible Entity Lead

Support

-

-

UWCID

Neighbors, community stakeholders, business owners, property owners

$

Georgia Tech, UWCID

Georgia Tech, UWCID

CoA, Startup companies, Invest Atlanta

Expansion Space for G-Tech VentureLabs - Help connect Georgia Tech VentureLab companies that outgrow university-owned facilities with Upper Westside brokers or landowners to find them industrial and/or flex office space in the UWCID.

Coordination

-

-

UWCID

GeorgiaTech VentureLab, real estate brokers, property owners

Startup Space Inventory Map - Add a map-based “startup space” resource to the CID website and catalogue the district’s inventory of industrial and flex office space. This can provide commercial property owners with a platform for marketing their properties and spaces to high-growth companies who wish to stay in the greater Georgia Tech area.

Coordination, creation of webpage

$

Invest Atlanta

UWCID

Invest Atlanta

G-Tech Startups Growth Tracking Partner with VentureLab to track the number of Georgia tech startups who land in the Upper Westside as well as their employment growth over time, reporting on this activity on an annual basis.

Coordination, data sharing

$

Venture Lab

UWCID

VentureLab, GeorgiaTech

-

Invest Atlanta, Westside Works

Westside Works

UWCID, workforce development program operators, Invest Atlanta

Workforce Development Partnership - Support workforce development opportunities in partnership with Westside Works and/or other training program operators to strengthen economic ties between the rapidly growing Upper Westside and other Westside communities. This goal aligns with the City of Atlanta’s “first source” jobs program.

Section 2.5: Implementation Guide

Coordination

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Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan


Recommended Capital Improvement Project IE6

Open Space Asset Management - Partner with local environmental management organizations to train stewards who can provide the Upper Westside’s new and existing public space assets with high quality maintenance, creating educational and employment opportunities for local young adults of all socio-economic backgrounds.

Next Steps

Timeline

Collaboration

Est. cost

Funding Sources

Responsible Entity Lead

Support Local schools, Georgia Tech, Groundwork Atlanta

$$

Grants, UWCID

UWCID, environmental management organizations

-

-

-

-

$

CoA, Park Pride Atlanta, Berkeley Park Neighborhood Association

UWCID

CoA Fire Rescue Department

$$

MARTA, Park Pride Atlanta, Marietta Street Artery Neighborhood Association, WCIA

UWCID

MARTA

$$

CoA, Park Pride Atlanta, Hills Park Neighborhood Association

UWCID

CoA Fire Rescue Department

-

-

-

-

$

CoA, Park Pride Atlanta, Berkeley Park Neighborhood Association, grants

UWCID

Berkeley Park Neighborhood Association

$

Property Owners, Park Pride Atlanta, Blandtown Neighborhood Association, grants

UWCID

Blandtown Neighborhood Association

$$

Park Pride Atlanta, grants

UWCID

Marietta Street Artery Neighborhood Association

ARTS & CULTURE AU

Announce the Upper Westside

AU1

Couple Public Space with Existing Civic Assets - Develop new public spaces along existing civic assets (schools, libraries, fire stations, police stations, transit, publiclyowned land, etc). a.

b.

c.

AU2

Fire Station No.23 in Berkeley Park.

MARTA Brady Bus Operating Facility in Marietta Street Artery.

Fire Station No.8 in Hill Park.

-

-

CoA Coordination, planning, design, construction Engage MARTA, planning, design, construction CoA Coordination, planning, design, construction

Create Pocket Parks - Create new parks and plazas throughout the Upper Westside by converting underperforming and publicly owned parcels into places for community life. a.

b.

c.

"Forrest Street Greenspace" in Berkeley Park - Leverage underutilized space near the intersection of Howell Mill Rd and Forrest St as new public space. "Huff Pocket Park" in Blandtown - Leverage underutilized space near the intersection of Huff Rd and Ellsworth Industrial Blvd as new public space.

"Marietta Pocket Park" in Howell Station - Leverage underutilized space near the intersection of Marietta Blvd and Rice St as new public space.

Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan

-

License agreement, Planning, design, construction License agreement, Planning, design, construction License agreement, Planning, design, construction

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Section 2.5: Implementation Guide


Recommended Capital Improvement Project d.

AU3

AU4

AU5

AU6

AU7

AU8

AU9

"10th St Pocket Park" in the Marietta Street Artery - Leverage underutilized space near the intersection of Marietta St and Howell Mill Rd as new public space.

Next Steps

Timeline

License agreement, Planning, design, construction

Est. cost

Funding Sources

Responsible Entity Lead

Support

UWCID

Marietta Street Artery Neighborhood Association

UWCID

CoA Office of Cultural Affairs, Goat Farm Arts Center, Atlanta Contemporary

UWCID

CoA Office of Cultural Affairs, Goat Farm Arts Center, Atlanta Contemporary

$$

Park Pride Atlanta, WCIA, UWCID, grants

$

UWCID, ArtPlace, private partners, CoA

$

ArtPlace, private partners, CoA

Determine budget, guidelines, and location(s)

$-$$

ArtPlace, private partners, CoA

UWCID

CoA Office of Cultural Affairs, Goat Farm Arts Center, Atlanta Contemporary

Planning, coordination

$

CoA, private partners

UWCID

CoA, property owners, business owners

Develop and send out RFP for environmental graphics/ branding

$

-

UWCID

-

Pair Projects With Brand Family - Pair each capital project with discreet Upper Westside brand family element(s) to promote walking / bicycling / transit use and to raise visibility of the Upper Westside Improvement District.

Planning, coordination

$

-

UWCID

-

Build a Walk Campaign - Build a Walk [Upper Westside] campaign with light, affordable, informational signs linked to web-based wayfinding, storytelling, and data collection.

Planning, coordination

$

-

UWCID

-

Small-Scale Creative Installations Create mini-grants that allow for smallscale creative installations throughout the district. Artists To Provide On-Call Services Conduct bi-annual pooled call for artists to provide on-call services.

Signature Commissioned Art - Explore opportunities for signature commissioned art. Engage the local arts and design community for artist selection and design jury participation for signature commissioned art. Establish Signage & Facade Grants Establish signage & facade grants for business and property owners. Create a Brand Family - Create a brand family of environmental graphics that highlight the district by foot and pedal.

Section 2.5: Implementation Guide

Planning, coordination

Create directory of local artists, Artist RFQs

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Upper Westside Improvement District Masterplan



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