Historic trolley barn sold, will remain events facility

The Inman Park Trolley Barn on Edgewood Avenue will be sold to the nonprofit corporation that has maintained and cared for the historic facility for decades. The Trolley Barn will continue to be used as an events facility.

Atlanta and Edgewood Street Railway Company (AESRC) will acquire and preserve the Inman Park Trolley Barn site, which consists of approximately 0.77 acres, from Invest Atlanta for a purchase price of $650,000.

The nonprofit consists of community residents and was formed in the 1970s at a time when the building had slid into decay and disrepair. Prodded by urban pioneers in the reviving neighborhood, the City of Atlanta purchased the building in 1976, and in conjunction with the newly organized Atlanta & Edgewood Street Railway Company (a name borrowed from the original 19th century company that operated out of the facility), began a restoration program, which was completed in 1987.

“I am thrilled that longtime Inman Park residents and advocates for the Trolley Barn will be able to continue their stewardship of this extraordinary historic structure and contemporary event space as its new owners,” said Councilmember Kwanza Hall, who sponsored legislation earlier this year that allowed the city to initiate the sale through its development arm, Invest Atlanta.

The Trolley Barn was built in 1889 as a maintenance facility for Atlanta’s first electric-powered trolley line that ran down Edgewood Avenue from Five Points to Inman Park.

“The importance of the Trolley Barn to the Inman Park neighborhood cannot be overemphasized. Not only does it serve as our own historic civic center, but it is a constant reminder of the impact that neighbors working together, in collaboration with city government, can have on our quality of life,” said Dennis Mobley, President of the Inman Park Neighborhood Association.

“In the 1970s the Trolley Barn had become so dilapidated, it was about to collapse. Energetic Inman Park neighbors, together with committed public servants, rescued the building and restored it to its original beauty. Inman Park neighbors have been operating it ever since as a charming event venue open to the public at reasonable prices,” Mobley said. “Under their ownership, the Barn will be lovingly preserved as a community asset for many years to come.”

PEDS’ initial focus was to educate drivers, but the advocacy group later realized that road design was more critical. For example, one-way multilane streets like Courtland Street in Downtown facilitate speeding. In contrast, adding center turn lanes like on Ponce de Leon Avenue reduces the number of crashes. Thanks to PEDS, transportation agencies are installing pedestrian refuge islands, Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons, Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacons and other safe crossing tools.

PEDS also learned that Atlanta’s most vulnerable pedestrians were transit commuters. The Atlanta Regional Commission found that more than 20 percent of pedestrian crashes occur within 100 feet of a transit station or bus stop,

More pedestrian advocacy is still needed, especially for City of Atlanta sidewalk repairs, Flocks said. Sidewalk funding and policies are both broken, she said. City officials cut the proposed $40 million for sidewalk repairs and $35 million for curb ramps on the infrastructure bond project list to $5 million. The city also maintains the option to bill property owners for sidewalk repairs, something Flocks said the city is unlikely to enforce.

To PEDS, sidewalks are shared resources that increase walkability and connectivity, and improve public transit accessibility. So, sidewalk repairs should be funded by all taxpayers – like in Charleston, Charlotte and D.C.

“Every sector – and every one of us –has a role to play in increasing walking and making our communities walkable,” Flocks said.

A PEDS 20th Anniversary Celebration will be held Jan. 26 from 6-8 p.m. at The Wrecking Bar, 292 Moreland Ave. For more about PEDS, visit PEDS.org.