It’s unlikely there is any development project across Metro Atlanta as talked about as the Atlanta BeltLine. For nearly 15 years now, discussion, development – and complaints – about the BeltLine have dominated much of the discussion around Atlanta development.
For residents of the city who have lived around trail phases during their completion, the impact has been dramatic. Former warehouses, empty lots and abandoned buildings are now breweries, restaurants and shops, with pedestrians and cyclists streaming by at all times. On a nice day like Atlanta has seen lately, the trail is packed with residents and visitors eager to see the much-hyped project.
But it’s not all roses. Constructing the BeltLine is expensive – more expensive than you could possibly imagine for the first phase that mostly consists of a wide sidewalk. The 2009 recession put a serious dent in early construction for the trail and several phases have yet to really even start, while other phases couldn’t possibly add more businesses or people. And in some of those crowded areas, long-time Atlanta residents are seeing their neighborhoods radically change, some with little hope for staying in their homes as they are sold off for new development or rent and other prices simply push them out of the area. All of that is potentially a big political headache for the mayor and city council, and it is an election year.
On Monday, the City of Atlanta approved new funding to complete those phases that are still waiting their turn. The Special Service District (SSD) approved by the City Council will provide approximately $100 million to completing the 22-mile loop. An additional $100 million from philanthropic sources will match the new funding, as well as some $50 million in grants and other sources.
“The Atlanta BeltLine has offered tremendous benefits for businesses and property owners along its completed trails,” said Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. “The SSD will help give communities throughout the city the opportunity to enjoy the benefits associated the closing of the loop.”
Some $45 million of the new funding will go towards affordable housing funds, $12 million will go towards small business support, and perhaps $150 million of the construction funds will be targeted towards minority-owned contractors.
The SSD will be targeted towards commercial and multi-family property owners who will pay slightly more in property taxes to fund improvements. Six public meetings were held over the last few months, with thousands of letters and phone calls also soliciting public input on the SSD and the new overall plan for the trail.
“Our Atlanta Beltline Inc. team is thankful to Atlanta City Council for their leadership on the SSD,” said Clyde Higgs, CEO of Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. “A completed Atlanta BeltLine loop is a pathway to greater equity and long-term mobility benefits for residents, business owners, and property owners throughout the city. We look forward to deploying all the resources at our disposal to ensure all are able to stay in place and thrive.”
More information can be found here: https://beltline.org/the-project/special-service-district/
