Do you know what this means? If you lived where I live, you could get to work, happy hours and events all via foot, bike, train. No Cars. Here’s why:
http://www.beltlinecommunity.com/parkstrails.asp
The BeltLine—by attracting and organizing some of the region’s future growth around parks, transit, and trails located in the inner core of Atlanta—will change this pattern of regional sprawl and lead to a vibrant and livable Atlanta with an enhanced quality of life for all City residents. The BeltLine proposes to combine greenspace, trails, transit, and new development along 22 miles of historic rail segments that encircle the urban core. This revived industrial landscape can become the uniquely Atlanta solution and exemplary national model for our scattered pattern of growth by providing:
- A connected network of beautiful parks and greenspaces;
- Trails and pedestrian-friendly streets to link existing neighborhoods previously severed by rail and industry;
- A 22-mile transit loop allowing Atlantans to make fewer auto trips among jobs, residences, and cultural attractions;
- Enhancement of single-family neighborhoods;
- Preservation of surrounding historic buildings and structures; and
- Environmental remediation of underutilized areas.
Each of these opportunities realized separately would significantly enhance the overall quality of life for residents. Taken together, they define a framework for a truly sustainable Atlanta. Features of the plan include:
- Parks—over 1,300 acres of new or expanded parks, as well as improvements to over 700 acres of existing parks;
- Trails—33 miles of continuous trails connecting 40 parks, including 11 miles of spur connecting to parks outside of the BeltLine area;
- Transit—22-mile transit system connecting to the larger regional transit network, including MARTA and the proposed Peachtree-Auburn Streetcar;
- Jobs—more than 30,000 permanent jobs and 48,000 year-long construction jobs;
- Workforce housing—5,600 new workforce housing units;
- Streets—new and renovated streets and intersections including 31 miles of new streetscapes connecting neighborhoods and parks to the BeltLine;
- Environmental remediation—clean-up significant number of brownfield sites;
- Neighborhood preservation—preservation of existing single-family neighborhoods by providing appropriate transitions to higher-density uses and connectivity to other neighborhoods severed by the railroad corridor;
- Tax base—an estimated $20 billion increase in tax base over 25 years; and
- Industrial base—preservation of viable light industry.
