Green line Project

Like many cities across the country, the City of Atlanta is faced with the challenge of planning for change and determining new uses for post-industrial and underutilized areas. Prepared by Central Atlanta Progress and Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum, Inc. with Turner Associates as project consultants, the Green Line project addresses the transformation of vacant land, surface parking lots, abandoned rail lines and deteriorating buildings into highly desirable places where parks and greenways can be integrated and drive future economic development.
Investment trends around the country now favor rebuilding urban areas to become places where people live and work as the answer to rising energy costs, traffic congestion and suburban sprawl. The new economic model recognizes the demand for a shorter commute and the benefits of living in a dynamic, lively, pedestrian friendly urban environment. Immense potential lies within the heart of Atlanta with renewed interest in living Downtown and building on the momentum of development throughout the City of exciting new mixed use developments, shopping, arts, educational and entertainment centers.  The Gulch area today is primarily surface parking lots, but was once the old rail yard site. As recently as the 1970’s, it was the location for the Union and Terminal Station. In the 1920’s, with the rise of the automobile age, the streets around the Gulch were elevated on viaducts for traffic concerns and public safety. It is the viaducts that make the redevelopment of the Gulch a challenge with great potential.

History has presented us with the opportunity to:

• Maximize the development opportunities above the active rail.
• Utilize the levels of the viaducts to organize the multi-modal transportation systems.
• Create a street level experience that fosters a pedestrian environment worthy of a Great City.

A series of initiatives supported by Central Atlanta Progress and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District, working with the community,  has recognized the distinct identity of Downtown “...on the threshold of a new age, one of heightened activity and greater prosperity.”  The adopted vision plan for Imagine Downtown includes ideas to shape physical growth such as:

• Build new walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods on and around Centennial Hill Bridge the gaps in Downtown created by the Interstate.
• Re-establish Peachtree as the premier street of the Southeast.
• Connect all of Georgia through a state-of-the-art multi modal transportation hub.
• Invigorate Auburn Avenue as the dynamic center of African-American culture, heritage and advancement.
• Demonstrate the benefits of transit-oriented development around the Garnett MARTA station.
• Unite Downtown and Midtown in a revitalized South of North (SoNo) neighbourhood.
• Support the Centennial Olympic Park district as Atlanta’s showpiece destination.

The purpose of the Green Line Development Project is to build upon these initiatives and develop an urban design strategy for one of the most challenging areas of Downtown known as the ‘Gulch’. This plan illustrates the development potential within a ninety-four acre area, which includes the Gulch and a portion of the East-West Corridor of Downtown Atlanta. The area is also the site for the proposed Multi Modal Passenger Terminal (MMPT) that “... will be the region’s major passenger terminal with facilities for new commuter rail and intercity rail services, including Amtrak, as well as intercity and regional express buses.”A Downtown location for a “landmark” station is ideal for its proximity to the rail corridors that radiate into and out of Atlanta. This includes three MARTA transit stations, notably the Five Points station, which provides links throughout the metropolitan Atlanta region and to the Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport. It is anticipated that the economic potential of the area will be enhanced by the related development above and adjacent to the MMPT.Atlanta has been rising to the forefront of the movement to reinvest in existing communities and redevelop brown field and underutilized pockets within the City. Atlantic Station and ‘Glenwood Park’ are two successful and prominent developments in recent time. Redevelopment of the Gulch and the East-West corridor will be another significant opportunity in the heart of Downtown Atlanta to demonstrate the best practices of environmentally responsible design.Downtown will achieve a greener and a healthier future - social, economic and environmental - if development is guided by sustainable principles.

This plan meets the intent of the principles outlined in the requirements for LEED Neighborhood Development certification that includes:

Neighborhood Pattern and Design

People are the most important ingredient to revitalize the Downtown area by making it a place to live, work and play. The ability to use multiple modes of transportation including walking, bikes, trains, commuter rail, buses, and taxis reduces dependence on single rider automobile use. Proximity to amenities and the workplace, to housing and shopping areas promotes lower car use. Diversity is important. A variety of housing types from affordable rental units and student housing to ‘for-sale’ condominiums and senior living will create a vibrant and desirable neighbourhood pattern. Experience in markets such as Baltimore and Seattle shows that 1,000 to 2,000 new housing units are needed within a 10- to 15-minute walk to support one block of new commercial retail. Historic buildings will be considered for restoration and adaptive reuse.

Smart Location and Linkage

The plan builds on the framework established by Imagine Downtown to reconnect dead-end streets into a walkable, pedestrian friendly environment and street network. Improved transit facilities provide a backbone of public transportation infrastructure for the City and the Region. A significant feature of the proposed development is the new urban park that provides a green ribbon to define the area and serve as an active and passive recreation space while promoting walk ability and community with lively public open space. The new park and street trees will create a more beautiful Atlanta, but also serve to conserve and mitigate storm water runoff and reduce the heat island effect of the urban environment.

Green Construction and Technology

The plan strongly promotes the use of Green Construction and Technology. Individual developers and building owners are encouraged to actively pursue LEED-NC or other LEED certification within this development zone.

The Development Site

Atlanta was honoured to host the Centennial Olympic Summer Games in 1996 and became known to the entire world as a global city. As the Capitol of the South, the Atlanta Metro Area continues to retain its global status and sustained growth. The area “...is among the top five in the nation in net new job growth for the last decade, adding nearly 460,000 new jobs Metro Atlanta is the headquarters of 27 Fortune 1,000 companies including UPS, Coca Cola, Georgia Pacific, Home Depot, and Delta Airlines to name a few...”Downtown Atlanta has played a large role in this unprecedented growth. This is due in part to major event destinations, such as the Georgia World Congress Center, the Georgia Dome and Philips Arena and key attractions such as CNN Center, Centennial Olympic Park, the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coke. To the south there is a concentration of Federal and State government buildings, including the State Capitol Building. The Metro Atlanta population has grown to nearly 5 million people, but only about 429,500 live within the City limits. There is tremendous opportunity to change this pattern and attract more people to live, work and play in Downtown.

Master Development Plan

The Master Plan for The Green Line illustrates a unique opportunity to choose a successful identity for Downtown Atlanta - one that is a transit-oriented, mixed-use environment within the heart of the City, that incorporates infrastructure additions and improvements to create value, provide links and in turn revitalize the area. The link between good urban design and sustainability in the 21st Century is the integration of transportation and land use. It is the essential strategy to reduce carbon emissions that affect climate change. This plan defines a series of development opportunities above the rail lines, within walking distance of three MARTA transit stations, a reinvigorated Underground Atlanta, proximity to major event and conference venue and Georgia State University.Connecting the development opportunities together is a new Downtown Park that stretches from the Georgia State MARTA Station to the Georgia World Congress Center. Linking the park to transportation addresses one of the major barriers to acceptance of public transportation. The key to changing attitudes about the use of public transportation and achieving a higher rate of use begins with good access and creating a high quality pedestrian environment.

The Park will provide a beautiful and direct pedestrian access to the three MARTA stations along the spine. Removal of the existing canopy structure at the Five Points MARTA Station within the park setting will provide direct physical and visual connections to the rest of the corridor. As a new “Green Street” in Downtown, the Park will contribute to increased activity and economic success. The edge of the park is the ideal social space where restaurants, cafes, and shops will all contribute to making this a place worth visiting for both tourists and residents.