Early next month, the Buckhead Community Improvement District (BCID) is scheduled to meet about how to move forward with its plan for a half-mile-long urban park that would be built over a busy highway and MARTA rail line that currently bifurcate this affluent Atlanta neighborhood.
BCID, a group of businesses that tax themselves for infrastructure projects, unveiled the initial design concept for Buckhead Park Over GA400 (for Georgia State Route 400) at the Buckhead Theater on September 7. The overhead park would stretch 2,400 feet from the Atlanta Financial District on Peachtree Road to the Lenox Road-GA 400 interchange. It would also connect with the PATH 400, a regional recreational and commuter bike path and running trail.
Another group, called Central Atlanta Progress, last month proposed a similar, more ambitious deck proposal that would cap the city’s Downtown Connector—known as “The Stitch”—from Spring Street to an area near Georgia Power’s headquarters, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
While a recent poll found strong support for the bigger project, it would cost an estimated $300 million, whereas backers of Buckhead Park Over GA400 have pegged the price tag for realizing their concept at a bit above $150 million.
Buckhead Park Over GA400, which was designed by Rogers Partners Architects + Urban Designers with Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects, would have three components:
•The Commons, at the north end of the park, would include an intimate amphitheater for formal and casual gatherings.
•The Plaza, at the midpoint of the park, would provide access to surrounding retail, restaurants, and the rail line.
•The Gardens, as its name implies, would be dominated by a garden setting, and provide a green oasis for visitors. The park itself would be unified by shade trees that run the length of the concept.
An allee of shade trees would run the length of the park, whose southern end would offer a garden setting. Image: Rogers Partners Architects + Urban Designers/Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects.
Buckhead Park would have extensive pedestrian paths that connect to surrounding streets, encouraging people to use it as a thoroughfare to reach workplaces, their homes, or cultural attractions.
“This park will create quality public space where you already have density,” explained Rob Rogers, principal at Rogers Partners. “Like most great public places, it’s about creating a series of scaled experiences for visitors.”
Buckhead Park would be the latest in a series of elevated urban parks that have made their marks in cities such as New York, Paris, and Dallas. BCID is positioning Buckhead Park not only as a counterbalance to Atlanta’s car-heavy culture, but also as a potential boon to local businesses for which the park would generate more foot traffic.
“We are very excited to move ahead on this pioneering project,” says Jim Durrett, BCID’s Executive Director. “When Buckhead Park Over GA400 is complete, Atlanta will have a unique, world-class civic space that is both beautiful and functional.”
Before it meets next month, BCID will review community feedback about the project. Its next stage would be preliminary engineering, engaging key agency partners, and coming up with a funding strategy.
Related Stories
Urban Planning | Jan 2, 2024
Federal Highway Administration releases updated traffic control manual
With pedestrian deaths surging nationwide, the Federal Highway Administration released a new edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways. The manual contains standards for street markings and design, standardizing signage, and making driving as seamless as possible.
Urban Planning | Dec 18, 2023
The impacts of affordability, remote work, and personal safety on urban life
Data from Gensler's City Pulse Survey shows that although people are satisfied with their city's experience, it may not be enough.
Multifamily Housing | Nov 30, 2023
A lasting housing impact: Gen-Z redefines multifamily living
Nathan Casteel, Design Leader, DLR Group, details what sets an apartment community apart for younger generations.
Condominiums | Nov 6, 2023
Douglas Elliman launches its first Metro D.C. condominium project
Douglas Elliman, one of the largest independent residential real estate brokerages in the United States, announced last week that the firm will be handling the sales and marketing for Ten501 at City Centre West.
Office Buildings | Oct 16, 2023
The impact of office-to-residential conversion on downtown areas
Gensler's Duanne Render looks at the incentives that could bring more office-to-residential conversions to life.
Urban Planning | Oct 12, 2023
Top 10 'future-ready' cities
With rising climate dilemmas, breakthroughs in technology, and aging infrastructure, the needs of our cities cannot be solved with a single silver bullet. This Point2 report compared the country's top cities over a variety of metrics.
Resiliency | Aug 7, 2023
Creative ways cities are seeking to beat urban heat gain
As temperatures in many areas hit record highs this summer, cities around the world are turning to creative solutions to cope with the heat. Here are several creative ways cities are seeking to beat urban heat gain.
Affordable Housing | Jul 27, 2023
Repeatable, supportive housing for the unhoused
KTGY’s R+D concept, The Essential, rethinks supportive housing to support the individual and community with a standardized and easily repeatable design.
Urban Planning | Jul 26, 2023
America’s first 100% electric city shows the potential of government-industry alignment
Ithaca has turned heads with the start of its latest venture: Fully decarbonize and electrify the city by 2030.
Urban Planning | Jul 24, 2023
New York’s new ‘czar of public space’ ramps up pedestrian and bike-friendly projects
Having made considerable strides to make streets more accessible to pedestrians and bikers in recent years, New York City is continuing to build on that momentum. Ya-Ting Liu, the city’s first public realm officer, is shepherding $375 million in funding earmarked for projects intended to make the city more environmentally friendly and boost quality of life.