November 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 27

A New " System of
Community "
With a planned completion date
of 2030, the BeltLine initiative has
become a much-beloved destination
not just for people running,
walking and riding the trail for fun
or commuting to work, but also
for philanthropic and government
partners to work together to finish
this transformational asset that already
is having a citywide impact.
Programs are ensuring
both
housing and commercial affordability
and access to opportunity
- not to mention a safe way to
travel between neighborhoods that
were split by railroads, highways
and broad intersections.
The Atlanta BeltLine is designed
to break down barriers and connect
people, communities and cultures
that
have been
intentionally
segregated for generations. The
over-arching goal is to implement
the BeltLine project in a way that
ensures
all Atlantans
generations to come.
Through
have the
chance to participate in and benefit
from its economic growth
these efforts,
the
Atlanta BeltLine has created not
just a system of connected trails
and green spaces, but also a new
community.
How It Works
The
BeltLine
has
become a
national model for public-private
partnerships and collaboration as
a way to expedite huge, visionary
goals that transform a city. To
manage a project of this scope and
size, the Atlanta BeltLine has two
organizations that work in tandem.
One arm is Atlanta BeltLine,
Inc., tasked with building the Beltfor
Line
infrastructure and creating
programs that ensure equity and
inclusion. It operates as an extension
of the City of Atlanta, enabled
through 2030 to get the trails
and parks to completion, as well
as to ensure housing and commercial
opportunities for all who live
near the corridor.
Atlanta BeltLine, Inc., also runs
an established
arts and culture
program that includes Art on the
Atlanta
BeltLine, a year-round
outdoor art exhibition, and encompasses
popular events, like the
Atlanta BeltLine Lantern Parade,
which attracts tens of thousands of
people annually.
The Atlanta BeltLine Partnership
is the nonprofit arm in charge
of programming for BeltLine residents,
including affordable housing
workshops and job training
resources, and philanthropic contributions.
Wellness
is a central
pillar of the Atlanta BeltLine project,
with bike tours, running clubs
and races, and a host of free fitness
events for all ages and abilities.
Economic and Affordable
Housing Opportunities
To ensure equitable
access to
economic and affordable housing
opportunities, the BeltLine
has
several programs, including:
* BeltLine Marketplace, a pilot
program that put six retailers into
container storefronts, giving affordable
commercial space to local,
minority business enterprises
and access to millions of visitors
* A façade improvement
grant
program that connects businesses
with artists who paint façades
and create unique community
landmarks
* A Business Solutions Office that
helps businesses establish themselves
along the BeltLine
* A Legacy Resident Retention
Program that offsets
property
taxes for qualifying homeowners
through the end of 2030
" It's not just a place where people
live, it's not just a conglomeration
of houses, it really is people taking
care of and looking out for each
other, " says Jason Hudgins, the
Westview neighborhood community
organization president. Hudgins
appreciates the many ways Atlanta
BeltLine leaders are working to
embrace feedback and input from
residents as the project unfolds and
partnerships strengthen.
Community Investment
The Atlanta BeltLine project is
scheduled for completion in 2030 at
an estimated cost of more than $4
billion, requiring numerous sources
of funding. Those include public
and private sources, such as the Atlanta
BeltLine Tax Allocation District
(TAD), which is administered
by Invest Atlanta; the City of Atlanta;
private investment and philanthropic
contributions; county, regional,
state and federal grants; and
public-private partnerships.
In
public-private
partnerships,
return on investment often is one
measure of success. By any account,
the Atlanta BeltLine is wildly
successful, attracting more than
$8.3 billion in private development.
Approximately $670 million has
been invested in the project's delivery
from 2005 to 2021, representing
a positive return on investment
of more than 10 to 1.
Ruben Brooks is Atlanta BeltLine, Inc.'s Chief
Operating Officer.
PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G | NOVEMBER 2 0 22 | Parks & Recreation
27
November 2022 - Parks & Recreation

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