CITYWIDE—Advocates for a comprehensive Atlanta BeltLine light-rail system, it appears, can breathe a sigh of relief—probably. Collie Greenwood, MARTA CEO, told the Atlanta City Council transportation committee during a meeting this week the mayor’s plan to create four infill MARTA stations as a means of boosting ridership will not replace plans for extending streetcar services into the BeltLine corridor.

Following Mayor Andre Dickens' bombshell Monday announcement, MARTA is planning to explore how a combination of federal, state, and local funds—combined with revenue from mixed-use developments next to transit stations on MARTA land—could provide money needed to build four additional stops, as Axios Atlanta relays.

The only known infill station location would be near Murphy Crossing and the Westside Trail, creating an easy link between MARTA rail transit and the BeltLine. Greenwood told councilmembers MARTA is weighing the viability of other rail station sites that have been previously studied—including other stops along BeltLine trails, at points across town—but that conditions of today might call for different locations and implementation tactics.

…

BANKHEAD—A nearly 16-acre slate of Bankhead warehouses and open post-industrial land could be home to a whopping 1,600 residential units and 700,000 square feet of commercial space, including BeltLine-adjacent offices, built by the Florida-based developer behind West Midtown’s growing Star Metals District. That’s according to reporting this week from Bisnow Atlanta that cites a recent rezoning request filed by The Allen Morris Company, which bought the 1060 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway property for $31 million in May 2022.

The linear site in question along Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway. Brock Built's Ten29 West townhome project is seen at left, as construction began a few years ago. Courtesy of Allen Morris Company

Plans call for direct access to an under-construction segment of the BeltLine next door—the last unfinished segment of the Westside Trail, in fact—and a new parking garage for visitors and employees arriving by car. (Portman Holdings has been rumored to be somehow involved in the development deal, but Portman officials have said it's too early to comment.) 

Much of the property is vacant today, with the exception of a too-cool nonprofit facility and community organization called Village Skatepark ATL. According to the skatepark’s website, it’s conducting a 2024 fundraiser to help secure a new building and permanent location. 

BeltLine officials say construction on the Westside Trail’s adjacent Segment 4 is now expected to be finished in summer 2025.

The Donald Lee Hollowell industrial property in question. Google Maps

…

AVONDALE ESTATES—Massive development plans are finally moving forward (sort of) on a long-empty site at the edge of Avondale Estates’ Tudor-rific downtown. Avila Development, the firm behind The Kirkwood and new Grant Park apartments fronting the BeltLine's Southside Trail, has received a permit for grading and demolition to transform 13 acres next to Avondale’s award-winning Town Green, according to Decaturish. The 136 Laredo Drive property—a huge expanse of barren concrete just north of Avondale’s downtown—has been in Avila’s portfolio since 2014. 

The empty 13-acre, concrete parcel in question, in relation to Avondale's downtown and Town Green. Google Maps

Conceptual drawings from 2022 show a new residential district sprouting from the land with a mix of 602 apartments, townhomes, and live-work-play units across eight buildings. But don’t hold your breath, ye development wonks: The word is that Avila is merely ripping out concrete and implementing infrastructure upgrades such as erosion control and grading, for now.   

...

Follow us on social media: 

Twitter / Facebook/and now: Instagram  

• Bankhead news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)