BNC — News & Meetings

BeltLine Neighbors Coalition launches Web site, expands outreach

ATLANTA, September 12, 2005 - The BeltLine Neighbors Coalition, a grassroots organization of Atlanta neighborhoods, today launched a new Web site to serve as an information clearinghouse for Atlantans in favor of responsible BeltLine development.

The Web site - http://bncatlanta.org - is designed to be the most comprehensive Internet source for objective information about the many facets of the BeltLine project.

The BeltLine is proposed as 22 miles of paths, parks and transit along former railroad lines and underused industrial areas that encircle Atlanta neighborhoods. This fall various local, regional and state agencies will be reviewing the project with a goal of taking official action to fund it by the end of 2005.

The BeltLine Neighbors Coalition formed in June after a group of intown neighbors interested in the BeltLine development process met to discuss common concerns. These neighbors created several working committees to study the many complex aspects of the BeltLine proposal and provide input to the Atlanta Development Authority and its consultants. The Development Authority is the City of Atlanta agency charged with creating the Tax Allocation District funding mechanism for the Beltline by the end of 2005.

The coalition’s key concerns include: the implications of funding the BeltLine project through a Tax Allocation District, comprehensive planning for the public transportation component, and ensuring balanced growth along the 22-mile project so neighborhoods most in need of the economic development promise of the BeltLine receive it.

“The original vision of the BeltLine is an inspiration and an exciting opportunity for Atlanta,” said the coalition’s Stakeholder Liaison Liz Coyle. “But because the economic development component of the plan is driving the current review process, we want to be sure that the promise of transit and greenspace isn’t put on a back burner.”
The BeltLine Neighbors Coalition recently submitted suggested design principles to the Atlanta Development Authority. These include:

• Maintain a clearly defined public greenway along the entire length of the BeltLine.
• Retain the BeltLine property along city parks, including Piedmont Park, as green space.
• Phase in development to limit the scale of new construction until transit is in place.
• Create a plan to incorporate needed traffic calming and pedestrian improvements to local streets alongside the BeltLine.

The coalition is reaching out to Atlantans in neighborhoods throughout the city to fully represent the broad geographic area covered by the 22-mile scope of the BeltLine. Even before the Web site’s official launch, hundreds of Atlantans have signed an online petition in support of the coalition’s principles.

“We are confident that with the input of our coalition of average citizens the original promise of the BeltLine will be realized,” Coyle said.

###