The Atlanta BeltLine is envisioned as a 22-mile loop of trails, transit, and greenspace that will transform the City and become a centerpiece for sustainable growth and connectivity. Completed trail segments are already helping revitalize neighborhoods and spur new development, and the entire project is designed to provide equitable opportunity for everyone in Atlanta. Here is a look at the progress to date.
2021
DECEMBER
Surpassing programmatic goals. ABI created or preserved 376 affordable units, surpassing its annual goal of 320 units for 2021. A total of 2,710 affordable units have been created or preserved within the TAD toward the 5,600 goal with 461 in the pipeline. Private investment around the corridor tops $7.9 billion toward a $10 billion goal.
Helping longtime homeowners. 58 residents approved for Legacy Resident Retention Program grants that cover property tax increases through 2030.
Preserving affordability. ABI has invested approximately $39 million to purchase roughly 65 acres on five sites around the corridor.
NOVEMBER
Funding from federal sources. The City of Atlanta and ABI were awarded a $16.46 million RAISE grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) for the construction of nearly two miles of the Southside Trail that will reunite neighborhoods across I-75/85 and former railroad tracks.
SEPTEMBER
Opening new Southside possibilities. The first segment of the Southside Trail is complete and open to the public followed by a ribbon cutting celebration in October.
Setting a course for future progress. Updated Master Plans for Subareas 2 and 3 are adopted by Atlanta City Council after thorough community input.
MAY
Furthering land acquisition. ABI purchases 31 acres in the Historic Westin Heights neighborhood, with an eye on affordability, economic development, and regional connectivity. The Chappell Road site represents the BeltLine’s largest transaction to date in support of affordable housing.
Enhancing pedestrian experiences. Interim safety improvements are completed along Bill Kennedy Way, creating the multi-use path to connect the paved Eastside Trail with the unpaved Southside Trail.
APRIL
Partnering to extend northward. ABI and Georgia Power complete work on the first 0.7-mile paved portion of the Northeast Trail.
Determining Northwest alignments. ABI and PATH Foundation launch the Northwest Trail Alignment Study to identify preferred alignments in the northwest quadrant.
MARCH
Identifying funding pathways. Atlanta City Council passes legislation approving the Special Service District (SSD) to provide $100 million in funding to complete the 22-mile multi-use trail loop and unlock an additional $250 million in support of affordable housing and economic development.
Building Westside connections. ABI, ABP, and the PATH Foundation open the 1.7-mile Westside BeltLine Connector, connecting Downtown, Vine City, and English Avenue. Construction begins on Westside Trail – Segment 3 alongside Marietta Boulevard.
2020
December
Building a lasting legacy. Designed to help long-time residents of BeltLine neighborhoods stay in their homes, ABI and ABP launch the Legacy Resident Retention Fund, with 11 initial households averaging more than two decades of occupancy.
Prioritizing affordability. ABI purchases the 2.66-acre Garson Drive property in south Buckhead, preserving the land for affordable housing and thoughtful development.
Broadening BeltLine connectivity. A fiber optic network spans 15 miles through duct bank under the corridor to help reduce the digital divide and support smart city and public safety initiatives.
October
Looking ahead with long-range vision. Atlanta City Council adopts updated Master Plans for Subareas 9 and 10.
September
Lending a hand to those in need. ABI and ABP partner with the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation to assist 151 BeltLine families with rent, utilities, and security deposits during the COVID-related economic downturn.
Moving forward at Murphy Crossing. ABI advances its land acquisition strategy with the purchase of Avon Avenue, a +/-9-acre property near Murphy Crossing.
A pandemic cannot stop creativity. Art on the Atlanta BeltLine adapts with virtual performances and an innovative Lantern Parade-in-Place.
June
Amplifying a message of equity for all. ABI rolls out the Atlanta BeltLineData Explorer, a new public data visualization that promotes transparency and accountability around social equity and inclusion.
A rallying cry for social justice. Across the nation and world, demonstrations and protests erupt. As a prominent public space in the city, the Atlanta BeltLine welcomes a new generation of civil activists.
March
Adapting to a new normal. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ABI staff works remotely and all community and business meetings go virtual. Emergency authorization allows continued construction on the Southside Trail, Northeast Trail, and Westside BeltLine Connector.
Spreading the word to avoid exposure. The communications team launches a COVID awareness campaign with banners, electronic message boards, and roughly 500 signs along the paved and unpaved trails and parks.
January
A new beginning on the Southside. The first segment of the Southside Trail gets underway with a groundbreaking ceremony for a 0.75-mile portion extending from the Westside Trail to Pittsburgh Yards on University Avenue.
2019
December
Surpassing programmatic goals. ABI closes 397 affordable units, exceeding the goal of 250, with 706 in the pipeline. Private investment around the corridor tops $6 billion toward a $10 billion goal.
November
Expanding housing and trails. Adair Court, a mixed income development, opens with 77 new affordable units for seniors in Adair Park.
Construction begins on the the Northeast Trail and the Westside BeltLine Connector.
August
Connecting east and west. The Southside Trail opens in an interim state.
July
Completing the Eastside Trail. Community celebrates the completion of the final phase of the Eastside Trail, running 3 miles from Midtown to Memorial Drive.
June
Moving transit forward. The MARTA Board adopts the final project list and implementation schedule for the first phases of transit along the Atlanta BeltLine.
May
Growing the arts and culture programs. Art on the Atlanta BeltLine celebrates its 10th year. The “Artist in Residence” program launches. The BeltLine Public Arts Advisory Council forms.
February
Defining a vision. ABI publishes its first equity vision statement and
develops a plan defining the BeltLine’s commitment to equity and inclusion.
2018
October
Advancing light rail transit. The MARTA Board passes a $2.7 billion project list for transportation projects throughout the city, including over $1 billion to advance transit on the Atlanta BeltLine.
August
Closing in on the loop. The City of Atlanta purchases the 1.8-mile “Kudzu Line,” the last remaining piece of abandoned railroad. The transaction gives ABI control of approximately 80% of the corridor needed to construct trail and transit.
Reevaluating affordable housing plans. ABI issues the Affordable Housing Working Group Final Report with eight key recommendations to meet the 5,600-unit goal, and further support the City’s need for affordability.
July
Celebrating new housing. Multiple stakeholders come together to break ground on 91 units of high-quality, mixed income senior housing at Adair Court.
April
Innovating food production. The urban farm shed is completed with state-of-the-art sustainability features, allowing for more and better food production for neighbors in southwest Atlanta.
March
Connecting west and east. The City of Atlanta purchases the 4.5-mile, 63-acre southside corridor, the largest remaining single land purchase toward closing the loop.
2017
December
Prioritizing affordability. More than 2,500 units of affordable housing have been developed within walking distance of the Atlanta BeltLine.
November
“Marking A Mile.” ABI marks the opening of the Eastside Trail’s first southern extension, expanding the trail to 3 miles.
October
Bridging a gap. ABI acquires 13 acres containing 0.25 miles of old railroad to bridge over the Buford Spring Connector and under I-85 in the northeast. This small piece of land will one day connect the Northeast Trail to southern Buckhead and to partner trails in northeast Atlanta.
September
Connecting historic neighborhoods. The 3-mile Westside Trail opens with a community celebration attended by hundreds. The multi-use trail provides easy access to 4 schools, 4 parks, and 11 neighborhoods and is expected to spur growth for existing and new neighborhood businesses.
2016
December
New funding sources. ABI issues a $145 million critical bond issuance in partnership with the City of Atlanta, Invest Atlanta, and outside bond counsel to support infrastructure and affordable housing efforts.
November
Investing in infrastructure. City of Atlanta voters resoundingly pass the TSPLOST and MARTA tax referenda, providing the City, ABI, and MARTA with revenue to purchase the remaining right of way and expand transit options throughout Atlanta.
May
Expanding the east side. Construction commences on a 1-mile southern extension of the Eastside Trail.
April
Helping through housing. ABI renews the partnership with Federal Home Loan Bank Atlanta which ultimately helped ~40 homeowners with home purchases or major repairs.
January
New funding resolutions. The City of Atlanta and Atlanta Public Schools renegotiate the agreement governing Atlanta BeltLine payments, freeing up ABI to issue bonds
2015
December
Codifying transit. Atlanta City Council adopts the Streetcar System Plan.
Second skatepark. The City of Atlanta and ABI dedicate the second skatepark on the Atlanta BeltLine at Arthur Langford, Jr. Park.
July
Completing connections. The spur trail opens between the Northside Trail and the Bitsy Grant Tennis Center.
April
Supporting senior communities. Reynoldstown Senior breaks ground along the Eastside Trail. The 69-unit complex is affordable for seniors ages 62 and up.
Tilling new ground. Aluma Farm plants the first crops on the Atlanta BeltLine’s first urban farm in southwest Atlanta.
March
Encouraging BeltLine-centered design. The Design Review Committee holds its first meeting to review all development proposals within one half mile of the Atlanta BeltLine.
January
Welcoming residents home. The first families return home to their newly-renovated, affordable workforce apartments at Stanton Oaks in the Peoplestown.
April
A bridge to the future. Edgewood Avenue bridge replacement is completed, reopening with bike lanes and ramp and stair connections to the Eastside Trail.
2013
December
Long-term plans take shape. ABI’s Board of Directors adopted the 2030 Strategic Implementation Plan.
September
A major boost for the Westside. The City of Atlanta is awarded an $18 million TIGER V grant for the development of the Atlanta BeltLine Westside Trail in the southwest corridor.
August
Spurring more recreation. The Southwest Connector Spur Trail (1.15 miles) officially opens for public use.
2012
October
A new day on the Eastside. The Eastside Trail opens to the public – the first section of trail to be built within the old railroad corridor.
September
Transit planning moves ahead. The Federal Transit Administration issues a Record of Decision for the Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement – a critical step towards securing federal transit funding.
August
Maintaining a green vision. ABI Board of Directors adopts the Atlanta BeltLine Environmental Justice Policy.
May
Splashing down in the Southwest. ABI and City of Atlanta Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs open the new splashpad in southwest Atlanta’s Perkerson Park.
April
A masterful plan. The final of 10 Master Plans for the Atlanta BeltLine planning area is adopted by Atlanta City Council, completing a five-year citywide effort.
2011
December
A milestone for affordable housing efforts. ABI holds the first-ever drawing for 28 new affordable homes at the Lofts at Reynoldstown Crossing, a development in southeast Atlanta purchased out of receivership and converted to affordable housing.
September
Greenspace with an emphasis on ‘green’. Developed as sustainably as possible, Boulevard Crossing Park Phase I (5 acres) opens to the public.
June & July
A transformative new oasis. Historic Fourth Ward Park and Skatepark (17 acres total) open to the public.
May
Another emerald gem on the necklace. D.H. Stanton Park re-opens to the public as an eight-acre park on the Atlanta BeltLine corridor in southeast Atlanta.
2010
October
Establishing best community practices. Atlanta BeltLine Community Benefit Guiding Principles are adopted.
July
Expanding the West End Trail. The West End Trail Phase II (1 mile), an extension of Phase I (1.5 miles) and built by the PATH Foundation in southwest Atlanta, opens to the public.
May
Adding an artistic touch. Art on the Atlanta BeltLine, the first-ever temporary public art exhibit on the Atlanta BeltLine, opens to the public.
April
Pushing ahead on the Northside.The Northside Trail (1 mile), built by the PATH Foundation, opens to the public.
2009
July
Bringing more segments into focus. ABl enters an option agreement and a lease with GDOT for 3.5 miles of the Atlanta BeltLine corridor in the southwest and Reynoldstown.
Ensuring growth in all areas. With the Atlanta BeltLine TAD Advisory Committee, ABI develops and adopts an Equitable Development Plan.
2008
October
More trails, more trees, better parks. West End Trail Phase I (1.5 miles), built by the PATH Foundation, opens in southwest Atlanta – enhanced by Trees Atlanta’s Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum. Atlanta BeltLine renovates Gordon White Park.
Setting the stage for transit plans. MARTA and the Federal Transit Administration, in partnership with ABI, commence the Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement, to make the project eligible for future federal funding.
Additional funding avenues open. First Atlanta BeltLine TAD Bonds are issued, totaling $64.5 million. The Atlanta BeltLine Affordable Housing Trust Fund is capitalized with $8.8 million in TAD Bond proceeds.
2007
November
Clearing the way for new trails. ABI purchases the 4.5-mile Northeast Corridor, the first piece of Right of Way (ROW) to be secured for the Atlanta BeltLine.
June
Turning blight into bright. Twenty-one acres of land is acquired in southeast Atlanta for the future Boulevard Crossing Park.
March
Forming a master plan. Master planning and community engagement commences, consistent with the Citizen Participation Framework adopted by City Council.
Ensuring proper use of funds. The Atlanta BeltLine Tax Allocation District Advisory Committee (TADAC) is established.
January
Progress on project funding. The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) approves the 22-mile loop of the Atlanta BeltLine as its Locally Preferred Alternative, a critical early step in securing federal funding.
Making housing a priority. The Atlanta BeltLine Affordable Housing Advisory Board (BAHAB) is established.
2006
July
Expanding the team. Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. (ABI) is formed and the Five-Year Work Plan is adopted.
April
New greenspace. The City of Atlanta purchases the Bellwood Quarry – home to the future 300-acre Westside Reservoir Park.
2005
November
Sharing the vision. The Atlanta BeltLine Redevelopment Plan and the BeltLine TAD are approved by the Atlanta City Council, Fulton County Board of Commissioners, and the Atlanta Public School Board of Education following a 6-month process of community input.
