Westside Communities Alliance

A partnership between Atlanta's westside communities and institutions of higher education.

BeltLine Proactive Rezoning

by

On Monday, October 28th, the Atlanta BeltLine Inc. held their Westside Study Group for Subarea 9 on Proactive Rezoning at the Atlanta Community Food Bank. The purpose of the meeting was to share the vision with residents, listen to their feedback, and answer any questions.

Brandy Crawford, City of Atlanta, listens to resident concerns from Howell Station and Historic Westin Heights over a swath of land in NPU K.

About proactive rezoning:

The next step in realizing the Atlanta BeltLine vision is a multi-year effort to rezone specific parcels per the recommendations in the master plans.  The City of Atlanta’s Department of Planning and Community Development will initiate proactive rezonings in key redevelopment areas identified in the master plans.  The proactive rezoning will occur in the three phases: Phase 1 includes Subareas 3, 5, 9 which kicked off in summer of 2013.

The meeting, though low in attendance (14 community members), was not low on opinions. One particular point that sparked debate was a swath of industrial zoned land that currently separates Mixed Residential from Single Family Neighborhoods in NPU K.

One of the most refreshing parts of attending any BeltLine meeting is knowing that every question from an attendee will be answered and if not answered on the spot, will be transferred to a more knowledgeable body. Three BeltLine representatives were present –  Brandy Crawford from the City of Atlanta Office Of Planning; James Alexander, Manager of Housing and Economic Development for Atlanta BeltLine Inc.; and Lynette Reid, Community Engagement Advocate with Atlanta BeltLine Inc. See the minutes posted below to see their thorough responses to all questions and concerns. Residents from Howell Station were very vocal about their concerns and BeltLine offered to come to their next community meeting to work out specific issues.

Changes in Subarea 9 will be occurring in NPUs G, J, K, and L.

See attachments for minutes of the meeting as well as handouts, maps, and zoning districts.

BeltLineZoningProactiveZoningMinutes

Subarea 9 Proactive Rezoning

Atlanta Zoning Districts

Westside Connectivity Studio

by

Tracks

http://www.connect.gatech.edu/

Twelve students, Bruce Gunter, and I are eager to share with you the questions, issues, and ideas we are having about our study area, which is a one mile radius around the Atlanta Falcons new stadium site. We are seeking ways to connect the needs of the neighborhoods, the governmental agencies, and the private sector developers with the resources that are being spent in ways that all impacted can benefit. Our work falls into four broad categories:

  • Jobs, community development, and housing
  • Transportation, including walking, cycling, transit, roads, and parking
  • Land use and urban design, including walkability, active uses along major streets, historic and cultural celebration, and public safety
  • The environment framework, including topography, storm water, soil conditions, health impacts, and park and green space opportunities

We are a little past the midpoint of our effort, where the first half was dedicated to exploring how impending investments might benefit the communities, both meeting  citizen quality of life needs and physical improvements. At this point, we have more questions than answers about all the many issues in play, and we need widespread and diverse guidance from the various interests who care about this part of the city. So far we have participated in meetings large and small with a wide range of individuals and groups; we have read up on all the studies that have gone before; and we have studied what others do in other places. We have tried to group our findings in ways that make sense and that facilitate your guidance and feedback.

– Michael Dobbins, FAIA, FAICP

To see notes from the October 30th presentations, click below:

Connectivity Studio Presentation_October302013.

“How Can Colleges and Universities Engage in Community Development: A Communities Perspective.”

by

You’re invited to attend the first Westside Communities Alliance (WCA) Discussion Forum entitled “How Can Colleges and Universities Engage in Community Development: A Communities Perspective.” 

Event Flyer: WCA_Panel_Nov15

The forum will take place Friday afternoon, November 15th, 3:00-5:00pm at 590 North Avenue NW, Atlanta, 30318. We are pleased to have Dr. Harley Etienne, one of the founders of the Westside Communities Alliance and author of Pushing Back the Gates: Neighborhood Perspectives on University-Driven Revitalization in West Philadelphia moderating the discussion.

The City of Atlanta has prioritized the development of the Westside through a commitment to support the new Atlanta Falconʼs stadium, advances with the BeltLineʼs Westside Trail, and more. There are at least seven colleges and universities located in West Atlanta, and more than half of all Atlanta college students are educated on the Westside. We believe hearing Westside community voices and understanding resident perspectives is essential for lasting community transformation. Through this forum the WCA seeks to provide a platform for community organizations and active residents to share concerns, interests, and wishes for responsible partnerships with Atlantaʼs area colleges and universities. Together, we believe, we can bring about community transformation that has lasting benefits across all Westside communities.

The WCA provides a mechanism for sustained partnerships with city officials, relevant funders, higher education institutions and community stakeholders. Together, we can develop comprehensive solutions for complex community challenges. Together, we can rebuild thriving urban neighborhoods on Atlantaʼs westside. Together, we can do better.

WCA Staff at Georgia STAND-UP Listening Sessions

by

In May and June, WCA Staff attended two Georgia STAND-UP Alliance Meetings and listening sessions held to prepare the upcoming Community Issues Platform for the Mayoral and City Council Elections.

The sessions consisted of rotating groups broken out into issue areas such as Education, Transit, and Jobs in May and Mayoral, Council, and Executive Committee in June. Facilitators at each station would stimulated conversation about the topic and wrote down what issues concerns that attendees raised. These issues were then prioritized by those present.

The platform will be compiled and published into a report ready for the next Georgia STAND-UP meeting in August.

The October meeting will host candidates for the November elections.

STAND-UP Platform Process 2009

StandUp

Northside Drive Transit Corridor Studio

by

Mike Dobbins, Professor of Practice, School of City & Regional Planning, GA Tech

This Fall 2012 Studio course proposed planning and design for a multimodal boulevard that frames Atlanta’s core center. The biggest goals of the studio were enhancing mobility through and access to destinations in the corridor and connecting to west side neighborhoods and the Atlanta University Center campuses. The final product of the course will inform decisions related to accommodating transit, hierarchizing intersections, identifying transit stop locations, proposing cross-section typologies, design speeds, access control for adjacent land uses, streetscape design, parking location and treatment, accommodation of bicycles, pedestrian design and crossing standards, utilities relocation, signage, and similar details. Ideally, this plan will be able to guide Atlanta’s Comprehensive Development Plan and the ConnectAtlanta plan. The students held several public meetings and workshops to ensure input from the community was incorporated into the plans.

See the most recent update on the project here.

For more information, please visit: http://www.northsidedrvision.gatech.edu/