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Redefining and Refining Buckhead
This is a guest post from Eric Bosman, AICP Associate and Buckhead REdeFINED Project Manager – Kimley-Horn
Cities are like living organisms–constantly changing, simultaneously growing and decaying and ever-evolving. Buckhead’s evolution experienced a significant shift in 2001 with the creation of The Buckhead Action Plan. Sponsored by the Buckhead CID and the Atlanta Regional Commission, the community planning effort called upon commercial and residential stakeholders to identify common goals and prepare a collective plan for the district.
The action plan helped lay the groundwork for the reshaping of the Peachtree Road corridor, establishment of the BUC circulator shuttle, two new regulatory zoning codes (Buckhead Village and Buckhead Core), redevelopment of the Buckhead Village and investments in parks, sidewalks, roadways and trails.
This year, Buckhead’s next generation of leaders assembled to build on 15 years of success and create a new plan to further enhance Buckhead’s vitality, mobility and livability. Titled Buckhead REdeFINED, the updated plan is shaped by a sharpened understanding of who lives and works in the District. Since 2001, more than 8,300 multifamily residences were added within the Buckhead CID and job growth experienced an even more robust surge with more than 10,000 jobs added since 2012. In addition to employment growth outpacing housing, 98 percent of Buckhead-area workers live outside the district and commute into Buckhead daily.
With the district’s limited road network and single point of access to GA 400 and Atlanta’s highway system, there is little wonder why traffic at peak hours is insufferable. And while area organizations and city and regional leaders can continue to adjust and modify existing roads and intersections, there is little likelihood of new roadways due to the potential impact to single-family neighborhoods.
Buckhead REdeFINED outlines a strategic and comprehensive approach to manage and support the district’s continued growth and evolution into a dynamic, accessible and livable urban environment. The plan’s recommendations are rooted in three guiding strategies:
- VITALITY strategies focus on increasing green space and public space, activating Buckhead’s pedestrian corridors to make the district more lively and walkable, and implementing a public art program that builds upon Buckhead’s history and enhances the district’s sense of place.
- MOBILITY strategies seek to address key roadway corridors and intersections, expand the district’s bicycle-pedestrian network—particularly east-west connections to PATH400, enhance connectivity and access to area transit stations and services, and create a program to match Buckhead employees and Buckhead residences to reduce the percentage of workers commuting into and out of the district by automobile.
- LIVABILITY strategies address and incorporate practices to improve the district’s affordability, public safety and sustainability.
The potential to refine Buckhead into a more complete, livable urban environment is captured in the plan’s Six Big Ideas:
- Develop a district-wide multiuse trail to connect and celebrate the area’s history and culture
- Activate and enliven a continuous network of streets and destinations
- Enhance mobility to and from GA 400 and beyond
- Foster a distinctive Buckhead identity along Lenox Road
- Diversify housing opportunities within the district
- Define the civic heart of the community through enhanced parks and greenspace
As our city continues to grow and evolve, we have the ability and a responsibility to balance the needs and impacts of our complex transportation, economic, development and community-building systems. While it has not been easy, area leaders have done just that by redefining the path to a more prosperous, livable Buckhead.
Public Meeting Notice – Sept. 6 – Lenox Road Scoping Study
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Lenox Road Scoping Study – Public Meeting
The Buckhead CID will be holding a public meeting regarding the Lenox Road Scoping Study project at the Buckhead Library:
Wednesday, September 6
6:00-8:00pm
Buckhead Library
ELC Multi-purpose Room
269 Buckhead Avenue NE
Atlanta, GA 30305
The Lenox Road Scoping Study explored how best to improve the function and appearance of Lenox Road for current and future users of the corridor. For more information on the project, click here.
Park Over GA 400 Coverage
On July 26, 2017 the Buckhead CID, in conjunction with ROGERS PARTNERS Architects+Urban Designers, released an updated timeline, added project renderings and a new 360-degree immersive video rendering of Buckhead’s world class linear public park that will be created out of thin air over a half-mile section of Georgia 400 Highway (GA400).
Read below for coverage on the announcement:
- Atlanta Journal Constitution
- Atlanta Business Chronicle
- Curbed Atlanta
- Northside Neighbor
- Reporter Newspapers
- Atlanta Intown
- The Architects Newspaper
Peachtree Road to get major makeover
ATLANTA – One of the main roads running through Atlanta is about to undergo a major makeover.
Red full article here.
Roundabouts popular in Sandy Springs, less so in Buckhead
Once a source of controversy, roundabouts are starting to catch on in Sandy Springs as a way to improve traffic and/or safety at certain intersections and may be coming soon to Buckhead.
Read full article here.
PATH400 Is Taking Shape
This is a guest post from Denise Starling, executive director of Livable Buckhead, the nonprofit organization spearheading PATH400 in partnership with BCID and PATH Foundation.
13,200 feet and counting! Just three years after breaking ground, PATH400 is already halfway complete. It’s no small accomplishment to have finished that much of this ambitious project in such a short time, and it’s the direct result of great partnerships. The collective vision and work of more than 30 organizations, businesses and governmental entities is helping to further enhance Buckhead’s standing as Atlanta’s premier commercial and residential district. People who live and work in Buckhead are enjoying the 2.5 miles of finished trail every day, and if you’ve been on PATH400 you’ve seen them — walking dogs, jogging, pushing strollers, and spending time with friends. (If you haven’t been on PATH400, why not?! Get out there and give it go, it’s a fabulous amenity!) It’s clear that this project is already delivering many of its promised benefits, and we’ll see even more as we move foot-by-foot toward completion of the full 5.2-mile greenway.
The northern end of the trail between the Buckhead Loop and Wieuca Road is where we’ve made the most progress. This mile of paved trail weaves in and out of peaceful wooded areas and offers dramatic vistas of the Buckhead skyline. One segment of the trail includes large panels where local artists have created chalk murals, and which will be home to permanent art installations in the future. Ground has been cleared and designs created for a future park where PATH400 crosses Old Ivy Rd., and a small number of on-street parking spaces have already been created under the nearby overpass. And north Buckhead school children now have a safer walking route to Sarah Smith’s intermediate campus now that we have extended PATH400 across the Wieuca Rd. Bridge over GA 400.
We’ve made great headway up north, but there’s plenty of progress to see on the southern end of the greenway as well. Just last month a group of volunteers installed raised planter beds for a community garden to be tended by the residents of the Atlanta Housing Authority’s Marian Road high-rise. The residents had been doing some “guerilla gardening” before PATH400 came to the neighborhood, so we decided to put their talents to use and add a unique feature to the trail. You should take a walk on this segment of the trail – it runs between Miami Circle and Sidney Marcus Boulevard – and check out the unique planter boxes, crafted from reclaimed wood, that spell out PATH400.
While we’re proud of our progress, we are focused on maintaining momentum. The goal is to have at least one segment under construction at all times until the entire project is complete. Right now we’re at work on a phase that will offer great pedestrian connectivity when it’s finished – the segment running between Miami Circle and the Gordon Bynum pedestrian bridge that leads to Lenox Square.
Maintaining momentum depends largely on funding. As you probably know, Livable Buckhead is leading the fundraising effort to raise $5.6 million needed to complete the remaining two miles of construction in 2018. Please spread the word – every donation brings us closer and helps show grant makers and corporate partners that the community supports this project! You can find out more about the campaign on our website – livablebuckhead.org/capitalcampaign. And for the latest PATH400 news, be sure to check out the project’s website, path400greenway.org.
Wieuca Road and Phipps Boulevard Roundabout Public Information Open House
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Buckhead CID announces elections, other news
The Buckhead Community Improvement District May 26 announced its board elected one new member and re-elected two current members during a special caucus of electors as a part of its monthly board meeting two days earlier.
Read full article here.
Buckhead Community Improvement District Elects One New Board Member And Re-Elects Two Others
ATLANTA – May 26, 2017 – The Buckhead Community Improvement District (BCID) elected one new board member and re-elected two current board members during a special Caucus of Electors as a part of its monthly board meeting.
The newest member is Jim Bacchetta, vice president and Atlanta division manager of Highwoods Properties, a publicly traded real estate investment trust that owns, leases and manages properties in Best Business Districts (BBD) throughout the south. Bacchetta will serve a four-year term, and join eight other board members working to create and maintain a more accessible and livable urban environment in Buckhead through future improvement and redevelopment plans, like the park over GA 400.
The CID also re-elected board members Matt Rendle, senior vice president – Property Management Selig Enterprises, Inc. and Thad Ellis, senior vice president – Cousins Properties Incorporated. The BCID also voted, as it must do every six years, to not dissolve the CID, extending it for six more years to September 2023.
Additional information follows:
As a 25-year commercial and industrial real estate veteran, Jim Bacchetta serves as vice president and Atlanta division manager of Highwoods Properties.
In his role, Bacchetta is directly responsible for the Atlanta division’s leasing, acquisitions, development, construction and property management. Prior to joining Highwoods in 2006, Bacchetta was a private investor in industrial properties in Atlanta, and he owned and operated a national trucking company.
Bacchetta’s real estate experience includes an extensive national background in various sectors of real estate including office, industrial, multi-family, resort and senior housing. Jim was director of acquisitions for Anderson Properties and vice president of acquisitions for Consolidated Resources. He started his career in Atlanta as a certified public accountant with Price Waterhouse, where he worked for five years. Bacchetta is an active member of NAIOP and ULI.
Thad Ellis leads Cousins’ Atlanta, Dallas and Raleigh office portfolios and has more than 30 years of real estate expertise, including development, leasing and property management for the Cousins’ Class A office portfolio.
Thad began his real estate career in 1984. He joined Peterson Properties in 1986 and was a senior executive at Carr America through its 1996 acquisition of Peterson Properties.
Thad was the Managing Director for CarrAmerica’s Atlanta and Florida offices. At CarrAmerica, Thad was directly involved with the acquisition, disposition and/or development of the office product and was a member of the firm’s Investment Committee.
Prior to joining Cousins in 2006, Thad was the Managing Director of GVA Advantis’ Atlanta office and a member of the firm’s executive committee.
Thad is an advisory board member and past president of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) and is on the board of the following organizations: the Buckhead Community Improvement District, the Executive Committee for the Midtown Alliance, Boys and Girls Club of Atlanta and the Corporate Campaign Committee for Woodruff Arts. He is the past Chair for Washington & Lee’s Annual Fund.
Matt Rendle serves as Chief Investment Officer where he holds primary responsibility for underwriting new investments and redevelopment initiatives for the company. Matt came to Selig in 2015. He has more than 15 years of experience, and has previously held positions in acquisitions, development and asset management. Matt most recently worked at Jamestown Properties where he led Asset Management as managing director over a diverse $7.2 billion national real estate portfolio.
In various acquisitions roles, he has closed more than $650 million in acquisitions over many product types, including office, retail, industrial, multifamily development and land transactions.
Matt has been involved on numerous fronts on several high-profile mixed-use real estate properties, including 111 8th Avenue (Google’s Headquarters), Chelsea Market and One Times Square in NYC; the Georgetown Renaissance Portfolio in DC; and Pacific Place in San Francisco. Locally in Atlanta, his experience includes Ponce City Market, White Provisions and the management and disposition of 999 Peachtree – a Class A 622,000 square-foot office tower.
Matt also serves on the DeKalb Development Oversight Committee, where he is the Secretary.
After the Caucus ended, the Board approved funding for several potential CID projects, depending on obtaining federal grants, including the following:
Peachtree Road Streetscape – Phase Four ($3,550,000): Improvements on Peachtree Road from Shadowlawn Avenue to Sheridan Drive that will include wide sidewalks, street trees, pedestrian lighting and traffic signal upgrades.
Lenox Road Complete Street ($2,150,000): Multi-use trail project on Lenox Road between Peachtree Road and East Paces Ferry Road that will provide last mile connectivity between the Lenox MARTA station and the surrounding Buckhead business district.
GA 400 Interchanges Scoping Study ($80,000): This scoping study will address the need to reduce traffic congestion in the Buckhead community by introducing a second GA 400 interchange at East Paces Ferry Road. The study will also recommend roadway network and pedestrian/bicycle facility improvements that will maximize multi-modal transportation options.
Piedmont Road Corridor Scoping Study ($80,000): This scoping study will recommend roadway, traffic signal and pedestrian/bicycle facility improvements that will reduce travel time delays, improve safety and promote multiple modes of transportation.
The CID also hired a new team member, Angie Malta, in April 2017. Malta will serve as the CID’s senior project manager and will help manage new and current BCID projects.
Angie R. Malta has more than 20 years of experience in the fields of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance, transportation planning and project management. She has successfully implemented capital improvement projects that are sensitive to community context, using a streamlined and progressive approach to agency coordination and stakeholder involvement. Angie was a member of the Leadership North Fulton class of 2012, the ACEC 10th annual Future Leaders Program, and the WTS Leadership Program.
About Buckhead CID
The objective of the Buckhead Community Improvement District (BCID), working with the City of Atlanta and its community partners, is to meet the challenges resulting from Buckhead’s rapid, primarily automobile-based growth, including improving traffic mobility, enhancing the pedestrian environment, creating better access to public transit, initiating intra-district transportation alternatives, encouraging better integration of land uses and improving linkages to the region’s automobile, transit and bicycle networks. For more information visit BCID or connect via Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
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Media Contact:
Maggie McDaniel, communications 21
mmcdaniel@c21pr.com
404.814.1330