The Stitch's next steps: Master plan feedback and long-term funding
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Rendering: Courtesy of Central Atlanta Progress
The city-shaping plan to cover the Downtown Connector with a 14-acre park has the cash and timeline to begin its ambitious first phase, project officials said Wednesday.
Why it matters: Once completely built, The Stitch would reconnect predominantly Black neighborhoods sliced apart in the 1940s and '50s by the interstate highway system and spark development in Downtown's northern edge.
- Federal funding to build the $200 million first phase requires that the project be under construction by September 2026. Work on Atlanta's next public-private mega-project will be here sooner than you think.
Driving the news: On Wednesday, Central Atlanta Progress leaders briefed Downtown residents and businesses about the project's master plan and released new renderings.
Zoom in: According to The Stitch officials, the park's design would include improved streetscapes, active spaces for roller skating and sports, areas with native grasses, and a Great Lawn for events and a place where people can relax.
Catch up quick: The project has raised $200 million in 2024, The Stitch's development director, Jack Cebe, told the audience. U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams and Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff helped secure more than $150 million in federal funding.
The caveat: Project leaders say they want 30% of the new housing units built in The Stitch's focus area to be affordable.
How it works: Potential funding ideas include creating a self-taxing district to cover park operations and maintenance and extending the boundaries of an economic incentives program to pay for affordable housing.
- Both measures would require action by the Atlanta City Council and the mayor's office.
What they're saying: The Stitch could turn St. Luke's Episcopal Church into "beachfront real estate," said Sharon Gay, a church member and project adviser.
- She said the church was exploring how they could use potential real estate opportunities to help their homeless outreach and other initiatives.
The big picture: "What happens Downtown doesn't just affect Downtown," said Atlanta City Council member Amir Farokhi, who represents the area.
- "It shapes the reputation of the region, of the state. If you do it right, you create spaces where people want to be."
What's next: Project officials are scheduled to release the full master plan on Oct. 31 and accept public comments for 60 days, the AJC reports.
- Organizers plan to create a nonprofit to design and advance The Stitch (similar to Atlanta Beltline Inc., the nonprofit that designs and builds the Beltline).