Politic-ATL: City approves tax district for Stitch park
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The first phase would start construction after the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Rendering: Courtesy of Central Atlanta Progress
The Stitch, the $713 million proposal to cap the Downtown Connector with a park, secured a crucial funding source and the official OK to move from a plan on paper toward an actual construction project.
Why it matters: As the name implies, The Stitch aims to repair the social, economic and spatial damage caused by the construction of the Downtown Connector more than half a century ago.
- The first phase calls for building roughly five acres on top of the Downtown Connector between Peachtree and Courtland streets. View the master plan.
Driving the news: On Monday, the Atlanta City Council approved the creation of a special services district in Downtown to fund The Stitch's administration, operations, maintenance and programs.
- Property owners inside the district will pay an additional tax to fund the project's long-term upkeep, which would be overseen by a nonprofit.
- Additional legislation authorizes the city to partner with development authorities and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District, which has championed the vision, to begin work on the park's first phase. So many districts!
What's next: Crews plan to break ground next year after the FIFA World Cup and finish four years later. The entire project could be completed by 2036, officials say.
Monroe Drive's slow-going makeover
One of residents' biggest concerns about the Amsterdam Walk redevelopment plan, which Council approved 8-6 on Monday, was more traffic on an already dangerous Monroe Drive.
Yes, but: A redo of the busy road that would include safer pedestrian crossings and a roundabout at Park Drive to control traffic flow remains locked in a perpetual state of "coming soon."
- As of February, according to the AJC, the Monroe Drive project remained in the design phase. It's one of many projects that have barely moved thanks to staffing challenges in the city's Department of Transportation.
What they're saying: In a newsletter statement sent after Monday's vote, Council member Alex Wan said the rezoning approval "puts additional urgency on the Monroe Drive Safer Streets project to ensure the safety of our community both before and after this project comes online."
- "I will double down on my efforts to accelerate the delivery of that project."
Municipal election updates
Commercial real estate attorney Nate Jester will join the race to succeed Atlanta City Council member Marci Collier Overstreet in far southwest Atlanta.
- Overstreet recently announced her campaign for City Council president.