BeltLine Goals Through Preservation

 Atlanta’s exciting new BeltLine project offers the city an unprecedented opportunity to rehabilitate and redevelop its “inner perimeter” as a vital place to live, work and play.  The BeltLine corridor includes a diverse mix of historic and cultural resources that are already serving as a catalyst and a basis for redevelopment compatible with surrounding neighborhoods.

GOALS OF THE BELTLINE:

1. A connected network of beautiful parks and greenspaces.
2. Trails and pedestrian-friendly streets to link existing neighborhoods previously severed by rail and industry.
3. A 22-mile transit loop providing an alternative to auto trips among jobs, residences, and cultural attractions.
4. Compact mixed-use development that supports transit, parks and trail, as well as businesses.
5. Preservation of surrounding single-family neighborhoods.
6. Increases in affordable workforce housing.
7. Preservation of historic buildings and structures.
8. Environmental remediation of underutilized brownfield areas.

Goals 5 and 7 are specifically about the heart of preservation: revitalization of neighborhoods and commercial districts through rehabilitation of historic buildings and structures. Three other goals, 2, 4 and 6, relate directly to preservation, which has provided interpreted walks, mixed-use development and affordable workforce housing in Atlanta for decades. 

 This document outlines steps to achieve the BeltLine goals.  Many of these goals already have action steps and workplans developed or underway.  The plan for BeltLine preservation goals has not been developed. This summary seeks to clarify the program to achieve these preservation goals and to use preservation to achieve the goals of the BeltLine as a whole.

(Image taken from beltline.org)

MISSION:  To achieve BeltLine goals by continuing the rehabilitation of historic buildings as catalysts for revitalization along the BeltLine compatible with adjoining neighborhoods; and to use historic resources as a key theme of BeltLine interpretation and its development as a heritage tourism destination.

GOALS:

• Assist in the rehabilitation and adaptive use of historic buildings and structures within the overlay district.
• Facilitate compatible neighborhood revitalization.
• Interpret the historic significance of key elements in the BeltLine Overlay District using the Heritage Corridor and Scenic Byways models.

 ACTIONS:

 1.  Utilize the BeltLine Historic Resources Survey developed under the early leadership of the Atlanta Urban Design Commission (AUDC) in conjunction with Georgia State University, EDAW and Urban Collage, as a key initial planning document for rehabilitation and new development in the BeltLine Overlay District.  Further survey will be needed (see Action #8).

2. Strengthen the focus of the entire BeltLine corridor itself, recently re-designated in the Comprehensive Development Plan as a Transportation-Utility-Communication Corridor, by also designating this right-of-way as a historic district in the City of Atlanta.  This will permit use of historic tax incentives and provide City review of historic infrastructure, helping to ensure this key BeltLine theme is factored into future decision making.

 3.  Preserve the existing BeltLine historic built environment, including infrastructure, buildings and structures, such as bridges, tunnels and trestles.  

 4.  Design public rights-of-way, PATH development, and roads to preserve historic properties, archaeological and Civil War sites, and historic landscapes.  Avoid historic properties with new street grids.  Protect Piedmont Park.

 5.  Utilize the AUDC’s “Economic Incentives for Historic Preservation,” including local, state and federal tax incentives, to further facilitate historic rehabilitation development efforts.

 6.  Utilize existing areas designated as historic, landmark and conservation overlay districts, as codified in the BeltLine Overlay District ordinance, developing enhancement strategies using preservation incentives. 

 7.  Encourage development of enhancement strategies and additional historic, landmark and conservation overlay districts in areas adjoining the BeltLine.

• Allocate TAD funds for survey, designation and preservation activities of the historic resources and districts along the BeltLine through the AUDC and consulting parties
• Reimburse neighborhoods, AUDC and cooperating organizations and consultants for this work within the TAD.
• Develop large scale maps including existing and proposed historic designations and the AUDC survey to facilitate upfront planning and development. 

8.  Require AUDC approval for demolition for properties listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places within the BeltLine Overlay District.

9.  To promote the BeltLine as a heritage tourism destination, identify elements of neighborhood, city, state and national historic significance within the SPI and develop and fund through the TAD a plan to design and implement a variety of interpretive devices throughout the length of the BeltLine, using Heritage Corridor and Scenic Byways models.

10.  Include as part of the BeltLine planning segments meetings:

• facilitated discussions of the historic resources within the BeltLine that are significant to adjoining neighborhoods, and
• discussion of the means for providing that rehabilitation and new development is compatible with existing BeltLine resources and neighborhoods.