Belt Line - Timeline

Timeline

  • 1999 Ryan Gravel's thesis
  • 2004 Trust for Public Land publishes Alexander Garvin-written Emerald Necklace proposal
  • 2005
    • July — Beltline Partnership formed
    • November 7 — city council approves Tax-allocation district and Redevelopment Area (14-3)
    • December 12 — Atlanta school board unanimously approves TAD
    • December 21 — Fulton County Commission approves TAD(5-1)
  • 2006
    • April 19 — Fulton County Commission approves (5-2) sale of Bellwood Quarry for Westside Park
    • September 21 — developer Wayne Mason who owns the 5 mile (8 km) northeast segment (from DeKalb Ave up through Ansley Park) withdraws his rezoning applications from the city. Mason, a suburban land speculator, had purchased the railroad right of way from Norfolk Southern in 2004. Rather than preserving the property as a greenway and transit corridor, Mason proposed a deal with the city whereby he would give a portion of his land in exchange for the right to develop the remainder to extremely high densities. The most controversial component of his plan was a proposal to build 38- and 39-story condominiums on the eastern edge of Piedmont Park, in an area currently dominated by historic single family homes. Mason's proposal galvanized the adjacent neighborhoods to organize, forming the Beltline Neighbors Coalition. Despite paid lobbying on Mason's behalf by such heavyweights as former Governor Roy Barnes, in the end the city held firm with the original intention of preserving the corridor as transit and greenspace.
    • December 11 — After soliciting comments from the public, MARTA recommends rail service (including either modern streetcar or light rail technology) for the corridor, even though bus rapid transit technology would have possible lower capital costs.
  • 2007
    • June 13 — city of Atlanta purchases over 21 acres (8.5 ha) near Grant Park for part of the "jewel" called Boulevard Crossing in the Emerald Necklace study.
    • August 7 — Atlanta Beltline Inc acquires the first section of the corridor. In partnership with Ben Raney and Barry Real Estate Companies, ABI announces the purchases of the NE section of beltline from developers Wayne and Keith Mason.
    • November 12 — $8 million allocated to purchase land where North Avenue crosses the Beltline for a 16-acre (6.5 ha) park (which can later be expanded to 35 acres (14 ha)).
  • 2008
    • Feb. 23 — 150 people attended a community groundbreaking for the West End (Atlanta) trail at Rose Circle Park.
    • October 15 — Groundbreaking takes place for the Historic Fourth Ward Park on North Avenue, the first part of the BeltLine.
  • 2009
    • October — Grand opening of first finished section of the BeltLine. 2.3 miles (3.7 km) of the southwest quadrant including an arboretum, access to Westview Cemetery, and an upgrade of Gordon-White Park.
    • December — Groundbreaking on the first trail occurs, where mayor-elect Kasim Reed announces he wants to make the BeltLine a reality in 10 years, instead of 25.
  • 2010
    • April — Opening ceremony for a 1-mile (1.6 km) segment of trail that snakes through Tanyard Creek Park, Louise G. Howard Park, and along Bobby Jones Golf Course.
    • June 19 — $5 million donation from Kaiser Permanente and PATH to build graded hardscape from DeKalb Ave north to Ponce de Leon Ave to be completed within a year.
  • 2012
    • October 15 ribbon cutting for the 2.2 mile northeast section from Inman Park north to Piedmont Park. An arboretum of over 600 mature native trees are planted on this section.

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