ATLarts

By ummmm no

January 3, 2008 1:16 PM | Link to this

Oooh boy I always wanted an easy way to get to West End, since there’s so many useful and safe places I need to visit down there…

By MAD

January 3, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this

The cities biggest opportunity of the 21st Century? Um, I’d wait a few years and see what else shakes out. I’m not against the beltline or anything, but it’s not going to transform our lives in ways never imagined as some would like you to believe. Things will definately change in the future, but I’m willing to bet it will still resemble today in many ways.

By Just Curious

January 3, 2008 2:08 PM | Link to this

Tampa: trolley system ridership forecasts way too optimistic-losing money in a big way.

South Florida: TriRail system ridership forecasts way too optimistic-losing money in a big way.

Marta: Need I say?

Shall we add BeltLine to the list. Just where do you think the cash shortfalls come from to make these systems operational? Can you say TAXPAYERS? As always, I am just curious.

By VoiceOfReason

January 3, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this

Can’t wait!! My neighborhood is already being transformed. All these naysayers should look to the people of Gwinnett County that thought MARTA was a bad idea.

By WRCz

January 3, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this

You know, the Beltline was conceived as a simple, no-fuss way to connect all these intown neighborhoods with a streetcar (that would run on the existing tracks) and some nice landscaping. Now everytime we hear new proposals for The Beltline, it becomes more elaborate; state-of-the-art cars, new tracks, fancy stations, new public art, avant architectural concepts, even a new LAKE on the NW side. It’s well on its way to becoming yet another boondoggle as every pol in the area gets his hands in the till and ruins what was only meant to be an easier way to get from place to place… not a new way of life.

By Joeventures

January 3, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this

When I have to use a car to get anywhere, that’s a tax, too, as far as I’m concerned. And as long as I have a choice in whether to send my tax dollars to my local government, or to oil-producing nations… the local government option is much better, and saves me a ton of money in the long run.

No matter what transportation solutions are implemented in Atlanta, it’s going to be expensive to build. Rail carries the lowest operating cost per passenger, per mile.

Taxpayers will benefit greatly from Beltline transit.

And if you want to check out a comprehensive review of the financial performance of transit systems, here is a little light reading for you.

By Sen Larry Craig (R)

January 3, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this

Can I help design the bathroom stalls in the new stations?

Tap Tap Tappity Tap Tap Tap

By BPJ

January 3, 2008 5:05 PM | Link to this

Thousands of people are moving to the city of Atlanta every year. Where do we put them? In exclusively automobile-dependent cul-de-sacs? The Beltline will promote sensible, transit-oriented development in intown neighborhoods. Light rail has been successful in such contexts.

The walking/jogging/biking trail part is also important. This is the kind of civic amenity which other US cities are ahead of us on - visit Seattle to get an idea of what is possible.

One of the most encouraging elements of the Beltline proposal is the involvement of Trees Atlanta in creating an arboretum lining the way. This would play to one of our city’s strengths, and must be a vital part of the overall design.

By gallery owner

January 3, 2008 5:07 PM | Link to this

Yes..it is true. The powers that be in this city have NO VISION or understanding of what makes a city grand. The ugly yellow bridge is the perfect example. millions that come to Atlanta, or even pass thru on 85 headed west COULD have been in AWE. They SHOULD , as WE that live here…have a GRAND bridge to brag about. This silly city needs to wake up. ART is where the life of a city lies. Look at Paris, Rome, New York, Tokyo. They all have vast works of iconic art. Whether it be in architecture…or pulic art. WE NEED MORE. Atlantic Station is an outdoor MALL. We dont need any more of these!!! We need more VA highlands, more little 5 pnts, more indy owned stores and galleries. Beltline??? only if it has roots tied to art, and artistic people. The morons that make the antique shops along Ponce and VA highlands take their goods off the street JUST DONT GET IT.This eclectic, funky, vibe is what ATL lacks!!!! Mix the ultra modern with old and crusty…thats the magic. Yes, those in the KNOW…know that the west end of Atlanta ( a historic black neighborhood…much like HARLEM) is the last frontier for homes in the city proper. Just like Harlem now costs 1.2 mill for a brownstone, the westend bungalows and brick ranches will be the gems to find in the next 5-8 yrs. So sleep if you want to. The city is finally trying to grow up. MAYBE the beltline will help. but only if its what the PEOPLE want…not the planners.

By jeffrye

January 3, 2008 5:12 PM | Link to this

There will always be suburban naysayers who, if they had their way, would be living in non-descript mini-mcmansion hell, stalled in GA400 traffic in their mammoth energy wasting SUV dinosaurs, and shopping in their chock full-o-plastic bigbox SUPERfull-o-crap WalMarts. When does it all stop!!? When is enough enough??…..Public transportation will be what gets us through the growing pains phase we are going through presently…Wasteful living is out, conservation is fresh…. suburbs suck, density is where it is at!!!

By BUSHWACKER

January 3, 2008 7:26 PM | Link to this

Jeffrye, keeps this in mind.

We are known in the south for being friendly people.

And it is also widely known that people who live in cities like NEW YORK,seem like A HOLES that seem to hate their lives.

That’s what DENSITY will do for you!

By Dan

January 3, 2008 7:44 PM | Link to this

Gallery owner has some valid points however goverment has nothing to do with those things, businessmen and entrepreneurs create great cities, politicians create messes like the underground, and atlantic station. people keep pointing out other cities with great transit systems, all of which have population densitites 10 times that of atlanta when the demand is there and it is economically feasible these things will evolve, provided politicians don’t get in the way

By DD - Debra

January 3, 2008 8:01 PM | Link to this

It will come down to what it always comes down to in this city - race. Why the hell do you think the AJC and others are trying to push a rail line to Lovejoy down our throats? Same thing will happen here; it will get bogged down in racial politics while common sense and reality will go out the window.

By Hern

January 3, 2008 10:03 PM | Link to this

Connect neighborhoods- Why? We need to better connect people with businesses and attractions.

The Beltline has several flaws- Reliance on MARTA. Why would you develop a system of transport that is dependent on a flawed system of transport. MARTA is necessary to connect Beltline stops to most business areas. Also- The Beltline is still 1 set of tracks. What happens when you need to go one or 2 stops back?

This isn’t about improving traffic, building business opportunities, or creating green space. It is about selling real estate and trying to increase the tax base.

I’m all for public transport, but this is moronic.

By Hern

January 3, 2008 10:04 PM | Link to this

Connect neighborhoods- Why? We need to better connect people with businesses and attractions.

The Beltline has several flaws- Reliance on MARTA. Why would you develop a system of transport that is dependent on a flawed system of transport. MARTA is necessary to connect Beltline stops to most business areas. Also- The Beltline is still 1 set of tracks. What happens when you need to go one or 2 stops back?

This isn’t about improving traffic, building business opportunities, or creating green space. It is about selling real estate and trying to increase the tax base.

I’m all for public transport, but this is moronic.

By BPJ

January 3, 2008 10:59 PM | Link to this

Transit systems do not simply “evolve” when “the demand is there”. They are always the product of political leadership. Atlanta’s transportation infrastructure is primarily the product of the Georgia DOT, which is dominated by rural interests and a “nothing but cars” mentality.

Atlanta has had some farsighted leadership, which created MARTA, but federal & state funding for transit declined as Republicans (who don’t get many city votes) took over. Thus, we have a drastically underbuilt rail system; it’s as if NY had stopped building out its subway network 80 years ago. (In which case some of these same people would be saying oh those New Yorkers won’t ride transit - they just love their cars too much!)

By Joeventures

January 4, 2008 12:36 AM | Link to this

Bushwacker - you are clearly overlooking an awful lot of aggressive drivers in Atlanta to make such an absurd remark. And there are a lot of very rude and aggressive drivers out there.

By ccc

January 4, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this

If we want to make a more substantial environmental impact as well as alleviating roadway upkeep costs and congestion, we need to design a mass transit system that will efficiently bring people from the suburbs into the city. We need to design a system that folks in Alpharetta will want to use… not fear. Moving intown Atlantans around in a circle is nice, but perhaps does not make the biggest impact on the future of the metropolitan area.

By iknowthecity

January 4, 2008 3:02 PM | Link to this

you’re an idiot. There actually a number of architecturally stunning homes and streets in the West End. It needs help and unfortunately there are too many idiots like yourself who have never take the time to explore it before you pass judgment. And for the record I’m a white male.

By Joeventures

January 4, 2008 3:25 PM | Link to this

ccc: You make a pretty good point. A truly great, efficient system will strike a balance between moving people between areas, and moving people within the city. MARTA’s system has focused a great deal over the years on the suburb-to-city travel, especially on the north and northeast lines. That’s at the detriment to providing more intown service. And it shows today, when critics say MARTA doesn’t go anywhere (not that it’s a valid argument, either).

It’s interesting you bring up Alpharetta, by the way. If you were to compare the numbers, you’ll find that Alpharetta’s crime rate is higher than MARTA’s.

By ILL-logical

January 4, 2008 4:51 PM | Link to this

As a great architect once said,”God is in the details”.

The Beltline concept promises a lot of solutions to what contemporay thought calss “problems”,ie congestion. However, in the name of progress the perfect is becoming the enemy of the good.Further, the sub rosa issues ,viz race, have ,predictably ,impeded the process.

Random thought: Why is property damage by “thugs” considered more criminal than the same action by “troubled kids”. Must be a zip code thing.

By jason

January 6, 2008 5:43 PM | Link to this

see beyond the idiocy or else it will swallow you in its wake.

By ESL

January 7, 2008 11:02 PM | Link to this

There is a sense of journalistic advocacy in this Beltline story by Cathy Fox. But it demonstrates one of the integral problems with the city. The creative force that is the art community manages to somehow get dismissed in the process and deals with issues from a position of weakness as Atlanta has grown. Structural change is needed and there is a group active in reversing this dynamic.

The creative community needs to summon the best and brightest legal team to challenge the city’s past and future compliance with the % for Art Ordinance. This law has been on the Atlanta city’s books for 30 years and mandates capture of a % of all capital improvement projects to be utilized in a creative way through public art for the benefit of all. This is big money when we are talking about projects like the Beltline. Regardless of the legalese of calling the public funding process a TAD (Tax Allocation District), or requirements of funding through bonds, or a project developed as a public/private partnership, it is still under any definition a capital improvement project to the city’s infrastructure and should be subject to the law mandating capture of a % into the Public Art Trust Fund.

Several arts organizations, individual artists, and citizens (and the number is growing) have taken the step to become Petitioners to define and address the administration’s mandate to capture % for Art through the court system. Atlanta needs to establish once and for all that the creative community has a serious responsibility as a full partner in the growing food chain that is the city. This is part of the best practices of other successful cities around the country and around the world. Full implementation of the % for Art Ordinance would change and enhance the city.

Instead of complaining about the lack of vision, Atlanta would be enabling creative visionaries to investigate the complex infrastructural needs of a modern city’s future.

I encourage everyone( including the AJC art staff) to join as a Petitioner and to set the stage for dramatic and structural change. stay tuned to the website atlpercentforart