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DEL.ICIO.USAtlanta region begins looking 50 years out to 2060
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Over the next two years, the Atlanta Regional Commission will embark on its Fifty Forward planning initiative to help steer the way metro Atlanta will be in 2060.
The kick-off meeting of the Fifty Forward steering committee Monday confirmed that this will be a massive undertaking tackling a host of issues such as sustainability; demographics and diversity; megaregions, globalization and the economy; science, technology and innovation; land use and planning; pubic health and health care; workforce development and education; transportation; and energy.
Individual forums will be held on each topic followed by a series of community meetings that will be convened by the Civic League for Regional Atlanta.
“What we hope we will get in Fifty Forward will be to engage in different kinds of thinking,” said Tom Weyandt, the ARC’s director of comprehensive planning.
It will be a public, private and nonprofit initiative. That make-up is reflected in the leadership of the Fifty Forward steering committee with its three co-chairs. Secretary of State Karen Handel is representing the government sector. Suzanne Sitherwood, president of Atlanta Gas Light, is representing the private sector. And Milton Little, president of the United Way of Metro Atlanta is representing nonprofits.
About 33 people attended the first steering committee meeting Monday morning at the offices of the Nelson Mullins law firm in Atlantic Station.
Raymond King, an executive vice president of SunTrust, questioned whether the planning process would conclude with an action plan so the vision for the region could be implemented.
“Our hope is that there will be some specific action taken,” Weyandt said.
The group also discussed whether there were more issues that should be looked at. Jim Stokes, president of the Georgia Conservancy, wondered if water, the environment and land conservation needed more attention.
Ray Christman with the Urban Land Institute’s Terwilliger Center for Workforce Housing questioned whether the issue of governments and governance needed to be explored. He mentioned the increasing number of local governments and the region’s relationship with the state as issues that needed to be addressed.
Kay Pippin, president of the Henry County Chamber of Commerce, said it all boils down to leadership in the region. How would leadership development be included, she asked.
And Alicia Philipp, president of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, said the effort should include others that the traditional leaders.
“We need to get younger people involved because we won’t be here in 50 years,” Philipp said.
This is not the first time there’s been a longterm visioning process for the region. Back in the 1990s, former Georgia Gov. George Busbee chaired a comprehensive effort called Vision 2020.
The Fifty Forward initiative will hold its next forum on Demographics and Diversity on Sept. 10 at the Leadership Center at Morehouse College
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Comments
By Wally
July 22, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this
Titanic undertaking, if done competently and thoroughly
I assume at least four or five different scenarios will be dealt with:
Government entitlements do/do not remain solvent
The U.S, does/does not become independent of foreign oil.
The U.S. does/does not develop viable alternative energy sources.
The U.S. does/does not solve its crippling wealth inequity, poverty (and resulting crime and drugs), welfare, incarceration, healthcare, unsustainable birth rate, and immigration problems.
The general drought gets better/worse.
Or maybe partial solutions will be achieved.
Good luck finding the right crystal ball to peer into.
Heartfelt gratitude and admiration to those who came up with the idea and those tasked with carrying it to fruition.
By Nick
July 22, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this
I’d like to see the region become more community oriented. I have a lot of hope for this meeting - I’d like them to emphasize the education system and mass transportation. Less emphasis on the roads and more on trains. I’d also like to see more housing downtown/midtown region - I think we could all use a bit more affordable housing to keep the region from exploding.
By johndoe
July 22, 2008 2:10 PM | Link to this
I think they should tear everything down between Macon and Exit 14 of Ga 400… TEAAR IT ALL DOWN AND START COMPLETLY OVER, PUT 36 lane highways in and then build ur city!!! OUR HIIGHWAY SUCKS, OUR CITY SUCKS, AND FRANKLY OUR ENTIRE STATE SUCKS except for forsyth county…
By bbb
July 22, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this
Build Trains. Make Atlanta and suburbia more pedestrian friendly. More trees. Water Solutions.
By Out of choices
July 22, 2008 2:28 PM | Link to this
Judging by what the ARC has a track record of doing…may I suggest that in 50 years, if no improvement in the tax base occurs, Atlanta will look just like Detroit. Slum after slum after slum.
By algonquin J. Calhoun
July 22, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this
Put away those rose-colored glasses Mr. Doe! Your observations are, to some degree, salient but seem to concentrate overly on the bright side.
By Steve Lloyd
July 22, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this
A CESSPOOL!!
By Scrappy
July 22, 2008 2:34 PM | Link to this
In 50 years - the water will run because no one will agree and allow another “lanier” to me made.
The “northerners” will decide they have had enough from eheir “southern” neighbors and move back home.
This is the only way I ever see the transportation issue to be solved. No water & no notherners = population shrinkage = housing crisis = corporations leave.
It would be funny to have to the “southerner” move north for a job, just like the “northerners” have now.
By joe
July 22, 2008 2:40 PM | Link to this
One Hot Mess.
By See Yesterday's Story
July 22, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this
The White Mecca of the South!
By GP
July 22, 2008 3:07 PM | Link to this
if we don’t do something about the illegal immigrants Atlanta will look like East LA. Actually it already does.
By Nobama in 08
July 22, 2008 3:27 PM | Link to this
It will be a worse black hole than it already is…and I’m not talking scientifically. Atlanta will be a ghetto like south central L.A. Gangs are already overtaking the place. Between the illegal immigrants and the blacks, this place has gone to hell.
By Atlanta Native
July 22, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this
What will Atlanta look like in 2060? Well, as I am 57 that will not be my problem.
It will just be a bad memory of crap music, prostitutes and politicians that you cannot tell apart, and the King children will still be arguing over the last dollar to be squeezed from MLK’s legacy.
Atlanta is a sad sad place. Que pasa?
By Wow
July 22, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this
Nobama, and hopefully, with any luck( and a strike of lightening) you wont be around to see the changes….you **
By Wow
July 22, 2008 3:56 PM | Link to this
Nobama, and hopefully, with any luck( and a strike of lightening) you wont be around to see the changes….you **
By Wow
July 22, 2008 3:56 PM | Link to this
Nobama, and hopefully, with any luck( and a strike of lightening) you wont be around to see the changes….you **
By Truthifier
July 22, 2008 4:02 PM | Link to this
I didn’t even have to read the posts here to know that as usual the first instinct of so many people in Atlanta, at least those who take the time to post to AJC blogs, would be to criticize their city. Where is civic pride for you people? If you think there are issues in Atlanta, then get involved in your community and solve them instead of whining about how you dont like this or that while you sit at home on your butt doing nothing about it.
By zonie
July 22, 2008 4:03 PM | Link to this
i don’t know what the landscape will look like, but i can guarantee that 50 years from now, i’ll probably be stuck in traffic on the connector during rush hour on a friday afternoon.
By BPJ
July 22, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this
Surely by then we will have built out a major league transit system, a necklace of new parks around the Beltline, and significant new arts facilities. Also, the Falcons, Hawks, and Thrashers will have won their respective championships.
One thing won’t change: there will still be some of these same naysayers blogging about how they can’t wait to leave Atlanta!
By MrLiberty
July 22, 2008 4:24 PM | Link to this
Wow, sounds just like the old Soviet 5 an 10 year plans. So these are the same clowns who have helped create the problems we now have and they think they can improved things by 2060? Right.
If venture capitol financing of a private pipeline for water isn’t discussed, you can pretty much kiss this entire city goodbye.
Central planning doesn’t work. The free market does. None of these folks knows anything about the free market, so expect today’s problems to get a whole lot worse if they have anything to say about it.
By BPJ
July 22, 2008 4:26 PM | Link to this
I think this thread needs some editing.
By LOL
July 22, 2008 4:32 PM | Link to this
If people like David Doss, Mike Kenn, Earl Ehrhart, Glenn Richardson, Steve Davis, Jim Wooten, Georgians for Better Transportation, all the old dinosaurs at GDOT, etc. have their way, every square inch of metro Atlanta will be a paved road in 2060. And will have a $50 Billion tunnel.
The rest of America will have trains, trolleys, bike lanes, bike paths, sidewalks, etc. We’ll have asphalt and concrete.
By Mort
July 22, 2008 4:42 PM | Link to this
Like Phoenix. Only drier.
By Honky Talkin'
July 22, 2008 4:54 PM | Link to this
To Johndoe - You say Atlanta sucks, but you live in Forsyth County? First of all, you’re not in Atlanta. Second, MOVE!!
Inbred web-footed white trash rednecks (like yourself) give Georgia a bad name. Anytime metro Atlanta gets on the national news, they’re interviewing some uneducated idiot (like yourself) and the rest of the country thinks we’re all like you.
When is the last time you were actually in Atlanta? The last tractor pull at the dome most likely.
Get off your sister - you’re crushing her cigarettes!
By TomCat
July 22, 2008 6:02 PM | Link to this
Well, I won’t be here to see it, I just bought a house in Colorado in the mountains. No gangs, no illegals, no crime. BEA-utiful. August 8th is my LAST day in this Atlanta hellhole.
By Missed Opportunity
July 22, 2008 6:11 PM | Link to this
Georgia Democrats ran the state until 2002, and did nothing for mass transit, smart growth, to address water usage, etc. All the rural Dem’s didn’t want to pay one extra penny for anything they thought might benefit metro ATL. We should have been thinking about fifty years ahead back in the 80’s and 90’s. Can’t blame Republicans for the mess we’ll be in ten, twenty, thirty years from now.
By Loui
July 22, 2008 6:15 PM | Link to this
I hope they can get a handle on crime and drug sales to make the west end and west view areas in SW atlanta safe for decent people who want to contribute and be a part of the Atlanta Community. Right now it is not, and there doesn’t seem to be much zone 4 police dept can do about it. Even if you are opposed to guns and violence, you just about need to own, carry and use a gun for your own just for the hope of staying alive and protecting your home from thieves. It is very bad over there and hopefully that can change.
By getoverit
July 22, 2008 7:31 PM | Link to this
Atlanta will be better when everybody that wasn’t born here takes their a* back home and stop whining!
By rptrcub
July 22, 2008 7:35 PM | Link to this
@Missed Opportunity: Many of those Democrats would later be called Republicans after the conservative Dems fled the party.
My dream: a thriving metropolis that’s fixed its water, sprawl and transportation problems.
My nightmare: post-apocalyptic, desert wasteland.
By Curious George
July 22, 2008 8:19 PM | Link to this
Will Atlanta’s Black population learn how to use turn signals, stop talking in movie theaters and stop “ax’ing” White people on the street to give them free money by 2060???
By Orlando
July 22, 2008 9:25 PM | Link to this
The Atlanta Spirit Group will still not figure out what to do with the Atlanta Hawks/Thrashers….
….fans will still be arguing over Michael Vick…..
….as for the city itself, I think it will prosper as it becomes the international mecca of the south!
For all of those who are complaining, stay one week here in Washington DC and you’ll be kissing GA asphalt once you come back!
By Bryant
July 22, 2008 9:30 PM | Link to this
This is just something to keep you in the thought that they really ‘care’ what is going to happen in 50 years. They don’t.
By Bryant
July 22, 2008 9:31 PM | Link to this
This is just something to keep you in the thought that they really ‘care’ what is going to happen in 50 years. They don’t.
By chas
July 22, 2008 9:51 PM | Link to this
I just think it is a shame that “cracker jack,” always find a way to include race, but stand around eating tacos and soul food. If you want everything to be lily white plant a lily white garden and sit your pale @ss in it, nut leave everyone else alone you dummy!
By Water Woman
July 22, 2008 10:25 PM | Link to this
The enhancements to come are the enhancements that you focus on. To experience the proof (of intent or concept), you must become an ingredient of the pudding.
First - Attend the public forums. Second - Speak up at the forums. Third - Listen to verify that you were heard correctly. Last - Take ownership (with other members of the community) of a resulting action item that helps to achieve the aligned upon objective.
The needle only moves when acted upon my an external force - you. Take the first step.
By Water Woman
July 22, 2008 10:27 PM | Link to this
The enhancements to come are the enhancements that you focus on. To experience the proof (of intent or concept), you must become an ingredient of the pudding.
First - Attend the public forums. Second - Speak up at the forums. Third - Listen to verify that you were heard correctly. Last - Take ownership (with other members of the community) of a resulting action item that helps to achieve the aligned upon objective.
The needle only moves when acted upon my an external force - you. Take the first step.
By Herb Kornfeld
July 23, 2008 5:28 AM | Link to this
Atlanta in 2060? Easy. Look at detroit now. Getting close to the same.
By Blind Homer
July 23, 2008 6:23 AM | Link to this
By 2060 it will look just like Mexico City does today as millions of illegals will create a ‘black flight’ to the suburbs.
By Al
July 23, 2008 7:09 AM | Link to this
TomCat is in for a big suprise when he arrives in CO. Illegal immigration is out of control there and the hispanic gangs are taking over rural and urban areas. Been there done that.
By Phil
July 23, 2008 7:25 AM | Link to this
Are you people not paying attention? The white population in Atlanta is growing faster than any City in the entire country, just ahead of DC. Check out Wall Street Journal for feature article posted this past weekend.
By Alexander Speer
July 23, 2008 9:26 AM | Link to this
I think that looking far into the future enables planners to stage infrastructure in an orderly way. I would look further than 50 years, perhaps 50 years, 100 years, 250 years and 500 years. That would enable the region to have plenty of time to mold itself into the place it would like to become. We might also see that there are some limits to growth. But, then “the best laid plans of mice and men oft go astray”.
By Frank
July 23, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this
Although the metro region continues to be the fastest growing metro in the country, there are a lot of positive developments that lead me to believe the region is heading in the right direction. Look at residential develompent in midtown and buckhead in the last five years. People are living where they work and play. They are walking to work or to Marta. This is even happending in the suburbs, see Smyrna/Vinings, Suwanee, Decatur, Lawrenceville, etc., etc. The beltline is the largest greenspace/transit project of its kind in the country. People are taking express buses downtown/midtown/buckhead in record numbers. Support is building for commuter rail. Sure we are experiencing growing pains now, but every great City in the world has done so at some point.
By dano
July 26, 2008 9:07 PM | Link to this
Get the Feds to authorize a water line from the Tenn. river through TVA property into Lake Lanier. Tap enough water to fill up the lake and satisfy water flow in Alabama and Florida. Problem between the affected states are solved. Make Florida and Alabama pay for cost of water line. Use the flow of water in the water line between Tenn. and Ga. to generate electicity. Sell the extra power back to Tenn. Have the Bulldogs kick Florida, Tenn. and Bama’s a* and win the SEC then win national championship. Life in gawga is great!