“The Beltline should accomplish more than just an improved system of public transportation. It has the potential to change the way we look at Atlanta, how we understand our space within the city and within the region.”
– From a 1999 master’s thesis by Georgia Tech student Ryan Gravel.
So, I have three confessions.
First, I haven’t had a chance to explore the Atlanta Beltline as much as I would like.
The Beltline, of course, is officially defined as a system of rails, trails, and green space that will seamlessly connect 45 neighborhoods in Atlanta. Unofficially, it may be the coolest thing to hit this town since Piedmont Park or the Olympics.
For the past few months, we’ve been working on a special issue of our Living Intown magazine dedicated to the Beltline. (I’ll share more details in a bit.) As I looked at some of the stories, helped select photographs and even took part in the debate over the name of the issue, I grew more inspired to spend some quality time along Atlanta’s newest attraction.
Which brings me to my second confession.
Apparently, I haven’t been riding my bike as much as I should. That could explain the two flat tires and the bird’s nest (I swear) inside my bike helmet, which had been stored in the garage. Finally, after some adjustments, I was ready to hit the Eastside Trail, which runs from the tip of Piedmont Park to Inman Park and the Old Fourth Ward.
As I pedaled past the skate park, the clackety-clack of skateboards made me appreciate this city in ways I never had. The ‘70s music (“Le Freak” by Chic) wafting from the patio at Two Urban Licks provided some much-needed adrenaline. The setting sun helped the giant red letters of the Ponce City Market appear even more stunning.
Which brings me to the third confession.
I don’t think I’ve ever loved this city as much as I have during that ride.
That’s exactly what we hope to accomplish with this special issue of our Living Intown magazine, which publishes on Sunday, Aug. 30 – just in time for the Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade on Sept. 12.
We want to inspire our readers to bike, walk or run along the Beltline.
We want to provide them with an insider’s perspective so they make the most of the unique businesses, artwork and hidden gems that define the Beltline.
And we want to help people see our city in a different way, much like I did on that beautiful Sunday night.
That, after all, was Ryan Gravel’s vision when he wrote his thesis in 1999.
Inspired by a trip to Paris during his senior year at Georgia Tech, he began to wonder how we could create that same healthy, walkable culture he experienced in Europe and bring it to Atlanta.
His idea?
Take advantage of the unused railways that run through the city.
His professors, his advisers, heck, even Gravel himself, never imagined it could become a reality (though it did make for interesting conversation).
Like all great ideas, Gravel’s sat on a shelf for a while, until one day, back in 2001, he began sharing his vision with co-workers at an architectural firm. That firm was designing the master plan for the old Mead site in Inman Park and was trying to figure out what to do with the abandoned railroad.
“I was telling my co-workers about this idea I had in school, for that very railroad, and they thought it was cool,” Gravel recalled. “The more we talked about it, the more people wanted to hear about it.”
It took another three years before the project began to take on a life of its own.
“And as it did, the vision started to expand,” Gravel said. “So what started as this kernel of an idea – transit and trails, connecting existing places, redevelopment of this land, revitalization of communities – that core concept grew to include 1,300 acres of new parks, the largest affordable housing initiative the city’s ever undertaken, public art, public health and preservation.
“The bigger the vision got, the more constituencies it brought to the cause. The more powerful the proposal was, I think the more likely it was that we would succeed. You want to believe in a big, ambitious vision for your future.”
And we believe our Living Intown magazine is the perfect place to showcase that big, ambitious vision.
Indeed, it’s a popular publication, and we believe this special issue dedicated to the Beltline will be a true keepsake. For starters, it will be our largest magazine yet, providing us with the perfect opportunity to showcase some of our storytelling and stunning photography from the Beltline. In describing this special issue, we’ve likened it to National Geographic and Life magazine.
In each of the 12 chapters, we’ll cover every aspect of the Beltline – from its birth to what the future holds; from exercising to eating and drinking on the Beltline; from events on the Beltline to profiles of each of the neighborhoods that serve as the connective tissue.
The magazine will be delivered to Sunday subscribers in select ZIP codes inside the Perimeter. You can also find the magazine on the AJCePaper, our digital replica. And it will be sold at select outlets throughout metro Atlanta.
As part of this bonus edition, our coverage will extend far beyond the printed magazine. We’re planning special presentations, such as interactives, photo galleries and videos, on AJC.com and MyAJC.com.
In one video, for instance, you can learn more about how Gravel’s idea became reality. He’ll reveal his favorite spot on the Beltline and share the story of a single photograph that seemed to embody the very vision he laid out in his thesis.
As we wrap up our work on the Beltline edition, I’ll be unwinding by pedaling along the Beltline, enjoying this city in ways I never have.
Only this time, my bicycle tires will already be inflated and my helmet clean – no longer home to a bird’s nest.
Perhaps I’ll see you on the trail.
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