There are some problems that are actually nice to have. This certainly holds true when it comes to challenges caused by growth and economic development.
When jobs and prosperity are being created, that makes it a lot more palatable to deal with issues that need to be addressed.
That’s the case for what we’ll call the Northern Arc. As in the wide, top-end stretch of I-285, roughly between I-75 on the west and Spaghetti Junction on the east. That 13 or so miles of broad interstate represents a microcosm of Atlanta’s strengths and, yes, weaknesses that came into being as we struggled to keep up with growth here. The former is easy to address; the latter, not so much.
Over time, we hope to discuss on this page other slices of this vast region that stand out as a result of the opportunities and weaknesses they present to the larger Atlanta Inc. brand.
The top end of I-285 is a good place to start, based on recent events that thrust this portion of the region into the spotlight.
The announcement of the Atlanta Braves’ impending move to Cobb County got us thinking about this neck of the metro area. The size of the Braves’ stadium project and associated development is eye-catching, no doubt, but there’s a lot more going on along this portion of I-285.
Multi-family and single-family housing construction is underway at a pace not seen in a half-decade. State Farm not long ago announced plans to build at the Perimeter, near both I-285 and a MARTA rail station. Hopes are being renewed for the old General Motors plant site along another MARTA line, in Doraville, hard by Spaghetti Junction.
Things are happening — fast. Which makes it important that we get right the things both huge and tiny that will be needed to effectively handle all this growth.
Part of the formula for success, we believe, comes from getting smart people talking about these things early on. Much as I-285 encompasses multiple cities and counties and enables mobility between them — much of the time, at least — we believe solutions and input should likewise flow easily between borders. Anyone doubting this should count how many local jurisdictions they travel through in a given week.
As plans progress for projects like the Braves stadium, the Ga. 400/I-285 interchange and other work, we thought it worthwhile to ask some sharp thinkers to share their thoughts on what the region should be addressing now at the top end of the Perimeter.
Their responses are below. We think you’ll agree the points they raise represent a conversation well worth having. Let’s make that happen.
