The Beltline is a walking/biking trail that has become the place to see and be seen in Atlanta. Conceived as a transit project linking 45 neighborhoods, the Beltline follows four unused freight rail corridors in a 22-mile loop around the city center. The Beltline is one of the standout urban trail stories we cover in the Saving the City documentary series about how to make cities better places.
It was an instant hit when the first segment opened in 2008 and it’s been Atlanta’s hottest growth generator ever since. A recent report credited $14B in development due to the Beltline coming on line. Now over 85% complete or under construction, the entire loop is due for completion in 2030.
Hear from Jim Irwin, founder and president of New City Properties in Atlanta, as he describes the impact of the Beltline. Jim was project manager for what became the Ponce City Market (an early catalyst for the popularity of the Beltline) before starting his own firm and developing the Fourth Ward mixed-use complex:
Atlanta’s Fourth Ward offices with the Beltline in the foreground are below. The project also includes a hotel, residences and ample open space.
For our segment entitled Happy Trails, we filmed the story of the Atlanta Beltline, comparing it to New York’s High Line. We also briefly cover the 606 in Chicago and Katy Trail in Dallas.
We meet the unlikely heroes who conceived of the trails as well as advocates, designers, users, observers and managers of these popular public pathways.
The Atlanta Beltline as an abandoned railroad spur in 2009 and remade as a linear park is shown below:
The Atlanta Beltline mapped below is a 22 mile former railroad loop circling the central city that ties together 45 neighborhoods:
Meet Jim Irwin, founder and president of New City Properties in Atlanta, on the impact of the Beltline and what this urban trail reveals about the future of city building. Watch more videos.
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