Developer New City Properties will finish up construction in April on a new Atlanta BeltLine access point that will connect the 22-mile-long loop network’s Eastside Trail to Historic Fourth Ward Park, according to a city update provided this week.
Started last July in conjunction with New City’s $750 million mixed-use development at 760 Ralph McGill Blvd., the future access point will serve as a replacement to the U-shaped Gateway Trail, which has swerved through trees and grass in connecting the trail to the park. In its place will go a staircase with bike runnels and an elevator serving as a new BeltLine access point.
All the while, New City is continuing work on its massive commercial development. The developer has plans for more than 500,000 square feet of office space, more than 1,000 residences (10 or 15 percent of which will be below market rate, per BeltLine inclusionary housing requirements), 200,000 square feet of retail, and a boutique hotel.
Atlanta-based New City had previously sought a $22.5 million tax abatement from Invest Atlanta, the city’s economic development agency, but eventually withdrew its bid amid criticisms that it would be too much of a giveaway by the city.
The project secured a big win last summer when marketing automation software company Mailchimp decided it would lease 300,000 square feet of the upcoming office space, What Now Atlanta reported at the time.
This is great and all but not yet. Why is money being spent on this when we still don’t have a completed path? The previous ramp was just fine. It was ADA compliant. It was landscaped nicely. I love the east side Beltline but Jesus, let’s finish the damn thing already.
The developer paid for this, not the Beltline. Plus the old ramp was on private land, not the park or Beltline, and was needed for the new development.
You can always count on people complaining before trying to understand.
Seems like I had a legitimate misunderstanding based on others below who also didn’t realize the path off the Beltline was not part of the Beltline.
@Mark – the developer of what paid for the new elevator and stairs?
New City Properties paid for it.
It’s part of their $750 million mixed-use development.
Interesting. I didn’t realize the old path was on private property.
Someone went to a lot of effort with building it out and landscaping it.
I really enjoyed that path, it was like walking through a field of tall grasses.
Oh well…
Well, it is a concrete path, so it has to be the beltline who laid it down. More wasted money? Brings back the Wayne Mason affair memories from way back when.
Wait… the beltline didn’t own the gateway connection path, are you sure?
Great link!
Is there an estimated date of completion? I know there are phases, but curious when the project as a whole will be complete?