This is a powerpoint presentation of the first draft of the Westside Future Fund’s Land-Use Action Plan for the neighborhoods around the new Mims Park, as well as for development and new infrastructure on the Boone Corridor. After months of research and review, and an intensive week of stakeholder and public meetings – Architect & Urbanist Dhiru Thadani and his team presenting a list of 12 recommendations and concepts at the April 1 Transform Westside Summit. This is the initial draft of the first of six target areas on Atlanta’s Westside that will be combined to create a comprehensive Land-Use Action Plan in partnership with the City of Atlanta. To comment on the draft plan - please go to planwestside.com We’ll be taking input throughout the process on all our target areas as we create a land-use action plan that you and the city of Atlanta can be proud of.
DRAFT Land-Use Action Plan Mims Park-Boone Corridor
1. THADANI ARCHITECTS + URBANISTS
WASHINGTON DC
202 321 8655WESTSIDE
30318
30314 30313
WESTSIDE FUTURE FUND
LAND-USE ACTION PLAN
WESTSIDE SUMMIT MEETING
APRIL FOOLS DAY 2016
2. THADANI ARCHITECTS + URBANISTS
WASHINGTON DC
202 321 8655WESTSIDEDESIGN TEAM
TEAM LEADER:
DHIRU (DEE) THADANI
ARCHITECTS/ URBAN DESIGNERS:
SARAH LEWIS
ANDREW KRIZMAN
CHRISTOPHER RODRIGUEZ
PLANNING INTERNS:
EILEEN CHANG
JESSICA FISCH
LAUREN SOMMERVILLE
ARCHITECTS:
MAURICE WALTERS
TYING GULICK
RETAIL ANALYSIS:
GEOFF KOSKI, BLEAKLY ADVISORY GROUP
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
JESSE WILES
GLENDA MATUTE
BRIDGET WILES
JOHN OLSON
STEVEN GONZALES
ELLIS CAIN
JADE WILES
APD URBAN PLANNING MANAGEMENT
HOUSING MARKET ANALYSIS:
LAURIE VOLK
ZIMMERMAN VOLK ASSOCIATES
COMMUNICATIONS / WEB UPDATES:
JIM HACKLER
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE:
PHILIP SHELL
3. THADANI ARCHITECTS + URBANISTS
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202 321 8655WESTSIDEWESTSIDE FUTURE FUND
LAND-USE ACTION PLAN
4. THADANI ARCHITECTS + URBANISTS
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202 321 8655WESTSIDEWESTSIDE FUTURE FUND
LAND-USE ACTION PLAN
5. THADANI ARCHITECTS + URBANISTS
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202 321 8655WESTSIDE2001 – 2015
COMPOSITE OF MASTER PLANS
6. THADANI ARCHITECTS + URBANISTS
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202 321 8655WESTSIDEOWNER OCCUPIED HOMES
RENTAL PROPERTIES
7. THADANI ARCHITECTS + URBANISTS
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202 321 8655WESTSIDE
Stakeholder Input
8. THADANI ARCHITECTS + URBANISTS
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202 321 8655WESTSIDE
Community Leaders
• Concerns about density
• Displacement and eminent domain
• Preserving neighborhood character
• Stormwater/sewage failures
• Food security & access
Louis Muhammad - Nation of Islam/10,000 Fearless
Jayson Smith - Street Smart Youth Project
Jesse Phillips - EANA, English Ave Resident
Mother Mamie Moore - EANA, English Ave
Resident/President
Michael Sellman - Calatrava Grace
Michael Jaffe - Calatrava Grace
James Arpad - VCCA and park stakeholder
Kelly Brown - English Avenue Resident
Elana Benn - Unite or Die Campaign
Zacharias H. Muhammad - Unite or Die Campaign
Stephen Causby - EA resident/Chair EA Land Use
Tony Torrence - Community Improvement Assoc.
Hattie Dorsey - English Avenue advisor
Jennifer Flores - Help.org
Carol Waddy - Chick-fil-A, Inc.
Pastor Dexter Johnson - VCCA
Linda Adams
Tracy Bates
Carrie Salvary
Torrey Waters
Gil Frank
D. Makeda Johnson
9. THADANI ARCHITECTS + URBANISTS
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Faith - Based
• Engaging the churches
• Low-income/existing community being moved out
• Boone’s modifications and how that will affect churches
• Asked to present to Ministerial Alliance
Carol Waddy
- Chick-fil-A, Inc.
Leroy Wright
- English Avenue Vine City
Ministerial Alliance
10. THADANI ARCHITECTS + URBANISTS
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202 321 8655WESTSIDE
Developers
• Need more vehicular connections
• Connect MARTA to Mims Park
• Pedestrian/Bicycle PATHs
• New Hotels (affordable & luxury)
• Changing parking requirements
Jeff Riddle - Riddle & Schwartz
Dick Sharkey - National Monument
Ramtin Motahar - Wemarathon
Jeffery Morlando - Eunomia Partners
Andrew Young III - Eunomia Partners,
Michael Sellman - Calatrava Grace
Michael Jaffe - Calatrava Grace
11. THADANI ARCHITECTS + URBANISTS
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202 321 8655WESTSIDE
Nonprofit Developers
• Zoning along the corridor
• Critical repair/renovation for homeowners
• Risk of being open about projects in the works
• Creating catalogue of affordable housing plans
Dan Maddox
- Atlanta Habitat for Humanity
Leonard L. Adams, Jr.
- Quest Community
Kenneth Prince
- Quest Community
12. THADANI ARCHITECTS + URBANISTS
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202 321 8655WESTSIDE
Public Safety
• Operation Shield (new video surveillance camera system)
• Secure Neighborhoods (housing police locally)
• Educating Officers on community interaction
• Security Patrol (privately funded security patrol)
• Youth development center and diversion program
Karen Rogers
- Community Development
Coordinator,
Atlanta Police Foundation
13. THADANI ARCHITECTS + URBANISTS
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202 321 8655WESTSIDE
Environmental
• Community input in park’s stormwater design
• Interconnected green spaces as amenity/stormwater control
• Major flooding at the “Bowl” in English Avenue
• Proctor Creek ecological restoration efforts
Todd Boatman - Corps of Engineers
Camilla Warren - US EPA
Suganthi Simon - Blank Foundation
Bill Eisenhauer - MAUWI
Stacy Funderburke
- Conservation Fund
Andrew white - park pride
Michael Halicki - park pride
Walt Ray - Office of Park Design
Tony Torrence
- Community Improvement Assoc.
Yomi Noibi - Eco-Action
Na'Taki Osborne Jelks - WAWA
Darryl Haddock - WAWA
14. THADANI ARCHITECTS + URBANISTS
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202 321 8655WESTSIDE
Park Implementation
• Slower traffic on Boone
• Green & complete street on Boone
• Closing streets in the park (Thurman)
• Possible amphitheater
• Making Northside a Boulevard (involve GDOT)
Rodney Cook
- National Monument
Foundation
Jay Wozniak
- The Trust For Public Land
Todd Hill
- City of Atlanta, DWM
Frank Fernandez
- Blank Foundation
Amy Phuong - CDA, DPR
15. THADANI ARCHITECTS + URBANISTS
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202 321 8655WESTSIDE
Neighborhood Input
16. THADANI ARCHITECTS + URBANISTS
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202 321 8655WESTSIDE
COMMERCIAL DENSITY/RETAIL
• “Retail follows rooftops” (homes) –
where can we have enough “people
density” to support?
Ashview Heights – no stores nearby
• Live/work/play – example: Castleberry
Hills. Product diversity.
• Wayfinding signage/paths to retail
• Commercial space set aside for local and
small business owners
Need to keep $$ in the community
• Retail Market – Impact of the Dome?
What goes on Northside Drive?
Does it help this community?
Local-serving retail on Boone
• Historical area – Cultural center
• Transit Oriented Development (TOD)
• Community garden
• Popup library
• Plant bombing
• Outdoor living spaces
• Paint houses (legally)
Commercial/Retail
17. THADANI ARCHITECTS + URBANISTS
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COMMERCIAL DENSITY/RETAIL
• Churches:
Antioch Baptist Church North
Higher Ground
Cosmopolitan AME Church
Metropolitan Baptist
Redeemer
Vine City (greater)
Beulah Baptist
• Activities:
Food pantry
Clothing closet (HG)
Feeding Program (Cosmo)
HG = Pancake breakfast
(homeless)
Shoebox project
Night watch
Neighborhood watch
Ministerial Alliance
Computer lab – need IT
volunteers
Set up and teach – day for
seniors/night for students
Faith-Based
18. THADANI ARCHITECTS + URBANISTS
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202 321 8655WESTSIDE
COMMERCIAL DENSITY/RETAIL
• WOULD LIKE TO DO:
More youth opportunities/activities
Skating rink (something to get them
outside; safely!)
Beautiful Mile (see Old 4th Ward)
Historic/Heritage tours (preserve
the history)
• Memory Square, plaques,
markers – picnic areas
• Link to colleges
• Outdoor movie theatre
Staging area for festivals
• Job and school enrichment
• Bread for life (re-entry program)
Cosmopolitan
• VC Civic Association (night watch,
block parties, EAVC Ministerial
Alliance) (president – overseer
Johnson)
• Mental Health
• Churches lack resources
Mims Park/Recreation
19. THADANI ARCHITECTS + URBANISTS
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COMMERCIAL DENSITY/RETAIL
• Avoid building on land prone to flooding
• Flooding on private property – streets
need to be designed with green
infrastructure. Flooding concentrates at
bottom of hills. Flood zones marked on
map.
Bowl area
Notably Elm Street
• Separate combined sewer system
Health concerns, mosquitos from
standing water – zika
Home maintenance
Mold, mildew
Tires
• Bats in attic – damage to wiring.
Solution – create alternate habitat?
Bat houses, they eat mosquitos!
• Convert vacant/abandoned properties
to urban gardens and parks with green
infrastructure
• Help bringing small garden plots to
people’s homes (ex. Westside Gardens)
Environ/Ecological
20. THADANI ARCHITECTS + URBANISTS
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202 321 8655WESTSIDE
COMMERCIAL DENSITY/RETAIL
• Displacement and eminent domain
• Raise taxes for current residents?
New development increases taxes and
could drive out residents
• Who will be renting? Where will new people
come from?
• Rental unit upgrade needs code enforcement
• Vacant lots/homes – who can buy and how?
• Scale of new development
• Cost/range of new houses
• Vacant properties without owner: title
searches needed
• Zoning changes – recommendations to
protect and improve
• Amenities
• Utility rates rising – same concern as taxes
• Retired homeowners
Elderly assistance program
Senior facility closed – rehab physical and
funding
• Renovation of older homes
Programs for reno/rehab Section 8 –
clustering creates problems Scale of new
development, neighborhood character
• Zero entry cottages
• Affordable new development, fixed incomes
• Granny flats
Single-Family Housing
21. THADANI ARCHITECTS + URBANISTS
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COMMERCIAL DENSITY/RETAIL
• Black History library on North Ave.
• Julian Bond home
• MLK,JR house
• Dunkirk (Maynard Jackson)
• Neighborhood Union (health center)
• Mrs. Lucky home
• Herndon home (by AUC center)
• Old West Hunter Baptist Church (relocated, designated for
museum)
• Old Maynard Ballroom (old entertainment spot)
• Ida Prather – school teacher/principal
• First female pharmacist – Ella P. Stewart
• First black high school (MLK)
• Original Paschal’s restaurant
• English Ave Elementary School
• Bethune Elem.
• Echols Funeral Home (Bethune)
• Sellers Brothers Funeral Home (MLK Jr.)
• Phillis Wheatley library branch – Tatnall St NW
• Beulah Baptist Church/Atlanta/Griffin
• W. Mitchell AME Church – 135 yrs old
• Central United Methodist Church (North Ave)
• Spencer and Vine – Higher Ground – previous location (Mims Park)
• Simpson St Church
• Saint Mark AME Church
• Cosmopolitan AME Church (Mims Park)
• Kennedy Middle School
• African American heritage trail
• Margaret Mitchell old library
• Greater Bethany Baptist church
• First Thessalonian Baptist Church (Boone/Elm)
Cultural & Historical
22. THADANI ARCHITECTS + URBANISTS
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202 321 8655WESTSIDE
COMMERCIAL DENSITY/RETAIL
• Boone Blvd. improvements
• Green street design
• Create bike lanes
• Sidewalk improvements
• What is bike lane connecting to? Beltline
• Connect Brawley
• Need connectivity from neighborhoods
into MARTA – no safe connections
• Joseph Lowry connection to AC center –
need streetscape
• Make Walnut connection to park
• Problem intersections?
Vine and Boone
Storm water issues
Sewage
• Bus Lines
Inefficient routes
Long frequency
Need density in neighborhoods to
create demand. Change routes?
• Signage (directional)
• Safety – security cameras
Urban design can address safety:
porches, landscaping, no
sidewalks/existing need repair
Transportation
23. THADANI ARCHITECTS + URBANISTS
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202 321 8655WESTSIDE
COMMERCIAL DENSITY/RETAIL
• Solutions:
Identify, convert to action, prioritize
Create re-entry friendly housing and training
beyond halfway homes; embrace a “healing
community” model
Address APS Turnaround Plan – disconnect with
community
• Opportunities:
Leverage Mims Park for public service delivery?
• Farmer’s Market – year round?
• Fitness activities
• Youth development through recreation
• Needs:
**Need for support and subsidies Mental health
• Access to service with sliding scale
• All populations
Community health
• Mental, physical, emotional
Connect existing services through transit services
• Get the word out, help folks connect
• Need more help
• Soul Love
Getting folks ready to work
• Job creation
• Literacy training
• Workforce development
Soft and hard skills training
Quality and affordable child care
People focused and place focused projects
Mentoring programs: job seekers, all populations
Digital literacy
Building authentic relationships among residents
Public Services
24. THADANI ARCHITECTS + URBANISTS
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202 321 8655WESTSIDE
• Bethune
Lease property
Support Washington High and Douglas
High
5-10 year projections after stadium
complete
What would you like and WHY?
• STEAM School with after school care
and tutoring – IMPORTANT!
• Use vacant schools for
Community center
Arts, after school programs
Summer programs, etc.
• Childcare services and programs for
working parents – ages 0-5
• Partnerships – YMCA, Headstart, other
grassroots community providers
• Northwest Youth Power
• Kids read every day in school.
• Less pollution/trash brought to
neighborhood
• Continuing Education with a focus on
applied art, architecture, historic
preservation, and agriculture/food
production
•
Education/Training
25. THADANI ARCHITECTS + URBANISTS
WASHINGTON DC
202 321 8655WESTSIDE
• Cultural and Historic
Neighborhood
• Transit Oriented
Development
• Concern over multifamily
homes overwhelming single
family homes
Respecting the existing
scale of homes
• Increased pedestrian
crossing on Boone with
draw of park and retail
Focus on pedestrian safety
• What makes multifamily
viable for a neighborhood?
•
Multifamily Housing
26. THADANI ARCHITECTS + URBANISTS
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202 321 8655WESTSIDEBOONE CORRIDOR / MIMS PARK
12 RECOMENDATIONS
27. THADANI ARCHITECTS + URBANISTS
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202 321 8655WESTSIDERECOMMENDATION 1
ENTRY GATEWAY MONUMENT TO PEACE
28. THADANI ARCHITECTS + URBANISTS
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202 321 8655WESTSIDEPHOENIX RISING
PEACE DOVE
OWNER OCCUPIED HOMES
RENTAL PROPERTIES
29. THADANI ARCHITECTS + URBANISTS
WASHINGTON DC
202 321 8655WESTSIDEENTRY MARKER TO WESTSIDE
30. THADANI ARCHITECTS + URBANISTS
WASHINGTON DC
202 321 8655WESTSIDEENTRY MARKER TO WESTSIDE
31. THADANI ARCHITECTS + URBANISTS
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202 321 8655WESTSIDEGOLDEN EAGLE
ENTRY MARKER TO WESTSIDE
32. THADANI ARCHITECTS + URBANISTS
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202 321 8655WESTSIDERECOMMENDATION 2
MIMS PARK
33. THADANI ARCHITECTS + URBANISTS
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202 321 8655WESTSIDEMIMS PARK
COMMUNITY GARDEN
