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Community | 9
JUNE 2019 ■ www.ReporterNewspapers.net
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New road, pedestrian plaza among
ideas for ‘triangle’ intersection
BY JOHN RUCH
johnruch(a)reporternewspapers.net
A new road and pedestrian plaza are among the conceptual designs under consider
ation in a study of traffic solutions for Buckhead’s notorious “triangle” intersection at Ro
swell, Piedmont, Habersham and Blackland roads. All of the concepts could require demo
lition of some local businesses.
Planners with Kimley-Horn and Associates unveiled the concepts at a May 21 meeting
at Peachtree Presbyterian Church as part of a design process funded by the Buckhead Com
munity Improvement District. A final report and recommendation is expected in Septem
ber, with no guarantee any design will get funded and built.
The “triangle” intersection of Roswell, Piedmont and Habersham roads as seen in a
Google Earth map. Blackland Road feeds into the intersection as well.
Previous public input meetings last year included calls for a broader approach to solu
tions, since much of the traffic choking the complicated intersection is commuter-based.
All of the designs involve some direct alternative transportation improvements: wider side
walks, bicycle lanes and room for improved stops for MARTA’s Route 5 bus. Larger solu
tions will be mentioned in the study, but are beyond its design scope: mass transit improve
ments, traffic calming devices in local neighborhoods, and redevelopment geared toward
more local workers living there.
“Those people are coming here no matter what we do...,” said Sean Johnston, a Kimley-
Horn planner, about commuters during a presentation to a group of about 45 residents and
officials. “To reduce the overall traffic, we’ve got to find other ways to get people to Buck-
head.”
A group of more than 25 “stakeholders” privately reviewed the concepts in March, John
ston said. That stakeholders group, which will continue its review, includes residents, lo
cal government and nonprofit officials, some property owners, and representatives of the
city and the Georgia Department of Transportation. Piedmont and Roswell are state routes.
The group and the planners already discarded three alternative concepts as impracti
cal, Johnston said. They included turning the intersection into dual roundabouts; realign
ing Roswell and Piedmont into a large X-shaped intersection; and running Blackland in a
tunnel beneath Roswell.
That leaves a series of variations on two alternatives generally known as “1” and “2.” The
Alternative 1 series largely keeps the intersections the same and focuses on making Black
land a right-turn only in and out.
The Alternative 2 series involves a bigger change. The current Piedmont-Rowell inter
section would disappear, replaced with a pedestrian plaza. What is now a leg of Habersh
am between Roswell and Piedmont would become the new, realigned Piedmont.
Concept maps show the Alternative 2 series would require demolishing a small shop
ping center within the triangle called Buckhead Pointe, containing a Piedmont Urgent Care
and other businesses. The pedestrian plaza could take more, including a Tin Lizzy’s restau
rant and a watch store.
Both series of conceptual designs have a version where Habersham is extended north
of Piedmont, cutting through the existing Tuxedo Festival shopping center, and intersect
ing with Roswell across from Powers Ferry Road. Much of the shopping center apparently
would be demolished and presumably redeveloped. Tony Peters of the BCID said shopping
center owner EDENS is on board with that idea - Herbert Ames, one of its vice presidents,
is on the BCID board - while other property owners have not been involved in discussions
yet.
Kimley-Horn is now studying four alternatives - three vetted by the stakeholder group,
and a fourth proposed by GDOT. They include:
Alternative 1A
Largely the same configuration as today, but with the Habersham extension to Powers
Ferry, and the turning restrictions on Blackland.
Alternative 2
This is the concept of realigning the Piedmont/Roswell intersection and creating a pe
destrian plaza. In addition, today’s spur of Old Ivy Road would be fully connected to Ro
swell.
Alternative 2A
Similar to Alternative 2, but including the Habersham extension to Powers Ferry.
Alternative 2B
Suggested by GDOT, this alternative is similar to 2A. But it would make southbound Ro
swell and northbound Habersham one-way only, in a kind of giant loop dubbed the “one
way pair” concept. This concept is still in rougher form than the other alternatives and “not
ready for prime time,” Johnston said. “We’re not sure it works” and its width raises some ur
ban design concerns, he said.
The stakeholders group’s preference of alternatives, in order, was 2A, 1A and 2, Johnston
said. They had not yet reviewed 2B.
Residents at the meeting expressed some concerns about the larger commuter traffic is
sues and whether more local develop would help or hurt. The taking of commercial prop
erties was raised as a concern by some residents as well.
Attendees could fill out comment sheets. Those who did not attend and want to com
ment will have to wait for the materials to appear on the BCID website, buckheadcid.com,
which will happen by May 31, Peters said.
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