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Ryan Gravel and the Atlanta BeltLine
From idea to advocacy to transformation
9
Most of us know the Atlanta BeltLine. It’s where we
walk, bike, run a 5K, watch the lantern parade, access
parks and other neighborhoods. We’re hungry for this
type of sustainable connectivity and community, which
started 15 years ago as an idea from then Georgia Tech
graduate student, Ryan Gravel.
After spending his senior year in Paris, where
he walked everywhere, ate fresh foods, and lost 15
pounds, Gravel thought deeply about the role of city
infrastructure in how we live our lives. Sidewalks versus
highways, for example, encourage different lifestyles.
“Atlanta is a railroad town,” Gravel explained, “with
compact, mixed-use intown neighborhoods built around
streetcars.” Gravel was fascinated by trains as a child
growing up in Chamblee. So, when he needed a city-
scale design project for his master’s thesis, Gravel knew
what infrastructure was missing to revitalize Atlanta -
transit. His master’s thesis became the kernel of a vision
that would transform a 22-mile loop of old railroads
with transit, trails and green space to promote economic
growth and quality of life in 45 neighborhoods.
Needless to say, Gravel graduated, and his idea
was temporarily shelved as he went to work for an
architecture firm. It was his master plan for Inman Park
Village, deciding whether or not to place the parking
Above and right: The Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail before and after.
deck close to the old railroad line, which
compelled Gravel to share his idea with his
colleagues. That was the spark.
In their free time, Gravel and his
colleagues mailed out letters and maps
detailing the vision. Cathy Woolard,
Atlanta City Councilmember at
that time, was frustrated by the
lack of city transit and embraced
the Atlanta BeltLine. “With
Cathy’s help, we used the NPU
[neighborhood planning unit]
system as a framework for sharing
the idea all around the city,” Gravel
recalled. From 2001 through 2004,
Gravel spent countless evenings
and weekends talking to NPUs,
neighborhood groups, schools,
churches, businesses, and anyone
else who would listen.
The idea grew into a grassroots
campaign of local citizens and
civic leaders, with Gravel working full time for
Friends of the Belt Line. Other groups added
to his idea. The Trust for Public Land proposed
1,400 acres of new parks, Trees Atlanta asked to
plant an arboretum, Mayor
Shirley Franklin suggested
an affordable housing
initiative, and more. Gravel
welcomed these new ideas
- they were better for the
city and built a broader
constituency.
In 2005, the 6,500-
acre Atlanta BeltLine Tax
Allocation District (TAD)
passed with broad-based
support and is expected
to generate approximately
$1.4 billion, covering close
to one third of the total
program cost. The same
year, Friends of the Belt
Line merged with Mayor
Franklin’s Atlanta BeltLine
Partnership. Wearing
many hats along the
way - Friends of BeltLine
staff, city planner, Atlanta
BeltLine Partnership Board
member, and currently
Downtown, where
all the lights are
bright...
Yes, we actually published a
separate edition called Atlanta
Downtown for a short time. The
lead story from November 1997:
the planned demolition of the
Omni Coliseum to make way
for Philips Arena. There was
also a feature on how chess had
become popular in Woodruff
Park, with players gathering
daily in good weather for
friendly matches.
By Clare S. Richie
Photos courtesy Atlanta BeltLine/Ryan Gravel
Below left and right: Ryan Gravel and the Ponce bridge in 2004.
an urban designer at Perkins+Will - Gravel remains
dedicated to the BeltLine and proud of all who came
together to make it happen.
“The BeltLine is already doing what we said it would
do,” Gravel said. The first two-mile phase of the trail is a
popular city feature with a 3:1 economic impact, turning
a $350 million investment into more than $1 billion of
new mixed-use redevelopment. His favorite picture is
a woman walking on the BeltLine with her groceries.
“It is already showing us how Atlanta can revitalize its
infrastructure to promote a more sustainable life.”
There’s still work to be done. The Eastside Trail
design calls for access points to Ponce de Leon, lighting,
and water fountains accessing water lines crisscrossing
under the trail. “We could see trains in the corridor
in the next five years if we push for it. Let’s pass a
referendum and collect the funds we need to get it done,”
Gravel urged.
“The BeltLine will evolve over our lifetime,” he
reflected. For Gravel, future phases should include a
more robust public art program with permanent exhibits,
performance venues, and artist housing and work spaces.
It should also include equitable access for all income
levels, green standards for building in the corridor, and
community food networks.
The BeltLine is a model and the world is watching. In
fact, Gravel’s passion for revitalizing infrastructure has
him traveling the world to research, document and tell
the story of how cities like Los Angeles, Toronto, Detroit
and Rotterdam can transform degraded rivers, canals,
and railroads to renew their cities, health and spirit. ESI
November 2014 | INtOWIl 13
AtlantalNtownPaper.com
