I have worked and worshiped in Downtown most of my adult life. I was excited to serve as a member of the Stitch Steering Committee because I believed the Stitch could be a transformational civic infrastructure investment for our City. I was inspired by the vision of creating almost 17 acres of new community park space atop a new, ¾-mile platform spanning the Downtown Connector between Ted Turner Drive and Piedmont Avenue to link Downtown with Midtown, Old Fourth Ward, English Avenue, and Vine City neighborhoods. And I was intrigued by the opportunity to use this project to implement transportation infrastructure improvements, housing and economic development policies, and community initiatives to support the equitable and sustainable growth of Downtown Atlanta, the heart of the entire region.
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Over an 18-month period, the Committee and Central Atlanta Progress worked with consultants and stakeholders to develop the Master Plan. More than 6,000 people were engaged to help inform the recommendations of the Master Plan. Beyond the steering committee meetings and discussions with governmental officials, this process included community pop-ups, focus groups, meetings with downtown resident groups and property owners, student engagement, public workshops, online input tools, and newsletters.
We now have a draft Master Plan for the development of the Stitch. This is the most comprehensive community development plan I have seen in my decades of work in economic development and public policy. It sets detailed recommendations and goals not only for parks and open space but also for sustainability, urban design, multimodal transportation, land use, real estate/economic development, and affordable housing. When fully built out, the Stitch is projected to create $9 billion in economic impact through job creation, new commercial and residential development (including affordable housing), and increased property values and tax revenues.
Importantly, this is not just a pretty plan that will sit on a shelf. The Stitch Master Plan outlines three project phases. Phase 1 is funded and ready to proceed! Phase 1 includes 4 – 5 acres of interstate capping from Peachtree Street to Courtland Street plus multimodal street improvements along seven streets in the project area. Phase 1 construction is scheduled to start in 2026 and be completed by 2030. The Stitch will be delivered and maintained via a partnership among a newly incorporated Stitch nonprofit organization, the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District, the City of Atlanta, and the Georgia Department of Transportation.
Let us know what you think. Go to https://thestitchatl.com/project/master-plan to review and comment on the Master Plan. Join in the effort to implement this community-driven plan to reconnect the heart of Atlanta.
