Abstract
The Beltline project in Atlanta combines elements of urban greenway planning, parks and recreation, pedestrian and bike friendly trails, public transit, and other facilities connecting over 40 neighborhoods. This is bringing about transformative urban regeneration in those neighborhoods, with large-scale economic investments and growth in previously neglected areas and brownfields. The Beltline has generated considerable interest among urban scholars. However, most studies have focused on specific aspects of the Beltline development in detail. This study uses extensive literature review and analyzes census data while taking a comprehensive look at the following smart living perspectives: urban health and wellbeing, smart public transportation, economic development and brownfields, and managing affordable housing during neighborhood change. While the Beltline has brought about considerable growth and investment, and created city level green spaces and trails, the process has been accompanied by gentrification and displacement that has disproportionately affected the racial minorities and poor neighborhoods.
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Notes
- 1.
“Do E-scooters disrupt Atlanta’s vision for the Beltline?”’ dated 8/23/19. Online resource https://www.ajc.com/news/scooters-disrupt-atlanta-vision-for-the-Beltline/8FCEZsvOUSRHgsGAbfFw6H/#.
- 2.
“New city program aims to crack down on Atlanta Beltline e-scooter behavior’’ dated 6/20/19. Online resource https://atlanta.curbed.com/2019/6/20/18692756/slow-e-scooters-8-mph-Beltline-eastside-trail.
- 3.
“MARTA: Atlantans don’t want just any transit on Beltline—they want light rail” dated 4/10/18. Online resource https://atlanta.curbed.com/2018/4/10/17214302/marta-atlanta-Beltline-transit-rail.
- 4.
“Beltline march planned next month to call for implementation of transit, pronto” dated 9/23/19. Online resource https://atlanta.curbed.com/2019/9/23/20880356/atlanta-Beltline-march-rail-transit.
- 5.
“Ambitious project list unveiled for metro Atlanta’s regional transit plan” dated 9/26/19 online resource https://atlanta.curbed.com/2019/9/26/20885049/project-list-metro-atl-board-rail-marta.
- 6.
“Beltline rail advocates to MARTA: We want better transparency, better public engagement” dated 7/12/18 Online resource https://atlanta.curbed.com/2018/7/12/17564106/Beltline-rail-marta-tsplost-transit-expansion.
- 7.
“Poll: How important is a transit component for the Atlanta Beltline’s future?” Dated 3/21/18. Online resource https://atlanta.curbed.com/2018/3/21/17148272/transit-atlanta-Beltlines-future-ryan-gravel.
- 8.
“Beltline transit advocates lobby ARC for help with trailside rail” dated 4/9/19 and 10/5/18. Online resources https://atlanta.curbed.com/2019/4/9/18301839/Beltline-transit-arc-light-rail-streetcar and https://atlanta.curbed.com/2018/10/5/17940638/Beltline-transit-advocates-more-marta-board-revised-approved.
- 9.
“MARTA transit plan includes 21 miles of light rail” dated 5/15/18. Online resource https://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt-politics/atlanta-transit-plan-includes-miles-light-rail/i82gtczJk7826JemL087rJ/.
- 10.
“Atlanta Beltline Tax Allocation District Feasibility Study.” EDAW. 2005.
- 11.
"Atlanta’s Beltline, a transformative urban redevelopment, struggles with affordability” dated 10/03/2017. Online resource https://www.curbed.com/2017/10/3/16411354/Beltline-atlanta-affordable-housing-development-high-line.
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Byahut, S., Ghosh, S., Masilela, C. (2020). Urban Transformation for Sustainable Growth and Smart Living: The Case of the Atlanta Beltline. In: Vinod Kumar, T. (eds) Smart Living for Smart Cities. Advances in 21st Century Human Settlements. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-4603-7_2
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