A New Day for Atlanta — and for Urbanism?
This week kicked off with what seemed like a foreordained convergence, with the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday leading into the inauguration of the nation's first African-American president. Today we have a post from Streetsblog Network member Joe Urban that makes more connections between King and Obama, by looking at King's boyhood neighborhood, the historic Sweet Auburn district of Atlanta:
The Sweet Auburn district of Atlanta. Photo by scottpartee via Flickr.
Auburn Avenue, the main commercial street running through Sweet Auburn, was once considered the richest African American street in the United States. Ironically, desegregation allowed African Americans to move their businesses throughout the city. A good thing, of course, but it left Sweet Auburn to decay...
Luckily that is changing. Development is occurring. The Integral Group is among those investing in the area, developing the first of several projects with Renaissance Walk, which adds condos and retail to Auburn Avenue. Hundreds of millions of dollars more are planned to be
invested in development, as well as a future streetcar route. It is a beautiful thing that now, as a new day in American history begins, that Sweet Auburn is also beginning a brand new day in its own history. Let's hope this is a new day in urban policy as well.
Plus: Orphan Road on how cleaner air is helping us live longer, Austin Contrarian on a New Urbanist development's struggle for approval, and Worldchanging on the greening of alleyways.
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog New York City
Why Sustainable Transportation Advocates Need to Talk About Long COVID
Covid-19 transformed many U.S. cities' approach to sustainable transportation forever. But how did it transform the lives of sustainable transportation advocates who developed lasting symptoms from the disease?
Analysis: ‘Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program’ is a Failure By All Measures
The Department of Transportation wants the Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program to simply expire in part because it did not dramatically improve safety among these worst-of-the-worst drivers and led to a tiny number of vehicle seizures.
School Bus Driver Kills Cyclist in Boro Park, 24th Bike Death of 2023
Luis Perez-Ramirez, 44, was biking south on Fort Hamilton Parkway just before 3:15 p.m. when he was struck a by school bus driver making a right turn.
‘Betrayal’: Adams Caves to Opposition, Abandons Bus Improvement Plan on Fordham Road
The capitulation on Fordham Road is the latest episode in which the mayor has delayed or watered down a transportation project in deference to powerful interests.
Friday’s Headlines: Yes He Said Yes He Will Yes Edition
That headline above is a reference to the last line of James Joyce's Ulysses, which we won't pretend to have read. But we have that ... and other news.
