University Hopes To Help Fight Traffic With Mixed Use Plans

"Once upon a time, Emory University was a sleepy little college nestled in the matronly bosom of the stately neighborhood of Druid Hills. Today, Emory is a research powerhouse attached to a bustling medical center. More than 12,000 students are enrolled there and the school, hospital and research facilities employ more than 14,000 people.

With an eye toward offering affordable housing within walking distance of the school, Emory officials have been maneuvering to put up mixed-use developments. Providing a way for employees and students to walk or bike to work or class is key to cutting down on the area’s stifling car traffic, so the development is part of the school’s master plan, one that includes the addition of a freshman complex and reconfiguration of adjacent roads.

Traffic aside, it’s understandable that the burgeoning school would need to expand its housing, particularly since houses in the area are much more expensive than the average research assistant or visiting professor can afford.

But some Druid Hills residents are concerned about the size of the developments Emory is backing, what they will do to the personality of the area and even what effect they might have on the area’s very ecology (a little stream called Peavine Creek winds through the neighborhood, and some of its neighbors want to be sure it’s protected).

The Emory-Druid Hills dilemma is a microcosm of the same issue facing the entire metro area, namely what to do to accommodate everyone without encouraging more traffic, while keeping existing residential areas intact. It’s a very tricky problem."