In Atlanta, plans called for a five-building development in the suburb of Dunwoody. With only three buildings completely built, the Providence Group decided to turn the undeveloped land into a park.
With three buildings completed, the fourth building at 80% complete, and the fifth building just started, problem struck the development when the project lender went under. Warren Jolly, the owner and president of The Providence Group, the projects developer, decided to build a park in place of the other building.
According to reporter John Caulfield, Providence had already invested $3.8 million into the fifth building and parking deck, and Jolly estimates that it would have cost another $4 million to complete. Jolly believes that developing a park in place of the old building is a smart decision because "many of the existing condos don't have greenspaces." The park, according to the Providence Group, includes a dog park, raised vegetable plots, a natural seating area overlooking an outdoor amphitheater, an outdoor kitchen with grill and counter space, and a lighted dining patio with seating.
FULL STORY: When Open Space Makes More Sense Than Construction

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie