The formerly car-centric block was redesigned to include wider sidewalks, public seating, and enhanced landscaping in lieu of on-street parking.
An article and photo gallery by Josh Green for Urbanize Atlanta show the transformation of a Midtown block into a walkable plaza with seating and public art. “Changes include buried power lines, an eye-catching permanent sculpture, a plaza space with public seating and tables, a realigned intersection, enhanced landscaping, and subtracted parking spaces on both sides of the street. And birds—lots of arty little birds.”
Commercial Row Commons is one of several projects being undertaken by Midtown Atlanta to improve public spaces in the neighborhood.
View the photo gallery in the source article for before and after images of the redesigned block, which remains a functional two-way street while widening sidewalks and adding landscaping and seating.
Read the full story: Photos: New Midtown plaza shows how parking can be artfully repurposed
Planning for Love, Part 3: Enhancing human connection through walkability
In the third and final installment of this series, author Hannah Kosoff examines what her research findings say about modern dating and urban form.
Planning for Love, Part 2: What happens to dating in a car-centric world?
A survey of over 150 adults about their dating lives reveals stark differences based on their neighborhood's walkability.
The Pitfalls of the 15-Minute City
The concept, touted as "hyper-local," can fail to take into account local conditions and historical inequities in American cities.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Chicago Avenue bridge construction delays enrages city leaders
The bridge has been closed since 2025. The city originally aimed to re-open it in December, and now expects to finish construction in 2027.
NYC bus network redesign speeds up Queens buses
Rush routes have seen a 4.6% speed increase after the redesign.
California High-Speed Rail Authority picks trainset manufacturer
The California High-Speed Rail Authority aims to start servicing passengers by 2033.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority