A $40 million development called Spoke is the latest example of a growing development trend in the Atlanta area: transit oriented development.
“MARTA and city of Atlanta leaders [recently] marked the start of the system’s newest “transit-oriented development,” the first of a series of new generation developments at its stations to boost ridership and drive urban development,” reports J. Scott Trubey.
Atlanta-based development firm Columbia Ventures will lease currently underused parking lots to spend $40 million building 224 apartments, retail, restaurants, a park, and a performing arts center at the Edgewood/Candler Park station.
The project is only the latest in MARTA’s transit oriented development efforts. “The office, retail and residential development around MARTA’s Lindbergh station is the system’s best-known prior example,” writes Trubey, but there are other developments in various stages at the Arts Center, Chamblee, Brookhaven/Oglethorpe, King Memorial and Avondale stations.
Trubey also notes that a half-cent sales tax measure on the ballot for November, intended to raise funding for the expansion of the MARTA system, would also “lead to other opportunities for MARTA to stimulate development near its stations…”
FULL STORY: MARTA’s ‘Spoke’ aims to boost ridership, revenue

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

USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure
If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.

End Human Sacrifices to the Demanding Gods of Automobile Dependency and Sprawl
The U.S. has much higher traffic fatality rates than peer countries due to automobile dependency and sprawl. Better planning can reduce these human sacrifices.

Seattle Transit Asked to Clarify Pet Policy
A major dog park near a new light rail stop is prompting calls to update and clarify rules for bringing pets on Seattle-area transit systems.

Oregon Bill Would End Bans on Manufactured Housing
The bill would prevent new developments from prohibiting mobile homes and modular housing.

Nashville Doesn’t Renew Bike Share Contract, Citing Lost Federal Funding
The city’s bike share system, operated by BCycle, could stop operating if the city doesn’t find a new source of funding.
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.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
Tyler Technologies
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions