City officials touted a list of Northeast Atlanta street, parks and public safety projects at a Nov. 18 meeting as part of a question put a new, $700 million infrastructure bond and transportation sales tax on the May 2022 ballot. But they had no answers as to what happens to the funding and local projects if Buckhead cityhood is also approved by voters, which could happen later that year.
Potential projects including funding to complete the PATH 400’s multiuse trail to the Sandy Springs city limit, a new parking deck in Chastain Park, and improvements to dozens of other local parks and streets. The list, however, is not set in stone, and removing Buckhead from the equation is a much larger unknown.
Asked about cityhood’s impacts by Buckhead.com, City Deputy Chief Operating Officer LaChandra Butler Burks said the question is “one that, as we were putting this together, we did not think through because it is our hope that Buckhead will stay as part of the City of Atlanta.” After being asked about cityhood more than once in recent weeks, she added, officials realize they do need to “think it through.”
Doug Nagy, the City’s deputy commissioner of transportation, struck an empathetic note, saying his planners know and care about the area. He said that “our aspiration is that the city stays intact and that we move forward together.”
Cityhood’s potential impacts on Atlanta’s tax revenue, municipal bond ratings and the Atlanta BeltLine infrastructure project are already major points of contention. The pro-cityhood Buckhead City Committee has said it will provide fuller answers with a draft budget coming within 90 days or so. “Buckhead City” backers are attempting to gain the General Assembly’s approval to put the cityhood question on the November 2022 ballot.
Atlanta is in year five of an existing transportation special local option sales tax (TSPLOST) and the Renew Atlanta infrastructure bond program. Both sources have been used to execute a wide variety of projects, from street improvements to public art. They also have been controversial for slow pace and confusing, changing project lists.
The City aims to essentially extend those programs with a $400 million infrastructure bond and a 0.4% TSPLOST estimated to be worth $300 million. The City wants to put both questions on the spring 2022 primary election ballot, which likely will be held in May, officials say.
To do that, City officials need approval of the City Council, which they hope to get Dec. 6 following Dec. 1 hearings before the Finance/Executive and Transportation committees.
In advance of council hearings, the City is holding a series of virtual meetings to promote a tentative project list for each quadrant. Northeast Atlanta includes eastern Buckhead, as split roughly along Roswell and Peachtree roads. Northwest Atlanta, including western Buckhead, will be the subject of virtual meetings Nov. 22 at noon and 6 p.m. accessible on Zoom at bit.ly/2ZXYHKF.
In the Nov. 18 Northeast quadrant meeting, officials said they intend for the funding to make a dent in an estimated $3 billion in infrastructure needs over the next 20 years. Spending would focus on four areas: “subpar conditions” at public safety facilities like fire stations; a backlog of repairs at parks; outdated street designs that don’t take pedestrian safety into account; and installing new sidewalks and repairing existing ones, in what Nagy said might be the City’s biggest such investment in its history.
For Northeast Atlanta, the list features improvements to 22 park facilities and 20 transportation projects, including about 14 miles of sidewalk repairs, 10 miles of new sidewalks, and 17 miles of “major street projects.”
Among other projects in the Buckhead area could be “safe streets” improvements to Lenox Road, Maple Drive and Sidney Marcus Boulevard; and sidewalk installations on Lenox, Roswell, Peachtree-Dunwoody and West Wieuca/Wieuca roads.
However, there is no final or permanent project list, said Burks, nor is one needed to get the bond and TSPLOST questions on the ballot. City officials created the lists based on internal analyses, they said, and are still changing them based on feedback from city councilmembers.
In practice, the public appears to have little influence over the lists at this point, with the meetings functioning primarily as advertising to promote the effort to get the funding questions on the ballot. The Nov. 18 meeting had a brief question-and-answer period, but no opportunity to directly change the project list or create a new one. Burks said the PowerPoint-style presentations from the meetings likely will be posted online somewhere, but indicated that recordings of the meetings will not be.
With temperatures dropping and Thanksgiving right around the corner, Buckhead is gearing up for the holidays. Our friends at Livable Buckhead have events planned for the whole family.
There’s a Holiday 5K on December 4 for the runner in the family. For something completely different, you can join the Hot Chocolate Crawl on December 11. Stroll along Peachtree Road enjoying holiday decorations, hot chocolate, and even specialty cocktails.
Starting November 28, you will find over 40 decorated Christmas trees in Loudermilk Park. Be sure to stop by when you’re in the neighborhood.
You can read the full press release below, and stay tuned for more Buckhead holiday news!
Buckhead gets into the holiday spirit with 5K run and super-sized tree display in Charlie Loudermilk Park
ATLANTA – November 18, 2021 – If festive fun is on your holiday “to do” list, Buckhead is the place to be this December. Livable Buckhead and its partners have created a month-long slate of happenings themed “Miracle on Peachtree,” giving shoppers a reason to make Buckhead a holiday staycation destination and offering residents an extra measure of good cheer.
“There’s something for everyone,” said Denise Starling, executive director of Livable Buckhead. “Stroll through the park to view more than 40 Christmas trees, run a 5K to burn a few extra calories, or join the hot chocolate crawl to take in the holiday lights and enjoy live music. There’s so much to do you’ll probably want to make a weekend of it!”
buckheadRUN!, Livable Buckhead’s 3rd annual 5K race, will take place on December 4th at 7:45 a.m. Awards will be given for the fastest runners and for runners who show the most holiday cheer via holiday costumes! To sign up, visit livablebuckhead.org/run. Registration is $30 and includes a race t-shirt.
On Saturday, December 11th Livable Buckhead invites visitors to stroll along Peachtree Road between Lenox Square and the Buckhead Village District to view beautiful light displays, stopping at designated locations to enjoy hot chocolate and specialty cocktails along the way. Local musicians and holiday carolers will add to the festive atmosphere with performances at various points along the walking route. Free holiday holographic glasses will be provided to add even more sparkle to the viewing experience, and the first 100 people will receive a commemorative ceramic campfire mug. For more information visit livablebuckhead.org/holiday.
More than 40 Christmas trees will add a festive spirit to Charlie Loudermilk Park from Sunday, Nov. 28 through Sunday, Dec. 12. Walk through the park to see each of the uniquely decorated trees. After their time on display in Buckhead the trees will be donated to Atlanta Fire Department stations throughout the city.
“Miracle on Peachtree” is sponsored by Audi Atlanta; Lenox Square; QGenda; Tower Beer, Wine & Spirits; Beck; Owen & Associates; and Coastal States Bank. For more information on the events, visit https://livablebuckhead.com/holiday/.
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About Livable Buckhead
Livable Buckhead is a nonprofit organization that strives to ensure the long-term viability and prosperity of the Buckhead community. The organization achieves its mission by working cooperatively with individuals, public entities and private businesses to integrate sustainable strategies. Livable Buckhead implements programs related to greenspace, recycling, energy efficiency, commute alternatives, arts and culture, real estate development and land use. For more information about Livable Buckhead and its programs, visit livablebuckhead.org.
About Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau
Established in 1913, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) is the official destination marketing organization for the city and serves to favorably impact Atlanta’s economy through conventions and tourism. A private, not-for-profit organization, ACVB bolsters Atlanta’s $16 billion hospitality industry which generated an estimated 57 million visitors in 2019. Visit discoveratlanta.com and @discoveratlanta on social media for more information.
State Sen. Brandon Beach (R-Alpharetta) on Nov. 18 prefiled a bill to incorporate the City of Buckhead City, a step in getting it considered by the General Assembly in the next session. The co-sponsors of SB 324 include Senators Greg Dolezal (R-Cumming), Burt Jones (R-Jackson) and Randy Robertson (R-Cataula). Jones is also running for lieutenant governor on next year’s ballot, when the cityhood question might appear as well. No legislator representing Buckhead or in the Atlanta delegations is supporting cityhood.
The spirit of Buckhead heads forward. This is the way it has been, and perhaps this is the way it will always be. The spirit of Buckhead points forward. You see it in the way we work, and you see it in the way we play. The reach is always extending further. The search is for excellence and beauty and grace and vibrancy.
We are a community of individuals. We are diverse, we are dynamic, and we are discerning. We are builders. We are connected to one another with a common bond. A common dream. A common quest. Pointing life in one direction. Forward.
