Atlanta BeltLine

Housing + Transit Conference

October 21, 2011 Historic Fourth Ward Park

Atlanta BeltLine Overview
ATLANTA RAILROAD LEGACY
WHERE IS THE ATLANTA BELTLINE?

Inside the Perimeter

ATLANTIC
STATION
2 3 miles from Downtown Core
WHAT IS THE ATLANTA BELTLINE?
Key Elements

Transit Parks Trails Jobs & Economic

22-mile loop 1300 + new acres 33 miles Development
30k jobs

Affordable & Workforce Historic Preservation Public Art & Environmental

Housing Streetscapes Clean-up
5,600 Units 1100 + acres
ATLANTA BELTLINE PARKS & TRAILS

Parks
Atlanta is an underparked City
4% of City acres
Compared to 9% in Austin
Plan: Emerald necklace of 1,300 acres of
new parks and greenspace
Progress: acquired 481 acres; opened 3
parks.
Trails
Plan: 33 miles of trails alongside transit
Alongside transit
Spur trails connecting surrounding
neighborhoods to the BeltLine
Progress: 12 miles open to public.
WESTSIDE PARK & RESERVOIR
300 Acre addition to Atlanta Park System
 ATLANTA BELTLINE TRANSIT

BUCKHEAD
Atlanta Memorial Park
I-85 Plan
I-75
22-mile transit loop
Ardmore
Park
Peachtree Creek Park
40+ stations
Waterworks

Piedmont North Woods Expansion

Modern streetcar or light rail
Park

Connect with MARTA in 4 locations

MIDTOWN Progress
Westside
Reservoir Park
Historic Fourth
Ward Park
49% of corridor under control
Maddox Park

Washington Park Completed Tier 1 EIS

I-20 Transit Implementation Strategy underway

Oakland

I-20
Cemetery
Enota Park
Grant Park Glenwood
W. Park
Regional penny sales tax referendum in 2012
DOWNTOWN Southside

Four
H.S. Park
$60M of BeltLine projects on the list
Corners Stanton
Park Park

~30% of Atlanta BeltLine

Murphy
Crossing Park Boulevard Crossing Park

Hillside Park

I-75/85
BELTLINE CORRIDOR
Development Process
Purchase and preservation of
Corridor
Initial Corridor development
o Environmental Remediation,
infrastructure/utility design,
construction of multi-use trail and
amenities
Private Property Reinvestment
o Greater connectivity from adjacent
private developments, increased
urban density, increased increment
Transit Implementation
o Integrated into public realm
o With sufficient funding, construction can
begin within 3-5 years of acquiring
corridor
o Supports new private development
investments
ATLANTA BELTLINE PLANNING
Land Use and Connectivity

10 Subarea Master Plans

Promote improved
connectivity
Promote denser
developments
Promote improved
livability
Atlanta BeltLine Project Financing
BELTLINE FUNDING

Anticipated Funding Sources Capital Costs

Amount
Activity (In Millions)

Land $ 570

Parks & Trails $ 340

Transit & Transportation Improvements $1,375

Workforce Housing & Incentives $ 360

Admin & Project Management $ 32

APS Projects $ 95

Total Capital Cost $2,772

Source: TAD Redevelopment Plan, Nov 2005

TAX ALLOCATION DISTRICT

How does the BeltLine TAD work?

1.When the TAD was adopted in 2005,
the City, County, and Public Schools
agreed to receive the tax revenue
generated in the TAD at the time of
adoption for the next 25 years.
Tax Revenue

2.As new development happens because

2 3
of the BeltLine, additional tax revenue is
generated. This additional tax revenue
helps pay for the BeltLine.
1 3.After 25 years, the City, County and
Public Schools receive all tax revenue,
which is higher than it would have been
2005 2030
without the BeltLine.
PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT

Over 50 projects complete or underway

within TAD.

- 9,000 new residential units

- 700,000 SF of new commercial space
Affordable Housing Program
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM -
OVERVIEW

Origins
Concerns about social impacts and
gentrification
Non profit developers and policy groups
advocated to City Council for an Affordable
Housing Trust Fund
Council included Trust Fund in TIF/TAD
creation legislation
Legislative Framework
15% of each TAD issue dedicated to Trust
Fund
5,600 unit goal over 25 years
BeltLine Affordable Housing Advisory Board

IPV Lofts 2 downpayment assistance closings

AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM -
OVERVIEW

Core Principles
Facilitate housing near jobs and transit for
those who would otherwise be priced out.
Serve as a catalyst for the revitalization of
communities along the BeltLine
Help mitigate economic displacement
Other Principles
TOD
Sky Lofts 20+ downpayment assistance closings
Long term affordability and wealth creation
Preserve existing housing, where possible
Green construction
Mixed income
Equitable geographic distribution
Balance of owner occupied and rental over
time Grants (not loans)
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM -
OVERVIEW

Policy Questions
What should the major BAHTF components
be?
Affordable to Whom?
What kind of housing?
Where should housing be located?
How should we sustain affordability?
White Provisions 3 downpayment assistance closings
How can we help mitigate economic
displacement?
Program Components
Downpayment assistance
Development incentives
Property acquisition

Reynoldstown Senior Trust Fund commitment for 43 units

AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM -
OVERVIEW
Progress
Capitalized an $8.8M Trust Fund
Downpayment Assistance
42 closings
Incentives
164 units committed funding
Acquisition
Huff Heights 1 downpayment assistance closings
Acquired 30 units. Investigating
other acquisitions

Milltown Lofts 1 downpayment assistance closing

AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM -
OVERVIEW
Spotlight Reynoldstown Depot Acquisition
Stalled condominium development
ABI bought out of receivership
Converting into 30 units of owner occupied affordable housing
Land for 2nd phase
Atlanta Land Trust Collaborative

Reynoldstown Depot BeltLine Distressed Acquisition

AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM -
OVERVIEW

Lessons Learned
LIHTC is key
Mortgage revenue bonds
Property acquisition and
downpayment assistance key
to affordable housing in
higher cost or gentrifying
areas
Zoning incentives
James Alexander
Housing and Economic Development Manager
Atlanta BeltLine, Inc
404.588.5472
jalexander@atlbeltline.org