Advisory panel says highway-capping ‘Stitch’ project could cost $452M
March 1,2019
After roaming around and studying downtown for a week, the Urban Land Institute’s advisory services panel provided Atlanta leaders with recommendations on how to move forward with the colossal proposed “Stitch” project.
On Friday, ULI, which conducts land use research for cities around the globe, suggested the time is now to partner with local elected officials and philanthropic organizations to get the ball rolling on fundraising efforts for the potentially 14-acre project that would install a massive park and new construction above the Downtown Connector.
But in order to be competitive for public and private funding—panelists expect the highway-capping project could cost upwards of $450 million—neighborhood leaders will have to map out plans to ensure the finished product spurs equity not just for downtown residents and businesspeople, but for those in neighboring communities.
The Stitch plan calls for a massive park to be built above a portion of the interstate between the Civic Center MARTA station and Piedmont Road, which panelists—architects, city planners, transportation experts, and developers—say could pay in tremendous dividends for stakeholders, such as health and wellness benefits.
The “world-class park” that would anchor the development, panelists say, should probably span about five of the 14 acres identified for capping, and it should be one of the first parts of the project addressed.
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