Happy November! Holiday season is upon us.
The Urban Connector monthly newsletter looks back on the best of the previous month as well as ways to get involved in the coming month. Please make sure you sign up below to have these delivered straight to your inbox and follow on YouTube, Twitter, BlueSky Social, and Instagram.
October Content
Centennial Yards Progress – Drone tour of the latest construction progress at Centennial Yards.
Providence First Impressions – A look back at my first visit to Providence, RI.
Raleigh Northern Arc BRT Station Area Planning – Concept Sketch for the Crabtree Valley Station Site
Georgia Tech Multimodal Infrastructure Tour – Ride along some of the best multimodal infrastructure the South has to offer.
Photos of the Month
Urban Thoughts: Too small for an article, too big to miss
Election Night – It was a much better feeling after election night 2025 than 2024 to say the least. Congratulations to all who ran great campaigns in Atlanta and beyond. While Rohit Malhotra fell just short in his Council President race, I think his campaign and Kelsea Bond’s victory showed us a lot about what’s possible for the future of Atlanta. Sam Foster fell just short in the City of Marietta Mayor’s race but ran one of the best campaigns I’ve seen in a suburban city. I’m feeling hope for the future of our Country for the first time in a year.
I also want to shout out Deans Eatman for winning re-election and Dustin Ingalls for being elected in my old stomping grounds of Wendell, NC. The future is more than bright there!
Developments that Excited Me
Boulevard Groundbreaking, Downtown Chosewood and SE Beltline Nearing Completion
If you know me, you know it’s no secret that I’ve struggled to adjust to Chosewood Park after being in Reynoldstown for a few months upon coming back to Atlanta. But this past month has finally brought us some good news down here by way of Boulevard’s complete street project finally breaking ground, a new “Downtown Chosewood” development, and finally the light at the end of the tunnel is in sight for the Southeast Beltline.
We still really need Boulevard Crossing Park to get funding (or at least an interim gravel trail to give us direct Beltline access without having to go around to Boulevard or Hill St please?) to really be cooking but hopefully the positive momentum this month is a sign of things to come.
This would help too.
Microsoft
Microsoft is finally offloading a piece of their 90-acre campus to the City of Atlanta. While this probably means they have no plans on selling or developing the rest of their land, this is a step in the right direction – for now.
South Downtown
Another month, another wave of tenant announcements – plus Smorgasbord is here! Make sure you check it out and are signed up for Jon’s monthly email updates.
Avondale Stunner
Now this is how you do it! File this under “things I want to design one day”.
Memorial Drive Greenway Momentum
This one had been quiet for a while, I’ll hold my breath but this would be a huge deal in helping link Downtown and the Eastside.
Get Involved, Atlanta!
| Date | Event | Notes |
| 11/10 | Zoning Committee | 10:00 AM |
| 11/10 | TAD Public Hearing | 11:00 AM |
| 11/12 | Transportation Committee | 10:00 AM |
| 11/17 | City Council | 1:00 PM |
| 11/24 | Zoning Committee | 10:00 AM |
| 11/25 | Transportation Committee | 11:00 AM |
| 12/1 | City Council | 1:00 PM |
| 12/3 | Fatal Crash Commission | 10:00 AM |
| 12/8 | Zoning Committee | 10:00 AM |
| 12/10 | Transportation Committee | 10:00 AM |
Raleigh folks, I miss y’all! Make sure you’re keeping up to date with the great people at Raleigh Forward, WakeUP, Oaks and Spokes, NC Housing Table, and The Downtown Raleigh Community.
What I’m working on this month (and probably later)
- More suburban spotlights
- InPhil Designs ideas
- Urban Thoughts – Cities: Chicago, Orlando
I’m sure this newsletter will evolve as time goes on. Comments or suggestions? Let me know!
Phil Veasley, PE, CNU-A, The Urban Connector, is a Professional Engineer with Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates focused on creating safer, more vibrant cities through strategic multimodal infrastructure design. With expertise spanning traffic analysis, hand sketching, conceptual design, and full construction documentation, he thrives on transforming roads into great streets where people of all ages and abilities can flourish. Based in Atlanta, Phil is a passionate advocate for walkable, dense, and equitable neighborhoods. Outside of work, his passion is exploring urban life through sketching infill ideas and navigating cities primarily by bike or foot. His on-the-ground perspective informs his professional work, helping him design transportation systems that are not only functional but also people-centered and inspiring. Phil brings both technical depth and a city lover’s enthusiasm to every project, drawing on the belief that infrastructure and urban form must go hand in hand to support vibrant, inclusive communities where everyone has access to opportunity and quality of life.
Please check out the menus above for all of my ideas and also check out my YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter accounts.
Opinions and insights are my own and are not representative of my employer or any organization.
Phil Veasley 