We made it through 2025!
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, Substack, Twitter, BlueSky Social, and Instagram.
December Content
Atlanta BeltLine SouthSide Trail Progress – Checking in on the progress of the SouthSide Trail which is somehow still promised to be ready for June.
Centennial Yards Development Progress – Drone tour of the progress over at Centennial Yards.
Dec 2025 Drone Tour – Full skyline tour of our beautiful City.
Urban Connector Top 10 of 2025 – Counting down my favorite pieces of the year.
Photos of the Month
Urban Thoughts: Too small for an article, too big to miss
New York City – It’s the greatest City on Earth, but I have to say – I’m shocked at how even in the middle of Manhattan it feels like cars still rule the world! The sidewalks and curb ramps are tiny too. Really shocking when pedestrians far outnumber the number of cars.
YimbyTown 2026 – I can not wait for YimbyTown 2026 up in Raleigh! Huge shoutout to CityBuilder and everyone else in the Triangle who made this huge win happen.
Developments that Excited Me
BeltLine – It’s been painfully slow at times but 2026 will be the year where we will finally have 18 miles of continuous trail around the “U”.
Bankhead Station TOD – One of MARTA’s most barren stations may be seeing a good amount of TOD soon!
Civic Center Groundbreaking – It’s been a LONG time, but things may finally be happening at the old Civic Center site.
West End Mall – Things are progressing with the West End Mall makeover with Planet Fitness signing on as the first tenant.
Get Involved, Atlanta!
| Date | Event | Notes |
| TBA | TBA | TBA |
The City calendar is not yet populated for 2026.
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!
I’ll be reposting my favorite ideas to date plus all new content over on Substack! As always, everything will remain free so hop on over and subscribe!
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, Substack, and Twitter accounts.
Opinions and insights are my own and are not representative of my employer or any organization.
Phil Veasley 