This key intersection halfway between Downtown and the Eastside Trail holds a ton of potential.
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The intersection of Boulevard and Memorial Drive has seen better days to put things nicely. Despite being about 1/2 mile west of the BeltLine, a few blocks north of I-20 and roughly a mile east of Downtown, three of the four corners are either abandoned or vastly underused.
The corridor has rapidly densified in the past decade. There are even plans for a linear park connecting the Capitol to Oakland Cemetery. To date though, nothing is planned (to my knowledge) right at the corner.
BOULEVARDxMEMORIAL
Transforming this corner from a car-oriented pass-through to a neighborhood center with an infusion of infill:
- Three mid-rise condo / apartment buildings with tuck-under parking and retail liner
- Three sets of townhomes to the south of the condos
- Two stacked townhome buildings at the corner of Berean and Memorial
- Courtyard gathering spaces
- Linear park adjacent to Boulevard on current surface lot
- Boulevard cycle-track (more on that in a coming post)
NOTE: I do not own, control, have actual say, etc over any of the proposed redevelopment parcels. This is just an idea and just a sketch.
As Atlanta increasingly realizes the need to grow up, not out; infill in strategic, mobility-rich locations becomes more important. This site offers a car-lite lifestyle. It is just blocks away from the BeltLine and MARTA rail. There is also direct access to multiple bus lines.
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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.
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Phil Veasley 