Creating a vibrant, welcoming Downtown on Peachtree

By Monique Forte, Peachtree Shared Space Project Manager

This Peachtree Shared Space is the first of its kind in Atlanta. This journey began in 2016, when the Atlanta City Studio took an extensive look at reimagining Peachtree Street and its design. About 18 months ago, we embarked on the Peachtree Shared Study which led us here and we now have a framework to re-imagine our signature street. The study, led by our project team and Toole Consultants, looked at Peachtree Street starting from North Avenue and concluding at Marietta Street to examine street designs and elements that would make it the center of Downtown by creating vibrancy and space for everyone to enjoy.

Atlanta experienced architecture in its downtown core that took people off the street and into the private realm. Our opportunity today is to have both a beautiful private realm and a vibrant public realm that work together to support Downtown's density and growth. Over time, Downtown Atlanta became a place to go and work and truck it back home in other parts of the Atlanta region without truly experiencing the beautiful exuberance of Downtown Atlanta culture. There are many hotels in the study area (about 7-10) and many visitors come Downtown to stay and experience Atlanta. Before this project, did the design of Peachtree Street embody the cultural snapshot of Atlanta? As a native Atlantan, I can emphatically say no. This work gets us closer to downtown Peachtree St. representing Atlanta’s unique culture.

As a native Atlantan, I am all in with this project. I remember the vibrancy of Downtown Atlanta when I was a little girl visiting Macy’s (now 200 Peachtree) with my mom and my sister to shop and enjoy the city. I felt safe and exuberant while visiting Downtown Atlanta at that time. I think it is important to be thoughtful about how everyone feels in public spaces.

As a black woman, I feel different in a public space from a white man or woman, or even a black man. I have to be mindful of certain things that other races or genders may not have to think about. One of my goals for the Peachtree Shared Space is to create that same feeling for everyone visiting this space, a place where everyone would enjoy and feel safe.

The Peachtree Shared Space is one part of a larger effort to design our Downtown to be a more welcoming, people-friendly space. We’re currently working on revitalizing the Broad Street Boardwalk, creating a beautiful space at the Jackson Street Bridge, reimagining Five Points Station and adding more on-street dining Downtown, to name a few. All these efforts work together to create a beautiful public realm in Downtown Atlanta.

I have learned a lot about how we perceive public space in Atlanta. I have experienced how successful shared spaces and on-street dining are in other major cities such as Washington, D.C. and Seattle.

Atlanta has the elements to make a space like this successful in our way. We have a lot of things to work through such as how we manage curbside activities like deliveries. We will continue to work through how everyone can carry out these activities while we enjoy our public spaces including shared space.

We are continuing to talk with our partners about what’s needed to make shared spaces like what is demonstrated on Peachtree more prevalent. Atlanta has the climate for more great outdoor spaces to experience, not just to drive through. I am looking forward to what’s next for Peachtree and all of our public spaces to create a more vibrant Atlanta.

For more information on downtown architecture, read this Atlanta Studies article.

And check out the PBS Special on the Peachtree Shared Space.

City Design Blog