Livable Buckhead improves neighborhoods!
What do Buckhead’s public art, sidewalks, workforce housing, green spaces and environmental certifications have in common? Livable Buckhead touches them. The nonprofit helps commercial and residential properties in more than 45 neighborhoods, 18,000 individual homes, 36,000 multifamily residential units and 23 million square feet of commercial office space and works to make Buckhead safer, more beautiful and more sustainable. At the helm is Executive Director Denise Starling. “Our mission is to create a positive impact in Buckhead, so it is always an amazing place to live and work. We serve as a connector between developers, city staff and community stakeholders,” she says. “We help ensure each project contributes to a more livable, inclusive and resilient Buckhead by guiding development and bridging the gap between civic organizations and developers.” Here, she shares more about the organization.
How did Livable Buckhead begin?
In 1997, as Georgia 400 was completed and development surged, local leaders saw traffic problems on the horizon and took action. The Buckhead Business Association formed the Buckhead Area Transportation Management Association to launch the Buc shuttle and help employers offer commute alternatives. In 2008, BATMA led the creation of Buckhead’s greenspace plan, but there was no one to implement it. So BATMA expanded its mission, stepping up to meet the broader needs of the community. That shift gave rise to Livable Buckhead with a focus on sustainability, greenspace and long-term livability.
How does Livable Buckhead work with developers and redevelopers?
We want to make sure Buckhead remains this great community well into the future. We are always looking for ways to enhance the quality of life and make sure the community is resilient. Our membership bridges commercial and residential sectors. New developments over 25,000 square feet are required to be members, and we work with them on transportation, events, activations and more.
What is the Development Review Committee?
We convene the Development Review Committee for the two zoning districts that cover the majority of the commercial core of Buckhead. It serves as the official forum for reviewing and commenting on projects that need a special administrative permit or variations from code requirements. This ensures that new developments are aligned with the intent of the zoning and the broader goals of the community. It is collaborative and not a “gotcha” kind of group. Our partners want to know what the community wants and what our priorities are so they can have a good development that’s received well and embraced by the community. Good planning happens when you work together.
What are some of the projects the organization is responsible for?
Our signature project is PATH400. We did the parks plan and have been building that out for the last decade. We look for added park space. Buckhead is the lowest-parked district in the entire city of Atlanta. We’ve added 35 acres through PATH- 400 and the adjacent parks so far, such as Old Ivy Park and Mountain Way Common. We’re doing the design work for the Blueway Trail connecting Chastain, Blue Heron [Nature Preserve] and PATH400.
We promote biking, walking, transit and all alternative forms of transportation. We are also responsible for safety initiatives, including getting all the security directors of the commercial properties together with Zone 2 and MARTA police officers for an information exchange. We provide a housing subsidy funded by the Community Improvement District to have Atlanta Police Department officers live in Buckhead.
LIVABLE BUCKHEAD
404.842.2680
livablebuckhead.com
@livablebuckhead
PHOTO: Joann Vitelli
