Fairlie-Poplar Historic District Streetscape Improvements -
Phase III

Current Updates

The Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (ADID) and the design team, Kimley-Horn & Associates, has completed the draft concept report, categorical exclusion and section 106 environmental worksheet for the Fairlie Poplar Streetscape Improvements, Phase III.  These documents have now been submitted to the Georgia Department of Transportation for their review and comment.

The improvements will include two 11-foot eastbound travel lanes on Walton Street with 7.5-foot wide on street parking stalls on each side of the street, a 6-inch granite curb and 10-foot minimum width concrete sidewalks with 1-foot wide brick edging along the curb lines.  The improvements to Nassau Street will include one 11-foot eastbound travel lane with 7.5-foot wide on street parking stalls on each side of the street and 6-inch granite curb with 10-foot minimum width concrete sidewalks that include 1-foot wide brick edging along the curb lines.

Additional improvements will include new street lights, trash cans, banner poles, raised planters, flower baskets,  additional street trees and tree well plantings, providing ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps, repainting high-visibility crosswalk markings at all crosswalks, performing electrical work to ensure operation of pedestrian signals and performing drainage work to eliminate ponding in crosswalks.

Background
The Fairlie-Poplar Historic District is Downtown Atlanta’s 28-block turn-of-the-century historic business district, located between Centennial Olympic Park and Woodruff Park.  Much of the District is a National Register Historic District.  Fairlie-Poplar provides a rare glimpse into Atlanta's past, visually illustrating its transition from a fledgling, commercial railroad town in the early 1800s to a modern city of skyscrapers today.  Atlanta's oldest high-rises, which were concentrated in the area, today stand side-by-side with three and four-story buildings typical of the earlier Victorian period.  Combined, the district’s pedestrian scale, unique architecture, tree-lined streets and historic atmosphere create a city feel found nowhere else in Atlanta.

Today the district is home to hotels, performing arts venues, a variety of retail stores and restaurants, night clubs, the U.S. Court of Appeals, and various condo, loft and apartment developments.  The district is also within close proximity to major attractions including Philips Arena, CNN Center, and the Georgia Dome. 

In 1992 Mayor Maynard Jackson created the Fairlie-Poplar Task Force to revitalize the district.  The goal of the Task Force was to facilitate the development of a historic vibrant, downtown district that encourages office, retail, residential, cultural, and higher education interest and participation in a dynamic secure environment.  In 1998 the Fairlie-Poplar Task Force and Central Atlanta Progress began this initiative to improve sidewalk conditions within the district, and with help from a consultant team, prepared a design scheme for the entire district.  Conceived as one of the key recommendations of the 1991 revitalization plan for the Fairlie-Poplar Historic District, the streetscape project was envisioned to improve the district’s physical environment.

Phase I, completed in 2001, included work on Broad Street, Luckie Street and Walton Street.  The improvements made during this Phase were financed by $3.0 million dollars of private donations from property and business owners.

Phase II, completed in 2003, continued work on portions of Luckie and Walton streets.  The $1.0 million dollar   construction budget was supported by an $800,000 Transportation Enhancement (TE) funding award from the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and a $200,000 cash match provided by the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta and Central Atlanta Progress.

Phase III will continue improvements not previously completed and will focus on Walton Street, from Cone to Centennial Olympic Park Drive and Nassau Street, from Centennial Olympic Park Drive and Spring Street.  The 1.0 million dollar budget is funded from a $500,000 Transportation Enhancement (TE) grant and a $495,000 cash match from the City of Atlanta’s Quality of Life Fund.

Detailed project description.

For more information about this project, please contact Jennifer Ball at jball@atlantadowntown.com.