Reimagining and Connecting Public Streets in Midtown Atlanta
New Visioning Initiative Sets Sights on Improving Peachtree Street
Peachtree Street is widely acknowledged as the landmark corridor connecting $19B of economic development prowess connecting Downtown, Midtown, and Buckhead in the City of Atlanta.
Peachtree Street at 6th Street in the 1940s. Credit: Georgia State University Library Digital Collections
In Midtown, Peachtree Street carries a mix of retail, residential, office, and civic uses. Over time, the corridor’s identity in Midtown has shifted where we now see cars dodging around double-parked delivery trucks, next to buses, next to pedestrians, next to e-scooters, next to patio dining … with everyone competing for space … and at the same time, the presence of some underperforming space near the curb. Additionally, Peachtree Street continues to operate as the public space during gatherings such as Atlanta Streets Alive, the Atlanta Pride parade, the St. Patrick’s Day parade and Championship celebrations, among other big events.
Can Peachtree Street change to better serve the continued densification happening in Midtown?
Peachtree Street at 5th Street in 2020.
A recent Midtown Community Survey included a question about Peachtree Street, asking people to prioritize how the corridor could be improved. The results pointed to how this street means many different things to different user groups.
The ongoing Visioning Plan for Peachtree Street from North Avenue to 10th Street will create a modern design language for the corridor by questioning the best use for currently underused asphalt and sidewalks and exploring the future of a livable street that supports a vibrant community. Reallocating and reprioritizing vehicular spaces with active, human-centered places is at the heart of this initiative.
On November 1, 2023, Midtown Alliance hosted a public meeting to kick-off the study phase of the project. Future public meetings will be held over the course of the planning period through Q2 2024.
Midtown Alliance will be hosting additional meetings for the Peachtree Street visioning through the Spring – visit Peachtree Street Visioning | Midtown Atlanta for more details.