The Midtown Alliance is building a new park at the intersection of Peachtree and West Peachtree on 14th Street. The park is targeted to be finished on July 1, complete with a pavilion and amphitheater. While the park is tentatively called Midtown Green, the spot is currently occupied by a four-acre dirt hole.
DeAngelo Hall, an employee at the AC Hotel directly in front of the upcoming park, said he is excited for guests to experience a better view of the city.
“I think it’ll be nice just to have something there [because] the view upstairs from the hotel is either the city view or the pool view, and it’s not really much of a city view on this side,” Hall said. “It’s just been dirt or a tree.”
Brian Carr, director of marketing and communications at the Midtown Alliance, a non-profit membership coalition of leading businesses and community leaders, said he hopes the space will attract many residents and outside visitors hoping to get a taste of the city.
“This space will become a premier attraction in the region for everyone, from suburban and intown residents to visitors coming in from other places,” Carr said. “For these groups, think of visiting Midtown Green as a warm-up before walking over to another cultural destination like the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra or the Museum of Design Atlanta.”
Hall explained that although he was happy to hear that the space was going to be occupied, he was concerned about its proximity to Piedmont Park.
“I heard it was supposed to be a park, but then I was wondering if it really was going to be a park since we’re so close to Piedmont,” Hall said.
Alex Clarke, originally from Yorkshire, England, has lived in Atlanta for two decades, she hopes the park will bring some vibrance to the “eyesore” currently in its place.
“I just think in a community that’s supposed to be or wants to be vibrant, having something that’s such an eyesore in the middle of [the] key district, it’s just such a waste,” Clarke said. “It could be such a great connecting space while Midtown expands.”
Carr noted that the park is set to bring innovation and improvement to the community and is strategically positioned as a place of connection for many of Midtown’s biggest landmarks.
“This four-acre site is strategically located near a MARTA transit station,” Carr said. “ It’s close to a major destination anchor for retail and dining at Colony Square. It’s near the largest Whole Foods grocery store on the east coast. It’s only a block away from the Woodruff Arts Center, which is one of the largest arts and cultural venues in the U.S.”
Hall highlighted concerns that the park may make the area more congested for drivers.
“Nights like [404 Day], when things [are] going on in the city, it’s at a standstill right here because people are trying to get down this way,” Hall said. “ I think [the park] would attract even more people to the area and possibly make it even more congested.”
Carr believes the park may also act as a meeting point for many Atlanta residents to reach local amenities on foot.
“This is a first-of-its-kind project for a community improvement district in Georgia, and we’re taking the time to do it right,” Carr said. “By mid-summer, interim improvements will be in place and the public will be invited to start experiencing the space.”
Carr emphasized that the long-term vision for Midtown Green extends beyond simply filling an empty lot. He explained that the Alliance has been gathering community input for more than a year to shape the programming, design and daily uses of the space.
“We’ll need more input as we go deeper into design and programming strategies to put a finer point on what different audiences will want to see and experience at Midtown Green,” Carr said. “[For example,] what times of day will bring them there, and how we can make all of it feel authentic to Atlanta.”
Clarke echoed that sentiment, noting that the success of the park will depend on how well it reflects the character of the neighborhood.
“[It’s gonna be] a key area that brings in the Arts District and [the Savannah College of Art and Design], and all of those other areas that are developing,” Clarke said.
