On a melting hot late-September afternoon, a large crowd of people was present as the Atlanta BeltLine’s Westside Trail was officially opened to the public on September 29, 2017. The heat proved to be a popular choice of topic for speakers at the ceremony, which was hosted at Gordon-White Park. Among the guests of honor, which included expected individuals like Major Kasim Reed and council members, the BeltLine’s Brian McGowan and Rob Brawner, and representatives from key public and private partners, but also a surprise appearance by Representative John Lewis; whom, Mayor Reed jokingly noted, “just happened to be in the neighborhood.”
Upon completion of the speeches, the guests of honor crossed White Street to cut the ribbon at the access ramp to the Westside Trail, surrounded by a swarm of media and visitors. After the ribbon cutting frenzy, the crowd disbursed back to the park for a community celebration and strolls along the newly opened trail.
The third Ralph David Abernathy Complete Streets meeting took place at KIPP STRIVE Primary on September 28, 2017. Participants were presented with three recommended routes and were encouraged to provide further feedback for their preference in direction. Another meeting is anticipated in November or December 2017.
Neighbors can still provide feedback via the feedback card or email engage@atlbeltline.org.
Project History
In 2014 Westview residents made a big impact when they came out in large numbers to request improvements in the neighborhood at a series of Infrastructure Bond meetings. The City of Atlanta listened and included a number of Westview projects on the list, including making Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard a “complete street” between Cascade Avenue and Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive.
What is a Complete Street?
“Complete Streets are streets for everyone. They are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities. Complete Streets make it easy to cross the street, walk to shops, and bicycle to work.” (Renew Atlanta)
Repaving
The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) started initial project preparations in the summer, and has started to repave and restripe Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard in September 2017. This will result in a safer Westview Village due to traffic calming measures through reduced driving lanes, added on-street parking spots, and added bicycle lanes.
Sidewalks/Streetscape
The City of Atlanta has hired the Atlanta BeltLine to facilitate the design process of creating a more pedestrian-friendly area along the road.
Monday Night Brewing held its grand opening on Saturday, September 23rd, and Sunday, September 24th in the Lee+White development in West End at the corner of White Street and Lee Street, just a skip and a hop over from Westview. It was a bustling Saturday, and a chill, family-friendly Sunday featuring the company’s traditional beers, as well as special barrel-aged and sour beers. Barrel-aged beers will be the focus of the West End facility, while the Westside facility will keep the production of the regular beers.
Starting on Friday, September 29th, coinciding with the Atlanta BeltLine Westside Trail opening, the Monday Night Brewing Garage will start its normal business hours:
Monday-Thursday: 4pm-9pm
Friday-Saturday: 12pm-10pm
Sunday: 1pm-6pm
Please join Mayor Kasim Reed, Atlanta BeltLine, Inc., and Atlanta BeltLine Partnership on Friday, September 29, 2017 as the BeltLine Westside Trail will officially be opened!
Mayor Reed will set the stage with a keynote address at 4:00pm, to be followed by an official ribbon cutting ceremony at 4:30pm. From there, neighbors of the Westside Trail will be welcomed with a community celebration from 5:00 to 7:00pm, featuring free food, music, kid-friendly activities, and opportunities to meet participating local community groups, businesses, and entrepreneurs.
All the festivities will take place in Gordon White Park, just steps away from the new trail, and Atlantans of all ages are encouraged to get the know the 3-mile trail during the celebration.
The opening marks a huge milestone for the Atlanta BeltLine and the City of Atlanta, marking the conclusion of a three-year construction process and an unprecedented $43 million infrastructure investment in Southwest Atlanta. The Atlanta BeltLine hopes you can join them to celebrate this exciting occasion.
For more information visit the event page.
Westview (and other southwest neighborhoods in close proximity) won big in Creative Loafing’s 2017 “Best of Atlanta!”
The Good Hair Shop was picked as Readers Picks “Best natural hair salon.”
Brick + Mortar, owned by Westview-resident David Kowalski, was picked as Critics Picks “Best store for antiques and estate-sale gems.”
KarbonStar Vitality was one of numerous restaurants mentioned in the Critics Picks for “Best ’hood for vegans.”
Bell Street Burritos, owned by Westview-residents Matt and Erica Hinton, was picked as Readers Pick “Best burritos.”
Gangstas to Growers, a program run by Westview’s Abiodun Henderson, was picked as the Critics Picks “Best food revolutionary.”
The Veggie Taste – 7th Annual, is a family fun filled event encouraging healthy eating habits to everyone.
This Health & Wellness Event will have nutritional speakers, artisan marketplace, music, product samples and much more.
The 7th annual The Veggie Taste was once again held in Westview on the grounds of KIPP STRIVE Academy. An array of vegan cooks offered their delicious meals as a DJ played music and a vendor market offered patrons goodies to purchase.
Please help shape the design of the Ralph David Abernathy Blvd SW Complete Street project!
In this public meeting, we will present and seek feedback on the design of the proposed construction project for Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard SW.
The opportunity for additional community input and supporting meeting materials can be found at: www.beltline.org/engage-meetings. These materials will be posted the day of the meeting.
The Good Hair Shop held its Grand Re-Opening after some brief downtime during upgrades.
The re-opened store features a new concept, extending their handmade, all-natural, eco-friendly and chemical free products into a customizable, bespoke experience. You can even have The Good Hair Shop team of ‘Curlologists’ mix custom blended products for you.
Check out photos from the opening soirée.
