On the southeast corner of Memorial Drive and Bill Kennedy Way is another game-changer called, Madison Yards. Named in honor of Madison Reynolds, the businessman after whom Reynoldstown was named, this 17-acre ($250 million) development by Fuqua Development will transform this area in a material way. Madison Yards will feature 550 apartments and townhomes, 80,000 square feet of office space, and 160,000 square feet of retail space. A Publix supermarket and an AMC movie theatre have also been confirmed for the project. The site was formerly occupied by Leggett & Platt.
This transformative development will impact a large area but especially the neighborhoods of Cabbagetown, East Atlanta, Edgewood, Glenwood Park, Grant Park and Reynoldstown. The site is strategically located in the heart of Subarea 4, where the Eastside Trail transitions to the Southside Trail. That transition happens along Bill Kennedy Way (BKW), which runs from Memorial Drive (where the Eastside Trail ends) to Glenwood Avenue (where the Southside Trail begins). BKW, which was constructed in and now occupies the Beltline corridor is about ½ mile long. It also crosses I-20 smack in the middle of that ½ mile stretch of highway. When it comes to completing the Beltline in this section of the corridor, ABI officials have to decide how and where to put the multi-use trail and light rail transit. In 2016, ABI conducted a series of study group meetings to address these design considerations. My understanding is that the multi-use trail will run along on the east side of BKW (likely requiring a new bridge to be constructed across I-20) while the light rail transit will run in middle of BKW (i.e., in-street).
If this ends up being the final alignment, trail users will have to cross the intersection at Bill Kennedy Way and Memorial Drive diagonally (presumably with a pedestrian scramble) like they do at Krog Street and Dekalb Avenue. That will enable them to get from the Eastside Trail (where it ends on Memorial) over to the east side of BKW, where the Madison Yards development is located. It is also my understanding that Fuqua will be installing a path along BKW from Memorial Drive to I-20.
UPDATES
This transformative development will impact a large area but especially the neighborhoods of Cabbagetown, East Atlanta, Edgewood, Glenwood Park, Grant Park and Reynoldstown. The site is strategically located in the heart of Subarea 4, where the Eastside Trail transitions to the Southside Trail. That transition happens along Bill Kennedy Way (BKW), which runs from Memorial Drive (where the Eastside Trail ends) to Glenwood Avenue (where the Southside Trail begins). BKW, which was constructed in and now occupies the Beltline corridor is about ½ mile long. It also crosses I-20 smack in the middle of that ½ mile stretch of highway. When it comes to completing the Beltline in this section of the corridor, ABI officials have to decide how and where to put the multi-use trail and light rail transit. In 2016, ABI conducted a series of study group meetings to address these design considerations. My understanding is that the multi-use trail will run along on the east side of BKW (likely requiring a new bridge to be constructed across I-20) while the light rail transit will run in middle of BKW (i.e., in-street).
If this ends up being the final alignment, trail users will have to cross the intersection at Bill Kennedy Way and Memorial Drive diagonally (presumably with a pedestrian scramble) like they do at Krog Street and Dekalb Avenue. That will enable them to get from the Eastside Trail (where it ends on Memorial) over to the east side of BKW, where the Madison Yards development is located. It is also my understanding that Fuqua will be installing a path along BKW from Memorial Drive to I-20.
UPDATES
- On Memorial Drive, massive Publix soon to open at Fuqua’s Madison Yards complex -- Curbed Atlanta, 06.03.19
- Atlanta Beltline's Eastside Trail is (finally) complete and open for business -- Curbed Atlanta, 07.01.19
- Memorial Drive Update: BeltLine extension and Publix open as reversible lane disappears -- Atlanta Inown, 07.12.19
- Beltline lifts veil on potential I-20 pedestrian bridge, further Southside Trail connections -- Curbed Atlanta, 07.25.19
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