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After gathering more community input, the cities of Atlanta and Decatur have revised the plans for the East Lake MARTA station development project.

Atlanta and Decatur partnered with MARTA, the Toole Design Group and the Noell Consulting Group to propose a new vision for the MARTA site and the surrounding area that could include a mixed-use housing and retail development, a variety of green spaces and plazas and a number of station improvements.

 

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“The East Lake MARTA station has the potential to become the ‘front porch’ of the [surrounding] neighborhoods with needed amenities, housing and connectivity in a transit-oriented development,” the plan said.

There would be space for 430 multifamily housing units and 43,600 square feet of space for commercial businesses on the ground floor. There will be almost three acres of green space.

The vision would also include an overhaul of the current streetscape, adding bike lanes, pedestrian crosswalks, more parking and new intersections.

Revisions to the plan reflect input specifically from the Oakhurst Neighborhood Association, the Parkwood Garden Club and the Druid Hills Civic Association about integrating the project into the community that exists already. Some of the changes include limiting the height of buildings, altering the final timeline for policy and zoning changes and reconsidering traffic control in the area.

In order to implement the concept, the cities’ plans suggest dividing the project into four separate parts. The first portion would improve connectivity between the MARTA station and its surrounding neighborhoods, specifically focusing on College Avenue, Howard Avenue and DeKalb Avenue.

The second stage will develop the mixed-use area on the south side of the station, while the third will develop the north side. Finally, the fourth stage will focus on creating Paden Circle Park, a new one-acre public space featuring a lawn and a stormwater retention pond.

Under the current plans, MARTA will retain ownership of the property, so any residential units will be rental spaces. Additionally, there will be rezoning in the area around the station, with three new zoning districts proposed.

The project will take several years to complete, although an official timeline is still to be determined.

Consideration of the current draft by the city’s Planning Commission is scheduled for August 14, and the City Commission is expected to review it on August 20.

View the entire plan here.

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