NORTH hIGhLAND AVENUE study December, 1999 North Highland Avenue Transportation and Parking Study Prepared by the City of Atlanta Department of Planning, Development and Neighborhood Conservation Bureau of Planning In conjunction with the North Highland Avenue Transportation and Parking Task Force December 1999 North Highland Avenue Transportation and Parking Task Force Members Mike Brown Morningside-Lenox Park Civic Association Warren Bruno Virginia Highlands Business Association Winnie Curry Virginia Highlands Civic Association Peter Hand Virginia Highlands Business Association Stuart Meddin Virginia Highlands Business Association Ruthie Penn-David Virginia Highlands Civic Association Martha Porter-Hall Morningside-Lenox Park Civic Association Jeff Raider Virginia Highlands Civic Association Scott Riley Virginia Highlands Business Association Bill Russell Virginia Highlands Civic Association Amy Waterman Virginia Highlands Civic Association Cathy Woolard City Council – District 6 Julia Emmons City Council Post 2 – At Large CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS VISION STATEMENT Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION 1:1 Purpose 1:1 Action 1:1 Location 1:3 History 1:3 The Future 1:5 Chapter 2 TRANSPORTATION OPPORTUNITIES AND ISSUES 2:1 Introduction 2:1 Motorized Traffic 2:2 Public Transportation 2:6 Bicycles 2:10 Chapter 3 PEDESTRIAN ENVIRONMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND ISSUES 3:1 Sidewalks and Crosswalks 3:1 Public Areas and Gateways 3:5 Chapter 4 PARKING OPPORTUNITIES AND ISSUES 4:1 On Street Parking 4:1 Off Street Parking 4:4 Chapter 5 VIRGINIA AVENUE OPPORTUNITIES AND ISSUES 5:1 Transportation 5:1 Pedestrian Environment 5:10 Parking 5:17 Chapter 6 ACTION PROGRAM 6:1 Introduction 6:1 Recommendations 6:1 Policy 6:1 Program 6:1 Project 6:1 Funding Sources 6:2 Implementing Agency 6:2 North Highland AvenueStudy APPENDIX Workshop Results Appendix:A Commercial Parking Appendix:B Parking Study Appendix:C Analysis of Restaurants and Bars Appendix:D Inventory of Businesses Appendix:E Street Trees Inventory Appendix:F History Appendix:G Corridor Issues Appendix:H Property Owners Inventory Appendix:I Intersection Comments Appendix:K EXISTING CONDITIONS Study Area MAPS Existing Land Use Sidewalk Conditions Street Trees Transit 15 Year Land Use Plan Zoning North Highland AvenueStudy Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 1 Introduction The North Highland Avenue corridor is a series of four distinct commercial nodes separated by the primarily single family neigh- borhoods of Virginia-Highland and Morningside-Lenox Park. The street is a shining example of urban life, complete with galleries, Purpose restaurants, neighborhood services and residences all existing together in close proximity. The purpose of the North Highland Avenue Transportation and Parking Study is to improve parking and transportation facilities in the area, including bicycle and pe- destrian facilities, in such a way that supports the integrity of the commercial nodes and the surrounding neighborhoods. Vision The vision for North Highland Avenue calls for strengthening the neighborhood character at the University Avenue, Amsterdam Avenue, Virginia Avenue and St. Charles Avenue commercial nodes. The surrounding neighborhoods, in addition to new residential and office space above street level businesses, will provide pedestrian traffic within the nodes as part of this vision. Furthermore, both commercial and the residential areas will work in partnership to ensure that parking demands are met in a way that does not compromise the residential quality of life. Action Several steps are to be taken to see that the plan is enacted. The City of Atlanta will apply for a TEA-21 Grant from the Federal Government to perfrom streetscape improvements at the intersection of Virginia Avenua and Highland Avenue. In addition, the corridor will have at its disposal the proposed Neighborhood Commercial Ordinance to promote neighborhood sensitive uses in user-friendly forms. North Highland Avenue Parking and Transportation Study 1 Chapter 1: Introduction . University node A community workshop was held to garner ideas and in- formation from the public. Amsterdam node . Virginia node . St. Charles node The study involved a design area that focused on North Highland Avenue and a transportation area that included side streets. North Highland Avenue Parking and Transportation Study 2 Chapter 1: Introduction The North Highland Avenue Transportation and Parking Study is the result of twelve months of collaboration from August 1998 to August 1999 between business and property owners, concerned citizens, urban design and transportation consultants, and City of Atlanta staff. To conduct the study, the North Highland Avenue Task Force was formed, consisting of neighborhood representa- tives and business owners, to plan for the corridor’s future. Through countless hours of planning and discussion, as well as one daylong community workshop, the plan was thoughtfully de- veloped to provide the framework for a promising future. Location North Highland Avenue is located in eastern Atlanta in the area bounded by Ponce de Leon Avenue, the neighborhoods of Vir- ginia-Highland and Morningside-Lenox Park, and Briarcliff Road. It lies directly east of Midtown Atlanta and Piedmont Park, is north of Little Five Points and is west of Emory University. The Design Area includes commercial zoned parcels along North Highland Avenue within the City of Atlanta from University Avenue in the north and St. Charles Avenue to the south. It also includes commercial zoned parcels contiguous to those along North High- land Avenue. The Transportation and Parking Study Area in- cludes the Design Area as well as the residential side streets that intersect with North Highland Avenue. History While virtually all of the land within the Study Area is developed with commercial or residential uses, the North Highland corridor was historically an agricultural area dominated by small farms be- ginning with that of William Zachary shortly after the War of 1812. The corridor remained largely agricultural until the 1880s. During this time, two of Atlanta’s leading citizens, Georgia Railroad ex- ecutive and land owner Richard Peters and real estate developer George Washington Adair, purchased the charter of a dormant streetcar company and organized the Atlanta Street Railway Company. Their first project was the Nine Mile Trolley, which opened up the Virginia-Highland area to suburban development. North Highland Avenue Parking and Transportation Study 3 Chapter 1: Introduction The Nine Mile Circle trolley route connected North Highland Avenue to downtown Atlanta. Businesses quickly followed the residential growth. Although there were a few small commercial establishments near the inter- section of Virginia Avenue and North Highland Avenue in 1908, the bulk of the commercial development at this intersection began in 1925. At the same time, commercial development had also be- gun to change the residential areas along North Highland Avenue, including the portion near Atkins Park where homes were con- verted to shops and restaurants. With the close of the 1920s, the area entered a long period of sta- bility that would last until after the 1960s. When trolley service to Virginia-Highland ceased in the 1940s the neighborhood hardly noticed, for the trolley had been replaced by the automobile as the preferred form of transportation. With the arrival of the 1960s, some areas along North Highland Avenue, like many other intown neighborhoods, entered a period North Highland Avenue Parking and Transportation Study 4 Chapter 1: Introduction of disinvestment and neglect. As middle class families moved farther out into the suburbs, they left disinvestment in their wake. Single-family homes were converted into apartments, and prop- erty values and incomes decreased. Today Virginia- Highland and the other neighborhoods along North Highland Avenue have improved drastically to become some of Atlanta’s most de- sirable neighborhoods. Historic structures and Turn of the century houses sprang up as a result of the homes give the trolley service. community a distinct sense of place. The area’s rich urban fabric and walkabil- ity create a pleasant environment that all can appreciate. Fur- thermore, many of its businesses provide unique goods and serv- ices not available anywhere else in the Atlanta region. As a re- sult, people are willing to travel many miles to enjoy the area. The Future Throughout the City of Atlanta, neighborhoods are experiencing a resurgence and revival unimaginable even five years ago. After decades of suburban sprawl, many citizens are demanding a more urban lifestyle, complete with walkable neighborhoods, shorter commutes and neighborhood services. As the popularity of intown living and shopping increases in Atlanta, North Highland Avenue continues to bear the brunt of its own success. The North Highland Avenue Transportation and Parking Study provides the framework necessary to achieve the new vision for North High- land, all while preserving the corridor’s many valuable assets. Factors affecting the corridor are divided into three functional categories: transportation, streetscape and parking. Each cate- gory is given a chapter in which opportunities, issues and prelimi- nary policy recommendations considered at a community work- shop are detailed. North Highland Avenue Parking and Transportation Study 5 Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter Five is devoted entirely to the Virginia Avenue and North Highland intersection. This intersection has many of the advan- tages and