Allison BarnetteThe Atlanta City Council has adopted the master plan for a major civic infrastructure project that seeks to improve transit access and reconnect previously disjointed communities.
The project, known as “The Stitch”, that will cap the downtown connector in Atlanta with a 0.75-mile platform, creating approximately 17 acres of new public park space between Ted Turner Drive and Piedmont Avenue.
The name, The Stitch, reflects the project’s mission to mend the urban “tear” caused by the downtown connector. The project seeks to reconnect neighborhoods, improve transportation access, support affordable housing and stimulate equitable economic growth.
The initiative “stitches” together Downtown Atlanta and Midtown to reweave a cohesive urban fabric that was unraveled decades ago. It sews together street connections and enhances pedestrian access.
The project is currently in the engineering and design stage, with construction scheduled to begin in 2026 and continue through 2030. The Atlanta City Council formally adopted the Stitch Master Plan in June, following an 18-month public engagement process that drew input from over 6,000 residents across more than 20 events.
The Stitch is guided by four core pillars: restoring community connections through equitable transportation, creating inclusive public spaces that celebrate Atlanta’s culture, advancing economic opportunity and affordable housing, and enhancing health, safety and environmental resilience. Together, these pillars guide a vision for a more connected, inclusive, and sustainable Downtown Atlanta.
While momentum is strong, the project’s timeline may be affected by uncertainty surrounding federal funding. A proposed federal budget measure could revoke the $157.6 million Neighborhood Access and Equity grant awarded to the project, potentially delaying its implementation. Despite this, project leaders remain committed to moving forward and continue to seek stable funding solutions.
If fully implemented, The Stitch is expected to support up to 40,000 jobs, generate $8.6 billion in economic output and create up to 25,000 affordable housing units, as well as promote a healthier urban environment.
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