Monthly Construction Update: November 2013, From Midtown Alliance

Each month our friends at Midtown Alliance put together a construction update with detailed description of projects throughout the Midtown corridor.  Since its creation in 1978, Midtown Alliance has been the driving force behind the revitalization of Midtown.  Midtown Patch urges readers to visit their site for valuable info as well.  If you have any concerns about the info below, visit Midtown Alliance and contact them.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION:

Peachtree Streetscape: Southern End - This project began in May and will extend the Peachtree Streetscape "pallette" to the southern end of Midtown.  The stretch between 3rd and Pine Streets will be upgraded with new sidewalks, pavers, curbing, trees, and pedestrian lights where needed.  Select portions of overhead utility lines will also be relocated underground.  Last month, crews milled and re-paved from 3rd Street to Ponce de Leon Ave.  Design is underway for the next phase of improvements from Ponce to Pine.

Peachtree Streetscape: Northern End - Now in its final phases, this project extends Peachtree streetscaping to the northern end of Midtown between Peachtree Circle and the I-85 Bridge.  Utility authorities will soon "light up" the newly installed pedestrian and roadway lighting.  Construction crews will remove remaining utility poles at the Peachtree Street/Peachtree Circle intersection and tackle final punch list items.

10th Streetscape - This project includes installation of new sidewalks, street trees, pedestrian lighting, landscaped medians and ADA upgrades between Williams Street and Piedmont Avenue.  Other improvements include a new signalized mid-block pedestrian crossing at the Midtown MARTA Station as well as burial of overhead power lines and poles between Peachtree and Juniper Streets.  Construction crews recently milled and re-paved two intersections and the block between Peachtree and Juniper.  This month we'll install the permanent roadway striping and crosswalks at both intersections to align with existing and newly installed ADA ramps.  Crews will soon finish underground utility trenching at Juniper and install new sidewalks on the north side of 10th between Juniper and Piedmont.

South Midtown Pedestrian and Circulation Improvements - This $4 million effort provides a wide range of improvements along North Avenue and Ponce de Leon Avenue including circulation improvements, streetscape upgrades, installation of key "gateway" features and creation of new public spaces such as Ponce Triangle near the Fox Theater.  Final phases included new colored/stamped crosswalks at Peachtree intersections with Ponce and North.  Crews recently removed overhead utility lines and associated poles at Peachtree and Ponce and will soon complete final punch list items.

Peachtree Overhead Utility Burial - After being hosted Downtown for several decades, the 33rd Annual Children's Christmas Parade will take place in Midtown for the first time this December.  In anticipation of the event, we are spearheading an effort to bury all currently-overhead utility lines crossing Peachtree Street.  Our team is currently working on crossings at 5th, 8th, 14th, and 16th Streets.

Tree Well Fencing and Planting - Midtown's Tree Well Adoption Program is well underway!  To-date, 108 tree wells have been adopted, and the first phase of fencing around 25 tree wells is complete.  See the new fencing along Peachtree Street on the east side between 10th and 11th Streets and adjacent to Margaret Mitchell House between Peachtree Place and 10th St.  Beautiful low-water-use perennial plants have been installed, with more to come in the next two weeks.  A second phase of 35 tree wells will be fenced later this fall.

Fall Landscape Installation - Last week beautiful fall annuals were planted along streets, in medians, and in parks and plazas throughout the District.  Replacement shrubs, perennials, and trees will be planted where needed over the next few months.

Bicycle Racks - The first installation of Midtown's "branded" bike racks was completed in September.  Enjoy 30 new spots throughout the District to park your bike!  Ride on friends!

10th Street Cycle Track - The success of the recently-completed Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail increased the already-high demand for bicycle facilities in Midtown.  As a result, we partnered with the City of Atlanta and the PATH Foundation to implement Phase 1 of a dedicated two-way "cycle track" on 10th Street along Piedmont Park, between Monroe Drive and Charles Allen Drive.  The facility connects cyclists between Midtown's core and the BeltLine, and anticipates future cycle routes on Juniper Street and Piedmont Avenue.

10th Street Temporary Pocket Park (at 10th/Peachtree) - Through a collaboration with Dewberry Capital, we created a temporary “pocket park” corner of 10th and Peachtree Streets.  The new space includes a multi-use lawn, badminton net, seating areas, pedestrian paths, and water-wise plantings designed in partnership with the Atlanta Botanical Garden.  A second phase of exciting park improvements are underway this fall.

District-Wide Tree Replacement Program – We installed over 50 new street trees in March 2013 in conjunction with our seasonal effort to identify diseased, dying and missing street trees and replace them with new, healthy, urban-tolerant street trees throughout the entire Midtown Improvement District.  Inventory is underway in preparation for the next District-wide tree planting, scheduled in late winter 2013/early spring 2014.