This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Business & Tech

Will the BeltLine Trail Spark Development?

The Eastside Trail could bring new business and residents to Midtown.

The Atlanta BeltLine’s Eastside trail could bring in a flurry of new businesses and residents to Midtown.

The trail, which will connect Piedmont Park to DeKalb Avenue, will potentially impact neighboring areas. 

Real estate development firm Parkside Partners recently acquired 1440 Dutch Valley Place, which they are planning to renovate into loft office space. A principle with the firm, Kyle Jenks, says that the building, which will go by the name Parkside Piedmont, will “appeal to creative users” such as start-up businesses, design firms and nonprofit organizations seeking “loft-style” one- and two-room office suites.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

When asked if the completion of the first phase of the BeltLine's Eastside in early 2012 will increase demand for new leases, Jenks responded enthusiastically, “No question. There is a long-term incentive for new tenants.”

Commercial real estate developer Gene Kansas, who leases space at Amsterdam Walk, foresees such developments as contributing to a larger trend of the BeltLine bringing new kinds of tenants to the area.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

“Amsterdam Walk has been repositioned as a lifestyle, arts, education, and creative office community,” Kansas said. “It has become a family community place.”

With the increased foot traffic, the “community” along the Eastside trail could extend all the way to the former City Hall East building, which Jamestown Properties recently purchased. The development company is planning for retail, office and residential units in the 2-million-square-foot building.

New business tenants aren’t the only potential newcomers to Midtown.

The BeltLine Affordable Housing Trust Fund is offering $50,000 towards a down payment for qualifying residents seeking housing along certain, defined areas of the BeltLine. Some of the available properties are located in Midtown, including condos at the White Provisions building, which received the 2010 Development of Excellence Award from the Urban Land Institute.

When the opportunity recently was announced on the website, Derrick Duckworth, a liaison between the real estate community and the BeltLine’s affordable housing initiative, saw a substantial “spike in interest.”

Duckworth said residents are asking, “So, the BeltLine is really happening? ... Once they know it’s going up, they are more interested.”

A significant challenge facing developers and real estate agents is the misconception that the BeltLine leads to unsafe neighborhoods, Duckworth said.

Despite the challenge, he insists that “density is needed.” With the affordable housing initiative, there will be “more properties for people who couldn’t afford them before," Duckworth said. 

Potential homebuyers can start now. The BeltLine is sponsoring a seminar and tour on Aug. 13 as a way to captilize on all the recent interest.

For more information on the seminar and tour, contact Hiwot Mekonnen at 404-614-8317.             

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Midtown