West Midtown is booming. Will congestion hurt that?

This former industrial center is now a magnet for large and small companies, particularly in the creative and tech industries. Developers and owners of small businesses have turned warehouses into shops and restaurants. But West Midtown is facing a transportation problem. It doesn't have direct access to MARTA rail, which is odd considering the frequent freight trains that pass through the district. The lack of a standard street grid confuses pedestrians and drivers. The Georgia Department of Transportation released recently a video showing future changes to Northside Drive. Advocates of urbanism criticized the plan for focusing too heavily on drivers and not providing enough protections to pedestrians or bike riders. Malik Leaphart (a senior associate in Stream Realty Partners' office division) said that West Midtown has so far managed to overcome traffic problems by focusing on its accessibility to amenities. Leaphart stated that transportation is a problem. "We get around this by providing everything here so you don't have to leave. People who live close to their work reduce the need for car trips. Visitors come from all over Atlanta to West Midtown and the nearby Upper Westside. Karl Smith-Davids is the senior project manager for Midtown Alliance. The organization focuses on the improvement of the area east of I-75/85. Godspeed to all who are trying to create a neighborhood that is self-contained and doesn't get crowded out by everything else. It would be great if you could live there and work there. My colleague and I met Doug Shipman, Atlanta City Council President, to discuss the city’s growth a few months back. Shipman stated that the city is aware there are transportation improvements needed on the Westside. Shipman said, "We're trying our best to get our hands around those things," referring to the rapid growth of West Midtown. Are there sidewalks? Do you have crosswalks? Does the infrastructure exist? Shipman was referring specifically to Microsoft's Grove Park site, which covers 90 acres. It is far removed from West Midtown's commercial center. The Westside's tech hub could be a major driver of the Westside's future development. Shipman stated that there is no master plan. Shipman said, "That's what's needed because we don't know all the things that will happen." Things are going to happen even if they aren't anticipated.