#5... The Covered Bridge

Why We Love It..

Yes, we know The Chattahoochee National Recreation Area and Vickery Creek Park just came in at #6 and the Covered Bridge is part of that park.  However, the Covered Bridge is iconic.  It is arguably the most recognizable single symbol of Roswell.  We love it because it was a transformative project that took thought and political will to make happen.  It was expensive and will never 'pay for itself' but that's not the point when you're placemaking.

Just show someone a picture of the bridge who has never seen it and watch their reaction.. 

What We Would Change..

Nothing... We'd build another signature bridge.  Actually two.  One is already in the planning stages to link Sandy Springs and Roswell for pedestrians and cyclists.  If we had our way, it would be a replica of the original bridge over the Chattahoochee that was burned during the Civil War.  The other bridge would connect the Chattahoochee National Rec Area to South Atlanta Street about 3/4 of a mile downstream from the Covered Bridge.  I hear some dreamers want to put a suspension bridge around that spot.  Not a bad idea.

#15... Sloan Street Park

Why We Love It..

This little park in the Mill Village neighborhood is a perfect example of a pocket park.  It has a little field, a playground, a monument and a place to congregate.  It is not separated from everything else (i.e. houses) like our other larger parks.  In fact is is surrounded by houses on all sides (excluding a couple of empty lots).  Houses around it don't need big yards because the park is there.  It is private but accessible in a way that most other Roswell parks are not. 

What We Would Change..

Roswell needs more parks like this one in the middle of its neighborhoods.  I'd like to see an annual neighborhood gathering in the park to engage the residents of the neighborhood even more.  Anyone want to help us organize one?

A Whitewater Recreation Center in Roswell

This is the 24th post in a series of posts this December that will chronicle the 25 things we would most like to see in Roswell. None of these are actually happening... at least in the way we'd like them to. Please enjoy and have a happy holidays! 

Santa.. this is the big one.. This is what I really, really, really want for Christmas this year.  I know you probably can't make it happen but I'm going to ask anyway.  I want a whitewater rafting and recreation center right here in Roswell.  I want it to be like the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte.

Readers follow me here.  If you've visited Charlotte in the past 4-5 years, you may have heard about the U.S. National Whitewater Center there.  It is on the west side of town in a pretty remote/difficult to access area off the I-485 bypass.  Unfortunately, the business itself is struggling due in part to high operational costs but mostly due to poor attendance.  I believe that both issues could be overcome here in Roswell.  Primarily, I'm certain that the attendance issue wouldn't exist due to a more metropolitan and visible location.

Now that you know what it is that I'm talking about, let's take a look at where I'm talking about.  I think an attraction of this nature would fit perfectly at the southern end of the historic corridor.  There are a couple other locations including one in Sandy Springs that would work.. but when you look at what location would spark the right type of development, encourage visitors to come to Roswell to spend money and increase the tax rolls the most, you need to look at this location.  Pictured below is a side by side at the same size of the whitewater center in Charlotte (right, upside down) and the location I'm thinking of which is the north west corner of the S Atlanta St/Azalea Rd intersection.  You can see that the overlay would almost be perfect.  

 

So, what are the pitfalls.  Currently, there is an apartment complex there.  This would have to be purchased by the city or by a private developer.  It's likely that some of the adjacent properties would need to be purchased as well.  The topography in this area has some pretty steep terrain.  A comprehensive survey would need to be done to ensure that the fall would not be too steep to support a water flow conducive to kayaking and whitewater rafting.  Assuming that those challenges could be met, you are looking at funding and profitability.  The whitewater center in Charlotte cost roughly $35M (not sure of the exact numbers) and has only been able to turn a profit in the past year after a debt restructuring.  Again, having lived in Charlotte and visited the center on multiple occasions, I believe this to be an issue of location and accessibility.  The facility is absolutely incredible and would draw experts and novices alike.  

Roswell would not have the same issues.  Here in Roswell, we have other attractions that could serve as catalysts to feed the development.  I see the following existing and future developments as major catalysts that would contribute to the success of this project:  

• The Chattahoochee River which has an environment for river paddling that would complement the whitewater.
• Riverside park and our summer concert series
• The Atlanta Rowing Club offers another paddling alternative
• The heavy bicycling traffic which I would see as complementary and hitting the theme of outdoor recreation that Roswell should brand itself around
• The Chattahoochee Nature Center which is another city attraction that draws visitors from around the region
• Historic Roswell - shopping, dining and entertainment
• Go With the Flow - one of the most respected paddling retail shops around
• Roswell Mill Park - outdoor activities right up the street with historic sites as well
• Rock Climbing at Allenbrook - more outdoor activities right next to this site
• Andretti's Indoor Karting - It's a few miles away but it is another draw that coupled with the whitewater recreation center could encourage visitors to make their way to Roswell.. (btw.. I love Andretti's)

Now, let's tie in the rest of my wish list into this item.  I didn't do this intentionally from the start but as I continued to post, it became an obvious synergy.  You can see the following posts would all synergize well with this project: 

• Build the Boutique Hotel on the Square - People would actually stay here if a regional attraction were right down the road.
• A Canopy Tour - Once again hitting on the outdoor theme and having Roswell work to become the premiere outdoor recreation destination in the state.  This would work perfectly and could probably be run by the same organization as the whitewater recreation center.
• A Weekend Trolley Around the Historic Corridor - Get visitors from the whitewater recreation center up to the other areas of our historic district where they can enjoy other amenities.
• Build the Bike Bridge - This continues the focus on outdoor recreation and would get Sandy Springs riders right to the hub of outdoor recreation.  Why wouldn't Sandy Springs chip in $350k for the bridge?
• Connect the Big Creek Greenway - What better way to anchor the greenway that stretches well into Forsyth County?  I think riders might make the trek just to have lunch at the whitewater center restaurant.
• Build the Roswell Loop - Where's the starting point for the loop?  Well, the whitewater recreation center sure would be a great place to start and finish a 20+ mile ride.
• All Aboard!! Let's Bring a Train to North Fulton - The Chattahoochee stop on my proposed route would drop folks off right at the doorstep of the whitewater recreation center.  Now, getting the train through the ground and over/under the river is a challenge in itself.. but don't forget that this is my wishlist folks.. I don't have to be reasonable.  I'm sure my parents didn't think I was reasonable when I was 6.
• New City Tagline.. 'This is living...this is Roswell' - I'm not a fan of this tagline.  My opinion is that Roswell needs to brand itself as the premier outdoor recreation destination in the state of Georgia and maybe even the southeast US.  Let's try something like..  "Get outside and enjoy life... in Roswell" or "Live.. Play.. Love.. Roswell."  These aren't perfect but I don't get paid $30k to come up with slogans either.

Well, it's been fun coming up with 24 things that I would like to see happen here in Roswell.  I hope you have enjoyed the list.  Obviously, many of these are pipe dreams but there's nothing wrong with being a dreamer.  You may have noticed that there are only 24 posts... well, what Christmas would be complete without some stocking stuffers.  Tomorrow, I am going to post the final installment of stocking stuffers which are some small presents.

Merry Christmas Roswell!!

images: WagsomeDog @ Flickr, Doug Letterman @ Flickr, Google Maps

Connect the Big Creek Greenway

This is the 18th post in a series of posts this December that will chronicle the 25 things we would most like to see in Roswell. None of these are actually happening... at least in the way we'd like them to. Please enjoy and have a happy holidays!

We really need to get on the ball here.  This greenway should be contiguous from Forsyth to SandySave & Close Springs.  The Forsyth section is well under way and we have completed the greenway just about down to Holcomb Bridge Rd.  As you can see from the map above, there is a conceptual piece of the greenway that is planned all the way down to the southwestern edge of Roswell where it would connect into Cobb county.

What are we waiting on here?  This one is a no brianer.. plus, I could then commute by bike all the way from the mill to Windward Parkway... well, that might be a bit much.

image: City of Alpharetta

A Canopy Tour

This is the tenth post in a series of posts this December that will chronicle the 25 things we would most like to see in Roswell. None of these are actually happening... at least in the way we'd like them to. Please enjoy and have a happy holidays!

This is kind of a dream item on my wishlist that I'm sure a ton of people would hate to see here in Roswell.  However, it is my wishlist and this is what I want.  I'm convinced that a canopy/zip-line tour of the national recreation area and Vickery Creek from the Mill down to Riverside Park would be a big success.  The other location that I can think of would be at the Chattahoochee Nature Center but I think the Mill location would be a bigger draw and tie in more business and recreation into the historic district.  

Here's how I can see it operating.  Ticket booths at both locations.. the Mill and Riverside park and run a shuttle back and forth.  There would be a guided zip line, canopy tour and hike from the Mill all the way down to Riverside Park (I have a better less realistic location but that's for another post).  If done right, it could expose people to a number of Roswell's lesser known gems (Mill Park, Mill Village, Vickery Creek, rock climbing at Allenbrook and the beautiful national recreation area) all on the way down the zip line..  This could be a regional draw if done right and increase tax revenue while having a synergistic effect on local restaurants, retail and cultural sites.  

I'm sure the permitting, insurance, and other processes would be brutal and I'm not signing up for them but if someone likes this idea, I'd be more than happy to give my $0.02.

image: baxterclaus @ flickr

New Urban Roswell Update

We found more than a few news items of note over the past couple of weeks from Roswell, around town and even outside the country.

Roswell

Roswell to Begin State Road 9 Improvements - AJC

The project has begun. We noticed the big orange barrels on our commute to work yesterday and we are excited to see the work begin. The work will progress in quarter mile increments and will begin at Norcross Street. This will really help change the face of the Roswell midtown area.

Legislature Passes Transportation Bill - ABC

This wasn't my favorite solution but it is a step in the right direction. MARTA will probably still have to make cuts this summer and we won't see any actual projects completed using the potential penny sales tax until 2014.

Sales of Foreclosures in North Fulton Increase: So What? - Live in Alpharetta

I'm not sure that I wholly agree with this post but I do agree that home prices in North Fulton are unlikely to see a wholesale decrease in values. The data is still deeply concerning and does not give any indication to me at least that the credit crisis is letting up. As the stimulus money begins to run out this quarter, I expect to see a dip back into recession territory. Also, the fact that Georgia was the sixth worst state came as no surprise but is disconcerting nonetheless.

Harry's Finds More Fresh Produce - NorthFulton.com

Harry's is now the drop off point for the Dunwoody Green Market CSA. We now have two CSA dropoffs here in Roswell with the other being the Local Food Stop dropoff at Market Street Antiques and Unitarian Universalist Church on Wed and Thurs respectively.

Roswell, Alpharetta Going Green - NorthFulton.com

This is a great article on Roswell and Alpharetta's green efforts. With Roswell being the only city in the state (to date) to achieve a Silver rating for the ARC's Green Communities initiative, it is obvious that the city is doing many things right. From parks, trails, water management, community outreach, tree protection and recycling, the city has really done a lot of good.

Metro

Big Creek Greenway Gets $1.5M Extension

This is great news for the big creek greenway. It will be incredible when it connects to the Forsyth portion. Now, let's see what the plan is for Roswell to extend the greenway further south.

Atlanta Receives Earth Day Brownfields Award from EPA to Support Beltline in Atlanta - EPA

This was a great announcement. Especially given the lack of funds that Atlanta or the state received from the stimulus package. There are 950 brownfield properties within Atlanta and 136 of those are along the Beltline.

Transit Cuts are Protested in Atlanta - NY Times

I thought it would be nice to get a little outside perspective on this. A third of the MARTA of buses and trains have had big red X's painted over them to signify that those are buses or trains that will be cut soon. We can only hope that cuts can be avoided. Unfortunately, it doesn't look that way. This article is rather pointed and doesn't mince words.

Reporter Asks "What Crosswalk?" - PEDS

I couldn't agree more with PEDS on this one. They wanted to point out that all too often, pedestrians are found at fault in traffic incidents while the bigger question of why did the pedestrian feel that they needed to act in an unsafe manner goes unanswered. Kudos to this reporter and to PEDS for posting this.

City Hall East Property Has New Suitor - ABC

Now that the beltline park in the fourth ward is underway, this purchase was bound to happen. The building should make an awesome mixed use office/residential complex if done right. There is a lot of potential here and I'm excited to see what it will become.

Compost Bins, Rain Barrels to be Distributed in Alpharetta - AJC

Unfortunately, I don't need these right now. The city will be selling Earth Machine backyard compost bins. Bins and rain barrels will be sold for $45 and $55 on a first-come-first-served basis.

Beyond

Would Streetcars in DC Spoil the City's Vistas - Washington Post

I completely agree that overhead wires look bad. I hate utility wires of all kinds. The technology does exist to make streetcars run without those ugly overhead wires. I just hope they aren't making perfect the enemy of good here. Streetcars definitely have a place and serve a great purpose.

New CDC Report Tells How to Design Communities to Support Good Health - PR-USA.net

The report in discussion works to illustrate the need to consider physical activity, respiratory and mental health, water quality, social equity and healthy aging when designing communities and the built environment. The CDC is looking to bring different diciplines together to work together to design the built environment in a more effective manner.

Upcoming Events

Congress for the New Urbanism - 5.19 - 5.22 - The most influential minds in the new urbanist movement will be here in Atlanta for the 18th congress. The theme this year is Rx for Healthy Places and is a joint effort with the CDC.

Go Wild in Roswell - 5.20 - 6.6 - This is a citywide celebration of nature that will feature different events on different days. Check out the link for details.

Atlanta Streets Alive - 5.23 - This one is still a little while away but it is a really interesting concept.

Sites You Should Know - Get Outdoors Georgia

The Get Outdoors Georgia website is a useful tool to find ways to get you and your family and friends outside for some fun here in Georgia. The site is run by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. It has good info on events that are held in the State parks as well as clubs and groups that you can join. The handy 'find a park' feature is already pre-set on Atlanta and you can see eleven parks in the metro area. Some of the activities you can find information on include biking, boating, fishing, camping & hiking. You can also find locations for golfing, disc golf and tennis.

If you're looking for a way to plan a quick outdoor adventure, check it out.

Peach Bites

One Of Most Endangered Rivers In Georgia
from GPB News by Edgar Treiguts

The conservation group American Rivers released their report on the 10 most endangered waterways in the U.S. There is some good news and some bad news. The good news is that the Chattahoochee River is not on the list. The bad news is that the Flint River is on the list. It is actually the #2 most endangered river according to their report.


Georgia ranks No. 25 in nation for energy costs
Atlanta Business Chronicle

We're right smack in the middle of the pack. Unfortunately, we don't have more renewable energy.Georgia’s energy cost ranks in the middle of the country, according to a new study released by The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council. The lowest cost states are 1) Wyoming; 2) Idaho; 3) Utah; 4) Kentucky; and 5) West Virginia. The highest cost states are 46) Massachusetts; 47) Rhode Island; 48) Alaska; 49) Connecticut — tied with New York — and 50) Hawaii.


Adult workshops in Atlanta - an engaging and educational schedule for spring
from Atlanta Green Parenting Examiner

The Chattahoochee Nature Center is a great place to visit and learn about wildlife and environmental issues in our area. They are offering adult classes on topics including birding, rafting, photography and fishing. Additionally, the new Chatthoochee Nature Center Discovery Center and pavilion is scheduled to open in June.

Study: Spammers scourge to inbox and environment
from AP

A study was released today detailing the overall impacts of Spam email. Unfortunately, the impact is not limited to cyberspace. McAfee Inc's study estimates that the total amount of power wasted each year that can be attributed to Spam email is enough to power 2.4 million US homes for a year. WOW! Spam has one heck of a carbon footprint.

This Week in Atlanta

This week is going to be a really busy week for green events here in Atlanta. Many Earth Day celebrations will be held on Saturday the 18th. Here's a preview of what is going on this week:

April 13 (Monday)

630pm - 830pm - Beltline Public Workshop - Southeast Study Group

April 14 (Tuesday)

7pm - 10pm - Sierra Club - Metro Atlanta Chapter Monthly Meeting

April 16 (Thursday)

530pm - 7pm - Andres Duany, Free Talk on Smart Growth Principles in Decatur

April 17 (Friday)

730am - 9am - Central Atlanta Progress/ADID Town Hall Meeting - The Ritz Carlton Atlanta
All Day - Georgia Tech Earth Day Celebration

April 17 - 19 (Fri-Sat)

Dogwood Festival at Piedmont Park

April 18 (Saturday)

City of Alpharetta Bulky Trash & Electronics Recycling Day \

Earth Share of Georgia Corporate Green Day Challenge

8am - 12pm - Beltline Earthday Cleanup

9am - 12pm - Trees Atlanta Planting, Location Varies
10am - 3pm - 7th Annual Earth Day Kids Fest - Chattahoochee Nature Center
8am - 5pm - Earth Day at the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center

April 18 - 19 (Sat-Sun)

Sweetwater 420 Fest, Historic Candler Park

Peach Bites

Mother Nature becomes a dot-com
Atlanta Journal Constitution

We have a new big-time entrant into the green themed website arena. The Atlanta based Mother Nature Network (www.mnn.com) launched recently and it is a very robust offering. The website has eight main sections ranging from business to lifestyle and each section comes complete with its own blogger. The site also has a number of green themed videos and infographics that ou will find interesting.

Atlanta's Greenspaces Inadequate for a Growing Population | Planetizen
Planetizen.com

Not that we didn't already know this but Atlanta has the lowest percentage of green space amongst major American cities. The median amount for the nation's largest cities is 13.6 acres of parks for every 1000 residents. Atlanta is at 7.7. We are working on increasing that with the Beltline. The article also points to Gwinnett as a great example. Since 1997, Gwinnett has raised over half a billion dollars for parks and greenspace development.

Georgia K-12 Schools, Apply to Win a Free Energy Audit
MarketWatch (press release) - USA

Southeast Rebuild Collaborative, a five state energy office initiative to improve energy efficiency by at least 10% in the upcoming year, Southface Energy Institute and the Division of Energy Resources of the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA) are offering a free energy audit to one K-12 school in Georgia. Anything that our schools can do to save money that doesn't need to be spend is fine with me. We look forward to seeing what school wins.

Serenbe in the News Again
Chicago Tribune

We recently highlighted an article from the NY Times that featured Serenbe and it's local, sustainable living model. It looks like the community is making news again but this time in Chicago which is home to the community that inspired Serenbe, Prairie Crossing in Grayslake.

Fees to Rise at Georgia State Parks
Peach Pundit

Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources is suggesting state park fees be raised from $3 to $5. Additionally, they are planning to raise the fees for annual passes to $50 from $30. I'm just curious whether they are raising the fee out of necessity or out of opportunity. It is no secret that during recessions, families look for cheaper alternatives to entertainment and the parks have historically been one of those cheaper forms.