Greenways and Trails Create Amenities for Metro Atlanta Developers

As residents take advantage of trails and paths for commuting on foot and bike to work and entertainment, developers are taking notice. The popularity of these amenities mean developers are seeing greenways as a high value asset for their offices, residential and retail projects. Those who build, maintain and raise awareness about the area’s greenspace also become involved in the discussions.

One driver of interest is creating alternative forms of commuting, as more workers have the ability to bike or walk to work where there are trail connections between residences and businesses. In past decades, workers commuted to employment centers like Buckhead from outlying areas such as Conyers and Peachtree City. Today, more people actually live in the employment centers to take advantage of trails, said Denise Starling, executive director of Livable Buckhead.

“That makes biking and walking to work legitimate commute options now,” Starling said. “That's where the trails really do come into play, especially for a lot of our workforce that comes from intown.”

Trails are being planned to connect development throughout the metro area.

In Peachtree Corners, a redevelopment of two old office buildings into a 300-unit apartment complex called Cortland Peachtree Corners will connect to an 11.5-mile walking trail that will wind through Peachtree Corners and connect to offices in the area.