25 Years of Livable Centers: A Groundbreaking Journey – and a Bright Future

Atlanta — Oct 23, 2025

This fall, the Atlanta Regional Commission proudly unveiled its Livable Centers Initiative 25 Year Impact Report, celebrating a quarter-century of transformative progress that has reshaped communities across the region since its inspiring inception in 1999.

What is the LCI Program?

The LCI program emerged at a pivotal moment for metro Atlanta. In the late 1990s, the region faced challenges of poor air quality and burgeoning traffic congestion. ARC responded with a visionary idea: foster compact, mixed-use, and pedestrian-friendly communities that offer people diverse ways to get around—on foot, by bike, transit, or shorter car trips.

The program provides communities the resources to reimagine themselves as dynamic, connected places. These funds, which come from federal transportation dollars, support:

• Catalytic studies: Crafting long-term visions for downtowns and transit nodes.
• Tactical studies: Immediate steps like trail feasibility, zoning updates, and design concepts.
• Transportation projects: Sidewalks, bike lanes, road diets, and transit facilities.

Over the past 25 years, ARC has invested more than $380 million in 126 communities, with an additional $72 million in local matches. By 2050, the program is set to receive $1.1 billion in federal funding for transportation projects.

Measuring the Impact

The 25-Year Report combines robust data with stories from local leaders, planners, community organizations, and residents. Together, they celebrate the remarkable transformation of communities across the Atlanta region through the LCI program.

Key findings include:

• Growing, Mixed-Use Communities: Since 2000, LCI areas have thrived, claiming responsibility for 133,000 jobs (37% of all regional job growth) and 17% of new households in the metro area. Nearly half of new multifamily housing units, office space, and hotels introduced in the Atlanta region have been built in LCI communities.
• Affordable Housing Gains: LCIs have added 19,000 affordable housing units, accounting for 35% of all new affordable housing in the region. Many serve seniors and lower-income families, though distribution remains uneven.
• Expanded Mobility Options: More than 200 miles of new bicycle facilities and over 100 pedestrian projects have been constructed in LCIs. Today, 75% of jobs in LCIs are within one mile of frequent transit service.
• Community Engagement: Thousands of residents have participated in shaping their local plans, with recent efforts focusing on meeting people where they are—at festivals, parks, and community centers—to better reach underserved populations.

“ARC continues its commitment to the LCI program by celebrating its 25-year anniversary with the LCI 25 Year Impact Report. We wanted to highlight the program’s successes, while identifying ways we can do better for our LCI communities over the next 25 years and beyond,” said Lauren Blaszyk, ARC Planning Administrator and LCI program manager. “We are grateful to our consultant team led by Gresham Smith and their partners, Spatial Plans and SB Friedman; and the many program stakeholders who attended interviews, focus group meetings, or responded to the survey.”

Challenges Ahead

While the LCI program has celebrated impressive successes, the report highlights areas where more work is needed:

• Housing affordability: A challenge, with many LCI households spending too high a percentage of their income on rent.
• Transportation safety: Bicycle and pedestrian crashes remain a concern despite new infrastructure.
• Implementation: Varies across communities, with some LCIs experiencing major transformation while others struggle due to staffing or local market conditions.

Looking Forward

To meet future needs, ARC is purposefully refining LCI’s goals around the following priorities:

ARC also plans to expand technical assistance, improve data collection, explore new funding options, and help local governments connect with developers to accelerate implementation.

Why It Matters

For 25 years, the LCI program has been at the heart of reimagining metro Atlanta’s growth. The initiative has transformed how communities across the region look, feel, and function.

When interviewed for the LCI 25 Year Video, Mayor Michael Caldwell, City of Woodstock, shared their journey.  “We came into what was a forgotten railroad stop in many ways, and we built out a block-based, grid network of genuinely connected infrastructure. We built a family-friendly, safe environment in which you can walk on trails, you can go to the restaurants, you can play.” Continuing to share the impact, Caldwell emphasized, “Without an LCI program, you don’t have the catalyst that drives that kind of outcome for tens and tens of thousands of people and the millions who come visit this place every year.”

As ARC looks into the future, the LCI program will remain an essential and vibrant tool in creating more connected, livable, and equitable places for all residents.

To learn more about the LCI program, visit our website, where you can view our LCI 25 Year Anniversary video and tour the interactive map to view where LCI communities are located throughout the region.  You can also download the application guidebook that will help prepare your community for our next call for projects in January 2026.

Contact Name: Sheryl Merritt
Contact Phone: 470-757-3799
Contact Email: [email protected]