Want to have a say in how metro Atlanta grows and changes over the next three decades? Now’s your chance.
A series of pop-up open houses are planned across the region, from Oct. 4 through Nov. 2, that offer a chance to learn about regional planning along with hot topics like transportation technology and housing affordability.
And you can also weigh in on a planned major update to the Atlanta Region’s Plan, the region’s long-range blueprint that covers the next three decades – all the way out to 2050.
These aren’t your run-of-the-mill government meetings (pause for applause). They’re full of hands-on, interactive activities, and you can talk to real-live regional planners and share your thoughts on where our region is headed.
Six open houses are planned, in Clayton, Cobb, Gwinnett and Rockdale counties and the City of Atlanta. Details are here, and below.
Here’s what you need to know about the Atlanta Region’s Plan Pop-Up Open Houses:
What can I expect to find at the open houses?
Think art gallery opening, just with regional planning as the focus.
You can nibble on light snacks and peruse stations with cool info-graphics that cover topics like regional planning, the future of transportation technology, housing affordability, transit expansion, and population and demographic trends.
As we mentioned above, the event features plenty of interactive elements, too, such as a “living infographic” station where you can give feedback on your biggest desires and concerns for the region. You can also hop online and play a game that explores the biggest trends that will be driving change in metro Atlanta through 2050.
And if you’re curious about what road and transit projects are coming to your neighborhood, you can thumb through an online database of transportation projects that are planned in the region over the next 30 years.
Finally, you’ll be able to provide feedback on the latest update to the Atlanta Region’s Plan.
What exactly is the Atlanta Region’s Plan, and why does it matter?
The Atlanta Region’s Plan is essentially metro Atlanta’s blueprint for the future. It details the programs and investments, including roads, transit, and other transportation projects, planned through 2050 to improve the region’s quality of life.
The plan is sprawling in scope – so much so, that planners built a website to showcase the main elements. There’s a lot to scroll through, as it covers much more than transportation projects. It includes services and supports for older adults, programs to help people find better jobs, initiatives to create more pedestrian-friendly communities, and strategic plans to protect our water supply and quality.
The Atlanta Regional Commission updates the plan regularly, but every four years a major update occurs, and that’s what’s happening now.
Where and when are the open houses happening?
Atlanta Region’s Plan Open Houses are taking place across the region. Here’s the schedule:
- Friday, Oct. 4, 11 a.m. -2 p.m.
Atlanta Regional Commission
Peachtree Center
229 Peachtree Street #100, Atlanta, GA 30303 - Wednesday, Oct. 9, 5-8 p.m.
Arts Clayton
136 Main St., Jonesboro GA 30236 - Tuesday, Oct. 15, 5-8 p.m.
Conyers Arts Council
910 Center St. NE, Conyers GA 30012 - Thursday, Oct. 17, 5-8 p.m.
West Whitehall
691 West Whitehall SW, Atlanta GA 30310 - Thursday, Oct. 24, 5-8 p.m.
Strand Theater
117 N. Park Square, Marietta GA 30060 - Saturday, Nov. 2, 1-4 p.m.
Sugar Hill E Center
5009 W. Broad St. NE, Sugar Hill, GA 30518
What’s Next ATL, produced by the Atlanta Regional Commission, is a community resource that explores how metro Atlanta is growing and changing, and how the region is addressing its most pressing challenges.