Photos: Midtown’s growing art plaza certainly has balls Josh Green Thu, 03/21/2024 - 12:33 Midtown’s promenade of public art, curated landscaping, and beefed-up pedestrian infrastructure is making strides between two MARTA stations, both at ground level and dangling above.

Midtown Alliance reports the first phase of the ½-mile Art Walk project was substantially finished in December, following nearly two years of Astra Group construction. It stretches between 10th and 11th streets, connecting residential complexes and the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta with the Midtown MARTA station.

In addition to an array of “color-changing custom light spheres” hung from catenary wires overhead that help with wayfinding, upgrades along the Peachtree Walk corridor include new public furniture, specialty concrete, landscaping, security bollards, and sidewalk upgrades for a more shared-street vibe, per Midtown Alliance.

Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Eventually the Art Walk is planned to stretch five blocks between the Midtown MARTA and Arts Center MARTA stations, incorporating both private property and public space.

Sections of the remaining four Art Walk phases have been completed in conjunction with private development, including the dual-branded AC/Moxy hotel (2019) and Selig’s 1105 West Peachtree mixed-use complex (2021). Phase two, between 11th and 12th streets, was moved from initial concepts toward design development and construction last year, per Midtown Alliance.

The final piece—phase five, between 14th and 15th streets—is pending future redevelopment of the failed No2 Opus Place parcel.

Find a quick tour of what’s artful and new in the gallery above.

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Midtown Atlanta Midtown Alliance Art Walk Midtown Art Walk Peachtree Walk Midtown Greenspace Midtown Parks Atlanta Parks Pocket Parks Astra Group

Images

We begin at a bird-topped entry point to Midtown MARTA station, just north of 10th Street. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Where light poles have been installed to support the catenary system, from which “color-changing custom light spheres” hang over pedestrians today. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

At center is the “Lift” installation by sculptor Andrew Crawford, a staple public art piece around Midtown. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Looking south across new plantings and another bird-topped MARTA entry point. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

A look at Art Walk’s sizable landscape planters, each with steel edges or walls. Nine large Breezeway Nuttall Oak trees were also planted, per Midtown Alliance. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Decorative plaza stones that can double as seating. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

This section of Peachtree Walk abuts the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta parking facilities—an aesthetic downer. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Widened sidewalks buffered from the street by eye-pleasing landscapes. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

South view that shows, at left, new security bollards placed along sidewalks. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

The spheres continue up the hill toward 11th Street. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

More bollards and stones, which sounds like an English rock band. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Where new bulbouts (and more bollards) were implemented to “tighten the intersection of 11th Street to shorten pedestrian crossing distances,” per Midtown Alliance. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

East view on 11th Street and recent sidewalk upgrades, including bulbouts. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Westward view down 11th Street. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

We conclude with a lovely southern view toward downtown (and bulbouts) from an 11th Street hilltop, where recent Art Walk improvements end. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Subtitle Actually, those are Art Walk “color-changing custom light spheres”

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