Fresh architectural renderings released this week paint a vivid picture of The Stitch, the transformative highway-capping project poised to knit together Atlanta’s downtown and midtown neighborhoods with nearly 17 acres of lush greenspace.
Unveiled by Central Atlanta Progress (CAP) during the third week of October, the updated visuals highlight a more streamlined Phase 1 design, featuring interactive playgrounds, misty water features, and shaded pavilions that promise to turn a concrete scar into a vibrant community hub.
New Renderings Update The Stitch
The renderings, crafted by Mack Scogin Merrill Elam Architects in collaboration with WSP engineers and Hargreaves Jones landscape architects, depict a compact greenspace bounded by Peachtree Street to the west, Courtland Street to the east, Ralph McGill Boulevard to the south, and the St. Luke’s Episcopal Church campus to the north.
Gone is the sprawl of earlier concepts; this revised Phase 1 shrinks from a previously planned 5.7 acres to a more focused footprint, emphasizing high-impact elements like a large contemporary playground, an interactive “Fog Forest” water fountain that can generate ethereal mists, winding pathways through gardens, and a performance pavilion for events and shade.
Social gathering spots and forested areas round out the vision, all elevated above the bustling Downtown Connector (I-75/85) on a new 450-foot bridge spanning the interstates between the existing Peachtree and Courtland Street bridges.
“This is more than just a park—it’s a once-in-a-generation infrastructure project that will reshape the heart of downtown Atlanta,” said LaChandra Burks, a key collaborator with city officials. “With better roads, paths, and bike lanes, we’ll make it easier for Atlantans to live, work, and play in this great city.”
The announcement comes on the heels of a financial lifeline for the long-gestating initiative.
In July, the project suffered a blow when the One Big Beautiful Bill Act—signed into law by President Donald Trump—rescinded $151.4 million in federal grants originally awarded in 2024, slashing funding to just over $6 million.
Undeterred, organizers rallied to secure $50 million through the newly established Stitch Special Services District, approved by the Atlanta City Council in April.
This funding, drawn from property taxes on nearby owners (modeled after mechanisms for the Atlanta Beltline and The Battery Atlanta), will propel design work and cover operations, maintenance, and programming. 10
Jack Cebe, director of The Stitch, emphasized the momentum: “Funding is secured, with $50 million allocated to advance design and construction and the Stitch Special Services District providing a dedicated operations funding stream.
Today, the vision is no longer abstract. Together with our great partners, we’re implementing the Stitch Master Plan to ignite an estimated $5 billion in private sector investment and $9 billion in economic impact.”
The Stitch aims to cap and partially tunnel a half-mile stretch of the Connector, healing a 60-year-old divide that has isolated Black neighborhoods like Buttermilk Bottom and Sweet Auburn from the city’s core since the highway’s construction in the 1950s.
Beyond Phase 1, future expansions will stretch toward the Civic Center MARTA Station and Baker-Highland Connector, incorporating broad tree canopies, expansive lawns, public art installations, a dog park, and even a skate park.
The full build-out, estimated at $713 million, could take until 2036, but CAP projects it will unlock 25,000 new homes (including 3,000 to 3,400 affordable units), 4,500 jobs, and a surge in parkland access—boosting the current ratio from 7 acres per 1,000 residents to levels that enhance mental and physical health citywide.
To help residents envision the future, CAP has installed an augmented reality mural on the Medical Arts Building at 384 Peachtree St. NE, complete with a QR code for immersive previews.
Officials, including those from the Georgia Department of Transportation and Mayor Andre Dickens’ office, reaffirmed their commitment, targeting permits and shovel-ready status by mid-2026, with Phase 1 groundbreaking to follow in 2027 and completion around 2030.
A.J. Robinson, president of CAP and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District, hailed the progress: “A downtown that’s more vibrant and connected than ever is taking shape.”
Final Word
As Atlanta grapples with urban renewal in the post-pandemic era, The Stitch stands as a beacon of equitable redevelopment, blending green innovation with economic revival.
For more details, visit the project’s interactive site or scan the AR mural downtown. Stay tuned to AtlantaFi.com for updates on this and other city-shaping initiatives.
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