Three Transformational Projects in Atlanta's Proctor Creek

“A water quality, greenway and trail project for Northwest Atlanta.”

PROCTOR CREEK GREENWAY

Debra EdelsonThe Trust for Public Land

WATERSHED CONTEXT

PROJECT OVERVIEW

EXISTING CONDITIONS

o Flooded homes

o Polluted Creek

o Community

disinvestment

o Disconnected

neighborhoods

o Abandoned housing

stock

o Elevated public health

risks

o Skeptical communities

TYPICAL SECTION: PROCTOR CREEK GREENWAY

PARTNERS AND ROLES

Emerald Corridor, LLC• Assembles private lands• Design, permitting and construction of mitigation improvements

The Trust for Public Land• Assembles public/utility lands• Creates new conservancy• Design & construction of trail • Community outreach

City of Atlanta• Participation of City land via access agreement• Long term landowner of assembled and donated lands

FUNDING

PROJECT FUNDING:

$50 million total project investment

Trail = 100% philanthropy (TPL)

Creek mitigation = 100% Private capital (Emerald Corridor)

Mitigation financial mechanism = Credit sales to parties needing USACE permits. Sales “repay” the land and construction costs and provide for 7-years of maintenance.

LAND OWNERSHIP

oCity of Atlanta 29%

o Emerald Corridor 27%

o Atlanta Housing Authority 9%

oOther Property 35%

Emerald Corridor, LLC• 7-year monitoring obligation to maintain creek buffer lands and

water quality

Trust for Public Land• Establishment & incubate new 501 (c) 3 conservancy for day-to-

day management and maintenance

City of Atlanta• Receives donation of all interests in land• Provides limited suite of services—ex: emergency

LONG TERM STEWARDSHIP

A federal program administered by the US Army Corps of Engineers that utilizes

market forces in the form of credits to incentivize private sector companies to invest in cleaning up the nation’s streams, creeks and wetland resources.

MITIGATION BANKING

IMPLEMENTATION

TECHNIQUES

o Stabilization of stream banks

o Removal of pollutants, trash and debris

o Clearing of obstacleso Channel modificationo Addition of storm

water management facilities

o Installing devices to slow water velocity

o Removal of invasive exotics

o Planting of banks in appropriate plants

PERMITTING, DESIGN & IMPLEMENTATION

Step 1

• Due Diligence and Design• Summer 2010 – Fall 2014

Step 2

• City of Atlanta Review and Approval• Spring 2014

Step 3

• USACE Permitting• Spring 2012 – Fall 2014

Step 4

• Stream Bank Restoration• Spring 2015 – Approximately Summer 2018

Step 5

• Trail and Greenway Construction• Spring 2015– Approximately Fall 2018

Step 6

• Linear Park Opening• Portions open in Approximately Fall 2015

Emerald Corridor

Long Term commitment to community – headquartered adjacent to creek

Trust for Public Land

Leading community education and outreach efforts regarding project implementation, trail connectivity and public access.

City of Atlanta

Collaborative outreach effort in coordination with TPL and EC

Sample of recent meetings:– NPU G, NPU J, NPU D, West Atlanta Watershed Alliance (WAWA), Proctor Creek

Stewardship Council, Community Building Coalition of Northwest Atlanta (CCNA)

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

VISION & COMMITMENT

“The revitalization of Proctor Creek will transformneighborhoods throughout northwest Atlanta. With the help of federal and community partners, including The Trust for Public Land, this effort will spur economic development, connect communities with new recreation opportunities and green space, and integrate critical investments in storm and wastewater management. This public-private partnership demonstrates Atlanta’s commitment to becoming a top-tier sustainable city.”

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed

Take-Aways

• Innovative P3 model for funding green infrastructure

• Achieves multiple goals• Chattahoochee River and system gets

cleaned-up• New connectivity to local trail system

For more information about the Proctor Creek Greenway Program:

Debra.Edelson@ tpl.org404.873.7306 x227

Thank you.