Dan Borden, a director of Innovation and Inspiration for a company called Blue Zones, has constructed a website for others to help redevelop neighborhoods, streets, and cities. This website shows his method of reconstructing and different resources you can look at to learn more about the company. The goal for the company is to build a safe and healthy environment for the people in the community.
This is source is useful when looking at the structure of Auburn Avenue. This street is a very narrow street that is not beneficial to bicycles or cars. The website mentions that “roads are primarily for cars, with pedestrians and bicyclist as an afterthought” and this is true for Auburn Avenue. This source would be good to look at when trying to redevelop Auburn. The structure of the street has a lot to do with the effect that has on its city.
Dan Burden. “Walkability and City Planning.” Blue Zones. N.p., n.d. Web.
This is a painting of John Lewis, who was a politician and civil rights leader. This photo represent the historical figures who contributed to Auburn Avenue. He is now a U.S representative of Georgia and has served his time since 1987.
This is a very popular church located on the corner of Auburn. It was founded in 1847. It was a predominately black church that was used for community gatherings. The church is currently still open. While speaking to a woman who attends the church, she informed me that the church is still involved in the community. This church has also done a research project on the redevelopment of Auburn Avenue.
This photo of a barbershop located on Auburn Avenue and it is one the oldest located on the street. The business is currently closed, but there is a sign attached to the window that refers you to another location. This represents my observation that a number of these businesses have been shut down.
This is a picture of the Atlanta Street Car and how it runs through the middle of a narrow word. The purpose of this photo is to show part of how Auburn Avenue is structured. The street car makes parking difficult for drivers and bicyclist since there isn’t a lane for them to ride through.
This is one the most popular nightclubs located on Auburn Avenue. It was originally known as the “Top Hat Club” until Carrie Cunningham purchased in 1949. The club was currently closed for the day around the time I did my fieldwork. The club is located at the top of Auburn Avenue at 184-186 Auburn. Some of the best enetertainers such as James Brown, Ray Charles, and Aretha Franklin have performed here.
My exterior built environment is Auburn Avenue. It is a historic African American street located in the east of downtown Atlanta. The site was built in 1865 as a special place for black businesses. As I observed the site I noticed the structure of the street. Auburn Avenue is a one way street that runs an Atlanta Street Car right through the middle. There are no bicycle lanes at the beginning of the street, but as you walk further you notice the labeling of “bicycle lane” located on the further left side of the street. The street has sidewalks built high from the ground, which is a great safety hazard to pedestrians. There is a Street Car stop at the beginning of the street and the structure of it is quite different from the rest of the street. The stop sits highest from the ground and it is accessible for those who are in a wheelchair. Auburn Avenue is a one way street that is very open and easy to navigate, even for people who are in a wheelchair.
Auburn Avenue is a street of many great artifacts such as club Peacock, which is located at the top of the street. It is one of Atlanta’s leading nightclubs in Atlanta during the 1930’s. Some of the most popular entertainers have performed there such as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and James Brown. Walking further down the street is Bethel AME, which is the oldest predominately black church located NE of Auburn Avenue. The church was founded in 1847 and was used for community meetings. Another artifact that struck me was the paintings on the wall of historical black people who were considered “Heros”. The paintings were of Evelyn Gibson Lowery and John Lewis. These paintings for located on the sidewall of two buildings that seemed to be vacant.
Auburn Avenue is a colorful street thanks to the graffiti on the wall. The buildings that seemed a lot more new, were painted in attractive colors that would most likely attract customers. Compared to the newer buildings, the older buildings were simply brown, black, or grey. Despite the colorful look at the top of the street, as I walked along the street it gave off a gloomy mood. This could’ve been because of the chilly whether or the fact that I know the street use to be a very busy area and it isn’t anymore. Auburn Avenue was a place of great prosperity for black owned businesses. I can see that once was from the 4 beauty shops, 2 barbershops, and clubs. This street has obviously lost its value, because a lot of the shops were closed as far as business and some were closed before 6 o’clock.
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I sat at my site from 5:13 PM to 6:13 PM
