The Beltline began as a project entirely about the public, where plans were not made without first consulting the communities already existing where the Beltline would go. As time has passed however, the rosy promise of the Beltline has faded for some people. The Beltline cannot truly cater to everyone’s wishes, and someone must suffer at the expense of others. The Beltline is a piece of infrastructure that does more good for people than bad, however there are some areas where it could perhaps improve or at least consider the needs of the people a bit more.

The Atlanta Beltline is a major piece of construction that re-purposes the 22 mile railroad that circles Atlanta to link multiple neighborhoods, parks, markets, and businesses. The Beltline helps the community in many ways by connecting people to what they need, by providing a safe, healthy environment, and by reusing old space that would have just been turned into more buildings most likely.

Ryan Gravel, the one responsible for dreaming up the Beltline in the first place, visits the Beltline quite often. In his book he states that the main purpose of the Beltline was to connect people to what they need without the use of a car. He finds joy in a woman walking along the Beltline to pick up her groceries, as that is the exact type of connection he wanted to make. Businesses such as the Atlanta Beltline Bicycle Shop and multiple restaurants have opened up to cater to people’s needs. Housing has sprung up all over the Beltline, as well as art that shifts and changes quite often. The Beltline itself is not very advertised, mostly only the locals of Atlanta know about it. It is not designed to be a tourist destination necessarily, but rather a venue for those who live in the city to get around. Where there is people, there is culture, and because the Beltline facilitates so much traffic, the environment is a canvas to express themselves and make it into what they desire.

The Beltline creates trails for people to get outside and get active in nature, thus building a community that could potentially have better health. Not only that, the way it is designed protects people and the environment from water run off and physical damage that nature could cause. The Beltline has its very own arboretum, with various kinds of trees that help the environment and add to the physical beauty of the Beltline

In regards to transit, MARTA and the Beltline are designed to come together to create public transportation for connecting all of Atlanta. As of right now the Beltline is mostly used for recreation purposes, but the hope is eventually it will take away some of the traffic provided by people in cars when they use the services offered by the Beltline MARTA route.

The idea of the Ponce City Market is similar to the Beltline- create something new while still alluding to the history of the area. The whole idea behind the Beltline movement is to give new life to old railroad tracks and convert it into a space that caters to people and gives them an opportunity get to know the city of Atlanta more intimately. It is a very novel idea, and one that is being replicated across the United States. All over cities are seeking to revitalize their old unused areas and put them to work for the people. The Beltline has really put people in closer proximity to what they need, which is essential for the people who live in the city.

In the beginning, there were many different agencies and groups that got together to draft out the Beltline and make sure it included all the things the community found important, such as affordable housing, an arboretum, and transit. Today, many of these groups still exist and are pushing hard for policies to pass that reflect the way Atlantans want to live. One of the ways the Beltline is making its concerns known is on the ballot November 8th 2016. They were proposing a nine-tenth of a penny increase on the sales tax in order to fund various projects throughout the city. The tax would raise $2.5 billion over 40 years for MARTA, and $300 million for the city of Atlanta.

Few are still not impressed however, and think the tax is negative as it might take from low-income workers or think there are enough sales taxes. Others believe that the city should spend money for transportation on places but the Beltline. Many are upset about the Beltline plans because they feel it is taking funds out where it is not appropriate, such as money for education is going toward the Beltline. Others think the project is focusing on building transit in places where it would really not help those stuck in traffic, such as the suburbs and the city of Atlanta.

A huge concern since the beginning of the Beltline idea was the inclusion of affordable housing. Along the Eastside Trail this has not materialized, as the value of the space went up, so did the cost to live there. There is also worry that community of the neighborhoods that exist now will be displaced or substituted by gentrification of the Westside Trail, as this has already occurred with the Eastside Trail. Even though their are hopes for good prices and maintaining community in this area, it seems that many have lost faith that it will be a reality. Some of these issues were unforeseen, while others were, but there is only so much the Beltline can do for issues such as these. Unfortunate as they are, problems such as an increase in housing and gentrification are only a by-product of the Beltline’s success, and not one that the Beltline could really control.

For the past couple of years, the Atlanta Public School system and the Atlanta Beltline Institution have been battling over money and areas for building. Only in January, 2016, did they finally resolve their differences. For a while, the API was struggling with paying the amount of money that was due to the schools, as the figure was drawn up based on the economy as it was 10 years ago, not as it is now. The dilemma was if the Beltline paid the money it owed to the school, there would be no money to fund the construction of expanding the Beltline. The API withheld money from the APS for two years, and progress was halted as negotiations were trying to be made about the money.The API finally agreed to pay the money to APS that was due, and in return APS let the Beltline off the hook for much of it’s debt. Ever since, the Beltline has moved forward in it’s vision without any problems, at least concerning relations with the school system.

The dilemma with the school system reflects the entire nature of the Beltline. A project as extensive as the Beltline is bound to have some problems, but each time it has overcome. Take for another example the situation about transit along the Beltline involving an activist named Angel Poventud. Angel was involved in a dispute about the grade (basically the steepness of a hill) for light transit. He was being told that the grade was too steep, and light rail would not be possible. Not accepting that for an answer, Angel called all over the United States until he finally found a city with light rail that had a grade steeper than the one the Atlanta Beltline would have. After this event, construction has proceeded as planned. The Beltline has overcome these obstacles because there are a lot of people working hard to make this happen. They believe in the Beltline because it supports the community and offers more pros than cons.

The benefits of the Beltline are astounding, and predicted to grow as more of the Beltline is built. The Beltline project is projected to be finished in the course of 30 years, and it is only on the first decade. The Beltline is also growing quite rapidly, and is picking up the pace as more time goes by as people get more familiar with what they want from the Beltline. The Eastside Trail took 6 years to be completed, while the Westside is only taking 2 or 3 and the Southside Trail is going to begin construction either next year or the year after. More trails will be built, more neighborhoods will be connected, more parks, more businesses, and more life will be connected as the Beltline continues to expand.

The Beltline project has its flaws, but it is meant to be a project made for all. Though some may be upset about some recent developments around the Beltline, it is meant to be a piece of infrastructure to serve the public. It has fulfilled many of its original promises, such as providing a healthy environment and accessibility for all its patrons. Some original fears concerning the Beltline have come true, such as an increase in the price of housing. With all of these things, the Beltline is something that keeps moving forward with the vision of making a positive impact on the people who live in Atlanta and on the space that exists from the old railroad tracks.

The Beltline began as a project entirely about the public, where plans were not made without first consulting the communities already existing where the Beltline would go. As time has passed however, the rosy promise of the Beltline has faded for some people. The Beltline cannot truly cater to everyone’s wishes, and someone must suffer at the expense of others. The Beltline is a piece of infrastructure that does more good for people than bad, however there are some areas where it could perhaps improve or at least consider the needs of the people a bit more.

The Atlanta Beltline is a major piece of construction that re-purposes the 22 mile railroad that circles Atlanta to link multiple neighborhoods, parks, markets, and businesses. The Beltline helps the community in many ways by connecting people to what they need, by providing a safe, healthy environment, and by reusing old space that would have just been turned into more buildings most likely.

“In the beginning, there were many different agencies and groups that got together to draft out the Beltline and make sure it included all the things the community found important, such as affordable housing, an arboretum, and transit. Today, many of these groups still exist and are pushing hard for policies to pass that reflect the way Atlantans want to live. One of the ways the Beltline is making its concerns known is on the ballot November 8th. There is a policy for providing funding to the Beltline so it can finish buying the land it needs to finish the project, and also for the transit that should be put on the Beltline.”

“The idea of the Ponce City Market is similar to the Beltline- create something new while still alluding to the history of the area.”

The whole idea behind the Beltline movement is to give new life to old railroad tracks and convert it into a space that caters to people and gives them an opportunity get to know the city of Atlanta more intimately.

“The Beltline creates trails for people to get outside and get active in nature, thus building a community that could potentially have better health. Not only that, the way it is designed protects people and the environment from water run off and physical damage that nature could cause. In regards to transit, MARTA and the Beltline are designed to come together to create public transportation for connecting all of Atlanta. As of right now the Beltline is mostly used for recreation purposes, but the hope is eventually it will take away some of the traffic provided by people in cars when they use the services offered by the Beltline.”

“It is a very novel idea, and one that is being replicated across the United States cities are seeking to revitalize their old unused areas and put them to work for the people. It is very exciting to be on the Beltline, there is so much color and so many people exercising or just going about daily tasks like picking up groceries. The Beltline has really put people in closer proximity to what they need, which is essential for the people who live in the city. The Beltline itself is not very advertised, mostly only the locals of Atlanta know about it. It is not designed to be a tourist destination, but rather a venue for those who live in the city to get around. Where there is people, there is culture, and because the Beltline facilitates so much traffic, the environment is a canvas to express themselves and make it into what they desire.”

Some have become frustrated with the direction the Beltline is going in. Effects such as gentrification, an increase in the standard of living thus leading to more expensive housing, and funding for the whole project might have been unforeseen, but they are still making an impact on people’s opinions about the Beltline.

“A huge concern since the beginning of the Beltline idea was the inclusion of affordable housing. Along the Eastside Trail this has not materialized, as the value of the space went up, so did the cost to live there. There is also worry that community of the neighborhoods that exist now will be displaced or substituted by the culture of the Westside Trail. Even though their are hopes for good prices and maintaining community in this area, it seems that many have lost faith that it will be a reality.”

There was sales tax increase that will be on the Georgia ballot November 8th of this year. They were proposing a nine-tenth of a penny increase on the sales tax in order to fund various projects throughout the city. The tax would raise $2.5 billion over 40 years for MARTA, and $300 million for the city of Atlanta. Few are still not impressed however, and think the tax is negative as it might take from low-income workers or think there are enough sales taxes. Others believe that the city should spend money for transportation on places but the Beltline. Many are upset about the Beltline plans because they feel it is taking funds out where it is not appropriate, such as money for education is going toward the Beltline. Others think the project is focusing on building transit in places where it would really not help those stuck in traffic, such as the suburbs and the city of Atlanta.

“For the past couple of years, the Atlanta Public School system and the Atlanta Beltline Institution have been battling over money and areas for building. Only in January, 2016, did they finally resolve their differences. For a while, the API was struggling with paying the amount of money that was due to the schools, as the figure was drawn up based on the economy as it was 10 years ago, not as it is now. The dilemma was if the Beltline paid the money it owed to the school, there would be no money to fund the construction of expanding the Beltline. The API withheld money from the APS for two years, and progress was halted as negotiations were trying to be made about the money.The API finally agreed to pay the money to APS that was due, and in return APS let the Beltline off the hook for much of it’s debt. Ever since, the Beltline has moved forward in it’s vision without any problems, at least concerning relations with the school system.”

The dilemma with the school system reflects the entire nature of the Beltline. A project as extensive as the Beltline is bound to have some problems, but each time it has overcome. Take for example the situation about transit along the Beltline involving an activist named Angel Poventud. Angel was involved in a dispute about the grade for light transit. He was being told that the grade was too steep, and light rail would not be possible. Not accepting that for an answer, Angel called all over the United States until he finally found a city with light rail that had a grade steeper than the one the Atlanta Beltline would have. After this event, construction has proceeded as planned. The Beltline has overcome these obstacles because there are a lot of people working hard to make this happen. They believe in the Beltline because it supports the community and offers more benefits than cons.

Thesis:

I think I’ve decided what I want to write about, and I realize it’s more of an essay than anything. Based on my evidence, I have viewpoints that reflect a positive attitude about the Beltline and a negative opinion as well. Whichever viewpoint I have more evidence for I think I can talk about more.

Here are the points I have for each:

For positive aspects of the Beltline

-accessibility

-bringing business

-health for the environment

-healthy living for people

-connects community and parks

-reuse old spaces

“In the beginning, there were many different agencies and groups that got together to draft out the Beltline and make sure it included all the things the community found important, such as affordable housing, an arboretum, and transit. Today, many of these groups still exist and are pushing hard for policies to pass that reflect the way Atlantans want to live. One of the ways the Beltline is making its concerns known is on the ballot November 8th. There is a policy for providing funding to the Beltline so it can finish buying the land it needs to finish the project, and also for the transit that should be put on the Beltline.”

“The idea of the Ponce City Market is similar to the Beltline- create something new while still alluding to the history of the area.”

“I really like this article because it talks about all the different perspectives the Beltline includes. It begins by describing the whole idea behind the Beltline movement, the idea of repurposing old railroad tracks and turning it into a space that caters to people and gives them an opportunity get to know the city of Atlanta more intimately.”

“The Beltline creates trails for people to get outside and get active in nature, thus building a community that could potentially have better health. Not only that, the way it is designed protects people and the environment from water run off and physical damage that nature could cause. In regards to transit, MARTA and the Beltline are designed to come together to create public transportation for connecting all of Atlanta. As of right now the Beltline is mostly used for recreation purposes, but the hope is eventually it will take away some of the traffic provided by people in cars when they use the services offered by the Beltline.”

“It is a very novel idea, and one that is being replicated across the United States cities are seeking to revitalize their old unused areas and put them to work for the people. It is very exciting to be on the Beltline, there is so much color and so many people exercising or just going about daily tasks like picking up groceries. The Beltline has really put people in closer proximity to what they need, which is essential for the people who live in the city. The Beltline itself is not very advertised, mostly only the locals of Atlanta know about it. It is not designed to be a tourist destination, but rather a venue for those who live in the city to get around. Where there is people, there is culture, and because the Beltline facilitates so much traffic, the environment is a canvas to express themselves and make it into what they desire.”

For negative aspects of the Beltline

-funding

-increase in the standard of living

-gentrification

“A huge concern since the beginning of the Beltline idea was the inclusion of affordable housing. Along the Eastside Trail this has not materialized, as the value of the space went up, so did the cost to live there. There is also worry that community of the neighborhoods that exist now will be displaced or substituted by the culture of the Westside Trail. Even though their are hopes for good prices and maintaining community in this area, it seems that many have lost faith that it will be a reality.”

“…the sales tax increase that will be on the Georgia ballot November 8th of this year. They are proposing a nine-tenth of a penny increase on the sales tax in order to fund various projects throughout the city. The tax would raise $2.5 billion over 40 years for MARTA, and $300 million for the city of Atlanta. Few are still not impressed however, and think the tax is negative as it might take from low-income workers or think there are enough sales taxes. Others believe that the city should spend money for transportation on places but the Beltline.”

“Many are upset about the Beltline plans because they feel it is taking funds out where it is not appropriate, such as money for education is going toward the Beltline. Others think the project is focusing on building transit in places where it would really not help those stuck in traffic, such as the suburbs and the city of Atlanta.”

“For the past couple of years, the Atlanta Public School system and the Atlanta Beltline Institution have been battling over money and areas for building. Only in January, 2016, did they finally resolve their differences.For a while, the API was struggling with paying the amount of money that was due to the schools, as the figure was drawn up based on the economy as it was 10 years ago, not as it is now. The dilemma was if the Beltline paid the money it owed to the school, there would be no money to fund the construction of expanding the Beltline. The API withheld money from the APS for two years, and progress was halted as negotiations were trying to be made about the money.The API finally agreed to pay the money to APS that was due, and in return APS let the Beltline off the hook for much of it’s debt. Ever since, the Beltline has moved forward in it’s vision without any problems, at least concerning relations with the school system.”

I’m not sure what all this is made of yet, I’m not sure I understand the concept. Is this like an essay? It’s supposed to have pictures and artifacts to support my argument. What is my argument? That is a good place to start. What have I learned about the built environment of the Atlanta Beltline through my study of it. I would say that it is an idea that has created a new trend of re-purposing old out-of-date infrastructure of cities, and overall has had the goal of helping those cities and creating places where people want to live. Has it succeeded in doing that is the real question. I’m going to argue yes, I think, but there is plenty of evidence for a counterargument, such as the affordability and priorities of the Beltline project as it pertains to the communities already existing there.

Built Environment description 3 as a source of mine

“The Beltline exists as it does today due to a lot of work behind the scenes, specifically in the political world. The Eastside Trail is the first developed part of the Beltline, and it is no small feat. This is not just because of construction, but because of all the work that was put in and continues to be demonstrated by many different individuals.

In the beginning, there were many different agencies and groups that got together to draft out the Beltline and make sure it included all the things the community found important, such as affordable housing, an arboretum, and transit. Today, many of these groups still exist and are pushing hard for policies to pass that reflect the way Atlantans want to live. One of the ways the Beltline is making its concerns known is on the ballot November 8th. There is a policy for providing funding to the Beltline so it can finish buying the land it needs to finish the project, and also for the transit that should be put on the Beltline.

The Beltline is far from completed, but the people of Atlanta have been invested from the beginning, and  are continuing to make their voice heard. As long as all parties continue to work together toward the common goal, the Beltline should really be a place we want to live.”

My annotated bibliography from the article “Western leg of the Atlanta Beltline begins.”

“A huge concern since the beginning of the Beltline idea was the inclusion of affordable housing. Along the Eastside Trail this has not materialized, as the value of the space went up, so did the cost to live there. There is also worry that community of the neighborhoods that exist now will be displaced or substituted by the culture of the Westside Trail. Even though their are hopes for good prices and maintaining community in this area, it seems that many have lost faith that it will be a reality.”

Annotated Bibliography from the article “Ponce City Market, Atlanta’s History in the Making.”

“The idea of the Ponce City Market is similar to the Beltline- create something new while still alluding to the history of the area.”

“These areas, such as the Beltline and the Ponce City Market, do look clean and new, but there is still a sense of permanence about them. Perhaps that feeling is borrowed from what they used to be, how long they have been around.”

Annotated Bibliography from the article “MARTA’s expansion, Beltline completion on November ballot.”

“…the sales tax increase that will be on the Georgia ballot November 8th of this year. They are proposing a nine-tenth of a penny increase on the sales tax in order to fund various projects throughout the city. The tax would raise $2.5 billion over 40 years for MARTA, and $300 million for the city of Atlanta. Few are still not impressed however, and think the tax is negative as it might take from low-income workers or think there are enough sales taxes. Others believe that the city should spend money for transportation on places but the Beltline.”

Annotated Bibliography from the article “Beltline Provides New Life to Railroad Tracks in Atlanta.”

“I really like this article because it talks about all the different perspectives the Beltline includes. It begins by describing the whole idea behind the Beltline movement, the idea of repurposing old railroad tracks and turning it into a space that caters to people and gives them an opportunity get to know the city of Atlanta more intimately. It then goes on to account for all the problems still facing the Beltline before the project can be completed, most notably finances. The article quotes many situations and people who have a problem with the Beltline, as they believe the money would be better spent other places. The Beltline is indeed the most extensive project out of all the “rails-to-trails” projects that are occurring in multiple cities around the United States, and came from humble origins, Mr. Gravel’s graduate thesis at Georgia Tech. From then on the concept has become reality and has blossomed from there.

This article I thought was one very strong for the topic and goes into detail about the full conversation behind the Beltline. It resembled other articles I have read as it also mentions Ryan Gravel, the plans for trails, parks, and stores along the Beltline, and the other urban infrastructure plans that are occurring in other cities. I thought this article was a strong source as it shows opinions about the Beltline that are not so favorable. One of the main points I have heard as to why people do not support the Beltline is because it would raise the prices for housing it would no longer be affordable for lower income families. However, this article does not mention that, but still reveals reasons as to why people might be against the Beltline. Many are upset about the Beltline plans because they feel it is taking funds out where it is not appropriate, such as money for education is going toward the Beltline. Others think the project is focusing on building transit in places where it would really not help those stuck in traffic, such as the suburbs and the city of Atlanta. It is always interesting when articles discuss opposition to the Beltline, as it seems more people than not support it.”

Annotated Bibliography from the article “What happens that the Atlanta Beltline dispute is over?”

“For the past couple of years, the Atlanta Public School system and the Atlanta Beltline Institution have been battling over money and areas for building. Only in January, 2016, did they finally resolve their differences.For a while, the API was struggling with paying the amount of money that was due to the schools, as the figure was drawn up based on the economy as it was 10 years ago, not as it is now. The dilemma was if the Beltline paid the money it owed to the school, there would be no money to fund the construction of expanding the Beltline. The API withheld money from the APS for two years, and progress was halted as negotiations were trying to be made about the money.The API finally agreed to pay the money to APS that was due, and in return APS let the Beltline off the hook for much of it’s debt. Ever since, the Beltline has moved forward in it’s vision without any problems, at least concerning relations with the school system.”

Annotated Bibliography from the article “The Beltline Impact”

“The Beltline creates trails for people to get outside and get active in nature, thus building a community that could potentially have better health. Not only that, the way it is designed protects people and the environment from water run off and physical damage that nature could cause. In regards to transit, MARTA and the Beltline are designed to come together to create public transportation for connecting all of Atlanta. As of right now the Beltline is mostly used for recreation purposes, but the hope is eventually it will take away some of the traffic provided by people in cars when they use the services offered by the Beltline. Lastly, there was reference to the economics of the Beltline. Many people have bought into this idea, and it is paying off. The Beltline has been successful from day one, and although it was/is a costly endeavor, it is nothing compared to what other places have invested in their cities.

One of the points the article touches on is one about public health. It remarks how the Beltline is not only in an investment in green space, but in green infrastructure.”

Built Environment Description 1

“The Beltline is relatively new, less than a decade old, and as of now is still uncompleted. It is a 30 year project, and its design is being manipulated quite often depending on the public’s opinion and ideas they have for it. So far, the Beltline includes art, an arboretum, markets, houses, and people that make this place come to life and really give it a personality as the Beltline. The Beltline is characterized by easy access, as its purpose to link various places and items so that people can literally walk outside, walk down the Beltline and get what they want and/or need. It is a very novel idea, and one that is being replicated across the United States cities are seeking to revitalize their old unused areas and put them to work for the people. It is very exciting to be on the Beltline, there is so much color and so many people exercising or just going about daily tasks like picking up groceries. The Beltline has really put people in closer proximity to what they need, which is essential for the people who live in the city. The Beltline itself is not very advertised, mostly only the locals of Atlanta know about it. It is not designed to be a tourist destination, but rather a venue for those who live in the city to get around. Where there is people, there is culture, and because the Beltline facilitates so much traffic, the environment is a canvas to express themselves and make it into what they desire.”

The Beltline exists as it does today due to a lot of work behind the scenes, specifically in the political world. The Eastside Trail is the first developed part of the Beltline, and it is no small feat. This is not just because of construction, but because of all the work that was put in and continues to be demonstrated by many different individuals.

In the beginning, there were many different agencies and groups that got together to draft out the Beltline and make sure it included all the things the community found important, such as affordable housing, an arboretum, and transit. Today, many of these groups still exist and are pushing hard for policies to pass that reflect the way Atlantans want to live. One of the ways the Beltline is making its concerns known is on the ballot November 8th. There is a policy for providing funding to the Beltline so it can finish buying the land it needs to finish the project, and also for the transit that should be put on the Beltline.

However, some people are very unhappy with the way the Beltline is turning out. Many are concerned about issues such as gentrification and transit, worries that were present at the inception of the Beltline. The Beltline, because it has been so successful on the Eastside Trail, has raised the value of the areas surrounding it, and neighborhoods that are now where the Beltline will go in the future are very apprehensive about what will happen to pricing and the culture of their communities once the Beltline comes. Others are miffed about transit being built along the Beltline, as they believe the money for transit should go to transportation from the city to the suburbs, where they think it is more needed due to traffic. These issues might affect how people will vote on the ballot about this issue.

The Beltline is far from completed, but the people of Atlanta have been invested from the beginning, and  are continuing to make their voice heard. As long as all parties continue to work together toward the common goal, the Beltline should really be a place we want to live.

I found this sign quite curious. It is new, but it refers to an idea that existed on the Beltline for a while, the Atlanta Beltline Arboretum. This particular sign speaks of protecting eastern Hemlocks. What is so important about them I am not sure. But they are important enough to make a sign about. You can see my shadow in the picture, I was trying to get out of the way so the sign could be seen.

While eating lunch in the Ponce City Market with the charming Sam for company, I noticed the latches on practically all the windows. I know the market used to be a distribution center, but it surprised me and made me wonder why they would have windows that could open like that, let alone at all. Perhaps it was the style of the time, but I am not sure what the reason behind it would be. In my mind, I would think you would not want the windows to open, in case the items being moved around were affected by weather. However, as Sam pointed out to me, maybe the windows were opened in case workers got hot. I found this small detail quite charming, as it really alluded to what the Ponce City Market was before, at least for me.

I have seen this happen a couple times, and I find it a great example of the greater community the Beltline has helped to foster. This is a stand someone came and set up on the Beltline to promote whatever business they had. I think this is a great way to get people to know about whatever products or services one is offering, as people are not likely to get angry at vendors on the Beltline, I think. I believe this is because the atmosphere of the Beltline is one that is very casual and friendly, not where people are in a rush to get somewhere. If you want to avoid them, you can, there is not a whole lot pressure to talk to these promoters if one does not want to.

Speaking of things rapidly changing, already there is a new sculpture under the bridge on the Eastside Trail. I was there not too long ago, and I saw the previous picture being taken apart. Now I see an entirely new sculpture, and I am amazed. This rapid process urged me to look closer at what goes into the process of creating one of these pieces of art. It is made from what looks like spray painted trash, things you might find in a junkyard. As you can see, some random pieces are still lying around in front of the sculpture, but were pushed to the side by the time I walked back.

This is a picture of the Eastside Trail near the Krog Street Market. This is where the Beltline is going to continue through the Old Fourth Ward area. When I saw it the other day, I was surprised by how much they have already cleared in such a short time. For class we went about a month ago, and the path had been overgrown with grass and was covered in gravel. Now it can be seen that it has all been cleared away and only the dirt is visible. I’m not sure why they did that, maybe they plan to pave this part of the trail as well. I’m not sure when this part of the trail is scheduled for completion, but it seems there is always something happening on the Beltline, construction wise. It’s very exciting and a bit awe inspiring how quickly things can change once someone starts doing something and is committed to the idea.