Atlanta Downtown Stitch Inc., a newly formed nonprofit, will oversee the development, construction, and financing of the Stitch project — an ambitious effort to build parks and gathering spaces atop the Downtown Connector interstate. The nine-member board aims to prepare for construction in 2027.
The Stitch will span approximately three-quarters of a mile of freeway from Piedmont Avenue to West Peachtree Street, creating about 14 acres of green space. The total project is estimated at $713 million across three construction phases. Phase 1, a 5-acre park estimated at $200 million, will sit alongside Peachtree Street and Ralph McGill Boulevard.
CEO Jack Cebe said: "Our agreements with the city, our board structure...are modeled a lot off a very successful example: the Atlanta Beltline."
Board members include Councilmember Jason Dozier and executives from Truist, Georgia Power, the Westin Peachtree Plaza, and Cousins Properties. The project has secured $50 million in local commitments but faced a setback when Congress revoked a $151 million federal grant. Alternative funding through special tax districts and philanthropy is being pursued.
Phase 1 features include Fog Forest, Terrace Meander, Garden Rooms, Piedmont Playground, Prospect Promenade, Perennial Gardens, and Festival Plaza, along with pavilions, playgrounds, fountains, and gardens. The Downtown Connector has divided downtown and Midtown for over 70 years — the Stitch aims to reconnect them.
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution