South Downtown is the home of Atlanta’s government district and a no-man’s land of surface lots and abandoned storefronts. The historically rich area has been all but forgotten by developers and regular Atlantans alike. The proposed identity and placemaking projects use that history to connect the area to its past and the rest of the city.

The logo represents both South Downtown’s railroad history and the theme of connection. Based on the Arvo capital S, the mark combines the letterform with the shape of a railcar coupler. The mark is tilted at an angle as a nod to the unique direction of South Downtown’s street grid, determined from the very beginning by the first railroad surveyors. The entire logomark references the stamps used by the railroads for tickets and official documents. 

The Historic Railroad Walking Tour identifies 12 historic landmarks related to South Downtown’s railroad history. Some of these landmarks have been demolished and replaced; a signage system is used to mark where these sites once stood. As individuals walk follow the tour, sidewalk markers help guide them to the next landmark. These markers contain the South Downtown mark and reference the logo with their circular shape.

The Garnett MARTA Station offers a key opportunity for placemaking. A large, empty plaza leads up to the station, and commuters have to walk several hundred feet before reaching either the station or the sidewalk. This space would be used to house 2-3 converted shipping containers to provide flexible space for rotating pop-ups—food trucks, coffee shops, or art exhibits. Each container would be themed after an iconic passenger train that came through Atlanta in the early 20th century.

To combat the abandoned building problem, branded window graphics can be used to relieve the blight of empty storefronts and bring color and interest to the streets. For example, these could show photos of the specific street from the past, giving passersby a chance to appreciate their immediate surroundings and see what has changed.

There are several ongoing efforts to improve South Downtown with public art murals and installations. To create something more specific to the neighborhood, new murals in key areas would be historically focused. 

International Park(ing) Day is a global event that takes place every year. People pay for a parking spot for the day and use the space to create an interactive parklet—an art display, sitting area, or interactive station. With the parking problem that plagues South Downtown, International Park(ing) Day provides an opportunity to reclaim neighborhood space and celebrate Atlanta’s history. 

Several trips were made to walk the area to gain a better understanding of the neighborhood’s personality. Along with exploring the area, I attended an Atlanta Downtown Neighborhood Association Meeting and interviewed several individuals concerning the neighborhood’s issues and potential. I also had the opportunity to present my project to members of Atlanta City Planning.