Renaissance on Peachtree history

In 1874 a line along Peachtree was expanded eastward along Ponce de Leon Avenue.

By 1894 all of the city’s streetcars were electric powered and the system had significantly expanded, with routes along West Peachtree, Peachtree, Piedmont, 8th and North Boulevard (now Monroe Drive). The various streetcar lines provided an impetus for Atlanta to grow steadily northward.

Streets east of Argonne, by contrast, were built after 1900 and were aligned to surveyed land-lots (oriented to compass points). Straight versus curved streets throughout the District also reflect the preferences of individual developers.

In 1917, a large fire destroyed large portions of neighborhoods along Boulevard and Jackson Streets as far north as Vedado Way and Greenwood Avenue.

One minute after midnight on March 17th, 1918, the Brookwood Station was placed into service.

1925) were built as subdivisions and feature varied types of curvilinear streets.

In 1949 as well, construction began on the city’s system of “expressways,” later incorporated into the Federal system of interstate highways.

In 1952, the city tripled its land area and added nearly 100,000 to its population by annexation of some 83 square miles, including all of the present city north of 26th Street, as well as Cascade on the southwest and Lakewood Heights on the southeast.

The Midtown Neighborhood Association was formed in 1969 and a movement to revitalize residential Midtown had begun.

The Midtown Alliance was then formed in 1978 with much involvement from MNA. The Alliance focused on neighborhood safety, commercial redevelopment, cultivating arts and education programs, and building community leaders.

In 1979, AT&T announced it was building office projects in Midtown, which became the Midtown Business Association’s first foray into supporting a large scale economic development pitch.

By 1980, the Midtown Neighborhood Association had spearheaded land-use policies that would help preserve the neighborhood’s historic character.

The Memorial Arts Center at Peachtree and 15th was renamed the Woodruff Arts Center in 1982 to honor its greatest benefactor, Robert W. Woodruff.

The campus expanded in 1983 with the addition of the award-winning Richard Meier-designed High Museum of Art building.

The Midtown Business Association worked with Midtown congregations in the faith community in 1986 to establish the Midtown Assistance Center, which responds to 5K emergencies each year that help families on the brink of becoming homeless.

Three towers - 999 Peachtree, Campanile and One Atlantic Center - all opened in 1987, introducing a combined 2M square feet of Class A office space.

Mary Rose Taylor mounted a campaign to rescue the Midtown apartment house where Margaret Mitchell wrote Atlanta’s most famous book, “Gone with the Wind.” Targeted by arsonists and threatened by the wrecking ball, the site lay in ruin in 1994 when Taylor lined up allies and financing.

The house museum was renovated and ready to open its doors for the 1996 Olympics — Atlanta’s moment on the world stage — when arsonists struck again.

1997 found the guild growing and breaking attendance records.

In all, 28 major development projects were under construction or planned as of 1999.

With support from commercial property owners and the City of Atlanta, the Midtown Improvement District was formed in the spring of 2000, establishing a self-taxing entity to create public improvements and address security, maintenance, streetscapes, and traffic issues.

The officers for 2001 were ready to bring our group into the new millennium.. Using our home-grown talent and having Margaret Heathman at the helm, our Plying the Arts was the largest it had ever been.

By 2002, many of the priorities outlined in the original Blueprint Midtown had been achieved.

In 2003, the guild hosted another successful Fiber Forum in March, demonstrated all around the state, enjoyed our annual Fall retreat and attend great meetings with a cotton study and stories of adventures in New Mexico.

Atlantic Station's mixed-use development opened in 2005, introducing new retail choices in the region.

2006 was a year of transition and change for the guild.

The Midtown Improvement District and the Woodruff Foundation teamed up in 2007 to deliver the 15th Street Park adjacent to Colony Square.

After a two-year overhaul, the 14th Street bridge that connects Midtown to West Midtown reopened in 2009.

In 2010, the officers of the guild continue to give us leadership and enthusiasm.

Midtown Atlanta was one of five neighborhoods in the United States to be named to the American Planning Association’s 2016 list of “Great Places in America.” The designation acknowledges the combined impact of bold design and decisive action that make Midtown a mixed-use, vibrant, walkable place.

As of late-2020, there were 30 major development projects under construction or proposed.