MARTA ‘s Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) program’s recent projects will be displayed at the 2nd Annual Development Day. The event will take place on June 11 from 2-5 p.m. at the Commerce Club, according to a June 9 MARTA press release.
MARTA has communicated with developers about the building of high-rise mixed use projects on top of rail stations, Saporta Report reported.
“The energy here in the metro region regarding TOD is palpable, and we are excited to advance our development efforts and expand access to MARTA in support of healthy, thriving communities,” Amanda Rhein, MARTA’s Senior Director of Transit-Oriented Development, said in the release.
Saba Long, MARTA spokeswoman, said TOD near and on rail stations provide a better quality of life and sense of place within a community.
“In addition, building on top of a station reduces unnecessary sprawl while enhancing the skyline,” she said.
For housing, the TOD residential development over the King Memorial station may be of interest to students because of its close location, Long said.
“Dense, mixed-use development addresses a concern we hear over and over again, ‘I’m tired of sitting in traffic’… younger generations, in particular Millenials, choose to skip traffic and take transit,” she said. “Providing opportunities for enhanced development directly outside or on top of a transit station makes that choice even easier to make.”
On Development Day Mark Toro of North American Properties and Noel Khalil of Columbia Residential will be speaking, the release stated.
North American Properties, a privately-held real estate operating company, has developed more than 19 million square feet of retail and more than 12,000 apartments since 1954, according to the North American Properties website.
Columbia Residential, multifamily residential company, has focuses in transit-oriented, high-rise, and mixed-income housing, as said by the Columbia Residential website.
