Darin Givens
@atlurbanist.bsky.social
ThreadATL cofounder, urbanism addict, web developer, neurologically-challenged cane walker
✡רָפָאֵל🪬
✡רָפָאֵל🪬
Jon Birdsong (with the group that owns the South Downtown properties) reports construction is underway
December 5, 2025 at 5:19 AM
Jon Birdsong (with the group that owns the South Downtown properties) reports construction is underway
BAM! This is how you do it. South Downtown is replacing a parking lot with a park, adjacent to a block of great old buildings that they're renovating 😍
See how that works? Instead of demolishing old buildings, we can demolish parking lots to create new park spaces. 👍
See how that works? Instead of demolishing old buildings, we can demolish parking lots to create new park spaces. 👍
December 5, 2025 at 5:18 AM
BAM! This is how you do it. South Downtown is replacing a parking lot with a park, adjacent to a block of great old buildings that they're renovating 😍
See how that works? Instead of demolishing old buildings, we can demolish parking lots to create new park spaces. 👍
See how that works? Instead of demolishing old buildings, we can demolish parking lots to create new park spaces. 👍
My 816 bus never showed up so I walked to lunch down Ralph McGill Blvd, where I spotted:
A City of Atlanta vehicle parked on the sidewalk (a constant problem here).
A crumbling sidewalk, though the car lanes are newly paved.
A random wheel on the sidewalk.
Stay classy, ATL.
A City of Atlanta vehicle parked on the sidewalk (a constant problem here).
A crumbling sidewalk, though the car lanes are newly paved.
A random wheel on the sidewalk.
Stay classy, ATL.
December 4, 2025 at 10:57 PM
My 816 bus never showed up so I walked to lunch down Ralph McGill Blvd, where I spotted:
A City of Atlanta vehicle parked on the sidewalk (a constant problem here).
A crumbling sidewalk, though the car lanes are newly paved.
A random wheel on the sidewalk.
Stay classy, ATL.
A City of Atlanta vehicle parked on the sidewalk (a constant problem here).
A crumbling sidewalk, though the car lanes are newly paved.
A random wheel on the sidewalk.
Stay classy, ATL.
For years I scoffed at the idea that "the market" would save us from car-centric cities & climate disaster, calling for politicians to lead.
But city leaders appear too weak to enforce safe streets:
www.washingtonpost.com/business/int...
National voters enable this:
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/c...
But city leaders appear too weak to enforce safe streets:
www.washingtonpost.com/business/int...
National voters enable this:
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/c...
December 4, 2025 at 1:16 PM
For years I scoffed at the idea that "the market" would save us from car-centric cities & climate disaster, calling for politicians to lead.
But city leaders appear too weak to enforce safe streets:
www.washingtonpost.com/business/int...
National voters enable this:
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/c...
But city leaders appear too weak to enforce safe streets:
www.washingtonpost.com/business/int...
National voters enable this:
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/c...
We should just be building more of Broad Street. This is the pattern. It's already here in Atlanta.
December 3, 2025 at 7:41 PM
We should just be building more of Broad Street. This is the pattern. It's already here in Atlanta.
Due to freezing temps, ATL is opening two warming centers at 8 pm until 6 am tomorrow:
Central Park Recreation Center
Old Adamsville Recreation Center
Also: we live two blocks from the first center & are proud to host this in our n'hood. People who block these are warped.
Central Park Recreation Center
Old Adamsville Recreation Center
Also: we live two blocks from the first center & are proud to host this in our n'hood. People who block these are warped.
December 2, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Due to freezing temps, ATL is opening two warming centers at 8 pm until 6 am tomorrow:
Central Park Recreation Center
Old Adamsville Recreation Center
Also: we live two blocks from the first center & are proud to host this in our n'hood. People who block these are warped.
Central Park Recreation Center
Old Adamsville Recreation Center
Also: we live two blocks from the first center & are proud to host this in our n'hood. People who block these are warped.
How sad! The Publix grocery store at Atlantic Station is reportedly closing. This will be a big loss for the neighborhood, and for the entire mixed-use ideal of Atlantic Station, which opened twenty years ago as a major brownfield-redevelopment project.
www.tonetoatl.com/2025/12/Publ...
www.tonetoatl.com/2025/12/Publ...
December 2, 2025 at 6:08 AM
How sad! The Publix grocery store at Atlantic Station is reportedly closing. This will be a big loss for the neighborhood, and for the entire mixed-use ideal of Atlantic Station, which opened twenty years ago as a major brownfield-redevelopment project.
www.tonetoatl.com/2025/12/Publ...
www.tonetoatl.com/2025/12/Publ...
I'm not anti car. I'm anti car-dependency.
I'm pro "act like it's a city."
I'm pro "act like it's a city."
December 1, 2025 at 7:04 PM
I'm not anti car. I'm anti car-dependency.
I'm pro "act like it's a city."
I'm pro "act like it's a city."
Sunset colors on a giant parking deck. Seen while waiting for a bus at Civic Center MARTA Station this evening. Dear God, let me live long enough to see this parking deck come down and see rail-appropriate development replace it. Thanks and amen.
November 27, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Sunset colors on a giant parking deck. Seen while waiting for a bus at Civic Center MARTA Station this evening. Dear God, let me live long enough to see this parking deck come down and see rail-appropriate development replace it. Thanks and amen.
I think the Eastside Beltline and the businesses alongside it would benefit from the weatherproof connectivity of a train. It's pretty empty in rainy weather.
November 25, 2025 at 10:24 PM
I think the Eastside Beltline and the businesses alongside it would benefit from the weatherproof connectivity of a train. It's pretty empty in rainy weather.
Dallas Street in Old Fourth Ward, facing east. What used to be here as late as 2007: kudzu and weedy lots. Now it's a beautiful park surrounded by development.
This is exactly the kind of growth we should support with rail transit, especially as similar growth happens elsewhere on the ATL Beltline.
This is exactly the kind of growth we should support with rail transit, especially as similar growth happens elsewhere on the ATL Beltline.
November 24, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Dallas Street in Old Fourth Ward, facing east. What used to be here as late as 2007: kudzu and weedy lots. Now it's a beautiful park surrounded by development.
This is exactly the kind of growth we should support with rail transit, especially as similar growth happens elsewhere on the ATL Beltline.
This is exactly the kind of growth we should support with rail transit, especially as similar growth happens elsewhere on the ATL Beltline.
The experience of being a pedestrian on Atlanta streets -- especially ones that connect to MARTA -- needs a lot of work. But when I'm riding the train, I get to take a break from those issues and just enjoy the view.
Atlanta looks great from a train window.
Atlanta looks great from a train window.
November 24, 2025 at 3:34 AM
The experience of being a pedestrian on Atlanta streets -- especially ones that connect to MARTA -- needs a lot of work. But when I'm riding the train, I get to take a break from those issues and just enjoy the view.
Atlanta looks great from a train window.
Atlanta looks great from a train window.
Just because a street has sidewalks, that doesn't automatically make it a nice place to walk.
This is in Downtown Atlanta. I guess it's "walkable" but why would you want to? Truly walkable places need the presence of great land use & the absence of car-oriented sludge.
This is in Downtown Atlanta. I guess it's "walkable" but why would you want to? Truly walkable places need the presence of great land use & the absence of car-oriented sludge.
November 17, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Just because a street has sidewalks, that doesn't automatically make it a nice place to walk.
This is in Downtown Atlanta. I guess it's "walkable" but why would you want to? Truly walkable places need the presence of great land use & the absence of car-oriented sludge.
This is in Downtown Atlanta. I guess it's "walkable" but why would you want to? Truly walkable places need the presence of great land use & the absence of car-oriented sludge.
Peachtree Street this evening, as seen from the window of an in-motion MARTA bus. I love looking at the city from a bus window, especially at night. Atlanta needs to fall in love with buses, IMO. That's a recipe for urban success.
November 16, 2025 at 12:59 AM
Peachtree Street this evening, as seen from the window of an in-motion MARTA bus. I love looking at the city from a bus window, especially at night. Atlanta needs to fall in love with buses, IMO. That's a recipe for urban success.
I honestly don't know -- maybe this is par for the course with transit in cities. Maybe Atlanta's situation is normal.
But it certainly *feels* weird to me when a 1.6 mile trip in Midtown takes the same amount of time to walk as it does to ride transit.
Perhaps I expect too much.
But it certainly *feels* weird to me when a 1.6 mile trip in Midtown takes the same amount of time to walk as it does to ride transit.
Perhaps I expect too much.
November 14, 2025 at 9:57 PM
I honestly don't know -- maybe this is par for the course with transit in cities. Maybe Atlanta's situation is normal.
But it certainly *feels* weird to me when a 1.6 mile trip in Midtown takes the same amount of time to walk as it does to ride transit.
Perhaps I expect too much.
But it certainly *feels* weird to me when a 1.6 mile trip in Midtown takes the same amount of time to walk as it does to ride transit.
Perhaps I expect too much.
This beautiful image features a train going past buildings that have stores at the bottom, with trees and other greenery nearby, and with people walking on a path alongside the tracks (and public seating too!). 😍
Atlanta can do this.
(Source: www.modacitylife.com)
Atlanta can do this.
(Source: www.modacitylife.com)
November 14, 2025 at 9:34 PM
This beautiful image features a train going past buildings that have stores at the bottom, with trees and other greenery nearby, and with people walking on a path alongside the tracks (and public seating too!). 😍
Atlanta can do this.
(Source: www.modacitylife.com)
Atlanta can do this.
(Source: www.modacitylife.com)
Eventually there will be a designed parklet at the top of the bridge, beside the bike lane, for enjoying the famous skyline view.
2/2
2/2
November 13, 2025 at 4:50 AM
Eventually there will be a designed parklet at the top of the bridge, beside the bike lane, for enjoying the famous skyline view.
2/2
2/2
I'm happy to see the redesign of the Jackson Street Bridge coming together at last! It's been several years in the making.
There's a post that prevents cars from entering the new two-way bike path, and several parking spaces are here to lure photographers from parking in the bike lane.
1/2
There's a post that prevents cars from entering the new two-way bike path, and several parking spaces are here to lure photographers from parking in the bike lane.
1/2
November 13, 2025 at 4:50 AM
I'm happy to see the redesign of the Jackson Street Bridge coming together at last! It's been several years in the making.
There's a post that prevents cars from entering the new two-way bike path, and several parking spaces are here to lure photographers from parking in the bike lane.
1/2
There's a post that prevents cars from entering the new two-way bike path, and several parking spaces are here to lure photographers from parking in the bike lane.
1/2
Nice! This section of the 5th Street bike lane has been closed for many months due to construction for a new building. It's good to see it back. I stood here for a minute and saw several people using it.
November 12, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Nice! This section of the 5th Street bike lane has been closed for many months due to construction for a new building. It's good to see it back. I stood here for a minute and saw several people using it.
It's not open yet, but the bike lane under construction on Juniper Street looks pretty impressive. The wayfinding signage seems like a nice touch.
November 4, 2025 at 1:55 AM
It's not open yet, but the bike lane under construction on Juniper Street looks pretty impressive. The wayfinding signage seems like a nice touch.
Good luck making eye contact with a Waymo, or a driver behind tinted windows, or a driver behind bright headlights.
Or if you're a visually impaired pedestrian.
And *please* stop it with "bright reflective clothing." Do people who write this stuff actually walk & carry an orange vest? Seriously.
Or if you're a visually impaired pedestrian.
And *please* stop it with "bright reflective clothing." Do people who write this stuff actually walk & carry an orange vest? Seriously.
November 3, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Good luck making eye contact with a Waymo, or a driver behind tinted windows, or a driver behind bright headlights.
Or if you're a visually impaired pedestrian.
And *please* stop it with "bright reflective clothing." Do people who write this stuff actually walk & carry an orange vest? Seriously.
Or if you're a visually impaired pedestrian.
And *please* stop it with "bright reflective clothing." Do people who write this stuff actually walk & carry an orange vest? Seriously.
The new connection between the Beltline & Ponce de Leon Avw looks nearly done! I'm eager for the fencing to come down. Question for cyclists: what's your opinion of the bike lanes on Ponce? I'm wondering what the experience will be like for cyclists coming from the BL to the street.
November 1, 2025 at 8:21 PM
The new connection between the Beltline & Ponce de Leon Avw looks nearly done! I'm eager for the fencing to come down. Question for cyclists: what's your opinion of the bike lanes on Ponce? I'm wondering what the experience will be like for cyclists coming from the BL to the street.
I love it 😍! This used to be parking for two cars. Now it's used for bikes, scooters, & a planter.
Sidewalks shouldn't be the only spaces deemed flexible enough for bike/scooter parking; roadways should be flexible too! This is good progress. Let's put these all over the city.
Sidewalks shouldn't be the only spaces deemed flexible enough for bike/scooter parking; roadways should be flexible too! This is good progress. Let's put these all over the city.
October 27, 2025 at 10:36 PM
I love it 😍! This used to be parking for two cars. Now it's used for bikes, scooters, & a planter.
Sidewalks shouldn't be the only spaces deemed flexible enough for bike/scooter parking; roadways should be flexible too! This is good progress. Let's put these all over the city.
Sidewalks shouldn't be the only spaces deemed flexible enough for bike/scooter parking; roadways should be flexible too! This is good progress. Let's put these all over the city.
It's a weird thing to love, but I love how disorienting it is to look out the bus window while we're passing an apartment building on a steep hill (North Avenue).
BTW, if you've never felt the comfort of getting out of the cold rain and onto a heated, dry bus...it feels nice.
BTW, if you've never felt the comfort of getting out of the cold rain and onto a heated, dry bus...it feels nice.
October 27, 2025 at 5:35 PM
It's a weird thing to love, but I love how disorienting it is to look out the bus window while we're passing an apartment building on a steep hill (North Avenue).
BTW, if you've never felt the comfort of getting out of the cold rain and onto a heated, dry bus...it feels nice.
BTW, if you've never felt the comfort of getting out of the cold rain and onto a heated, dry bus...it feels nice.
We should design our cities so that public transit, walking, and cycling are the easiest and most logical ways to get around. This is the litmus test: if cars (regardless of their technology) are the easiest choice for most trips, your city needs a redesign.
October 27, 2025 at 3:47 PM
We should design our cities so that public transit, walking, and cycling are the easiest and most logical ways to get around. This is the litmus test: if cars (regardless of their technology) are the easiest choice for most trips, your city needs a redesign.