2024 Fall Issue of Urban Land - 39

always changing, especially ones that involve
mixed-use development of larger areas. So
it's important to address the needs of all
stakeholders, revisiting those needs constantly
and establishing trust.
ANDY DEMOSS: They need to focus on the
core issue, which is addressing the workfrom-home
movement. Anything else is most
likely not going to be impactful enough to
move the needle. Also, a number of city
departments are not fully back in the office
yet themselves. They need to push their
workforce to be downtown, at least three to
four days a week, to set an example for the
private sector.
SHEBA ROSS: For the public and private sectors
to effectively collaborate on revitalizing
downtowns, it's crucial to establish a strong
foundation of trust and transparency. This
starts with inclusive community engagement
to ensure that the vision reflects stakeholder
needs, shifting from a mindset of one-time
development investments to a framework
of continuous, sustainable investments over
time. Both sectors should leverage their
unique strengths: the public sector can
provide regulatory support and long-term
planning, while the private sector can offer
innovation, investment, and efficient execution.
By integrating geospatial data, they can
better understand current usage patterns,
identify areas of potential, and recognize key
cultural and historical elements that define
the downtown's character. [Doing so] will
enable alignment through a shared vision for
the greater good.
What are the biggest obstacles to
revitalizing downtowns?
ROSS: One major obstacle is that many
downtown buildings are designed for limited
hours of use each day. We need to find ways
to activate these spaces year-round, ensuring
they remain safe and enjoyable even
without events. We have to plan for every
day-not just game day. Additionally, the lack
of affordable and market-rate housing is a
significant challenge, compounded by parking
minimums that restrict diverse housing development.
Downtowns need equitable access.
We must consider how to transform wide,
car-centric roads into more human-friendly
spaces that can accommodate light rail, bike
paths, and spillover activities from local businesses.
COLLIGNON:
The pandemic accelerated the
remote work trend, and now there are fewer
people on the streets of downtown, adding
vitality. They're no longer buying lunch downtown
or shopping. We need to find new uses
that can bring people back. The challenge is
not only to figure out what those future uses
are, but also to seed the market for those
uses in a moment when the downtown experience
in many places is still very challenging.
DEMOSS: The work-from-home movement is
the primary obstacle, and a certain percentage
of office and retail leases has not even
rolled over since the pandemic, so all of the
pain hasn't been experienced yet. If some
tenants signed 10-year leases right before
the pandemic, then for the next six years we
might still be dealing with tenants who want
Leveraging the
Peachtree Creek
Greenway in
Brookhaven,
Georgia. An
800-acre urban
design study
includes the
establishment of
a plan framework
and associated
design guidelines
to activate private
development and
help guide the
public along key city
corridors.
FALL 202 4
URBAN LAND
39
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2024 Fall Issue of Urban Land

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