The Amsterdam Walk project is not just another consultant report — it is the result of Georgia’s most rigorous planning and transportation review process: the Development of Regional Impact (DRI). This process brings together the collective expertise of multiple regional and state agencies, including:

• Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA)

• Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC)

• Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA)

• Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT)

• Atlanta Department of Transportation (ADOT)

• Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA)

These agencies conducted an exhaustive review of Amsterdam Walk’s potential effects on traffic, transit, pedestrian safety, regional plans, and infrastructure.

The result? Unanimous approval, with conditions that ensure infrastructure enhancements, mobility upgrades, and neighborhood protections.

Following months of review, these expert agencies concluded:

• The project aligns with the Atlanta Region’s goals for responsible infill development.

• It enhances pedestrian, bicycle, and transit connectivity.

• And most importantly — it can be accommodated by the surrounding infrastructure without creating unacceptable traffic conditions.

Although these agencies had already approved the original requested Amsterdam Walk project, community engagement demonstrated neighbors still had concerns about future traffic volumes on surrounding streets.

In direct response to community feedback, the developer made a major concession: removal of 400,000 square feet of office space from the original proposal. This led to:

• Net new daily trips reduced by ~40%.

• Improved levels of service at key intersections.

• Even though the project will be constructed with having 2 access points, the reduced development can function with only one access point and still meet traffic standards.

As a condition of approval, the developer is required to implement or coordinate the following GRTA-reviewed improvements:

• Dedicated left-turn lanes and signal upgrades at:

  • Monroe Drive & Amsterdam Avenue

  • Monroe Drive & Cumberland Road

  • Monroe Drive & Yorkshire Road

  • Monroe Drive & Evelyn Street/Worchester Drive

• New sidewalks (5'–10') along Amsterdam Avenue

• Enhanced BeltLine and MARTA connectivity

• Design compatibility with future Monroe Drive Complete Street upgrades

These improvements are not optional—they are conditions of approval enforced by state agencies.

The City of Atlanta added its own set of zoning conditions to protect neighborhoods and promote safety:

• No access to Orme Circle or Park Drive

• Granite curbs on Amsterdam Avenue

• Pedestrian bulb-outs at Hillpine, Sherwood, and Yorkshire on Monroe Dr

• Improved bike lanes and BeltLine connections

• ADA-accessible ramps instead of stairs

• Construction traffic routed via Evelyn Street

These conditions reflect direct feedback from nearby residents and civic associations.

This is a case study in good governance:

• A thorough process was followed

• The most qualified experts evaluated the plan

• The plan was improved based on public feedback

• Infrastructure was upgraded accordingly

Council’s support signals confidence in the DRI process and commitment to responsible growth. Amsterdam Walk is not just a development—it is a model of how public input, agency review, and private development can work together for a better Atlanta.

Let’s keep setting the standard for urban planning in the Southeast.