Midtown

Emory is excited about its growing presence in Atlanta, and specifically the future potential for its property on Peachtree Street across from Emory University Hospital Midtown.   

Emory owns most but not all of the block bound by Renaissance Parkway, Peachtree, Courtland and Pine streets.  Its long-term vision is to support community facing programs in this block that also enhance Emory’s mission of education, research and healthcare.  

Emory supports public safety and streetscape improvements in the ‘South of North Avenue’ or SoNo district.  The University supports the leadership of the City of Atlanta, Central Atlanta Progress (CAP), the Midtown Alliance, and is working with them and its neighbors to add new sidewalks, bike lanes and other improvements to the public realm.

In order to improve traffic flow and slow vehicles exiting the interstate via Pine Street, Emory supports widening the sidewalk along its property on Pine Street and making that street bidirectional rather than one-way between Courtland and Peachtree streets.  These changes will contribute to Pine Street as a block of community connectivity rather than a continuation of the exit ramp off the Downtown Connector.  

Emory’s SONO real estate is supported by two nearby MARTA rail stations – the North Avenue and Civic Center stations.  Emory is exploring new wayfinding, signage and aesthetic improvements in the public realm to connect its property to the Civic Center station. 

During Emory’s master planning process, many ideas were suggested for programming Emory’s SoNo real estate.  Labeled the ‘Kit of Parts,’ some of these ideas include academic clinic space for Emory schools to engage with the community; below market housing for Emory staff at its nearby hospital; innovation and research space; arts and creative space; and consolidation of community outreach programs that Emory currently supports.  

One such idea that has emerged is the Resilience and Sustainability Collaboratory (RSC), which is a ‘think and do tank.’ This concept brings academic, corporate, government and non-profit thought leaders to gather to tackle complex challenges at the nexus of sustainability and the environment, e.g., pediatric and urban heath care in underserved communities, soil testing for heavy metals in Atlanta communities and more.  

Emory will provide updates on projects in its ‘Midtown Block’ in the near future.