With the Atlanta Braves prepping to leave Turner Field, the City of Atlanta is considering a master plan for the ballpark and surrounding area.
The most likely future for Turner Field is as a converted football stadium for the Georgia State Panthers. While that is still the case, Atlanta partnered with several other agencies in a study by Perkins+Will that considered the redevelopment options for the ballpark and adjacent properties.
Under the visions presented in this report, the land surrounding Turner Field would be converted into park, retail, office, and residential space that would better connect the location to downtown. Another key component in the report was three different objectives for the former Fulton County Stadium site. Along with building a ballpark new for the Panthers’ baseball program, the report also looks at a possible plan that would include a public plaza that commemorates Hank Aaron’s 715th home run, as well as a potential linear park.
While some aspects of the redevelopment will remain unknown until the university and its partners complete their purchase of Turner Field, the study is being met with a receptive response. More from the Atlanta Journal Constitution:
Carter President Scott Taylor said Monday his group plans to incorporate many of the features in the master plan for the 67 acres Georgia State and the developers intend to purchase.
“We’ve been very supportive of the LCI process from the beginning and believe that our ultimate site plan will incorporate numerous insights from the three plans that were approved from the LCI process,” Taylor said.
The LCI study, performed by Perkins+Will in conjunction with the city of Atlanta, the Atlanta Regional Commission and other groups, took into account the Georgia State-Carter plans for Turner Field. The LCI effort received input from more than 1,600 residents in study area.
If the intention to ultimately redevelop the entire area is carried out, the results in Atlanta could be unique, as few cities have been given the opportunity to transform a former ballpark site in such a way.