David Dixon Delivers Keynote at Metro Atlanta Redevelopment Summit
Updated: 4 hours ago
Dixon delivered a keynote address to more than 250 Metro Atlanta leaders, describing a new era of mixed-use, walkable, and community-rich redevelopment opportunities for Atlanta’s inner-ring suburban communities—and similar suburbs across North America.
David Dixon, FAIA, delivered the keynote at the 13th annual Metro Atlanta Redevelopment Summit on November 2, 2023. Drawing on planning for a new suburban downtown he had led for Sandy Springs, GA, and a similar effort for the area adjacent to Emory University—both nearby—he talked about the underlying economic and demographic forces creating a new foundation for a generation of walkable, mixed-use suburban downtowns, mixed-use districts, and neighborhood centers—and the planning and urban design strategies necessary to realize this opportunity.
Walkable Density and Mixed-Use Development
David urged planners, local officials, community leaders, and developers to stop building from a now-outdated playbook. Notorious for its sprawl, Greater Atlanta now had an opportunity to take advantage of a rapidly evolving housing market that promised much more support for walkable, mixed-use, “urban” places in the city and its suburbs alike. And this demand translated into significantly higher values for both rental and for-sale housing, value that could be tapped to fund a new “infrastructure of walkability” to complement the region’s omnipresent car-centric environment.
“Metro Atlanta can put this New Norm to work by bringing homes, jobs, and daily needs within walking distance. Walkable density and mixed-use development should serve a clear purpose: creating resilient communities designed around people.” — David Dixon, FAIA
A Regional Exchange on Redevelopment
Cohosted by Partnership Gwinnett and the Council for Quality Growth, the summit welcomed more than 250 industry attendees. David’s keynote contributed to a program exploring redevelopment opportunities across metropolitan Atlanta, industry trends, and lessons from both Greater Atlanta and other regions.
