Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-06-05
PLAZA OVER OLD
DEPOT SITE IS
PROJECTED
Removal of Station Farther to
the West Provided for in
Civic Center Scheme.

Plans for plaza over the railroad
tracks from Forsyth street to the
Washington street viaduct were practi-
cally agreed upon today by the civic
plans committee of the Chamber of
Commerce
Alex w Smith. chairman of the COM
mittee and the man who drew up the
present bill before the legislature.
which was not acted upon last year,
will draw the new bill and present it
to the chamber for their consideration
before it is introduced into the legis-
lature
The new plans eliminate the propo-
sition to erect 25-story office build
ing on the site of the present old de-
pot. and provide for the depot to be
moved and new one erected over the
tracks Just west Of Forsyth street.
Office Building Impracticable.
The erection of such an office build
ing as the one contemplated in the
former plan is regarded by a majority
of the members of the committee as
imprscticable and it is their belief
that this kept the first plaza plan from
being indorsed by many Atlantans.
From Forsyth street due east to the
Washington street viaduct," said Pres
dent Wilmer L. Moore. member of
the committee. willy pc a straight sweep
Of plaza. unbroken in any place by a
building and affording resting place
- (
place for the mighty lungs Of the city,
and relief from the congestion which
is becoming A menace to our people in
the downtown districts.
Link in Park System.
More than that is the plan incOrpo
rated in the plazas echeme. 1t will be
but the beginning of movement on
the part of the Chamber of Commerce
to establish throughout the city a mag
nifcent system of parks, with broad
boulevards leading to them and con
Meeting them with each other. When
we get started We are going to put the
actual planning in the hands of an ar
fist Il man W hose knowledge Of how to
lay ont such parks and boulevards to
meet civic conditions has been well
proved. and at later date we intend
to ask from the city treasury an APP
preparation to keep up these parks and
bouleVar6s. to- enlarge them and carry
out theNwork
Another matter that is very impor-
tant 10 Atlanta continued MIR Moore
and one lat the new plans for the
plaza viii Keep intact is the splendid
fire wall which now divides the north
aud south business parts Of the city.
The open space through the heart of
Atlanta may not look well to us nor to
visitors. with engines running up and
down the tracks and with volumes of
smoke hoa ting up and singing our
nostris and going into our lungs. but
that same space may some day save
half the down town section for us.
Under the present plan we have drawn
up. we keep this space open as it is now
In that nor buildings will be erected
upon it and there will be nothing to
bridge the flames across. OF course,
the smoke nuisance and the noise OF
trains will be abated by the plaza, too
Business Men Favor Plan.
The committee which has tentatively
agreed upon the new plans for a plaza
is made up of some of the strongest
and most influential men of Atlanta.
and upon the present plans all of them
seem to be thoroughly in accord That
the movement will receive the back
ing of the Chamber of Commerce and
of all civic bodies in Atlanta is not
doubted by them
The chairman of the committee is
Alex w Smith. and the remainder of
the membership is as follows: John
W. Grant. Wilmer l.. Moore, George M.
Brown, F.. P. McBurney, Ed Peters and
Walter G. Cooper All were present at
the meeting today in Mr.. Smiths office.
with the exception of Mr.. Peters, who
was kept away by a business engage
ment. The committee will meet again
next week and make arrangements to
handle the mass of detail which will be
necessary before the matter can be
brought before the legislature with any
hope of having it pass.