The Weave of The East Side of Atlanta

The weave of the urban fabric east of Atlanta’s city center has always had a predominate grain running in the east/west direction. The few north/south streets that existed were primarily used for local traffic rather than through put. Steep ridges, low lying bogs, and/or rail lines posed significant challenges to north and south traffic. Until the 1960’s residents of the east side of Atlanta simply did not circulate north and south much: the eastside neighborhoods related to downtown, but little to each other. As late as 1959, the DeKalb Avenue and train tracks formed a substantial hurdle for north south traffic, requiring steep climbs over 40 foot high berms and crossing multiple train tracks. The north and south side of DeKalb Avenue in the Moreland Corridor had very little in common.

Atlanta_streetcars_1924 — Atlanta Streetcar Map 1924. Linear routes project out from the city center, forming a hub and spoke system rather than a woven network. The street car system was the main transportation mode for the east side neighborhoods.

1946 proposal to build the Moreland Viaduct under DeKalb Ave and the Rail Road. The white road in plan are proposed new construction, and the section diagram shows the 1946 existing grade in a faint line and the proposed grade in a dark line. A 30 foot grade separation prevented access between North and South Moreland.

1946 proposal to build the Boulevard Viaduct under DeKalb Ave and the Rail Road. The white road in plan are proposed new construction, and the section diagram shows the 1946 existing grade in a faint line and the proposed grade in a dark line. A 45 foot grade separation prevented access between North and South Boulevard

Moreland underpass 1959 — Moreland Underpass being dug in 1959. The view is from in front of where the Edgewood retail district is today looking north. The Seaboard transformer station on the left is still there today.

Moreland_North_Avenue_and_Fairview (1) — Moreland Avenue North of DeKalb before it connected through to South Moreland. It served as a grand boulevard for prominent Atlanta families. The Druid Hills park system along Ponce served as a latter extension to the Moreland high society neighborhood.