Date of Submission
Spring 5-9-2023
Degree Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Architecture
Department
Architecture
Committee Chair/First Advisor
Ameen Farooq
Abstract
Automobiles have been a growing part of our lives. We are left with the consequences of their effect on urban and suburban forms that are detrimental to human accessibility. Atlanta, deemed the poster child of urban sprawl, has made a major impact on neighboring cities, including Marietta, Georgia, which has a population of 60,687 (Data USA). Due to Marietta’s rapid urbanization and population density, the city will need to increase its accessibility and develop sustainable opportunities to meet residents’ needs.
As the city’s population grows and major universities such as Life University, Gwinnet College - Marietta Campus, and Kennesaw State University open new campuses in both Marietta and Kennesaw, a growing number of young, educated professionals are moving into the city and bringing economic development with them. The NAHB reports that this new generation of residents seeks a location close to the city with pubs, shops, and restaurants within walking distance (NAHB, 2019). This emerging, economically powerful demographic demands affordable housing, and shorter commuting to work and eat.
However, Georgia’s mass transport, MARTA does not travel through Marietta even though there are several options for commuting via CobbLinc and car services. These services are not economically or timely beneficial to students or young professionals that want to spend less money commuting.
- How can we provide a linkage from city to city as well as affordable housing for young professionals?
Marietta is a historical city with a rich history of its existing train railway, the Western and Atlantic Railway, that once carried passengers running up through Kennesaw and down through Atlanta. With the city’s growth and more students and young professionals seeking jobs near metro Atlanta, Marietta needs to shift its historical city into new lights.
- Could T.O.D. be designed to integrate with the existing urban form?
- Research objectives include proof of rapid urbanization making T.O.D. necessary and a transit model, solely focusing on density and alternative centers.
- How do density and land usage affect low- and high-density areas?
- What happens to T.O.D.’s edge? The invisible barrier where T.O.D. stops and how that impacts existing conditions outside the scope of work.
T.O.D. research is to be conducted to understand its benefits and impact on the economy, society, and the environment. Comparing and analyzing T.O.D. cases in three scales of transit-area (neighborhood, city, and regional), including residential, commercial zones, and central business districts. Conducting qualitative and quantitative research on the role of transportation and built forms concerning people’s everyday functionality and accessibility. The integration and expansion of the known railroad into a greener and eco-friendly T.O.D., connecting communities to the urban center, can foster a sustainable living environment for the young professionals of Marietta.