“A Better Amsterdam Walk” | Community Fact Sheet

Eight Reasons to Vote No on the Portman Applications

1. Terrible Precedent for Our City Could Be Coming to YOUR District

If Portman's proposal were approved despite ignoring the BeltLine Master Plan guidelines, overwhelming community opposition, rejection by the Zoning Review Board, and infrastructure impacts, it sets a dangerous citywide precedent. If this oversized, car-centric development can be forced onto a small, landlocked site in Morningside/ Virginia-Highland, it could happen in your district next. Developers will feel empowered to bypass local input, planning guidelines, and scale considerations—threatening the character and livability of communities all across Atlanta.

2. Developer Refuses to Scale Down

Despite constant community feedback and our desire to find a sensible compromise, the latest version from Portman is the same massive size as it was in May 2024--1.18 million square feet. In fact, they have increased the number of housing units from 840 to as many as 1,100 along with the same 1,435 parking spaces. This would put an enormous strain on infrastructure systems—water and sewer, local schools, roads, emergency services, etc.

3. Strong Community Opposition

Morningisde Lenox Park, Ansley Park, and Piedmont Height Civic Associations, all within the direct area of influence to Amsterdam Walk, have issued statements rejecting the proposal. In May 2024, NPU-F residents voted overwhelmingly to reject the Portman proposal 77% to 23%. Over the last year and a half more than 2,000 people have signed this online petition, and hundreds have attended meetings and posted yard signs opposing Portman’s out of proportion design.

4. Not in Compliance with the BeltLine Master Plan for Subarea 6

The updated 2024 BeltLine Master Plan for Subarea 6 calls for a mix of low and medium density for Amsterdam Walk, specifically 1–4 story buildings on the edges and 5–9 stories only in the interior. Portman is not adhering to these guidelines for a mix of low and medium density but instead is proposing only 9-story buildings.

5. Affordable Housing

The members of Morningside and Virginia-Highland fully support affordable housing and would welcome enthusiastically a right-sized, sensible proposal that prioritizes building as much affordable housing as possible. More affordable housing is a critical need for the city of Atlanta. The developer should work with the community in good faith to come up with a responsible and feasible design that includes much needed affordable housing.

6. Traffic Volume on Monroe Drive

There is only one road that provides access to Amsterdam Walk—Monroe Drive. Portman’s proposal would add about 2,400 new car trips every day on Monroe Drive, already one of Atlanta’s most dangerous and congested roads with current injury/fatality rates at 185% of pre-COVID levels (per GDOT). The developer’s own traffic study projects over 3,800 daily car trips turning in and out from the development every day.

7. No Transit Access / Totally Car-Centric

Amsterdam Walk is 30+ minutes from the nearest MARTA station. Portman is proposing a completely car-centric design—1,435 parking spaces (five times the current parking capacity), plus no mass transit integration for the foreseeable future. This is the main reason why, in June 2024, the Zoning Review Board voted to deny the Portman rezoning application.

8. Misleading Comparisons

There is no other development in the area that comes close to the massive size that is being proposed. Moreover, when compared to other large apartment complexes throughout Atlanta, the Portman plan has a far higher number of housing units per acre (100) than any other comparable complex.