On January 29th, Kindred Futures, in partnership with Atlanta Beltline, Inc. and Urban Land Institute Atlanta, convened the inaugural Roundtable of the Beltline Commercial Affordability Consortium (BCAC). The BCAC is a cross-sector collaborative that brings together community organizations, small business owners, developers, policymakers, and advocates to address commercial affordability and displacement along the Beltline corridor. It is designed to co-create a shared, actionable framework for commercial affordability that is grounded in both data and lived experience and advances inclusive, community-driven economic growth in Atlanta.
This convening builds on Phase I of Kindred Futures’ work with Atlanta Beltline, Inc., during which Kindred partnered with HR&A Advisors to conduct foundational research and analysis to inform the Consortium’s focus and structure. Phase I research centered on understanding the dynamics of commercial affordability and displacement in a rapidly changing real estate market, with particular attention to the long-term viability of small, local, and minority-owned businesses. Through market assessments, policy audits, and national best practice reviews, the research identified several persistent challenges, including escalating commercial rents, limited access to patient and flexible capital, restrictive leasing practices, and heightened displacement pressures in Beltline-adjacent corridors.
The Roundtable was intentionally designed to translate this research into a shared learning and alignment space. Opening remarks from Kara Lively (Atlanta Beltline, Inc.), Janelle Williams, Ph.D. (Kindred Futures), and Daphne Bond-Godfrey (Urban Land Institute Atlanta) set the context for the Consortium’s purpose and emphasized the importance of collaborative, cross-sector solutions. Sulin Carling of HR&A Advisors and Kara Lively then grounded participants in key findings from Phase I research, highlighting the scale of commercial affordability challenges and the gaps in existing policy and capital tools.
In the second half of the session, Consortium members engaged in facilitated discussion to begin affirming a shared definition of commercial affordability—one that reflects not only rent levels, but also lease terms, access to capital, business stability, and pathways to long-term resilience. These conversations marked an important first step toward developing a collective framework and set of measurable goals that will guide the Consortium’s ongoing work. The session closed out with remarks from Clyde Higgs, president & CEO of Atlanta Beltline, Inc., reinforcing the Beltline’s commitment to addressing commercial displacement through sustained partnership and coordinated action.
