Chick-fil-A CEO floats idea for interstate-topping park in Midtown, but will it happen?

Giving cars a shaded break from the sweltering summer sun; bringing a new addition to Atlanta’s green space stock: What’s not to love about Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy’s idea to build a park over the Connector in Midtown?

Well, for one, the billionaire businessman’s brianchild is reportedly still in the imagination phase, and the fast food chain his father founded would have nothing to do with the project.

Nevertheless, Bisnow recently confirmed Cathy has been in talks with business and government heavies in Midtown, floating the idea to cover a piece of Interstate 75/85 with green space near The Varsity.

On August 10, Cathy met with Georgia Department of Economic Development officials and Russell McMurry, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Transportation, to kick around the idea of topping the highway around North Avenue.

GDOT officials told Bisnow the meeting was little more than a brainstorming session.

But the idea to build parks atop transportation infrastructure is not a novelty.

In Buckhead, investors are (reluctantly) considering developing what would be called the Park Over 400, an estimated $250 million proposal to sit atop a section of Ga. Highway 400.

Additionally, a feasibility study by Central Atlanta Progress is underway to determine if The Stitch—a highway-capping project that would link downtown and Midtown by covering the interstate with green space and private development—could actually happen.

So, with these and other ambitious dreams floating around for Atlanta’s green landscape, it can be tough to determine which projects have a shot at becoming concrete.

And this, of course, calls for a reader poll!

• Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy has Ambitions of Building a Park over Midtown Atlanta’s Interstate [Bisnow]