Occupying the Betline

This group identified a number of industrial buildings forming a ring around the city connected by an underused freight rail line, called the Beltline. There are long term plans to convert this piece of infrastructure into an effective piece of the transit system. Furthermore, many of these buildings are eligible for historic preservation tax credits, rendering them feasible options for mixed-use developments intended for refugees and low-income groups. By adding austere but carefully designed architectural armatures containing social and commercial programs, this project proposes to mix diverse communities by sharing muchneeded amenities such as day-care facilities, educational programs, and communal kitchens.