Beltline CEO Terri Montague stepping down from project
May 12, 2009 at 4:55 pm by Thomas Wheatley in News
Atlanta Beltline Inc. President and CEO Terri Montague says she’ll depart the agency tasked with designing the 22-mile loop of parks, trails and transit on Sept. 1.
“It has been my privilege to serve the City and the BeltLine team in this capacity and to help the project achieve its early milestones and momentum over these nearly three years,” Montague said in a press release. “BeltLine implementation has come a very long way in a very short time—thanks in part to the project’s many partners and supporters.”
Montague joined the Beltline in July 2006. ABI says she’ll assist the organization in a consulting capacity until the end of the year to help with her successor’s transition.
More to come. The full press release is after the jump.
Atlanta, GA, May 12, 2009 – Atlanta BeltLine Inc. (ABI) will begin a transition in leadership from its founding President and Chief Executive Officer Terri Montague who will depart that position on September 1, 2009. The ABI board will establish a process to identify a successor, and Montague will continue in a consulting role through the end of the year to help assure a smooth transition.
“It has been my privilege to serve the City and the BeltLine team in this capacity and to help the project achieve its early milestones and momentum over these nearly three years,” said Montague, who was appointed to the position in July 2006. “BeltLine implementation has come a very long way in a very short time—thanks in part to the project’s many partners and supporters.”
Over the past three years, the BeltLine has moved forward with:
• acquisition of 4.6 miles of Northeast Corridor Right-of-Way;
• opening of the first mile of trail in the West End;
• breaking ground for Historic Fourth Ward Park;
• funding of the first dollars in the Affordable Housing Trust Fund;
• completion of master plans for five BeltLine sub-areas; and
• land acquisition, planning and design of five BeltLine parks or park expansions.
“We are grateful for Terri’s leadership in taking the BeltLine so far so quickly,” said Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. Chair Cal Darden. “We are also grateful for her successful recruiting of directors of Community Engagement, Communications, Design, Finance, Real Estate and Program Management, comprising a leadership team that will serve the BeltLine well under her successor.”
Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin added: “Terri is smart, thoughtful and has been dedicated to the success of this innovative public project, which she brought national recognition and acclaim to. Her reputation for being a critical thinker was important as I sought someone who could bring that experience to the development of all the complex issues significant to the Beltline’s success. She has been an invaluable asset to this administration and to the City and there is no doubt in my mind that the Beltline exists today because of her leadership.”
“The BeltLine is blessed with not only broad public support but a vast array of public and private partners who all contribute leadership to this visionary initiative,” said BeltLine Partnership Chair John Somerhalder. “As Terri has demonstrated, the leader of ABI is crucial to orchestrating the efforts of such diverse talents and interests. We’re fortunate to have benefitted from her talents in these critical start-up years.”
May 12th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
This is about as shocking as the sun coming up tomorrow. I felt this was coming as soon as the GA Supreme Court’s decision came down against TAD’s. It’s probably for the best in the long run.
May 12th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
The sun’s doing WHAT tomorrow?
May 12th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
Terri’s decision is the best for the Beltline. She is a nice person, a smooth communicator, and has a lot of good instincts. But she has been a poor business manager and leaves a string of terrible decisions, including Paying $66 million to Wayne Mason for the NE corridor; failing to recognize when buying the NE corridor that the BeltLine was not obtaining necessary property rights (fortunately, this was corrected); paying millions to Barry real estate to get them out of the NE joint venture; failing to keep the community involved in decisions, not accepting that attorney John Woodham had a slam-dunk challenge to the constitutionality of using school tax dollars for the Beltline and treating him like a pest; using virtually all of the proceeds from the first Beltline bond sale in the NE; etc. Even if many of these were done at the insistence of Mayor Shirley Franklin—as is likely—Ms. Montague must take responsibility. The Beltline leaders should take this opportunity to reassess the project in light of all that has happened and come up with a new plan that reflects today’s financial and political realities and returns to the original vision for the Beltline.
May 13th, 2009 at 12:15 am
Why did she decide to leave now (anybody got the low down, or even a guess?), and what does it mean for the project?
I didn’t agree with all her decisions, but she’s super sharp and inspirational…wondering about her successor.
May 13th, 2009 at 2:01 am
Jade,
I attended Tuesday night’s quarterly briefing and spoke with Montague. I’ll have a post later this morning.
May 13th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
I’m not sure how the beltline has received such cultlike status. Does anyone notice that the ‘accomplishments’ have little or nothing to do with building a transit system? I’m all for trails and green space and affordable housing but we need some transit that works for the CURRENT residents of Atlanta. Think of the sophisticated bus/streetcar system we could have right now with the money they have wasted on this project. All for the promise of a light rail 20 years down the road.
May 13th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
I would like to see all of the critics step up to the challenge please…who’s first?
May 13th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
The State and Feds need to buy into the Beltline dream in order for it to work. The City is not going to be able to handle the transportation piece themselves and frankly shouldn’t have to.
May 13th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
You disappoint me, S. Dekalb Voter.
I was expecting your boilerplate “deflect responsibility from Mayor Franklin” comment much sooner.
May 13th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
You’re funny Andy. I actually post my boilerplate response just because I know how one-sided CL’s coverage of the Mayor can be. I’m glad you picked that up.
In any event, the beltline has got to be bigger than Shirley. I’m sure she had a huge role in hiring Terri, but unlike other depts, she doesn’t manage her day-to-day.
I’m sure you agree that State Govt has completely fallen on their faces when it comes to transportation issues. There’s a lot the mayor is responsible for, but regional transportation is not one of them. She appoints people to MARTA and other boards, but you can blame Perdue’s lack up leadership for our transportation problems