Just call him “Joe Cool,” or better yet, “Clyde Cool.”

Five years ago (Feb. 13, 2019), Clyde Higgs became the permanent CEO of Atlanta BeltLine Inc. It seemed like a perfect time (Valentine’s Day) to sit down with Higgs and have a far-reaching discussion so he could reflect on his tenure with ABI and share his thoughts on the BeltLine’s next chapter.

Before becoming CEO, Higgs served as ABI’s chief operating officer. He joined the organization in August 2015. “It’s just flown by,” Higgs commented. When Brian McGowan left the CEO job in August 2018, Higgs became the interim CEO before being selected for the permanent post. 

When it comes to the BeltLine, everyone has an opinion (me included). 

So, how does Higgs balance all the constituencies who feel they own a piece of the project?

“I really look at it as our superpower – that we have so many different constituencies out there,” Higgs said. “People love the Beltline for various reasons. That gives us energy.”

Affordable housing. Transit. Trails. Parks. Historic preservation. Art. Trees. Neighborhoods. You name it. Running the BeltLine is not for the faint of heart.

Higgs, who celebrates his calm demeanor, is not humble when it comes to the BeltLine.

“What we see with the Beltline today – it is without equivocation the most ambitious redevelopment project in the country,” Higgs said of the 22-mile corridor of mostly abandoned rail lines that encircles the central city. 

When Higgs joined the BeltLine in 2015, it had an annual budget of about $30 million.

“For this fiscal year, we’ve passed a budget of over $150 million,” Higgs said.  “When I arrived here, it still had kind of a ‘startup’ feel. It feels like we are in a very different stage.” 

Looking back, Higgs said the pivotal moment during his tenure came in 2021 when the City of Atlanta passed the