Atlanta Attorney Shaped Transit-Oriented Development
EPA attorney Leif Palmer dies at 66, his legal work enabled Atlantic Station brownfield project
EPA Attorney Behind Atlantic Station Dies at 66
Leif Palmer, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency attorney whose innovative legal work made Atlanta's Atlantic Station development possible, died March 20 at age 66 from complications of myasthenia gravis. Palmer's groundbreaking argument in the early 1990s transformed a 138-acre contaminated brownfield into one of Midtown's most successful mixed-use developments. His legal strategy connected environmental protection with transit-oriented development, fundamentally changing how federal agencies view urban redevelopment projects.
Legal Innovation Unlocked Brownfield Site
In the early 1990s, the Atlantic Station site was an abandoned 138-acre contaminated industrial brownfield that seemed impossible to develop. Palmer developed a legal argument that building a mixed-use development in a centrally located area served by mass transit would reduce air pollution compared to suburban projects. This reasoning allowed federal funding for construction of the 17th Street Bridge, which reconnected the isolated site to Midtown and made the development viable. The approach represented a shift in how environmental law could support urban infill rather than suburban sprawl.
Project Earned National Recognition
The completed Atlantic Station received the EPA's Phoenix Award in 2004, recognizing excellence in brownfield redevelopment. The Sierra Club named it one of America's best new development projects in 2005. Palmer retired from the EPA in 2025 as regional counsel for Region 4, covering the Southeastern United States. During his career, he also worked on environmental legal issues related to Hurricane Katrina and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, establishing himself as a key environmental attorney in the Southeast.
Career Spanned Decades of Environmental Work
Palmer was born in The Dalles, Oregon, and graduated from the University of Oregon and its Law School before moving to Atlanta in 1988. He spent more than three decades with the EPA, working on some of the region's most significant environmental challenges. His Atlantic Station work in the 1990s set a precedent for transit-oriented brownfield redevelopment that influenced projects nationwide. A memorial service is scheduled for May 2.
Legacy Continues in Transit-Oriented Development
Palmer's legal framework connecting environmental benefits with transit access continues to influence urban development policy. Atlantic Station remains a model for how contaminated industrial sites can be transformed into walkable, transit-connected neighborhoods. He's survived by his wife Donna, son Joey, grandchildren, and siblings. Riders visiting Atlantic Station can access real-time transit connections and trip planning through Moovit.
