Atlanta Project Thread III

[cybele]

Lots of good stuff in this week's Atlanta Business Chronicle about the future of Downtown.

[megalopolis]

Lots of good stuff in this week's Atlanta Business Chronicle about the future of Downtown.

About the Green Line, right? I'm surprised to hear you refer to it as "good stuff," Andrea. You've been extrememly vocal in your opinion that the multimodal passenger terminal should not be downtown, which is a key component of the Green Line vision, because it forces people to go downtown.

[cybele]

Well, I can't speak for your friend Andrea but I've always been in favor of the redevelopment of downtown. I'm certainly not opposed to putting a multi-modal terminal there but I am opposed to dogmatically insisting that it's the only possible place. Especially when doing so might produce only marginal benefits and could have other negative effects on the city. (Such as derailing the Beltlline, destroying neighborhoods on the NW side of town, etc.).

But yeah, the articles do mention the Green Line idea, as well as a number of other possibilities. I'd recommend reading them.

[Alfred E Neuman]

• Atlanta drops from 8th to 24th on Forbes Best Cities list.
• Delta yanks Atlanta sports sponsorships and puts them in NYC.
• Blank announces plans to build new stadium out of downtown– either GM site, Fort Mac or near Perimeter College.

[cabasse]

1) forbes lists are generally pretty ridiculous.
2) delta is trying to appeal to more people, and it's only the falcons: "Delta has moved its marketing push to baseball—it will remain the official airline of the Braves—and much of that focus is now on New York City, Landers said."
3) plans? i thought that was just speculation a few months back (gm site specifically)

[Alfred E Neuman]

1) Forbes? Defer
2) Braves? For now.
3) Plans? McKay put out official public notice on WCC today

[atlantaguy]

• Atlanta drops from 8th to 24th on Forbes Best Cities list.
• Delta yanks Atlanta sports sponsorships and puts them in NYC.
• Blank announces plans to build new stadium out of downtown– either GM site, Fort Mac or near Perimeter College.

Blank is getting a head start on maximizing potential Government $$$$ by pitting all these sites against each other. It's called due dilligence.

According to the news reports I saw, Fort Mac is out - they don't want it, and it does not fit in with the master plan that is already in place for the redevelopment.

The Perimeter College site is a joke, ditto Forest Park.

Trust me, they want to stay Downtown and the GWCC wants them to stay Downtown. This is nothing but typical "shopping around to get the best deal."

Just to remind you, before the Georgia Dome deal was finalized, the previous owners (the Smith family) make repeted threats to move them to Jacksonville. They got their Dome.

[ATLaffinity]

an *open air* (this is Atlanta, not Montreal) stadium intown would be nice.

something like this would be nice:

http://www.listicles.com/wp-content/upload/0_allianz_arena_600.jpg

but we'll get some asinine "retro" stadium.

[Atlwest281]

Beautiful stadium, isn't that in Munich? It would be cool to get something like that or the new Wembly stadium in London but those type of designs might be to cost prohibitive.

[delarosa]

not quite as striking, but something like this would fit in nicely around gwcc/philips...

http://www.thermomax.com/NY%20Jet%20Stadium.php

[smArTaLlone]

Blank is getting a head start on maximizing potential Government $$$$ by pitting all these sites against each other. It's called due dilligence.

According to the news reports I saw, Fort Mac is out - they don't want it, and it does not fit in with the master plan that is already in place for the redevelopment.

The Perimeter College site is a joke, ditto Forest Park.

Trust me, they want to stay Downtown and the GWCC wants them to stay Downtown. This is nothing but typical "shopping around to get the best deal."

Just to remind you, before the Georgia Dome deal was finalized, the previous owners (the Smith family) make repeted threats to move them to Jacksonville. They got their Dome.

In the news report I saw, Blank clearly stated that staying downtown was their #1 preference. It just makes sense to look at all options.

[PedestriAnne]

Sorry if someone posted this already. I didn't see it anywhere.

Work slows on huge Streets of Buckhead project
By RACHEL TOBIN RAMOS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Thursday, April 02, 2009

Balfour Beatty Construction has laid off eight hourly employees and several engineers and assistant project managers who were working on the Streets of Buckhead project.

Jeff George, vice president of the company’s Atlanta commercial group, said the layoffs were due to construction delays on the Ben Carter Properties’ project.

"We’re trying to manage Ben’s money as best we can,” said George. He hopes to rehire the workers when progress resumes on the site.

Here's the rest (http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/stories/2009/04/02/streets_buckhead_project.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab)

[cybele]

The Atlanta Business Chronicle has some nice reporting on the GA 400 corridor. The focus out here is increasingly on creating mixed use and live/work/play communities. It's a very dynamic environment which is home to many of the city's leading businesses, and I think we'll see the area become increasingly urbanized.

[smArTaLlone]

Decatur Street construction
On Thursday, April 2, 2009, construction will begin on Decatur Street and will signal the beginning of an important street improvement project to the Georgia State University campus. The focus of this construction project is to promote and improve pedestrian movement along Decatur Street by increasing sidewalk widths, improving intersection crossings, adding planters and trees, and reducing much of the roadway as it crosses our campus to single lanes going east and west. While work will eventually include the south side (eastbound lanes) of these blocks as well, for this first phase (A, B, C, and D on the plan) all work will be confined to the north side (westbound lanes) of the street. This first phase will progress one block at a time starting at the intersection of Peachtree Street and Decatur and continuing to the Jesse Hill Jr. Drive intersection.

Future Information Updates

All work on the north side sidewalks and lanes should be completed by the end of June. Announcements and updates of construction start and end dates will be posted to this website on a weekly basis.

At the conclusion of work on the north side of Decatur, construction will commence on the south side of Decatur Street, starting at its intersection with Jesse Hill Jr. Drive and progressing westward block by block until all construction has been completed to its intersection with Peachtree Street. This work will commence in July and be completed in September. Specific start and stop dates for each block are yet to be determined.

When complete this fall, Decatur Street will be a much more pedestrian-friendly environment and enhance our campus environment as the University continues to grow and thrive in its urban setting.

http://www.gsu.edu/ur/decatur_rendering.jpg

Construction Schedule.pdf (http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwexa/news/download/DecaturSt_map.pdf)

[cybele]

The Streets' slowdown isn't a shutdown (http://buckhead.lps2.com/Articles-c-2009-04-02-155773.113118_The_Streets_slowdown_isnt_a_shutdown.html)

Pointing to some good news, Higley said the project recently received "no fewer than four letters of intent from some exciting retailers. There's some good news." He said he cannot reveal the names of those retailers because "we're pretty adamant about not releasing the names until the retailer approves it and we have a signed lease."

But Carter has said a jeweler and two luxury women's apparel stores are among the four.

Two retail leases may be in jeopardy, however.

An agreement with IT Holdings of Milan, Italy, is on hold because the parent company is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. IT Holdings had committed two of its luxury brands to the project. The company operates Just Cavalli and Versace Sport, among other brands.

Carter said the company is hopeful it will get through the bankruptcy proceeding.

He also has said the lease for the La Goulue restaurant is not in jeopardy. La Goulue closed its restaurant on Madison Avenue in New York because of the high rent but is looking for new space in that city, Carter said.

[smArTaLlone]

By ALEXIS STEVENS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The windows are coming for downtown Atlanta’s Westin Peachtree Plaza, but they’re not here yet.

Every piece of glass on the exterior of the landmark circular hotel on Peachtree Street will have to be replaced, due to the tornado of March 2008.

The project is expected to begin in June or July and take at least a year to complete, said hotel general manager Ed Walls on Thursday.

[dante2308]

Decatur Street construction
On Thursday, April 2, 2009, construction will begin on Decatur Street and will signal the beginning of an important street improvement project to the Georgia State University campus. The focus of this construction project is to promote and improve pedestrian movement along Decatur Street by increasing sidewalk widths, improving intersection crossings, adding planters and trees, and reducing much of the roadway as it crosses our campus to single lanes going east and west. While work will eventually include the south side (eastbound lanes) of these blocks as well, for this first phase (A, B, C, and D on the plan) all work will be confined to the north side (westbound lanes) of the street. This first phase will progress one block at a time starting at the intersection of Peachtree Street and Decatur and continuing to the Jesse Hill Jr. Drive intersection.

Future Information Updates

All work on the north side sidewalks and lanes should be completed by the end of June. Announcements and updates of construction start and end dates will be posted to this website on a weekly basis.

At the conclusion of work on the north side of Decatur, construction will commence on the south side of Decatur Street, starting at its intersection with Jesse Hill Jr. Drive and progressing westward block by block until all construction has been completed to its intersection with Peachtree Street. This work will commence in July and be completed in September. Specific start and stop dates for each block are yet to be determined.

When complete this fall, Decatur Street will be a much more pedestrian-friendly environment and enhance our campus environment as the University continues to grow and thrive in its urban setting.

http://www.gsu.edu/ur/decatur_rendering.jpg

Construction Schedule.pdf (http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwexa/news/download/DecaturSt_map.pdf)

Just for once... please take bicyclists into consideration.

[cybele]

Seems like I read somewhere that Georgia ranked last among all states in bicycle friendliness.

[rythym]

I believe it was a city ranking that I read. Atlanta, Boston, and Houston were the worst. Portland, Oregon was tops.

[cybele]

There are probably several cities in Georgia that are more bike friendly than Atlanta. The ATL is not exactly on the cutting edge (even by Georgia standards) when it comes to things like that.

[Atlantan26]

ATLANTA: Why ride a bike when you can just drive a car? :haha:

[joecool]

This is sooooo Atlanta...

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d25/joeyhowell/fat_american_walking_dog_from_car.jpg

[Rail Claimore]

This is sooooo Atlanta...

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d25/joeyhowell/fat_american_walking_dog_from_car.jpg

:haha: :haha: :haha: With Ohio plates to boot!

[rythym]

I am a bike messenger by day and one thing I noticed when gas prices went through the roof was the huge change in cyclist on the streets. Which is great. Also I noticed it didn't taper off with the fall of gas prices. If only people could "walk" their dogs while on a bike, then we would be in business.

[smArTaLlone]

Phipps Tower has webcam (http://www.siteisight.com/account.php?da=&m=&y=&inv=0)

[Dragonheart8588]

Phipps Tower has webcam (http://www.siteisight.com/account.php?da=&m=&y=&inv=0)

It said "Access Denied" for me.

[micropundit]

Max’s brings classic New York-style pizza to downtown Atlanta

ATLANTA (April 28, 2009) – Concentrics Restaurants is proud to announce the opening of its newest restaurant Max’s Coal Oven Pizzeria located next to STATS, at 300 Marietta Street in late spring 2009. The third Concentrics venture in downtown Atlanta’s thriving walkable Luckie Marietta District, Max’s will wow Atlantans with the simple, delicious and authentic pizza that New Yorkers have loved for years, courtesy of New York native and pizza lover Chef Nick Oltarsh. The restaurant’s signature feature, the only genuine coal-burning oven in Georgia, enables Max’s to serve perfectly crisp and piping hot pizzas, creating a unique taste and texture that has been a hallmark of New York City pizzerias for more than a century. Embracing the traditional art of pizza making, Max’s invites guests to enjoy a taste of the Big Apple’s best paired with Atlanta’s Southern hospitality.

“Concentrics Restaurants drew inspiration for Max’s from some of New York’s most time-honored pizzerias. Our family has been traveling to New York for years and relish our go-to pizzeria visits. Atlanta simply has nothing that compares to that obviously perfect New York pizza taste,” said Concentrics Restaurants’ owner and founder Bob Amick. “A welcoming restaurant that fits perfectly in the inviting dynamic of the Luckie Marietta District, Max’s Coal Oven Pizzeria brings the simple tradition of great pizza to Atlanta.”

[smArTaLlone]

:previous: Awesome! Can't wait to check it out.

It said "Access Denied" for me.

Maybe you have to go to the Phipps tower site first. link (http://www.phipps-tower.net/home.asp)
The webcam is on the top right of the page.

[smArTaLlone]

Its now going to be 12 stories, 240,000 sf of space and targeted for completion in 2011.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y108/pincfx/Midrise/Intlcenter1.png

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y108/pincfx/Midrise/Intlcenter3.png

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y108/pincfx/Midrise/Intlcenter2.jpg

International Center @ Centergy pdf (http://www.gatewaydevelopmentservices.com/pdfs/ICAC.pdf)

[cybele]

I was in Buckhead earlier today and that Tishman building adds a nice flair to the skyline.

[jpk1292000]

Its now going to be 12 stories, 240,000 sf of space and targeted for completion in 2011.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y108/pincfx/Midrise/Intlcenter1.png

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y108/pincfx/Midrise/Intlcenter3.png

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y108/pincfx/Midrise/Intlcenter2.jpg

International Center @ Centergy pdf (http://www.gatewaydevelopmentservices.com/pdfs/ICAC.pdf)

Any idea when ground will be broken on this? Is it funded?

[jurban8]

I'm confused - where did the pedestrian bridge come from?

[cabasse]

so this is the replacement for 77 5th street it seems. i did prefer the original rendering but this isn't too bad a replacement.

[Atlantan26]

I like that new rendering better. Its not as large of a building but I think it will fit in with the area well. The remainder of the vacant property around there should be made into apartments/retail. There really arent enough rental options in the heart of midtown.

[RobMidtowner]

I'm confused - where did the pedestrian bridge come from?

I believe it's the existing one that connects the courtyard to the parking deck in Tech Square.

[jurban8]

This might be kind of old news, but the Calatrava symphony hall design is officially dead. The AJC ran a story about it today. Oh well, the design was way too expensive, and that site sucked. Let's hope the next proposal is more realistically priced.
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/living/stories/2009/05/12/symphony_hall_design.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab

[smArTaLlone]

By Michelle E. Shaw
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

There is a three-year supply of new condominiums in Buckhead just waiting to be bought, according to a first-quarter report published by Coldwell Banker NRT Development Advisors.

While the demand for condos in Buckhead, Downtown and Intown still exists, absorption has slowed to a crawl and average sales prices are falling, the report said.

In Buckhead, the average sales price has tumbled 21 percent to $409,000, according to the report. Only 11 new condos sold in the first quarter, compared to 50 in the first quarter of 2008, and resale closings were down by 25 percent, from 205 sales to 153, when compared to the same period last year.

A similar supply situation exists in the Midtown, Atlantic Station and Virginia-Highland areas, according to the Coldwell Banker report. There is approximately four years worth of new or conversion inventory in those areas. Recent new condo auctions in the area helped stimulate absorption, with nearly half of the 74 closings in the first-quarter going to the bargain seekers.

Nearly 200 condos were sold in the first three months of the year, but resale of condos still declined 33 percent and the average sales price dipped 8 percent, to $195,502, compared to the first quarter of 2008.

More condos, new and existing, were sold in Intown (266) than in Downtown (79) or Buckhead (164) in the first quarter, the report said.

[ATLaffinity]

in that international center PDF, the roof garden seems to be on spring in one rendering and the connector in another. maybe i'm crazy...

[Atlwest281]

Yes you are crazy :-P :-) and yes it does appear that way doesnt it. It confused me as well :-)

[smArTaLlone]

I hadn't noticed that but it looks there will be two. One on the 10th level towards the connector where the crown is located. And another on the lobby level which is the 2nd floor from Spring St.

The view from Spring St.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y108/pincfx/Midrise/Intlcenter4-1.png

[joecool]

I hadn't noticed that but it looks there will be two. One on the 10th level towards the connector where the crown is located. And another on the lobby level which is the 2nd floor from Spring St.

The view from Spring St.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y108/pincfx/Midrise/Intlcenter4-1.png

When is construction scheduled to begin? I am guessing 2017, lol. :rolleyes:

[cybele]

The view from Spring St.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y108/pincfx/Midrise/Intlcenter4-1.png

Atlanta has a history of imploding buildings that look like that.

[NativeAtlantan]

geez, give it a rest andrea....

[cybele]

Wow, whoever this andrea is he or she apparently made quite an impression on some people here. I won't say obsessive, but...

[smArTaLlone]

First, it was bank bailouts. Then, carmakers held out their hands.

Now, a major developer has come with a tin cup to DeKalb County, begging for $52 million in tax breaks.

Florida-based Sembler Co. says that if it doesn’t get the free ride, its 54-acre mixed-use project near the Brookhaven MARTA station will crater. But Sembler may face officials worried about the message such a deal would send to other developers.

Company President Jeff Fuqua said the 100 investors in the project “risk losing everything” because the value of the property plummeted 40 percent with the collapse of the real estate market. Lenders fled, and now there isn’t enough money to finish the job, he said, adding that the project was “on the cusp of becoming a disaster.”

A couple of buildings are up, but last week, Fuqua said nothing else will rise on the site unless taxpayers subsidize the project. He showed officials an aerial photograph of the site. They saw two mid-rise residential towers surrounded by dirt.

Without tax breaks, Brookhaven project on ‘cusp of disaster’ (http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/stories//2009/05/17/sembler_tax_breaks.html)

[Fiorenza]

So let it crater! Dekalb county can hardly afford to bail out Sembler.

[cybele]

It's a big mud hole but it's certainly no worse than the one built by Cousins at Peachtree and North Avenue or the one across from the High Museum. At least this one has some buildings on it. If they drop the price enough they'll get some people to move in.

[ATLBlaxican]

:previous: SAD!!!

[sunking1056]

I hope this dooms Sembler's Westside project.

[trainiac]

If you've been near Decatur square lately, you've probably noticed all the construction going on a block south. The high school is in the middle of pretty much filling the whole space with new buildings. I like the long-term plan to turn the middle parking lot into a campus quad. Nice design:

Master Plan (http://www.decatur-city.k12.ga.us/facilityUpdate14_files/dhsmplan091107.pdf)

Their website is actually quite informative. Nice job!

[cybele]

I hope this dooms Sembler's Westside project.

I bet those folks on North Druid Hills Road are glad that Sembler didn't demolish everything around there, too.

[Alfred E Neuman]

The former Calatrava design always disappointed me because it seemed to be derivative of his Milwaukee Art Museum… flying 'wings' aka 'sails' and all. It just wasn't meant to be.
The main campus location is an opportunity for a great Peachtree St. presence.

[joecool]

I know this isn't Atlanta related but oh well.... I have been wondering lately, Why has Savannah never had any kind of high rise type developments? Because In my opinion Savannah has so much more culture and stuff to do than some cities its same size (not going to name city names cause people cant handle personal opinions of others without fighting) As some of these cities have several tall buildings and Savannah does not. Is there a hight restriction or something? I think it would be awesome if there were a handful of high rise buildings in the mix of their skyline..... Just a thought since Savannah is so close to Atlanta (=

[joecool]

See what I mean..... All it would need is about 3 nice high rise buildings in the mix....
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg129/Truell2005/800px-Savannah_skyline.jpg

[holladay]

^^^ Savannah's a historic city. Why ruin it with highrises??

[jurban8]

High rise buildings are only allowed around Johnson Square, and even then there is definitely a limit on how far up they can go. They're only allowed here because this is where the city's first tall buildings were constructed. I remember a proposal just a few years ago that was quite beautiul but ended up being axed for whatever reason. Besides aesthetics, you have to consider that the soil in Savannah is not conducive to skyscrapers. Here in Atlanta we have easy access to solid granite with which we anchor tall buildings.

[joecool]

High rise buildings are only allowed around Johnson Square, and even then there is definitely a limit on how far up they can go. They're only allowed here because this is where the city's first tall buildings were constructed. I remember a proposal just a few years ago that was quite beautiul but ended up being axed for whatever reason. Besides aesthetics, you have to consider that the soil in Savannah is not conducive to skyscrapers. Here in Atlanta we have easy access to solid granite with which we anchor tall buildings.

New Orleans has high rise buildings. I am sure their soil is even worse than Savannah. And I don't think high rises would ruin Savannah... As long as they had an older traditional look to them as opposed to something like suntrust in atlanta which would not look right.

[jurban8]

True about New Orleans soil. But the existence of skyscrapers was due to a greater demand in that city, which led developers to tackle the tough job of building high there. There is no demand for very high buildings in Savannah. And it's not just style that would factor into the desirability of high rises in Savannah. No matter how detailed a cornice or how many garland swags you stick on a building, it all comes down to its sense of scale. Scale is extremely important in designing buildings anywhere, but especially in sensitive contexts such as the Historic District.

[OCA REP]

True about New Orleans soil. But the existence of skyscrapers was due to a greater demand in that city, which led developers to tackle the tough job of building high there. There is no demand for very high buildings in Savannah. And it's not just style that would factor into the desirability of high rises in Savannah. No matter how detailed a cornice or how many garland swags you stick on a building, it all comes down to its sense of scale. Scale is extremely important in designing buildings anywhere, but especially in sensitive contexts such as the Historic District.

Very well put. If it ain't broke, don't fix it! ;)

[joecool]

Very well put. If it ain't broke, don't fix it! ;)

Not saying it is broke just saying would be interesting and wondering why nothing ever got built in savannah. I mean mobile, austin, knoxville, raleigh are not much different in size than savannah (i dont think) and have a few tall buildings. Just a thought is all it was. I just think Savannah has so much to offer and would be neat to see it grow a little.

[Teshadoh]

Skyscrapers are located in downtown New Orleans (across Canal Street from the French Quarter), which is a large enough area to accommodate new construction. Not to mention New Orleans is a large city.

Savannah though, like Charleston, hit their peak in the mid 1800's primarily as trading centers. Except for Mobile, the other cities you mentioned are modern era cities which may date back centuries, are primarily sunbelt cities that haven't really grown until the past 50 years. Mobile like New Orleans has enough room & otherwise tore down the majority of it's historic core (why Mobile isn't mentioned with Savannah & Savannah as tourist draws).

To summarize, it would really suck if downtown Savannah 'grew'. It would rank as the biggest losses to historic preservation in the US in the past 100 years. Besides, if Savannah 'grew' in downtown, the city would likely suffer a massive economic decline as tourism is so significant to the city's economy.

[cabasse]

i could imagine a new district being created somewhere adjacent to downtown with the possibility for new office towers, in fact it was already planned (on a smaller scale) a few years ago with the savannah river landing.

main page (http://www.savannahriverlanding.com/)
master plan (http://www.savannahriverlanding.com/site_plan_large.html)

will/would be constructed just east of the historic district on empty land. map (http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=32.074993,-81.078844&spn=0.009055,0.014462&t=h&z=16)

[joecool]

i could imagine a new district being created somewhere adjacent to downtown with the possibility for new office towers, in fact it was already planned (on a smaller scale) a few years ago with the savannah river landing.

main page (http://www.savannahriverlanding.com/)
master plan (http://www.savannahriverlanding.com/site_plan_large.html)

will/would be constructed just east of the historic district on empty land. map (http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=32.074993,-81.078844&spn=0.009055,0.014462&t=h&z=16)

That is what I was talking about. Not demolishing any existing buildings. Like every other city, historic or new there are several parking lots that could be used for something better. a new park? high rise? whatever....

[Teshadoh]

There are only a few small parking lots & one (that I can think of) parking decks in the historic center of Savannah.

[trainiac]

i could imagine a new district being created somewhere adjacent to downtown with the possibility for new office towers, in fact it was already planned (on a smaller scale) a few years ago with the savannah river landing.

main page (http://www.savannahriverlanding.com/)
master plan (http://www.savannahriverlanding.com/site_plan_large.html)

will/would be constructed just east of the historic district on empty land. map (http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=32.074993,-81.078844&spn=0.009055,0.014462&t=h&z=16)

I was pretty excited about this, but it looks like it's on hold until at least 2010. Here's an article from last week

Currently, the only significant office project on the drawing board for downtown, Mouchet said, is Savannah River Landing - a proposed mixed-use development with retail, office, residential and hospitality on a 40-acre footprint just east of the Marriott Savannah Riverfront.

The development calls for some 350,000 square feet of potential office space. But, while construction on the retail and residential components of Savannah River Landing is expected to begin sometime next year, it's not likely work will begin on the office segment until an anchor tenant is locked down, Mouchet said.

"And that's going to be tough in this market - not just for Savannah River Landing but any developer," he said.

Savannah Morning News (http://savannahnow.com/node/720268)

[smArTaLlone]

Interestingly, that article makes the case for why downtown Savannah could need taller or at least larger buildings in the future. If there are some depressed areas near the historic district it could possibly be used to further expand the downtown.

There are only a few small parking lots & one (that I can think of) parking decks in the historic center of Savannah.

They just completed a large underground deck as a part of the Ellis Square (http://www.newsplacesavannah.com/gallery_retail1.htm) project.

[smArTaLlone]

1010 Midtown, a swank new condo high-rise on Peachtree Street, is already using its walking-distance proximity to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s proposed concert hall at Peachtree and 15th Street as a selling point on its Web site.

Small problem with that: The Woodruff’s board of trustees hasn’t even voted yet on the switch of construction sites, from 14th Street, off Peachtree, to a corner of the art center’s campus. The original site is where a drive to build a $300 million “postcard” for Atlanta, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, stalled out two years ago.

The Woodruff raised barely more than a third of the funds needed to build on the 14th Street site, in which the hall would have been encircled by high-rises, one impeding the view from Peachtree. The site’s unpopularity with some potential donors is one reason why the drive appears ready for a reboot after a long decade of work.

Article (http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories//2009/05/24/atlanta_symphony_move.html)

http://img.coxnewsweb.com/B/09/18/76/image_8576189.jpg

[smArTaLlone]

Check out the view from 3630/Ritz Carlton residences. (Pano (http://www.3630peachtree.com/panos/index.html))

[atl2phx]

Check out the view from 3630/Ritz Carlton residences. (Pano (http://www.3630peachtree.com/panos/index.html))

ha! thats cool. i wonder if the crane and operator come with the penthouse suite. 3630 really looks nice.

[smArTaLlone]

Hapeville spot to include office space, hotels, retail, restaurants

For now, tall mounds of recycled steel, concrete, tin, copper and asphalt dot the site that once housed the old Ford Motor Company plant in Hapeville. All the buildings have been torn down, and the developer says the remediation work that started last June is basically done.

Over the next few weeks demolition equipment will rip up the concrete slabs on the 128-acre site along I-75. Recession aside, work appears to be on track to redevelop the Hapeville site, to be called Aerotropolis Atlanta, into a mixed-use project adjacent to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

Aerotropolis Atlanta is zoned for office space, hotels, retail, restaurants, a light industrial business park and a 4,000-space airport parking facility. Buildout is expected to take 10 years.

The Ford plant employed more than 3,000 people. Aerotropolis is expected to add more than 10,000 jobs to Hapeville through buildout.

AJC article (http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/stories/2009/05/26/hapeville_ford_site.html)

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y108/pincfx/Midrise/Aerotropolis.jpg
Aerotropolis.pdf (http://www.thejacobygroup.com/aerotropolis.pdf)

[cybele]

I guess everything is pretty much on hold for the next several years but there are some interesting projects floating around if the economy ever picks up again. The Village Capital (http://www.atlantaregional.com/webdocs/Land%20Use/Reviews/ID1028/Final%20Report.pdf) plan looks it has the potential to be pretty nice. That sort of dense midrise mixed-use stuff is good for the city.

[cokezero]

I noticed the other day that the new Ivy Hall condo project in Midtown had a "Now Leasing" sign up. I guess the developer decided to ride out the housing crisis by trying to rent those homes for a few years until the current supply of condos is absorbed.

[cybele]

Interesting CDP change.

[cybele]

Barry to build St. Regis clone (http://buckhead.lps2.com/Articles-c-2009-05-28-156124.113118_Barry_to_build_St_Regis_clone.html)

Atlanta-based Barry Real Estate Cos., which last year dropped plans to build a luxury hotel at The Streets of Buckhead, is seeking a zoning change for property around the corner at 79 W. Paces Ferry Road to build a hotel/condominium project that essentially will mirror the new St. Regis across West Paces Ferry.

The development would feature 250 hotel rooms and 50 condominiums, and the ground floor would include retail space.

Since the 1980s, a German trust company has owned the property, which stretches from West Paces Ferry Place to the driveway for 103 West. There is no immediate timetable for construction.

The project would replace several retail buildings along West Paces Ferry Road, as well as upscale town homes behind the shops that are accessed from West Paces Ferry Way.

The new development would not exceed a height of 325 feet, about the same as the St. Regis, but would appear shorter than the St. Regis, which sits on higher land.

[Alfred E Neuman]

Great news…Fortune 500 company, NCR is moving headquarters from Ohio to Duluth adding 2,100 jobs to metro area.
Purdue will announce tomorrow (Tues)

[johnnylingoman]

I actually really enjoy watching new buildings come up. It is fascinating to see the process and work put into every detail of a building. What will this building be used for again?

Thanks,
Johnny
---
my personal stuff
charleston real estate (http://www.charlestonhome.com)
Birthday Dec, 26 1988
I love classical, some country, and swing music

[cybele]

There's an interesting article in the Atlanta Business Chronicle about Bank of America scouting around for some new office space in the city's financial district.

Buckhead landlords have shot at Bank of America (http://atlanta.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2009/06/08/newscolumn5.html)

[Chris Creech]

Mmmm, how horribly disappointing, a chance to put in a large scale planned live/work/play area and it looks like they're basically shooting for a big mall, massive parking lots and a few suburban style office buildings and airport hotels. I know this is just a concept, but if they go with this, it's a major missed opportunity.

Hapeville spot to include office space, hotels, retail, restaurants



AJC article (http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/stories/2009/05/26/hapeville_ford_site.html)

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y108/pincfx/Midrise/Aerotropolis.jpg
Aerotropolis.pdf (http://www.thejacobygroup.com/aerotropolis.pdf)

[Terminus]

Mmmm, how horribly disappointing, a chance to put in a large scale planned live/work/play area and it looks like they're basically shooting for a big mall, massive parking lots and a few suburban style office buildings and airport hotels. I know this is just a concept, but if they go with this, it's a major missed opportunity.

There is a very good reason for the plan. The southern part of the site site is within the 75+ DNL (noise) and significantly impacted by airport height limits. There is nothing that can be built on the southern 50% of the site but surface parking or non-residential buildings not exceeding 30 feet.

The northern part, where the smaller blocks are, also has height limits, and housing is not allowed there due to noise. The housing component of this area is just to the west (outside of the noise zone):

http://www.asburyparkga.com/

All in all, I think they did pretty well with what they were allowed.

[smArTaLlone]

:previous: There are some very nice townhouses in the first phase of Asbury park development and it looks like a great plan.

[smArTaLlone]

Crescent Resources filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and its CEO has stepped down, it said Wednesday.

Life insurance giant Manulife Financial Corp. could keep Crescent Resources as its joint development partner on the new 20-story Phipps Tower, commercial real estate brokers and developers have said. And Manulife has options to see the building through to completion, brokers and developers have said.

Phipps Tower is a nearly 500,000-square-foot building next to Phipps Plaza in Atlanta’s posh Buckhead area.

Atlanta Business Chronicle (http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2009/06/08/daily43.html)

[cybele]

Interesting editorial by Maria Saporta.

President Obama’s urban agenda and what it means for metro Atlanta and Georgia (http://saportareport.com/blog/?cat=5)

[atl2phx]

Interesting editorial by Maria Saporta.

President Obama’s urban agenda and what it means for metro Atlanta and Georgia (http://saportareport.com/blog/?cat=5)

interesting read.

poor editing considering it's a saporta piece:

So how will that translate into specific urban initiatives? The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, also known as the first stimulus package, funneled about $787 billion to Georgia.

[smArTaLlone]

By Howard Pousner


Whatever the future may hold for the proposed Atlanta Symphony Orchestra concert hall, acclaimed architect Santiago Calatrava will not be the designer.

A statement released to the AJC Tuesday by Calatrava’s American publicist made clear the architect has removed himself from the project: “In 2008, Mr. Calatrava was informed that the Symphony Center will be relocated to a new site. He was also told that a new master plan would be conceived for the site and proposals would be solicited for a new design for the project. Mr. Calatrava declined to participate in this process.”

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2009/06/16/calatrava_symphony_design.html)

[jurban8]

How much was spent like 4 or 5 years ago when Memorial Arts was renovated? I like how the plan sounds, but it just seems like a waste to tear the thing down when it just got a new face...

[smArTaLlone]

Atlanta Business Chronicle

The Woodruff Arts Center’s Executive Committee on Wednesday stamped its approval on a long-term master plan for the Woodruff Arts Center campus.

The plan includes creating a new concert hall for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra connected to and expanding upon the Arts Center’s current campus, refitting the Memorial Arts Building with expanded shared educational resources and a more dynamic environment for the Alliance Theatre.

The plan calls for reducing the size of the Memorial Arts Building by 12 percent to create space for a new concert hall for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra at the corner of Peachtree and 15th streets, Woodruff Arts Center said.

[smArTaLlone]

by Douglas Sams Staff Writer

Atlanta’s fourth-largest law firm is close to jumping into the market for a new lease, potentially becoming the second big Midtown law firm in the past year to consider leaving its building.

Kilpatrick Stockton LLP would join Atlanta’s largest law firm, Alston & Bird LLP, which is using Cushman & Wakefield of Georgia Inc. to assist in its search.

With several new office towers on the drawing board in Midtown, and no chance in the lending climate to finance any of them without a large and creditworthy anchor tenant, a few of Atlanta’s biggest developers will be courting both law firms heavily.

“All things considered, these are the types of deals that are significant enough to anchor or kick off a new building,” said Cushman & Wakefield broker Addison Meriwether.

At least three developers in Midtown and one in downtown could put together an offer to land the firm, commercial real estate brokers said.


Selig Enterprises Inc. and Daniel Corp. are developing 12th & Midtown, a giant mixed-use project that includes the 38-story 1075 Peachtree, where law firm Seyfarth Shaw LLP will move next year.

Selig and Daniel also plan another office building, 1175 Peachtree, as part of 12th & Midtown.

Dewberry Capital’s drawing board includes Midtown Square, a 60-story tower that would be one of the tallest buildings in the Southeast.

Shailendra Group LLC and Jamestown are working on the preliminary designs of their new project, 1400 Peachtree, a 40- to 70 story tower at 17th and Peachtree streets. The developers are talking to prospective tenants that may include Alston & Bird, sources said.

Hal Barry, whose Barry Real Estate Companies Inc. is developing Allen Plaza downtown, may also pitch a new tower to Kilpatrick Stockton and Alston & Bird, sources said.


Atlanta Business Chronicle (http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2009/06/22/story2.html?b=1245643200^1847435&page=2)

[cybele]

Atlanta’s fourth-largest law firm is close to jumping into the market for a new lease, potentially becoming the second big Midtown law firm in the past year to consider leaving its building.

Kilpatrick Stockton LLP would join Atlanta’s largest law firm, Alston & Bird LLP, which is using Cushman & Wakefield of Georgia Inc. to assist in its search.

Here's a dumb question. What happens to the buildings where these businesses are currently located if they pick up and move somewhere else? It was really a huge kick in the teeth to Downtown when so many legal, accounting and brokerage firms moved out.

[plorenc]

Here's a dumb question. What happens to the buildings where these businesses are currently located if they pick up and move somewhere else? It was really a huge kick in the teeth to Downtown when so many legal, accounting and brokerage firms moved out.

Considering that 5 out of 6 of their proposed options are in Midtown or Downtown, I don't think we should have that much to worry about.

[cybele]

But what happens to the space they move out of? Wouldn't either one of those companies leave a pretty massive dent in the tenant roll?

[NativeAtlantan]

uh, let's see.....they drop their rents until someone takes the bait and signs a lease....and the domino effect continues...

[cybele]

I have a dumb question. There's a place out near us called Rivermont Square. But it's actually not a square at all, just a strip mall with a great big parking lot out front.

My question is, can they call anything a square? And if it's not, why would they want to? I see this all the time.

:shrug:

---------------

I think I just figured out the answer to my own question. Calling it a Square sounds so much cooler. But it's still misleading.

[plorenc]

I have a dumb question. There's a place out near us called Rivermont Square. But it's actually not a square at all, just a strip mall with a great big parking lot out front.

My question is, can they call anything a square? And if it's not, why would they want to? I see this all the time.

:shrug:

---------------

I think I just figured out the answer to my own question. Calling it a Square sounds so much cooler. But it's still misleading.

Suburban strip malls and subdivisions seem to thrive off of contrived names. Having such a name gives it "personality" and "history" although it lacks both and is the same as every other strip mall there is. :rolleyes:

My favorites are "Belvedere Plaza (a.k.a the actual plaza at the Vatican)" in Decatur and "Williamsburg at Dunwoody." :haha:

[sabino86]

uh, let's see.....they drop their rents until someone takes the bait and signs a lease....and the domino effect continues...

cough**191 Peachtree**cough

[atlantaguy]

cough**191 Peachtree**cough

Not quite sure what you mean sabino86, but their occupancy is up over 90% now. If anyone could have turned things around with this gorgeous tower, it was Cousins - and they have proven themselves.:cool:

[sabino86]

Not quite sure what you mean sabino86, but their occupancy is up over 90% now. If anyone could have turned things around with this gorgeous tower, it was Cousins - and they have proven themselves.:cool:

I was referring to a few years back when King & Spalding and Wachovia left for newer office space in Midtown (1180 and AS respectively), leaving 191 with massive vacancies. I am aware Cousins jolted new life into the tower (it is also one of my favorite buildings here) which is awesome. :)

[atlantaguy]

^Cool - gotha!

Sadly, I have been around long enough to have seen several of these "waves" of marching ever further North.

I witnessed the original exodus from Five Points in the 80's. Not sure if you are aware, but the BOA Plaza was originally proposed by C&S to be on the spot where GSU's Business School is on Broad. Although the thought of demolishing that beautiful old building is sickening, can you imagine what things might be like today if they had prevailed?

Moving the tower to North & Peachtree REALLY helped fuel the abandonment of Five Points by the big banks/law firms.

A little trivia for you!

[smArTaLlone]

W Atlanta Residences, Atlanta’s only W-branded condos, has reduced prices up to 30 percent on many of its 65 remaining units. Luxury homes now range from the mid $200s, to more than $3 million.

W Atlanta Residences features just 74 units total, making W Atlanta Residences the best resale value in the Atlanta luxury condominium market. Check out life on the A-list at: www.wresidencesatlanta.com

When you own at Atlanta’s only W-branded residences, you automatically become a VIP at every W property within the portfolio – from New York City to Los Angeles and South Beach to Chicago.

W Hotels is the fastest-growing luxury hotel brand in the world and by 2011, will have 60 properties in the top cities around the globe.

Designed by internationally renowned architects Pickard Chilton, residential amenities include W’s signature Whatever/Whenever service, award-winning signature restaurant BLT Steak, Bliss Spa, Sweat Fitness, a 16th floor zero-edge pool and a private helipad available to residents.

Homes feature floor-to-ceiling windows, private balconies and the highest-quality European cabinetry and fixtures, such as Gaggenau appliances and Dornbracht plumbing fixtures. With more than 15 floor plans to choose from, buyers can personalize every aspect of their new home from among a range of luxurious finishes.

[cybele]

I wonder if we could do something like this in Atlanta? It would be great to build up the middle class here. They are pretty much getting squeezed out.

Middle class may be developers' 2nd shot (http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/2009-07-01-housing_N.htm)

NEW YORK — Cities that have high housing costs are trying to make lemonade out of real estate lemons: turning failed developments into affordable housing for the shrinking urban middle class.

New York City elected officials are working on a plan to subsidize unsold or half-built apartment towers to make them affordable to middle-income residents. "We love the idea. Now we're trying to execute it. Now we're trying to come up with the money," says Robert Lieber, deputy mayor for economic development.

Development has stalled at more than 20 condominium buildings in the city, according to The Real Deal, a real estate trade magazine. A 67-unit building in Queens has been rented by the city to house homeless families.

The city announced last week that it had acquired land for 3,000 units of middle-income housing, the largest single development of its kind in the city in 30 years. City-financed, it will be aimed at families earning between $55,000 and $158,000.

Seattle will vote in November on a property tax that would generate money to buy market-rate real estate developments that have stalled and convert them. "We are seeing opportunities right now to purchase properties," says Adrienne Quinn, city housing director.

Seattle offers a 12-year property-tax exemption on developments that include middle-income housing, for families who earn $67,440- $101,160. Last year, the city expanded the program to 39 neighborhoods and approved more than 678 middle-income units.

The recession has brought a renewed focus on affordable housing for middle-income residents as well as the poor.

"The downturn in the economy is making people realize that there's definitely a continuum" of need, says Michael Andrews of the Portland, Ore., Housing Authority.

Rising housing values in cities that prospered during the last economic boom priced out the middle class. Cities also lost middle-class residents when manufacturing jobs disappeared.

Cities need middle-class families because they support public schools and fill essential jobs such as teachers, police and firefighters, says Alan Berube, research director of the Brookings Institution's metropolitan policy program.

"We just see a broad range of civic reasons, environmental reasons and quality-of-life reasons" to increase housing for the middle class, Quinn says.

The challenge is cost. In Portland, developers have coped with the downturn by converting unsold condos into rentals. "To make them affordable housing would require a lot of subsidy," Andrews says. Designed before the recession hit, "these are often pretty nice product."

[smArTaLlone]

By RACHEL TOBIN RAMOS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (http://www.ajc.com/news/content/business/stories/2009/07/01/streets_of_buckhead_project_.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab)

Work on the Streets of Buckhead, one of the most watched retail developments in the city, will resume in September, said Ben Carter, chairman of Ben Carter Properties.

The project is on schedule to open in October 2010, Carter said. The developer is undertaking the massive makeover of the former Buckhead Village party district into an upscale street-level shopping destination.

When construction resumes, Carter wants to have 70 percent of the space committed so he can secure a bank loan, he said. The project is currently financed through Carter’s personal investment and equity investors, who typically charge higher interest rates than banks.

In 2011, Carter hopes to begin phase II, which will have a hotel and apartments.

“I think the economy is starting to shake some of its problems,” said Carter. “A lot of people think the worst is behind us.”