South Downtown Redevelopment

[bryantm3]

Originally Posted by Samsonikk63

I agree, it might be kinda hard to fit some shade tress but we should at least get some seating somewhere.

Curb extensions in the parking lane. Put one between each building and you can still keep most of the parking spots. I couldn't find a photo of one that is *just* a tree planter— this one is wide and has bicycle parking but hopefully you get the idea.

[RocketSurgeon]

I thought Downtown would have a big resurgence in the 20s, but after COVID did it over so badly, I'm starting to think it won't be until the 30s.

[smArTaLlone]

https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2023/08/01/braden-fellman-downtown-newport-apartments.html

Braden Fellman's first order of business is to convert 222 Mitchell — a former bank building Newport envisioned turning into offices — into a project that aligns with its specialty: apartments.

The rest of Braden Fellman's plans for the portfolio are unknown. But Braden Fellman has the expertise to do more apartment conversions, potentially adding thousands of units to the area.

When reached for comment, Andrew Braden, a principal with Braden Fellman, said in a statement: "Our work in Atlanta over the past four decades has been highly focused on creating residential opportunities in some of Atlanta’s oldest neighborhoods. This is no different."

[Street Advocate]

Will be a win if we wind up with thousands of new residential units downtown because office plans stifled.

[bryantm3]

I'll count it as a win if 222 gets finished at all. After seeing Underground with so many false starts I am used to stuff not happening in south downtown.

[alco89]

Originally Posted by bryantm3

I'll count it as a win if 222 gets finished at all. After seeing Underground with so many false starts I am used to stuff not happening in south downtown.

I can't blame you. I'm struggling to not feel this way as well...

[700]

Originally Posted by bryantm3

I'll count it as a win if 222 gets finished at all. After seeing Underground with so many false starts I am used to stuff not happening in south downtown.

I think it will happen, its just a matter of when. Atlanta as a whole is a white hot market, and the demand doesn't seem to be slowing down any time soon. At the moment Midtown is the epicenter of the development world in the city, but as developable land becomes harder to find in that area, I think its inevitable that attention will shift toward Downtown, and particularly the vast swaths of empty lots south of Alabama Street.

Of course I'm no industry professional, so who knows.

[bryantm3]

222 has graffiti again. It's like a dark comedy

[testarossa50]

https://www.bisnow.com/atlanta/news/capi...ent-of-newport-res-south-downtown-121185

The lion’s share of the holdings are going into foreclosure.

[atlwarrior]

Sorry ABC has the article as a paywall, but the Atlanta Tech Village founder purchases the portfolio.

https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news...&utm_content=281108&utm_campaign=3958168

[smArTaLlone]

Originally Posted by atlwarrior

Sorry ABC has the article as a paywall, but the Atlanta Tech Village founder purchases the portfolio.

https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news...&utm_content=281108&utm_campaign=3958168

Here's a snippet.

The team plans to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on the redevelopment over multiple years. The project will turn Broad Street into a pedestrian-only corridor, allowing people to walk between the Five Points and Garnett Marta stations, Cummings said.

“We’ve seen the success of the BeltLine,” he said. “Atlanta is craving that walkability."

The team is already working with architects to transform 20,000 square feet along Hotel Row into the permanent location of Atlanta Tech Village, expecting entrepreneurs there within 12 months.

Next month, Newport’s former marketing office at 170 Mitchell St. will become a pop-up location for the startup incubator to drum up interest. April Stammel, a senior vice president with Newport, will join the new development team.

Deals to bring more restaurants to the project are also underway, Cummings said.

When Atlanta hosts the FIFA Men’s World Cup in 2026, people will see cranes and construction fences replace empty parking lots as work begins on new low-rise buildings, he said.

“By the World Cup,” Cummings said, “this is going to be hopping.”

[Nanosolar]

Originally Posted by smArTaLlone

Here's a snippet.

I really really realllllyyyy want to be optimistic. It’s such a hard part of town though... Good luck to the team.

[YAY0]

It seems to like they're trying to capitalize on centennial yards not even being close to done by the world cup. It will have significant gravity if they follow through on the timing.

[atlwarrior]

Newport’s plans to redevelop 10 blocks of the neglected Downtown area near the Five Points MARTA station into a thriving neighborhood dubbed “South DWNTN” collapsed earlier this year when the company said it was forced to sell its portfolio after investor funding dried up.
Many of Newport’ properties were up for foreclosure when the company defaulted on loans after a deal fell through to sell its portfolio to Braden Fellman.

Cummings and Birdsong announced their plans to buy the entire Newport portfolio — 53 parcels including 6 acres of parking lots — in a statement posted on the Atlanta Ventures website.

“Innovation, progress, and risk-taking are in our blood. It’s why we choose to call this city home. It’s why we named our firm after our city,” the statement said.

“Now is the time to be on the offense. An opportunity to create a safe, walkable, and livable neighborhood in the once forgotten ‘heart of the city’ is right in front of us. Every great city in the world has a vibrant downtown, it’s Atlanta’s turn,” the statement said.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realesta...d=f1fb6057ed024bf0b5974928cc09e96c&ei=28

[Street Advocate]

Atlanta needs more “homegrown” developers and Birdsong and Cummings into the mix will be very interesting to watch play out. They’ve already made a huge impact on businesses here. Now they have the opportunity to leave an even larger legacy.

Related, would love to see more smaller to mid scale developers be bankrolled for projects across the city. The more variety we have in builders, the better.

[smArTaLlone]

https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news...village-south-downtown-broad-street.html

The buyer of a massive South Downtown real estate portfolio on the verge of foreclosure is baking walkability into its strategy for revitalizing the neighborhood — and keeping the dream of a car-free Broad Street alive.

A venture led by David Cummings plans to convert the southern half of Broad Street into a pedestrian-only corridor. The proposal is part of the tech entrepreneur’s vision to transform 10 blocks into a walkable, mixed-use community centered around startups.

To successfully reimagine Broad Street, it will take more than quality decisions related to the design and physical infrastructure of the plaza itself, Ball said. Those elements should be paired with a corridor lined with businesses, outdoor dining and other activities to enliven the area, she said.

“You can have an amazingly designed street with high-end pavers, beautiful lights and exotic trees,” Ball said. “But if the walls around it are blank, empty storefronts, you’re most likely not going to have a lot of people there.”

[smArTaLlone]

https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news...cx_testVariant=cx_3&cx_artPos=1#cxrecs_s

The first pop-up space part of the South Downtown expansion of Atlanta Tech Village is ready to open, marking the beginning of a 40-year plan to transform 10 city blocks into a startup ecosystem.

German real estate firm Newport RE’s former marketing office at 170 Mitchell St. is the first Downtown location for the startup incubator. Companies will begin touring the space next week, said David Cummings, one half of the venture leading the project.

Two other startup locations will follow. Space in the former Sylvan Hotel, part of Hotel Row on Mitchell Street, will open in December. Another will open in the Liquid Carbonics building on Nelson Street at a date yet to be determined. San Francisco-based design firm Gensler Architects was hired to complete the interiors of the Sylvan Hotel space.

The Mitchell Street location is opening less than a month after entrepreneur Cummings and his partner Jon Birdsong confirmed their plans to take control of dozens of properties in South Downtown and transform the neighborhood with offices, restaurants and housing.

[A-town]

Originally Posted by smArTaLlone

https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news...cx_testVariant=cx_3&cx_artPos=1#cxrecs_s

I think this was the best team that could've gotten these properties. They have what's required to fill these space with the kind of workforce that likes creative, rehabilitated spaces. A win/win for the city and Castleberry Hill.

[ArchKid]

Originally Posted by smArTaLlone

New developers please don’t forget to build these two residential buildings! ！！
Project Designer “STUDIOS Architecture”（https://studios.com/） is an excellent architectural design company across the United States and France.

[Sojourner_Terminus]

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure Jon Birdsong, the Tech Square guy who bought all these properties has said they are only going to build residential to 6 stories "human-scale" development.

Its my understanding that they are changing tack from what Newport had envisioned, and are focusing on residential conversions.

Someone else with more info chime in to correct me if im wrong.