Atlantic Station Thread II

[trainiac]

Originally Posted by cokezero

However, the only thing that differentiates this Dillard's from their other newer prototype locations in suburban Atlanta is that it is clad in brick instead of EIFS!

Wait, it does have one of the few remaining intown travel agencies.

As far as the health of AS in general, I've heard they have 85% occupancy. On another note, Target's opening has been pushed back to June.

[shanthemanatl]

Originally Posted by SteveD

...interesting! as in all the members are bears?

...straight people scratching their heads... ...LOL

[SteveD]

Originally Posted by shanthemanatl

...straight people scratching their heads... ...LOL

[sabino86]

Originally Posted by trainiac

Wait, it does have one of the few remaining intown travel agencies.

As far as the health of AS in general, I've heard they have 85% occupancy. On another note, Target's opening has been pushed back to June.

Yes it does. Does anyone know how the second floor is leasing?

[gt9228a]

Originally Posted by ThrashATL

Should be open already, I know people that left my location in Alpharetta to go to AS and work back in August 2006. It's under the Regal movie theater.

I asked the LA Fitness office there and the lady told me the first week in March, but it still seems pretty empty for that timetable. Their original start date was the end of February. Seems to be some delays.

[STrek777]

Originally Posted by SteveD

cute

[Chris Creech]

Originally Posted by ThrashATL

Should be open already, I know people that left my location in Alpharetta to go to AS and work back in August 2006. It's under the Regal movie theater.

Yeah, last time I was at the movies you could see the gym was ready to open.

Also, though I really like the theater, does anyone else think it has the most awkward entrance in the world?

Originally they built that huge greenhouse atrium at the entrance (someone obviously didn't think that through - or they weren't familiar with Atlanta weather) it baked in the sun all summer, and you had to walk through this stifling heat. So then they had to retrofit with these massive AC units on top of the elevator shaft that take up a huge chunk of the atrium entrance and pretty much negate teh whole entry big open processional experience they were going for.

When you buy the tickets, you walk around where they had to close in the bottom of the escalator, for the retrofitted AC system. But one door is okay, but one has a huge cement column right in front of it, that barely allows enough room to open the door.

For such a huge investment in that theater, it's a shame the retrofix of the atrium resulted in such bad flow. They should really revisit that whole entry into the 2nd floor.

[SAV]

maybe they should have put Nordstrom in the place of dillards

[James2390]

Originally Posted by SAV

maybe they should have put Nordstrom in the place of dillards

That definitely would have been a better idea.

[ATLonthebrain]

I'm sure Nordstrom was well aware of the opportunity to be a part of AS. I just wonder how it came down to being Dillard's after all the hype about the anchor department store. I think many expected something very different and more exciting than that. We'll see what happens should Dillard's bow out. Could end up being a great thing for other department store brands to evaluate the potential success after seeing how AS is building up along with the rest of Midtown just across th 17th Street bridge.

[joey]

Originally Posted by ATLonthebrain

I'm sure Nordstrom was well aware of the opportunity to be a part of AS. I just wonder how it came down to being Dillard's after all the hype about the anchor department store. I think many expected something very different and more exciting than that. We'll see what happens should Dillard's bow out. Could end up being a great thing for other department store brands to evaluate the potential success after seeing how AS is building up along with the rest of Midtown just across th 17th Street bridge.

Maybe a replacement (were it ever to happen) might have more experience with urban flagship-style stores and may know how to better merchandise it and physically relate it to its surroundings. Punching windows through the upper floors to allow light to leak out would do wonders for making the building feel less like a black hole.

For a retail building to be so inwardly focused with no outward pizazz whatsoever, it's no wonder they can't entice people in.

[KB0679]

Originally Posted by atlantaguy

KB0679 - I really don't think Atlanta has ever taken to Dillard's much with the exception of one or two of their far-suburban stores. This is their first store inside the Perimeter, and I just don't think their target market is intown at all. IMO, it should have been a Macy's or Bloomingdale's.

Ahhh, I see. Didn't know that. I'm not really up on the distribution of retail within certain cities. All I know is that Belk owns the Carolinas, LOL.

[Chris Creech]

Originally Posted by joey

Maybe a replacement (were it ever to happen) might have more experience with urban flagship-style stores and may know how to better merchandise it and physically relate it to its surroundings. Punching windows through the upper floors to allow light to leak out would do wonders for making the building feel less like a black hole.

For a retail building to be so inwardly focused with no outward pizazz whatsoever, it's no wonder they can't entice people in.

Couldn't agree more. Also they could take a lesson from the European model for department stores that feature nice open restaurants with views that offer a good value lunch. (Even IKEA does this.)

If you had a more open front with a destination restaurant, you'd have more casual shoppers going through the store.

[ASInsider]

Nordstom was in fact interested...very interested and here's how that deal would have worked. Nordstrom would have come to AS if they gave them the land and then constructed the store at Atlantic Station's own cost of $40M - all the while not paying their own real estate taxes or contributing to the common area maintenance budget. While what Dillard's paid for the land was marginal they spent their own money building the store, pay their taxes and contribute to the CAM.

As far as being a store that "faces inward" the fact that Dillard's has real windows at the street level that actually look out to the sidewalk is unique to department stores much less Atlanta. Even in NYC or Chicago the windows are actually shadow boxes for mannequins and give you no relation or connection between the sidewalk and sales floor. Other than Dillard's in AS, I can only think of 2 other department stores built in a downtown environment in the last 10 years - Lazurus in Pittsburgh (now closed) and the opening of Bloomingdale's in SF. To get Dillard's to shed the "prototype" big and blank box was difficult.

Last thing on sales. Dillard's did over $35M in sales last year, has the #1 MAC counter in ATL and the #1 Ralph Lauren department (which is expanding). They have made tremendous progress in "upscaling" their brand but have to overcome the backdoor introduction to Atlanta - via Macon, etc.

LA Fitness should take delivery of all equipment next week. Target has been on schedule for opening in October since construction started.

[Sedaded]

Received this email today about the Millenium Gate:



TO: ATLANTIC STATION RESIDENTS AND EMPLOYEES
FROM: FRANK KNEISER, ASSOCIATION MANAGER
SUBJECT: MILLENNIUM GATE INTRODUCTION
DATE: 02/27/2007
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Residents and employees in Atlantic Station have been asking about the work that has started in the Commons Park at 17th and State Streets. At long last, construction has begun on Atlanta’s Millennium Gate - which will further complement the Peace and Justice sculptures already in place on either side of 17th Street.

The Millennium Gate is an expression of world class architecture and sculpture, as well as a generous gift to the citizens of Atlanta from the National Monuments Foundation. Located at the center of the Atlantic Station® community, the $18 million arch will celebrate human peace and prosperity, with special attention paid to Georgia’s rich history and people. The Millennium Gate will house Gateway Galleries, a unique collection of interrelated displays and exhibits showcasing the pioneering and philanthropic spirit behind the development of Atlanta.

The Millennium Gate is comparable to Washington Arch in New York, the Wellington Arch in London, the Carrousel Arch in Paris and the Siegestor Arch in Munich. The structure’s exhibits and art galleries will be open to the public. The rooftop will be available for weddings and other events. The history exhibits within the Gate will recreate the office of Thomas Glenn, the late chairman of Trust Company bank, who in the 1930s ran Atlantic Steel – the previous owner of the land that is now Atlantic Station. Glenn's family is among the project's supporters.

The Millennium Gate is scheduled to open in the Summer of 2008. For more information, visit their website at www.thenmf.org

Atlantic Station management has taken every precaution to ensure that construction will cause a minimum of inconvenience. Work hours are 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. weekdays and 10:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays. There will be no work on Sundays or holidays. To ensure safety, the site has been screened and fenced. It will be locked after hours. The traffic lanes will remain re-routed only as long as necessary. When possible, the lanes will be re-opened for normal traffic. At the end of each workday, the perimeter of the site will cleared of dirt and debris.

[micropundit]

Good report ASInsider,thanks. Has there been any movement on the luxury boutique hotel that AS has been seeking from day 1?

[ASInsider]

The hotel market has definitely picked up with the announced entrance of the Kimpton Group's Palomar, the Mansion, St. Regis, high-rise Hilton in Buckhead.

It will be interesting to see what actually gets started as opposed to announced.

Atlantic Station is still trying to land an upscale boutique hotel to pair with a second phase of more upscale retail and additional condos. The Kor Group (Viceroy) is in the market looking to land somewhere as is the Hard Rock - who Atlantic Station was in discussions with back in 2002 before HR went into the Native American casino business.

[gttx]

Originally Posted by ASInsider

and the latest rumor that Scott Leventhal has secured the Mandarin Oriental for a new 40+ story tower on the parking lot next to the Atlanta Women's Guild Building (house) on Peachtree Street (between the Proscenium and 1200 Peachtree).

wait....what?

[mayhem]

How could anything be between Proscenium and 1200 Peachtree? 1180 is in between there.

If you mean 1100 Peachtree that is awesome because I was walking past that parking lot last night wondering how long it was before something filled in there. Proscenium > Mandarin > 1100 > 1010 is a nice row of 400+/- ft towers.

[ASInsider]

1100 Peachtree...a little fast on the keyboard...thx!