ATLANTA | Development Thread V

[Verge]

Originally Posted by cybele

I think it's more walkable than many people realize. As to the shopping, all I can say is that if the Midtown Mile ever became as jumping as Perimeter Mall, we'd really have an urban revitalization to crow about.

And we Republicans aren't all that terrible. Many sophisticated big cities have heavy Republican concentrations. We may not be out on the front lines agitating for flower power type initiatives but we are often the ones behind the scenes who are quietly making things happen.

I would actually agree that the Perimeter isn't all that terrible-- It’s got good potential bones with all of that transit infrastructure-- though it is pretty unwalkable and the block 'pattern' utterly suburban... the strip shopping center development of the last few years has not helped either... As for republicans (this isn't a political forum, I understand)-- I thought they were all behind the scenes making money and caring little for the common good (what's that?), that is to the extent they have any ideas at all, other than using nasty inaccurate often hateful and/or racist rhetoric (or outright lies) to try and gain power...

[smArTaLlone]

Would've been better if you stopped at "this isn't a political forum".

[cybele]

There's sort of a gloating editorial by Dick Williams in today's Atlanta Business Chronicle about the AJC's move to Dunwoody. I don't think that's helpful at all.

But he does make an interesting observation. "...the AJC is moving to metro Atlanta's downtown. The Perimeter Center complex is home to more Fortune
500 companies than any place in the South. Interstate 285 and its Ashford Dunwoody Road exit is the demographic center of metro Atlanta. It is today's
Ponce de Leon Avenue."

That may be overstating the case a bit but there's no doubt this is an increasingly vital part of the city. Hopefully we can guide its development along good urban principles.

One positive aspect of this is that the AJC's old headquarters at 72 Marietta Street sits on nearly 6 acres owned by Cox Enterprises. According to the Business Chronicle, Cox has no plans to sell the property and believes it has significant long-term value to the city. So that could be a very exciting development downtown at some point in the future.

[mayhem]

Originally Posted by kamden99

I can't believe I just read through 5 pages of absolute BS that had absolutely nothing to do with construction in Atlanta (except for the CVS and Chick-fil-A on Ponce).

Sorry, I'm in the same boat. If I deleted everything that didn't have to do with development in this thread, there wouldn't be a thread at all!

I'm assuming nothing new has happened in terms of announcement.

[popewiz]

Originally Posted by cybele

There's sort of a gloating editorial by Dick Williams in today's Atlanta Business Chronicle about the AJC's move to Dunwoody. I don't think that's helpful at all.

But he does make an interesting observation. "...the AJC is moving to metro Atlanta's downtown. The Perimeter Center complex is home to more Fortune
500 companies than any place in the South. Interstate 285 and its Ashford Dunwoody Road exit is the demographic center of metro Atlanta. It is today's
Ponce de Leon Avenue."

That may be overstating the case a bit but there's no doubt this is an increasingly vital part of the city. Hopefully we can guide its development along good urban principles.

One positive aspect of this is that the AJC's old headquarters at 72 Marietta Street sits on nearly 6 acres owned by Cox Enterprises. According to the Business Chronicle, Cox has no plans to sell the property and believes it has significant long-term value to the city. So that could be a very exciting development downtown at some point in the future.

I'm assuming that "demographic center" implies that Atlanta's population is equal in all directions from that point.

At first glance this seems like a great point for the article, but it's a little misleading to imply that it makes the area any more important to Atlanta. I would guess the demographic center of Georgia is somewhere slightly SE of the city between Macon, Atlanta, Savannah, etc. but what does that actually mean? I think the truth of the matter is still that businesses move to areas around Atlanta because of their proximity to Midtown, Downtown and Buckhead.

[alleystreetindustry]

Originally Posted by popewiz

I'm assuming that "demographic center" implies that Atlanta's population is equal in all directions from that point.

i think by "demographic center" they mean the point in which surrounding areas are rather diverse, compared to inner city atlanta being black/white. and its true, a lot of atlantas diversity and foreign "neighborhoods" tend to be in northeast metro atlanta. example: "chambodia"

and the move of the ajc (or shall we call it the djc?) is good if it keeps the paper up and running. one thing i keep trying to realize is these "suburban" areas of atlanta that are blowing up are actually future 'intown' neighborhoods. when you look @ la, a lot of the neighborhoods are far out there, but the density and development has brought a new feeling/vibe to the area. less suburban, more city. im sure metro atlanta is going to mature relatively well within the next couple decades.

[jew4life4948]

Originally Posted by alleystreetindustry

i think by "demographic center" they mean the point in which surrounding areas are rather diverse, compared to inner city atlanta being black/white. and its true, a lot of atlantas diversity and foreign "neighborhoods" tend to be in northeast metro atlanta. example: "chambodia"

and the move of the ajc (or shall we call it the djc?) is good if it keeps the paper up and running. one thing i keep trying to realize is these "suburban" areas of atlanta that are blowing up are actually future 'intown' neighborhoods. when you look @ la, a lot of the neighborhoods are far out there, but the density and development has brought a new feeling/vibe to the area. less suburban, more city. im sure metro atlanta is going to mature relatively well within the next couple decades.

Most of the density in the Perimeter Area is built on a large scale, and thus you get the Atlantic Station Effect vs. Downtown Decatur.

When you remove the physicality of the density and examine it's personality you seem to conjure up something more along the lines of a Sembler TOWN development [either on Web Ginn or Brookhaven, your choice]

Does anyone remember the development The Manhattan, it was toted as an urban oasis, despite the fact that it was a 27 story condo tower situated in a sea of asphalt dotted with single story chains.

It's really a matter of organic vs inorganic growth. Why we prefer and find comfort in organic development [little 5 points, candler park, decatur, etc] we're not patient enough and want to long term gains [well aged ambiance] immediately after the last brick is laid. Which is why lifestyle centers are the new strip mall, though they try to emulate a well-aged wine and end up being no more than a two buck chuck.

[atlantaguy]

^Yes, and packed full of people.

I was at Perimeter Center for the first time in a couple of months the other day. I see nothing but continued improvement over there, and the streetscaping they have done all around the mall area is fantastic.

The Sembler development where the Manhattan is was swarming with pedestrians around lunch time.

This area has great bones, and the Improvement District seems to be on the right track. To all the people that don't like this area, they are trying to make it much more urban. Just wait until we are out of this mess, and it will become very evident. The zoning is in place for some amazing changes.

[Atlwest281]

Perimeter Center is okay but offers nothing that Cumberland area Town Center Area and Mall of Georgia area offer besides the office buildings. Yes its great because its suburbiaintownish lol I know weird word. I think it will be an awesome place in few years however. But It will never have the true intown city feel to it. But I guess thats great because it adds to the fabric of this crazy hodge podge metropolis we live in. :-)

[nature's calling]

A photo of the Westside Urban Market.

[popewiz]

Originally Posted by atlantaguy

^Yes, and packed full of people.

I was at Perimeter Center for the first time in a couple of months the other day. I see nothing but continued improvement over there, and the streetscaping they have done all around the mall area is fantastic.

The Sembler development where the Manhattan is was swarming with pedestrians around lunch time.

This area has great bones, and the Improvement District seems to be on the right track. To all the people that don't like this area, they are trying to make it much more urban. Just wait until we are out of this mess, and it will become very evident. The zoning is in place for some amazing changes.

If by pedestrians, you mean people walking from the parking deck, then yeah, I guess so.

I have a few friends that live in the area whom I visit frequently. It seems to me that the vast majority live in fenced off condo/apartment buildings down some side street, and when they want to get something to eat or go shopping, with few exceptions, they drive and park at one of a large number of generic strip malls.

I'm happy that Perimeter is trying to become more urban, but for now it's still very underwhelming to me.

[ajdelo]

Originally Posted by Atlwest281

Perimeter Center is okay but offers nothing that Cumberland area Town Center Area and Mall of Georgia area offer besides the office buildings. Yes its great because its suburbiaintownish lol I know weird word. I think it will be an awesome place in few years however. But It will never have the true intown city feel to it. But I guess thats great because it adds to the fabric of this crazy hodge podge metropolis we live in. :-)

Um, except for a direct link to MARTA in multiple stations within a few miles. I've had training for my job in both the Galleria area and Perimeter area, and even though Perimeter is closer for me to drive to, I took MARTA that week because it was availalble and I just flat out didn't want to get on 285.

The fact that you have absolutely no choice but to transfer to a different bus system or drive to either the Cumberland area or Duluth are a turn-off to me personally.

[Fiorenza]

If you miss Duluth, Duluth won't miss you.

[ClaySkyHigh]

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[Free]

^Awesome pics. Really like the vantage points.

[alleystreetindustry]

Originally Posted by nature's calling

A photo of the Westside Urban Market.

is that kolo as in piercings etc. kolo? i cant tell by the sign. and im not sure if they expanded into a second shop. if only i still lived in atlanta...

[jew4life4948]

Originally Posted by alleystreetindustry

is that kolo as in piercings etc. kolo? i cant tell by the sign. and im not sure if they expanded into a second shop. if only i still lived in atlanta...

No Savlanta.
It says Kolo: Collection, it's a specialty boutique.

Hah, L5P piercing parlor's right down 10th street. Hah, I wish!

[cybele]

I love one and two story retail like that. Very urban.

[midtownblue]

Kolo is an upscale outdoor furniture showroom. It's perhaps the premiere such retailer in the city.

[briantech]

Almost looks like its as tall as Terminus.