ATLANTA | Development Thread V

[Zanarkand A East]

Originally Posted by delarosa

From my POV, irrespective of how novel it is or how much it differentiates Atlanta, I'd like to see it built as it would be something to do. Personally I would imagine riding it with some regularity, like a stroll in the park or what have you, just to enjoy the view. Not sure how much the same could be said for other residents, but it'd be another reason for me to head down a few stops to the downtown area. Does that justify the costs, etc.? No idea...just a self serving perspective.

[A-town]

Originally Posted by Chris Creech

I believe so, they tried going back in time, to build it in the past so that it would already be here - but there were some logistics problems.

LOL

[eddie21]

You know times are tough when the city of Atlanta wants to build a Giant Fair ride to bring in the money. I just dont see it for Atlanta. I dont get it.

[micropundit]

Originally Posted by eddie21

You know times are tough when the city of Atlanta wants to build a Giant Fair ride to bring in the money. I just dont see it for Atlanta. I dont get it.

First, let me correct a misconception: the City of Atlanta is not sponsoring nor has it committed any funding this project, it is being proposed by a group of private investors and business people who built the "London Eye". The city's as well as the local private sector's interest in the project is will and how the proposed structure will impact the tourism and convention industry which is a critical element of Atlanta's economy.
Further, this and other similar projects such as the College Football Hall of Fame , that are being proposed for the area in and around Centennial Olympic Park are being carefully plannes as to maximize their aggregate impact. Therefore they are being considered not just based upon their individual merit but how well the connect with the other business and attractions both current and proposed.

[echinatl]

A bunch of local rich people are getting together to do something they think is good for the city and you guys keep complaining about it!? Why don't you start a giant company and then you can come up with and implement your own "better" ideas.

This thing would be taller than Centennial Tower, 10 floors taller! Cost 200 million, and add "something" to do in the city. I can see tourists or conventioneers standing around thinking "hey, what do you want to do", and then looking up and seeing this massive tall thing and go "lets go there". It's a new attraction, expensive, will create a lot of construction jobs, permanent jobs, will give people yet another thing to do downtown.

[SteveD]

Originally Posted by echinatl

A bunch of local rich people are getting together to do something they think is good for the city and you guys keep complaining about it!? Why don't you start a giant company and then you can come up with and implement your own "better" ideas.

This thing would be taller than Centennial Tower, 10 floors taller! Cost 200 million, and add "something" to do in the city. I can see tourists or conventioneers standing around thinking "hey, what do you want to do", and then looking up and seeing this massive tall thing and go "lets go there". It's a new attraction, expensive, will create a lot of construction jobs, permanent jobs, will give people yet another thing to do downtown.

Eggs-zactly. Nicely worded, Echinatl.

[RobMidtowner]

One thing, it would be interesting to see how they construct it. Didn't they build the London Eye sideways over the Thames and then prop it up? I don't think there's that kind of room anywhere around downtown.

[sevensixtwo]

The one in Singapore was built one spoke at a time always offset 180 degrees so it was always balanced. Also, nicely said echinatl!

[micropundit]

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2010/11/30/gwcca-oks-green-lot-for-college.html

[TarHeelJ]

Originally Posted by A-town

^^^Agreed, we don't need a ferris wheel dead smack in the middle of Atlanta, nor is it an original idea. It's bad enough we have those antennas in Midtown behind Checkers obstructing the view, no more.

Not that I think it's a good idea for Atlanta (I haven't decided yet), but this type of observation wheel is nothing near a a simple ferris wheel. I've been on the one in London, and there are some major differences...like each car holds about 40 people and it takes about 30 minutes to make a single revolution. It isn't just a carnival ride...it's an amazing tourist attraction and a real treat.

[GTdan]

I'm not sure how I feel about the Atlanta Eye. I think it would be great for the city and I would definitely ride it, but I just wish that someone would come up with something more original for an observation deck. St. Louis has the arch and Seattle has the space needle and I believe those are unique to those particular cities.

But who knows... maybe the Atlanta Eye will eventually become more well-known in the US than the London Eye.

[desbaratto]

Originally Posted by GTdan

I'm not sure how I feel about the Atlanta Eye. I think it would be great for the city and I would definitely ride it, but I just wish that someone would come up with something more original for an observation deck. St. Louis has the arch and Seattle has the space needle and I believe those are unique to those particular cities.

But who knows... maybe the Atlanta Eye will eventually become more well-known in the US than the London Eye.

I get what your saying - I like it as an idea, and as others have said, it's something to do. I agree with you that it would be cool if Atlanta had its own thing, but I don't know what that would be.

[A-town]

Originally Posted by TarHeelJ

Not that I think it's a good idea for Atlanta (I haven't decided yet), but this type of observation wheel is nothing near a a simple ferris wheel. I've been on the one in London, and there are some major differences...like each car holds about 40 people and it takes about 30 minutes to make a single revolution. It isn't just a carnival ride...it's an amazing tourist attraction and a real treat.

Ok, that's an interesting point to make. I'm not against the idea of an observation deck. I just don't want ours to be a copy of something that another city is already know for. As GTdan pointed out there are cities like Seattle and St. Louis that have them, but they are unique to those cities. If we could do the same, I'd be all for it. Developers in Atlanta have gotten too comfortable duplicating hallmarks they see in other cities. It's possible to borrow a concept without building the same project.

[Zanarkand A East]

Originally Posted by echinatl

A bunch of local rich people are getting together to do something they think is good for the city and you guys keep complaining about it!? Why don't you start a giant company and then you can come up with and implement your own "better" ideas.

This thing would be taller than Centennial Tower, 10 floors taller! Cost 200 million, and add "something" to do in the city. I can see tourists or conventioneers standing around thinking "hey, what do you want to do", and then looking up and seeing this massive tall thing and go "lets go there". It's a new attraction, expensive, will create a lot of construction jobs, permanent jobs, will give people yet another thing to do downtown.

Count me in! I'll take an observation wheel now rather than waiting 30 more years for someone to think of something "original"

[TarHeelJ]

Originally Posted by A-town

Ok, that's an interesting point to make. I'm not against the idea of an observation deck. I just don't want ours to be a copy of something that another city is already know for. As GTdan pointed out there are cities like Seattle and St. Louis that have them, but they are unique to those cities. If we could do the same, I'd be all for it. Developers in Atlanta have gotten too comfortable duplicating hallmarks they see in other cities. It's possible to borrow a concept without building the same project.

The Space Needle is not unique to Seattle. There are several cities with similar observation towers...to name a few: CN Tower, Toronto; Statosphere, Las Vegas; Tower of the Americas, San Antonio; Calgary Tower; Sky Tower, Aukland; Sydney Tower; etc.

I'm pretty sure that an observation wheel built in Atlanta won't be an exact copy of one already built elsewhere. It will have some variations and be unique in some way, as are most copied ideas.

[Pessimistic Observer]

Originally Posted by TarHeelJ

The Space Needle is not unique to Seattle. There are several cities with similar observation towers...to name a few: CN Tower, Toronto; Statosphere, Las Vegas; Tower of the Americas, San Antonio; Calgary Tower; Sky Tower, Aukland; Sydney Tower; etc.

I'm pretty sure that an observation wheel built in Atlanta won't be an exact copy of one already built elsewhere. It will have some variations and be unique in some way, as are most copied ideas.

itll be red
or it will be sponsored
or atleast thats what the synic inside my head tells me

[Zanarkand A East]

Atlanta region poised to control legislature

[echinatl]

GOOD!

Also, I just read this article about the CFHF: http://www.ajc.com/business/college-football-hall-set-764740.html

I noticed this part "The exterior will resemble a football, including its texture". Are there any renderings or mocks out there?

[micropundit]

The College Football Hall of Fame will have a 3-D theater, broadcast facility and event space when it opens in Atlanta in 2013.

Atlanta Hall Management Inc. on Friday released more details about the College Football Hall of Fame, which is expected to be built adjacent to the Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta.


Atlanta Business Chronicle

[echinatl]

Niiiiiiice, I like it. I think this is one of the most important attractions we can get.