ATLANTA | Development Thread V

[Tuckerman]

It would be nice if Atlanta had a zoning Board.

[shivtim]

I'm still scratching my head wondering how that garage made it through the design review committee and the NPU process.

[ChadK]

Originally Posted by ATLaffinity

Dear Neighbors,

Fuck you.

Sincerely,

Perhaps the small amount of retail will help the look at street level??? NAH! It's an eye sore all the way around. And is it just me or do all the retail spaces in this development (the tower and the parking deck) seem really squat.

[hamster]

Originally Posted by ChadK

Perhaps the small amount of retail will help the look at street level??? NAH! It's an eye sore all the way around. And is it just me or do all the retail spaces in this development (the tower and the parking deck) seem really squat.

Skyhouse is 100x better than the dilapidated buildings and surface parking lot that preceded it. Skyhouse, even with the large parking deck that has no retail, will increase the density and vibrancy of the portion of Midtown that it is located in. The other reality is that Atlanta is currently a car-centric city. Unless you live, work, and play in Midtown, you are going to need a car and Skyhouse is adding parking on the cheap (hopefully that translates to lower rental rates). Long-term, when we are all old or dead and Atlanta is more dense, this building will probably be torn down and replaced (most nondescript buildings seems to last 30-40 years) with a building that has underground parking or no parking. There is currently too much vacant or unused land to justify building underground parking. Also, there are enough vacant storefronts all over Midtown. People are buying online. I just head that Amazon is investing in warehouses in each large city to offer same-day shipping. This ideal of street-level storefronts on every single project is not always necessary nor do we need to copy the urban version of yesterday. What is necessary is that these mini-fiefdom gated communities are ended, and that more complete streets are added (eastside trail, more bike lanes, etc).

[shivtim]

^Agree to disagree. Huge separate parking decks like this are simply not acceptable anymore in Midtown, especially within walking distance of a MARTA station. The parking deck has a larger footprint and more street-frontage than the apartment building. I'm not asking for underground parking or elimination of parking. I'm asking for the parking to be better incorporated, just like we've seen in pretty much every other development in Midtown over the last decade, in apartments hotels and condos alike (Plaza, Spire, Viewpoint, 77 12th, 1010, Post Parkide, Biltmore Midtown, Aqua, Hilton/Homewood, Loews, Palomar/Renaissance, etc).

Just one look at some portions of downtown shows how devastating this giant decks are to the urban environment, even when there are trees/sidewalks/bike infrastructure. We already know how NOT to build parking.

[testarossa50]

For the record, there are going to be a few storefronts in the parking garage.

Poor Spring Street. At this point, it's going to be almost impossible to have it avoid the fate of getting the back end of every new development. North of 14th it's particularly atrocious.

At least West Peachtree should be improved fairly dramatically. I really think Skyhouse will make the whole area between 10th and 14th a lot more active and vibrant. Then West Peachtree will finally feel like a real, stand-alone street. Right now there's plenty of activity south of 10th, and plenty around Arts Center Station. This could start to tie it all together.

[pdpmishap]

To be honest, Spring St wasn't exactly a mecca of pedestrian activity. I don't know if I've ever seen anyone walking around there short of the hobos. I do recall more hobos back before the 14th st bridge reconstruction but that was years ago. Maybe if they put a tree planter or two, you'll find some residents using it as a dog walk?

Putting much more retail on that block that can't be supported by Skyhouse alone is a death sentence. Unless the folks at Westwood are looking at new ways to default faster on their student loans. Maybe an Apple store that takes for profit college scrip?

It's a Chicken/Egg problem. Most people treat Spring as the intown superhighway where they try to hit 50mph+ on that hill before 10th St so no business is going to be a big enough draw to justify building there when there's far better foot traffic/visibility 1-2 blocks over on W. Peachtree or Peachtree.

[ChadK]

Originally Posted by hamster

Skyhouse, even with the large parking deck that has no retail, will increase the density and vibrancy of the portion of Midtown that it is located in.

The deck will include retail, which is better than no retail / street interaction at all... but I think the point is that "better than nothing" isn't good enough. Yes, we are car-centric as a society but there are most definitely better ways to incorporate the deck.

[sevensixtwo]

Highly reputed state Senator Vincent Fort analyzes T-Splost.

[ChrisInmanPark]

Originally Posted by ATLaffinity

Dear Neighbors,

Fuck you.

Sincerely,

Haha!! I thought the same thing. It throught Brutalist architecture was over! Lets just hope there is some retail in the bottom of it. But really...who wants to hang out in the bottom of a parking deck anyway. Maybe they can cover it with Ivy or something. If not, it will be covered in graffiti.

[ChrisInmanPark]

Originally Posted by hamster

Skyhouse is 100x better than the dilapidated buildings and surface parking lot that preceded it. Skyhouse, even with the large parking deck that has no retail, will increase the density and vibrancy of the portion of Midtown that it is located in. The other reality is that Atlanta is currently a car-centric city. Unless you live, work, and play in Midtown, you are going to need a car and Skyhouse is adding parking on the cheap (hopefully that translates to lower rental rates). Long-term, when we are all old or dead and Atlanta is more dense, this building will probably be torn down and replaced (most nondescript buildings seems to last 30-40 years) with a building that has underground parking or no parking. There is currently too much vacant or unused land to justify building underground parking. Also, there are enough vacant storefronts all over Midtown. People are buying online. I just head that Amazon is investing in warehouses in each large city to offer same-day shipping. This ideal of street-level storefronts on every single project is not always necessary nor do we need to copy the urban version of yesterday. What is necessary is that these mini-fiefdom gated communities are ended, and that more complete streets are added (eastside trail, more bike lanes, etc).

Maybe we don't need that much retail, but we can always use more bars. Always.

[atlantaguy]

Originally Posted by Tuckerman

It would be nice if Atlanta had a zoning Board.

We do, but I'm starting to wonder if they aren't all high - or perhaps they are yesmen to ANY & ALL development, no matter how tasteless.

The ZRB just approved the HIDEOUS Sembler/Fuqua plan for yet another WalMart - this time across from Lindbergh Station. The site plan basically looks like it belongs on US 78 in Snellville.

[joecool]

I've seen uglier parking deck and this one at least will have retail. It's better than what was there not to mention it can always be torn down and replace with something better. Nothing is permanent. Now that CRAP being built on P'tree across from the Fox is HORRIBLE!!! Why are they allowing them to build that there. I hope that gets cancelled!!!!!

[Tuckerman]

Originally Posted by atlantaguy

We do, but I'm starting to wonder if they aren't all high - or perhaps they are yesmen to ANY & ALL development, no matter how tasteless.

The ZRB just approved the HIDEOUS Sembler/Fuqua plan for yet another WalMart - this time across from Lindbergh Station. The site plan basically looks like it belongs on US 78 in Snellville.

Of course I knew we had a board!, but as you point out they are apparently unaware of newer trends in urban design and planning. Unfortunately plans are given short shrift when it comes to the whole environment and aesthetics. Also since zoning is often seen as bureaucratic and humdrum, there is little arousal of feelings until it is usually too late. Full impact assessments should include aesthetics, health issues, neighborhood development and the general direction the area wants to go. Even with stricter zoning requirements the builders often find a way to by pass the intentions, e,g, the set back buildings in Madison and Park Aves in NYC.

[Dustinto]

Originally Posted by ChrisInmanPark

Haha!! I thought the same thing. It throught Brutalist architecture was over! Lets just hope there is some retail in the bottom of it. But really...who wants to hang out in the bottom of a parking deck anyway. Maybe they can cover it with Ivy or something. If not, it will be covered in graffiti.

It would actually be cool if they hired local artist to come up with nice graffiti. It would be better than the blank concrete look and more 'hip' than ivy.

[Slog]

Originally Posted by Dustinto

It would actually be cool if they hired local artist to come up with nice graffiti. It would be better than the blank concrete look and more 'hip' than ivy.

They should of teamed up with Living Walls 2012 event going on in Atlanta right now.

[Terminus]

Originally Posted by Tuckerman

It would be nice if Atlanta had a zoning Board.

What? There are several. BZA, ZRB, DRC, and the SAP process.

[bob1616]

Originally Posted by atlantaguy

We do, but I'm starting to wonder if they aren't all high - or perhaps they are yesmen to ANY & ALL development, no matter how tasteless.

The ZRB just approved the HIDEOUS Sembler/Fuqua plan for yet another WalMart - this time across from Lindbergh Station. The site plan basically looks like it belongs on US 78 in Snellville.

I agree with you on the plans for the WalMart shopping center across from Lindbergh Station. The neighborhood groups have voted against it but yet it still gets approved. What really bugs me is the way Sembler/Fuqua keep billing it as a damn grocery store that's needed there. WalMart is NOT A GROCERY STORE! Yes they sell groceries but this is to be the same size as their store on Howell Mill RD. and that's not a grocery store as the developers keep shoving this project down our throats. This definitely belongs in the burbs as it's currently designed.

[atlantaguy]

Originally Posted by bob1616

I agree with you on the plans for the WalMart shopping center across from Lindbergh Station. The neighborhood groups have voted against it but yet it still gets approved. What really bugs me is the way Sembler/Fuqua keep billing it as a damn grocery store that's needed there. WalMart is NOT A GROCERY STORE! Yes they sell groceries but this is to be the same size as their store on Howell Mill RD. and that's not a grocery store as the developers keep shoving this project down our throats. This definitely belongs in the burbs as it's currently designed.

Good news, Bob! City Council will NOT be hearing/voting on the zoning change on Aug. 20 that Sembler/Fuqua are seeking - it's being "held."

The site plan can be seen here, along with the latest updates surrounding this development:

http://buckhead.patch.com/articles/website-to-save-lindbergh-launches

[simms3_redux]

^^^Good news!!! Listen to the people for once. Sembler/Fuqua do a good job if you consider that their developments improve upon suburban design, but they should not be allowed to continue their practice in urban/TOD areas.