ATLANTA | Development Thread V

[testarossa50]

I've argued this on C-D to the point that I'm not interested in a big discussion about it here, but to my understanding there are major, major roadblocks to Amtrak ever serving the MMPT. The train would likely have to be rerouted through Montgomery instead of Birmingham--that's an awful lot of feathers to ruffle just to avoid a shuttle from Atlantic Station over the Arts Center.

Greyhound, meh--I went to the station a couple months ago to catch a bus and it was pretty terrible. Get that thing into a more modern facility ASAP imo.

I'd gladly live atop a highrise on that plot. The view even from the ground is incredible--probably one of the top 5 views of the skyline from the ground. I hope they build up.

[DonTallPaul]

Originally Posted by testarossa50

I've argued this on C-D to the point that I'm not interested in a big discussion about it here, but to my understanding there are major, major roadblocks to Amtrak ever serving the MMPT. The train would likely have to be rerouted through Montgomery instead of Birmingham--that's an awful lot of feathers to ruffle just to avoid a shuttle from Atlantic Station over the Arts Center.

Greyhound, meh--I went to the station a couple months ago to catch a bus and it was pretty terrible. Get that thing into a more modern facility ASAP imo.

I'd gladly live atop a highrise on that plot. The view even from the ground is incredible--probably one of the top 5 views of the skyline from the ground. I hope they build up.

Yeah, most cities Union or Penn Stations on the eastern seaboard are not DT. I would much prefer MMPT, but I think that is also a decade or more away and the current Amtrak station is terrible.

I do hope though that there is some kind of plan to get a streetcar or lightrail to that location quickly. But it's not like the current station is served by anything but bus, so it's not technically a step backward.

[simms3_redux]

Originally Posted by GTdan

Novare sure isn't wasting any time with 100 6th street. I ran by today and they are already putting up the tower crane.

Awesome, picture?

[bigstick]

Originally Posted by simms3_redux

Awesome, picture?

Hey man, we miss you being here..............

[GTdan]

Originally Posted by simms3_redux

Awesome, picture?

Sorry, I didn't snap any pics. I would have taken some if I had my phone with me, but I usually don't take it with me when I go for a run. I live just a few blocks away so I'll try to get one sometime this week (I would today but the weather is pretty nasty).

They installed the base of the crane, so I'm assuming the rest should go up pretty soon. Not entirely sure how long they have to let the concrete on the base sit before the foundation is stable enough.

[Rail Claimore]

Originally Posted by cabasse

I have no issue with two transit centers myself - plenty of other cities certainly handle it, even some here in the US. i think the downtown center is going to wind up being more commuter rail oriented if it ever gets off the ground. as long as they are both connected by rail somehow, that's all that matters.

Agreed: I see nothing wrong with two major transportation centers. London and Tokyo have multiple nodes.

[testarossa50]

Originally Posted by DonTallPaul

Yeah, most cities Union or Penn Stations on the eastern seaboard are not DT. I would much prefer MMPT, but I think that is also a decade or more away and the current Amtrak station is terrible.

I do hope though that there is some kind of plan to get a streetcar or lightrail to that location quickly. But it's not like the current station is served by anything but bus, so it's not technically a step backward.

Here's what I'd do:

Build the Beltline up from O4W and along the Eastside Trail. At Ansley Park, there is a full wye with the NS that goes under I-85. The Beltline plans to use the northbound side of the wye and go to Lindbergh. I think we should also make use of the southbound side of the wye, which heads to the current Amtrak Station. Make the Amtrak station into a LRT stop, then use the old bridge over I-75 to access Atlantic Station with another LRT stop, then have the line terminate at IKEA and the new Amtrak/Greyhound Station. Tie this all together with a new MARTA infill station at Armour Yd to transfer between the two lines. Allow the Armour Yard area to be redeveloped into TOD. Let's just call MARTA to Sweetwater a happy side effect in all of this.

There's also likely sufficient width to have a walking trail extend from the current Amtrak Station over to Atlantic Station, which is something we should do regardless. Using that bridge, the Amtrak Station and Atlantic Station are <.5 mi apart, but it's well over a mile to walk on any currently recognized route. This would be a major win for walkability in that part of the city.

[clexmond]

Originally Posted by testarossa50

Here's what I'd do:

Build the Beltline up from O4W and along the Eastside Trail. At Ansley Park, there is a full wye with the NS that goes under I-85. The Beltline plans to use the northbound side of the wye and go to Lindbergh. I think we should also make use of the southbound side of the wye, which heads to the current Amtrak Station. Make the Amtrak station into a LRT stop, then use the old bridge over I-75 to access Atlantic Station with another LRT stop, then have the line terminate at IKEA and the new Amtrak/Greyhound Station. Tie this all together with a new MARTA infill station at Armour Yd to transfer between the two lines. Allow the Armour Yard area to be redeveloped into TOD. Let's just call MARTA to Sweetwater a happy side effect in all of this.

There's also likely sufficient width to have a walking trail extend from the current Amtrak Station over to Atlantic Station, which is something we should do regardless. Using that bridge, the Amtrak Station and Atlantic Station are <.5 mi apart, but it's well over a mile to walk on any currently recognized route. This would be a major win for walkability in that part of the city.

This is an excellent idea. I think in addition, having a streetcar line run down 10th (an at grade transition from the beltline to streetcar would be awesome), and loop up Hemphill, up Northside, left on 17th (hitting the Amtrak station) and left onto Howell Mill to head downtown on Marietta would be great. The Atlantic Station Amtrak would turn into a proper transit hub with the confluence of a streetcar line and the beltline. In addition you'd have convenient MARTA access to the Midtown station while an Armour infill station is built.

[WEZiegler]

Originally Posted by clexmond

Thanks! Full red would be nice but this definitely looks like it would be an improvement.

There was an information session last Thursday at Inman Park Middle School, they had a whole bunch of drawings for the Ponce improvements. The two crossings essentially have self-enclosed medians probably 10-20' long. So someone can cross half the road, stop in the median and wait then cross the remaining lanes. From the drawings the road looks dramatically better.

And to an earlier post about Atlanta not doing a good job with the bike lanes, the bike lanes on Ponce will have a 0-5' buffer separating the car traffic. 5' is pretty good. They're reducing Ponce to generally two lanes in each direction with a middle turn lane.

[clexmond]

Originally Posted by WEZiegler

There was an information session last Thursday at Inman Park Middle School, they had a whole bunch of drawings for the Ponce improvements. The two crossings essentially have self-enclosed medians probably 10-20' long. So someone can cross half the road, stop in the median and wait then cross the remaining lanes. From the drawings the road looks dramatically better.

And to an earlier post about Atlanta not doing a good job with the bike lanes, the bike lanes on Ponce will have a 0-5' buffer separating the car traffic. 5' is pretty good. They're reducing Ponce to generally two lanes in each direction with a middle turn lane.

I was referring to the pedestrian crossings on 10th, but I'm pretty excited about the Ponce improvements as well. Can you give any more details on the meeting? For example, when you say "middle turn lane" do you mean landscaped medians with dedicated turn lanes or "suicide lanes" (please say no)?

[AtlantaMustang]

Originally Posted by WEZiegler

the bike lanes on Ponce will have a 0-5' buffer separating the car traffic. 5' is pretty good. They're reducing Ponce to generally two lanes in each direction with a middle turn lane.

Informative first post, welcome.

[Nanosolar]

Originally Posted by testarossa50

I've argued this on C-D to the point that I'm not interested in a big discussion about it here, but to my understanding there are major, major roadblocks to Amtrak ever serving the MMPT. The train would likely have to be rerouted through Montgomery instead of Birmingham--that's an awful lot of feathers to ruffle just to avoid a shuttle from Atlantic Station over the Arts Center.

Greyhound, meh--I went to the station a couple months ago to catch a bus and it was pretty terrible. Get that thing into a more modern facility ASAP imo.

I'd gladly live atop a highrise on that plot. The view even from the ground is incredible--probably one of the top 5 views of the skyline from the ground. I hope they build up.

Is there an issue with the freight train wait time going through the gulch now? I think the problem with high speed rail going through ATL has something to do with that, but I'm just an amateur observer...

[orulz]

Two Amtrak stations makes sense but not that close. Lenox would be a better spot for a second intercity rail station. In a major activity center, Further from MMPT, connected to MARTA.

But, a commuter rail station at Atlantic Station? Sure. If whatever is built here, can eventually be repurposed as a commuter rail station, then I guess it makes sense (though the ideal location would be closer to Target.)

[Sketching]

Some good news as far as new projects:

Ga Tech is planning a 17 story tower at 930 Spring Street and 8th for student housing.

And now we know what will be built at the corner of 7th and Peachtree Street.. 8 stories of residential and the Starbucks will be torn down.

Source: http://midtown.patch.com/articles/17-story-high-rise-planned-for-spring-street

[clexmond]

Originally Posted by Sketching

Some good news as far as new projects:

Ga Tech is planning a 17 story tower at 930 Spring Street and 8th for student housing.

And now we know what will be built at the corner of 7th and Peachtree Street.. 8 stories of residential and the Starbucks will be torn down.

Source: http://midtown.patch.com/articles/17-story-high-rise-planned-for-spring-street

The Tech student housing tower sounds great, as does getting rid of the suburban Starbucks, but is Novare serious with plans to build two surface parking lots (22 spaces on 7th and 15 spaces on 6th)? New surface lots are strictly forbidden by the Midtown overlay and I sure hope they stick to that.

[clexmond]

Looks like the northern portion of Piedmont Park is finally getting started again: http://midtown.patch.com/articles/ppc-expansion

[bigstick]

Originally Posted by clexmond

Looks like the northern portion of Piedmont Park is finally getting started again: http://midtown.patch.com/articles/ppc-expansion

This is going to be stunning as the topography in that area is very diverse.

[pdpmishap]

Originally Posted by clexmond

The Tech student housing tower sounds great, as does getting rid of the suburban Starbucks, but is Novare serious with plans to build two surface parking lots (22 spaces on 7th and 15 spaces on 6th)? New surface lots are strictly forbidden by the Midtown overlay and I sure hope they stick to that.

I thought that spot along w/ the Viewpoint retail/deck was owned by Loudermilk and not Novare. I wouldn't mind the access to 7th St from the Viewpoint deck. Driving down Juniper to 5th is less than ideal when heading from the building.

Not sure how those 39 units will be laid out but I'm guessing they can't have any south facing units since it'll have a lovely view of concrete.

[ATLaffinity]

Originally Posted by Sketching

Some good news as far as new projects:

Ga Tech is planning a 17 story tower at 930 Spring Street and 8th for student housing.

And now we know what will be built at the corner of 7th and Peachtree Street.. 8 stories of residential and the Starbucks will be torn down.

Source: http://midtown.patch.com/articles/17-story-high-rise-planned-for-spring-street

That is great news. That's such a horrible stretch on the westside of Spring St with those vacant lots. They should all be developed along with a small park.

Does Kim King Assoc still own the lot to the south?

[Sketching]

Originally Posted by ATLaffinity

That is great news. That's such a horrible stretch on the westside of Spring St with those vacant lots. They should all be developed along with a small park.

Does Kim King Assoc still own the lot to the south?

The new Tech tower will definitely be a great addition to Spring Street adding more life into that area across from Plaza Midtown. I would imagine that Publix will be seeing even more Tech students than it already does.

For those that might not be familiar with that area, this is a photo of the lot that I shot last month from the Tech Square parking deck that shows the area in question. Also you can see how Sky house fits into the skyline.