ATLANTA | Development Thread V

[mayhem]

Originally Posted by DonTallPaul

"3) Downtown: From Legacy Property Group comes Game-X, a new restaurant, bar, and game venue opening in late March in the Luckie-Marietta district at 275 Baker Street. Game-X will offer a fast-casual menu, craft beers, and cocktails, as well as interactive games like air hockey, full-sized versions of Temple Run and Fruit Ninja, Pac-Man, and more"

http://atlanta.eater.com/tags/game-x

Sounds like spot that will really appeal to families and tourists DT. I think this is the kind of trans-formative piece of DT that really indicates it's becoming a destination. I'm sure some will feel it's cheesey, but ultimately I think it says a lot about how the area is attracting visitors and enough of them to (hopefully) sustain these additional visitor focused businesses.

As a father who lives in the neighborhood, I fully welcome something like this. Will be a welcome addition and likely stay there for a while as the other establishments Legacy has brought in so far.

[Zanarkand A East]

MLK Jr. Dr. to be "one of the most attractive streets in America" (11 Alive)

[ATLaffinity]

Originally Posted by Zanarkand A East

New deal for Atlanta Falcons stadium will address community concerns (Atlanta Business Chronicle)

“We know and we’ve heard that the expectation of the foundation is much more around human capital than it is around the built environment,” McPhee said.

My issue with that statement is that there's really no overcoming the "built environment" if it's an ocean of parking surrounding the stadium. That's not going to be offset by donating some money to the local Boys & Girls Club.

[Zanarkand A East]

Originally Posted by ATLaffinity

“We know and we’ve heard that the expectation of the foundation is much more around human capital than it is around the built environment,” McPhee said.

My issue with that statement is that there's really no overcoming the "built environment" if it's an ocean of parking surrounding the stadium. That's not going to be offset by donating some money to the local Boys & Girls Club.

The Falcons have said that their neighborhood impact will not just be donating money to local organizations ("snowflaking"). They will be much more profound and long-term projects than that.

[Immovable_Media]

Looks like 5 floors of apartments w/ground level retail coming to Decatur:

"Atlanta developer Carter is planning a nearly $40 million mixed-use project in downtown Decatur, including more than 200 high-end apartments.
Carter has about 2.5 acres on West Ponce De Leon Avenue under contract and would develop about 240 apartment units and 10,000 square feet of retail.
The project would be anchored by the existing 125,000- square-foot office building known as Decatur Court."

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/real_...ion-decatur-project.html?s=image_gallery

[micropundit]

Atlanta officials and the Atlanta Falcons reached a deal to build a new $1 billion stadium that addresses most of the concerns raised by the Atlanta City Council and the surrounding communities.The tentative agreement was announced at a press conference Thursday afternoon at Atlanta City Hall.
The agreement would include $50 million investments in infrastructure improvements around the new stadium as part of the actual costs of constructing the project.

In a separate development, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and Invest Atlanta have each committed to provide $15 million, for a total of $30 million, towards the redevelopment of the English Avenue, Vine City and Castleberry Hill neighborhoodsThe new agreement must still be approved by the Atlanta City Council, GWCCA and Invest Atlanta.

The agreement includes several major elements that surfaced in public meetings hosted by the city council with local residents, neighborhood groups and business owners concerned about job creation, minority and woman-owned business participation in the construction, infrastructure improvements and economic development in the neighborhoods surrounding the proposed stadium.

The Atlanta Falcons would assume responsibility for $50 million in infrastructure costs related to stadium construction.


promote full and equal business opportunities in connection with the design and construction of the new stadium, the Atlanta Falcons and the GWCCA have agreed to develop an Equal Business Opportunity Plan that will ensure at least 31 percent participation by women and minority business enterprises. The construction of the stadium is expected to create more than 1,400 full-time equivalent jobs in Atlanta and more than 4,500 full-time equivalent jobs across Georgia over a three-year period, according to a study completed by Georgia State University Associate Professor Dr. Bruce Seaman.

The public contribution for stadium construction is capped at $200 million, which would come from the hotel-motel tax collected by the city -- almost exclusively (more than 85 percent) from visitors and tourists, not residents of the city. Invest Atlanta would be asked to issue the bonds using the hotel-motel tax that currently supports the Georgia Dome. The existing hotel-motel tax revenue stream is the sole public funding source for the stadium construction and any risk associated with repayment is carried by the bond holders, not the city.
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/...-atlanta-reaches-agreement.html?page=all

[Midtown_DD]

I'd still like to hear what they're planning on doing with the old dome, where the new stadium will be placed (I haven't seen an exact statement in any of the articles I've read) and how many acres of awful parking lots they plan on shoving down the throats of the adjacent neighborhoods....

Waste of money.

[micropundit]

Originally Posted by Midtown_DD

I'd still like to hear what they're planning on doing with the old dome, where the new stadium will be placed (I haven't seen an exact statement in any of the articles I've read) and how many acres of awful parking lots they plan on shoving down the throats of the adjacent neighborhoods....

Waste of money.

The old dome will be demolished upon completion of the new.And . for the record, there will be no parking lots shoved down anyone's throat.

[Zanarkand A East]

The plan that the mayor mentioned was a huge tailgating park. Not a sea of asphalt, but an actual park for tailgating. Not sure if this will be on the site of the current Dome, but since they have all but decided on the south site for the new stadium, the current Dome site would make sense for the new tailgating park.

[ATLaffinity]

Originally Posted by Zanarkand A East

The plan that the mayor mentioned was a huge tailgating park. Not a sea of asphalt, but an actual park for tailgating. Not sure if this will be on the site of the current Dome, but since they have all but decided on the south site for the new stadium, the current Dome site would make sense for the new tailgating park.

What is a tailgating park? I honestly don't know what that means. There are 8 home games. I hope it's not a concrete jungle with a couple trees that's a wasteland for the other 357 days of the year.

For a billion dollars, couldn't you have underground parking?

[TarHeelJ]

Originally Posted by ATLaffinity

What is a tailgating park? I honestly don't know what that means. There are 8 home games. I hope it's not a concrete jungle with a couple trees that's a wasteland for the other 357 days of the year.

For a billion dollars, couldn't you have underground parking?

Tailgating is very popular before football games all over the country...it's just not the same doing it in an underground parking structure. This is something that really must be included with the stadium in order to continue the experience that is in demand the fans. Tailgating has to be accommodated somewhere near the stadium.

[galaca]

^ There's an abundance of vacant land and parking lots all around the Dome that tailgaters already use. They can continue to use those spaces.

[bryantm3]

Originally Posted by TarHeelJ

Tailgating is very popular before football games all over the country...it's just not the same doing it in an underground parking structure. This is something that really must be included with the stadium in order to continue the experience that is in demand the fans. Tailgating has to be accommodated somewhere near the stadium.

yeah, but not on the ENTIRE SITE of the old dome. magnolia street needs to be reconnected to andrew young intnl boulevard, and line the south half of the street with a large mixed use development, and northside drive needs to be redesigned to not suck so much.

[bryantm3]

Originally Posted by ATLaffinity

What is a tailgating park? I honestly don't know what that means. There are 8 home games. I hope it's not a concrete jungle with a couple trees that's a wasteland for the other 357 days of the year.

For a billion dollars, couldn't you have underground parking?

oh come on you big queen, you know what tailgating is. look, i've never done it either, but we don't have to pretend to not know what it is.

[scania]

Originally Posted by bryantm3

oh come on you big queen, you know what tailgating is. look, i've never done it either, but we don't have to pretend to not know what it is.

Hahahahahahahaha. Omg, I was thinking the same thing.

[scania]

At the end of the day, the new stadium will be great for the economy. It will also be beneficial for the economy in years to come, as the city will be able to attract events that will bring money to the city. As far as most of you who are complaining, please just go and sit down somewhere. Who cares if they have a big parking lot, most of you never go down there anyway. As far as the tailgater's park, that will be welcome addition to sports fans. Maybe before you all complain about things, you should do some research and not sound so ignorant. I am stunned with the complaints about this Dome

[Libertarian]

At the end of the day, the new stadium will be great for the economy.

That's the main nut. I'm the biggest advocate of cutting public spending but let's not be penny wise and pound foolish. These things have tremendous return on investment. I would recommend also cleaning up the adjacent hood to the west of the site and upgrade nearby street paving, sidewalks, crosswalks, traffic signals, and overhead lights. Make the area be more inviting to visitors and tourists. They can find the money to do it all by moving city employees onto 403-B plans instead of the budget-busting defined benefit pensions.

[midtownblue]

Look at this architecture proposal for center city Philadelphia. It could be a model for something on ATL's Midtown Mile or even alongside downtown's Woodruff Park. Granted, some demo would need to occur, but it could be progress.

It is a proposal for . . . (drumroll) . . . a Cheesecake Factory. Surely ATL can do this even better.

http://www.philly.com/philly/home/201303...and_Walnut__A_creamy-rich_glass_box.html

[Zanarkand A East]

Originally Posted by scania

At the end of the day, the new stadium will be great for the economy. It will also be beneficial for the economy in years to come, as the city will be able to attract events that will bring money to the city. As far as most of you who are complaint, please just go and sit down somewhere. Who cares if they have a big parking lot, most of you never go down there anyway. As far as the tailgater's park, that will be welcome addition to sports fans. Maybe before you all complain about things, you should do some research and not sound so ignorant. I am stunned with the complaints about this Dome

Quoted for truth. I'm sure these are the same morons saying Centennial Olympic Park is the "the ghetto." These idiots can feel free to never come downtown and never refer to themselves as an "Atlantan" ever again.

The "rock-throwers," as the mayor calls him are looking pretty desperate with their complaints. Now people don't know what tailgating is...? I don't do it either, but I know it's a huge part of the gameday experience for some people. Here's the press conference. Near the end the mayor takes aim directly at the geniuses saying that the hotel tax should go to schools or roads. Funny stuff.

What's next in Falcons stadium saga (AJC)

[Midtown_DD]

Originally Posted by scania

At the end of the day, the new stadium will be great for the economy. It will also be beneficial for the economy in years to come, as the city will be able to attract events that will bring money to the city. As far as most of you who are complaint, please just go and sit down somewhere. Who cares if they have a big parking lot, most of you never go down there anyway. As far as the tailgater's park, that will be welcome addition to sports fans. Maybe before you all complain about things, you should do some research and not sound so ignorant. I am stunned with the complaints about this Dome

So, actually, I do have a degree in urban planning and took a course that included information about stadiums and how they affect the local neighborhoods and economy. I also currently work as a city planner. A GT professor also used to occasionally take a class around the neighborhoods near Atlanta's existing stadiums and meet with the community representatives. From these experiences, I'm pretty convinced that stadiums are more trouble than they're worth for most people. So I wouldn't make the generalization that everyone that speaks against the stadium is uninformed...

Sure, the business community in Atlanta may benefit, and sure you guys that live OTP, Buckhead, Decatur, etc may benefit from some sense of pride that your city did something interesting; and now you can watch 300lbs men give each other concussions somewhere that might beat out Dallas's stadium (just whip it out already guys, yeah?)...but the people that live near the thing will almost certainly not have the quality of their life improved, and we could use those public dollars for other purposes that would improve the quality of life of the entire city and not just a select few (I don't need to hear anything about how the money is coming from a hotel tax, I fully understand that, but it could be repurposed and used for something better even if that requires legislative action).

The somewhat mitigating factors of this whole boondogle for me would be if they do decide to build it immediately south of the Georgia Dome, the community has already 'adapted' to the stadium and there is good transit access. Also, I hope they do not create vast urban parking lots surrounding the stadium that cut the community off from the dome and create a future eyesore.

For those of you that think the stadium will bring immense economic opportunity you're forgetting that we already have a stadium (and one that's not even 21 years old yet). How much EXTRA economic opportunity do you think replacing something that already functions well with something that functions incrementally better will provide? I'm not denying that maybe Atlanta will get to host the Superbowl or something in the future as a result of building this stadium, I'm just skeptical that the economic benefit from public investment couldn't be better realized in another endeavor.