ATLANTA | Development Thread V

[scania]

Originally Posted by ATLaffinity

This idiot can't shop at Room & Board or Seed Factory or Star Provisions or Perrine's Wine Shop in Buckhead because they are, ummm, not in Buckhead. And there's no equivalent in Buckhead to most of these shops. This isn't hard.

There are just as nice of furniture stores and wine shops in Buckhead, this will soon be including the flagship Restoration Hardware. And the excitement people have about the Westside, I'm sure is not about some the businesses you mention.

[ATLaffinity]

Originally Posted by scania

There are just as nice of furniture stores and wine shops in Buckhead, this will soon be including the flagship Restoration Hardware. And the excitement people have about the Westside, I'm sure is not about some the businesses you mention.

Restoration Hardware is not Room & Board. I don't know about "excitement", but I do enjoy grabbing a bite to eat and having some unique stores all grouped together in a pleasant atmosphere. Is traffic getting bad? Yes. Do I still go to Lenox and Phipps? Yes.

[simms3_redux]

Buckhead doesn't have: Room & Board, Domus, Cantoni, Bobby Berk, or the former Retromodern (or anything like them to my knowledge). I personally prefer these, even if I can't afford them.

It does have Crate & Barrel, soon to be Restoration Hardware, Mitchell Gold, Arhaus, and Maison (thumbs down).

The unequivocable design district is the Westside (if you are like me and don't like the vibe or area that Miami Cir is in) and Buckhead residents make up probably half if not more of store/restaurant sales in this area. Peridot is both in Buckhead and on the Westside, and Maison was formerly in both...so there are uniformities that cater to the same crowd in different areas with different area niches. Howell Mill Rd connects the two neighborhoods.

Where there are no overlaps to my knowledge are between say Buckhead and Inman Park...two totally separate and different neighborhoods. I don't even get the same "these people are all Buckhead residents" feel in Inman Park restaurants that I get on the Westside, where many of the folks I recognize when there are "down in the hood" for dinner. This isn't a criticism of Buckhead post, just one that acknowledges that while the Westside is cool, it's happening and successful very much in part due to its connection to the $$$ in Buckhead. Inman Park is completely self sustainable and totally separate (and difficult to get to from Buckhead).

[Frankly]

Originally Posted by RudyJK

Can someone explain what is so pleasant about the shopping experience on the Westside?

The area around Room and Board has a few places to shop and eat. But then you have to drive to get anywhere else. Much of the area looks like a bombed out war zone. The cheap apartments going up everywhere will not age well. The city has put in zero infrastructure to deal with the unfettered growth. Traffic is a complete cluster****. I don't know how that Anthropology and the other retailers make any money considering there is no walk by traffic. They must be getting sweet rent terms.

Sorry to be so negative but I don't get all the love for the mythical Westside or Midtown West or whatever it's called this decade.

Call me a fan of bombed out war zones.

ATLaffinity mentioned the reason why I personally enjoy it. The uniqueness of not only the businesses there but I also enjoy the industrial feel of the area while fully understanding that the neighborhood is incomplete and therefore not walkable. Atlanta is often criticized for having no "soul" (whatever that means) and this area IMO has just touch of it.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by simms3_redux

Inman Park is completely self sustainable and totally separate (and difficult to get to from Buckhead).

I love Inman Park and don't think it's hard to get to at all. From most places in Buckhead it's maybe 7 or 8 miles and a twenty minute drive.

[RudyJK]

Originally Posted by simms3_redux

The unequivocable design district is the Westside...

I'm sure the fine folk at ADAC would have some argument with you on this point.

http://www.adacatlanta.com/

[simms3_redux]

.

Originally Posted by RudyJK

I'm sure the fine folk at ADAC would have some argument with you on this point.

http://www.adacatlanta.com/

Originally Posted by simms3_redux

The unequivocable design district is the Westside (if you are like me and don't like the vibe or area that Miami Cir is in)

[RudyJK]

Originally Posted by simms3_redux

The unequivocable design district is the Westside (if you are like me and don't like the vibe or area that Miami Cir is in)

Ah. So interior designers make you uncomfortable then? Or nervous maybe?

[simms3_redux]

^^Huh? It's because Miami Cir is a secluded dead end road (that enters and exits on Piedmont between Lindbergh and Peachtree near Sidney Marcus, mind you) and doesn't have the activity that other design districts such as the Westside have (due to the mix of uses), or the history. ADAC is in a Portman building I believe...I actually have some cool pictures I took of it and the sculptures out front, as well as a ton of photos of Miami Cir for an adaptive reuse discussion I was involved in, but it's on a quiet 2-lane road in a residential neighborhood trapped between Lindbergh, Peachtree, and Piedmont.

The Westside used to be much more design oriented than it is now - it's actually pretty quickly transforming into a fashion/dining district with some design still taking root towards Huff (which is all actually great for its own vibe - fashion + dining draws more steady foot traffic over more of the day). So what's the next design district that will happen? Defoors Ferry or Castleberry/Vine City? Industrial areas around Dekalb Ave? Could be a sign for the next hot area if one develops...

[arjay57]

Sorry, off topic.

[K-SawDude]

Since the question was raised . . . some thoughts from a Westside resident (and, in fact, someone who lives in a White Provision condo):

(1) This area is much more walkable than some folks are giving it credit for. Of course, "walkable" is a relative term. It's not as pedestrian-friendly (in terms of infrastructure) as it should be. But practically speaking, I can and DO walk to multiple locations in different directions on a regular basis:

--Within four blocks of White Provision south down to the Marietta St. area, you've got Optimist, Octane, Hop City, art galleries, Yum Bunz, and on and on.
--Within four blocks east towards midtown, you get several fast food options (McD's, Krystal, BK) and finer dining (Gio's Chicken, Antico, BBQ, Sushi, etc., hooka bar, etc.)
--On the property itself there's a huge range of everyday and special occasion dining, bars, coffee shops, specialty retailing, etc.

Heck, I've even dropped off my car when it's needed service at any of the 8 zillion places on Howell Mill and been able to walk home to wait 'til they call me to pick it up.

We're missing an accessible grocery store within walking distance. But we're doing pretty well otherwise.

(2) The clientele here is definitely PART Buckhead-ish money, especially around Star Provisions and Room and Board. But as you approach Yoforia, West Egg, La Fonda, Chow Baby, etc. further south on Howell Mill, you get more hipster, more African-American, and less richy-rich crowds.

To me the Westside is sorta somewhere between Buckhead and Inman Park demographically.

(3) I've experienced far worse traffic in other parts of the city, especially downtown, Ponce, parts of Midtown. It's sort of a "thank Jeebus for Northside" issue, because when Howell Mill is in clusterfuck mode, Northside almost always moves more effeciently. I can get to downtown, Midtown, and I-75 in a little over 5 minutes.

(4) One of the main reasons I choose a condo at WP and NOT in Midtown was because of parking. The Westside, for me, has the best balance of walkable and drive-to amenities. I like that WP has security AND free parking, so that my friends can visit without pay-parking hassle.

[Libertarian]

Trying to get this interesting topic of Westside to a slightly more appropriate board, I'm posting the following question on the Atlanta local community forum under Midtown: Does anyone have an opinion on the Berkeley Park neighborhood (west of Atlantic Station) as a desirable location to invest and live?

[RudyJK]

Originally Posted by simms3_redux

^^Huh? It's because Miami Cir is a secluded dead end road (that enters and exits on Piedmont between Lindbergh and Peachtree near Sidney Marcus, mind you) and doesn't have the activity that other design districts such as the Westside have (due to the mix of uses), or the history.

A design district is where designers do business; they could care less about dead-end roads or hamburger joints. ADAC and Miami Circle beat the Westside handily in this regard.

You have some strange ideas about what makes something the 'unequivocable design district.' (I think you meant unequivocal by the way.)

[skapunkskatedude]

Second crane going up at the proton therapy center on North Ave

[simms3_redux]

Originally Posted by RudyJK

A design district is where designers do business; they could care less about dead-end roads or hamburger joints. ADAC and Miami Circle beat the Westside handily in this regard.

You have some strange ideas about what makes something the 'unequivocable design district.' (I think you meant unequivocal by the way.)

I don't have strange ideas. You and I have separate opinions - the design "districts" I am familiar with (West Midtown, DD Miami, Cienega in LA, DD SF, 4th St Berkeley, etc) are all mixed-use, public and accessible areas with offices, residential, dining options, and a high concentration of home & garden, antique, kitchen/bath, material, decor, gift, kitchen/batch and/or furniture stores and showrooms. A district implies an area in which people go to explore, live, eat, shop. Miami Cir is not a district - it's an inaccessible dead end cul de sac with lots of showrooms, and it has a very limited and defined clientele base that's shrinking rather than growing. ADAC is not a district - it's really no different from the hulking exclusive marts that kill the pedestrian experience for half of downtown, it's just more difficult to get to and is out of place in its setting. Type in "design district Atlanta" and see what comes up on Google.

[scania]

Originally Posted by simms3_redux

Buckhead doesn't have: Room & Board, Domus, Cantoni, Bobby Berk, or the former Retromodern (or anything like them to my knowledge). I personally prefer these, even if I can't afford them.

It does have Crate & Barrel, soon to be Restoration Hardware, Mitchell Gold, Arhaus, and Maison (thumbs down).

I get it...and I've said this before, any and everything that's in Buckhead, you simply have something negative to say. Buckhead Atlanta will have nice shops, restaurants, etc. but you will bash that project in every aspect, I guarantee that if it was in O4W, Midtown, or West Midtown, you would rave about the entire project. Also, Domus and Cantoni are not even in West Midtown, and most people would consider Domus to be Buckhead. And who cares about Retromodern(tho I bought my kitchen chairs from there), IT CLOSED. Also, Room and Board has the same type of furniture you would see at Restoration Hardware...Restoration Hardware simply offers more.

[RudyJK]

Originally Posted by simms3_redux

Type in "design district Atlanta" and see what comes up on Google.

I don't need to Google anything. I work in the design field. In Atlanta.

[atlantaguy]

I can guarantee you that if Buckhead Atlanta was being built in West Midtown that simms3_redux would be lauding it as Atlanta finally "getting a clue."

But it still wouldn't "pencil in" in San Francisco.

[jnihiser]

BBQ Joint:
Owners of Meehans and Food 101 are set to open a new BBQ joint concept in Downtown Atlanta called The Smoke Ring. It will take up 4k sq. ft. at Castleberry Point at 309 Nelson St.

Source: http://www.bisnow.com/commercial-real-estate/atlanta/sandy-spring-sale-falls-through/

[Zanarkand A East]

Video from a Skyview Atlanta ride:

http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/story/22837690/new-skyview-ferris-wheel-to-open-tuesday