ATLANTA | Development Thread V - Page 512

micropundit · #**10221** Posted **Apr 28, 2014, 5:01 PM**

As Zoo Atlanta celebrates its 125th anniversary this year, it is hard at work replacing its oldest public building, the 51-year-old World of Reptiles. A 14,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art reptile and amphibian complex broke ground last June and is expected to open late next year. Scaly Slimy Spectacular: The Amphibian and Reptile Experience is the result of the zoo's largest ever fundraising effort ($22 million and counting) and will provide new digs for the 450 or so reptiles and amphibians who already live at the zoo, including quite a few who are not on exhibit due to space constraints, as well as some large crocodilians and mysterious "exciting new arrivals".When completed, it will be Zoo Atlanta's first major new exhibit in more than a decade.

http://atlanta.curbed.com/archives/2014/...-zoo-atlanta-exhibit-to-open-in-2015.php

mayhem · #**10222** Posted **Apr 28, 2014, 5:56 PM**

Is that already U/C? I drove by the Zoo yesterday and saw something large going up.

thebigATL · #**10223** Posted **Apr 28, 2014, 9:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AtlantaMustang

I don't remember seeing this particular render of 98 14th street yet.

http://www.midtownatl.com/about/midtown-alliance/newsroom/midtown-monthly-april-2014

I hope its more ground walking,retail and tower lighting than anything in this area.

arjay57 · #**10224** Posted **Apr 28, 2014, 9:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by micropundit

As Zoo Atlanta celebrates its 125th anniversary this year, it is hard at work replacing its oldest public building, the 51-year-old World of Reptiles. A 14,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art reptile and amphibian complex broke ground last June and is expected to open late next year. Scaly Slimy Spectacular: The Amphibian and Reptile Experience is the result of the zoo's largest ever fundraising effort ($22 million and counting) and will provide new digs for the 450 or so reptiles and amphibians who already live at the zoo, including quite a few who are not on exhibit due to space constraints, as well as some large crocodilians and mysterious "exciting new arrivals".When completed, it will be Zoo Atlanta's first major new exhibit in more than a decade.

Very cool!!

Zoo Atlanta is one of the best charitable organizations in the city and I hope folks will continue to support it.

If anyone remembers the days before they took over the zoo back in the 1980s, well....calling it tragic would be generous.

PremierAtlanta · #**10225** Posted **Apr 29, 2014, 1:49 AM**

Zoo Atlanta is quite the asset for Atlanta as well as Panda preservation. I try to visit at least twice a year when I'm in Atlanta. I am so happy to see the updated reptile house. It is much needed. Zoo Atlanta has an amazing collection of reptiles and amphibians. Some are very rare also.

BTW....Go ATL Hawks!!!!

Newnan_Eric · #**10226** Posted **Apr 29, 2014, 4:43 AM**

Wow, some more big news! Another big site is moving forward again.

Quote:

Egbert Perry has GM site under contract
Douglas Sams and Maria Saporta
Atlanta Business Chronicle

A development team led by Egbert Perry has put the former General Motors Co. plant in Doraville, Ga. under contract, with plans to close on a deal for the 167-acre site later this summer.

I like that this is another MARTA accessible location. I imagine ridership is going to keep going up.

Frankster87 · #**10227** Posted **Apr 29, 2014, 5:50 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PremierAtlanta

BTW....Go ATL Hawks!!!!

1lifealex · #**10228** Posted **Apr 29, 2014, 6:38 AM**

New construction http://mdjonline.com/view/full_story/249...ent?instance=secondary_story_left_column

1lifealex · #**10229** Posted **Apr 29, 2014, 6:46 AM**

Streetcar to start testing soon http://www.atlantaintownpaper.com/2014/04/atlanta-streetcar-begin-rolling-tests-month/

echinatl · #**10230** Posted **Apr 29, 2014, 1:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1lifealex

New construction http://mdjonline.com/view/full_story/249...ent?instance=secondary_story_left_column

First I've heard of this. Does anyone know exactly where the new building is going? Is it replacing an existing structure or surface lot?

micropundit · #**10231** Posted **Apr 29, 2014, 4:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by echinatl

First I've heard of this. Does anyone know exactly where the new building is going? Is it replacing an existing structure or surface lot?

Here is a render which places the project on Grady's campus:

Dale · #**10232** Posted **Apr 29, 2014, 4:16 PM**

I take it they never completed the reclad on Grady ?

PremierAtlanta · #**10233** Posted **Apr 29, 2014, 8:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dale

I take it they never completed the reclad on Grady ?

I am still a taxpayer of Fulton County so I would HOPE that the hospital authority focuses more on offering stellar service as a Level 1 Trama Center and patient comfort than a recladding of the exterior.

rds989 · #**10234** Posted **Apr 29, 2014, 11:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebigATL

I hope its more ground walking,retail and tower lighting than anything in this area.

I am all for this exciting development, but I truly am worried about the traffic on 14th Street when everybody wants to leave work. I work at 1180 Peachtree and have to leave the building by exiting onto 14th Street. It already is a complete mess and it sometimes takes me 20 minutes just to get to the end of the block to West Peachtree. I hope these buildings somehow can dump their cars onto West Peachtree and not 14th Street. I don't see how 14th Street can be expanded.

GTdan · #**10235** Posted **Apr 30, 2014, 1:09 AM**

782 Peachtree Street now has a tree removal sign on the corner next to 5th Street.

shivtim · #**10236** Posted **Apr 30, 2014, 2:11 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by rds989

I am all for this exciting development, but I truly am worried about the traffic on 14th Street when everybody wants to leave work. I work at 1180 Peachtree and have to leave the building by exiting onto 14th Street. It already is a complete mess and it sometimes takes me 20 minutes just to get to the end of the block to West Peachtree.

If you're going from 1180 Peachtree to Roswell, why not take MARTA? You say it takes you 20 minutes to go one block in a car, but 1180 is a 5 minute walk from Arts Center Station and then it's just 23 minutes by train to North Springs Station (where you can leave your car parked for free). Just a suggestion!

L.ARCH · #**10237** Posted **Apr 30, 2014, 1:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by rds989

I am all for this exciting development, but I truly am worried about the traffic on 14th Street when everybody wants to leave work. I work at 1180 Peachtree and have to leave the building by exiting onto 14th Street. It already is a complete mess and it sometimes takes me 20 minutes just to get to the end of the block to West Peachtree. I hope these buildings somehow can dump their cars onto West Peachtree and not 14th Street. I don't see how 14th Street can be expanded.

From my understanding, the DRC realizes how congested 14th street is and gave conditional approval to the project based on a proposal that would link the development to West Peachtree via a new street that would run behind One Atlantic Center. I also believe, but I'm not certain, that the development will also be connected to 15th street though the existing parking garage directly behind it.

scania · #**10238** Posted **Apr 30, 2014, 2:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by shivtim

If you're going from 1180 Peachtree to Roswell, why not take MARTA? You say it takes you 20 minutes to go one block in a car, but 1180 is a 5 minute walk from Arts Center Station and then it's just 23 minutes by train to North Springs Station (where you can leave your car parked for free). Just a suggestion!

This leaves you limited with what you can do after work. Depending on your lifestyle, this doesn't work. If you need to make an errand near by, or like a lot of my friends enjoy going to Happy Hour. Marta is cool within reason, but not extremely conducive for getting around the city.

Curious Atlantan · #**10239** Posted **Apr 30, 2014, 2:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by rds989

I am all for this exciting development, but I truly am worried about the traffic on 14th Street when everybody wants to leave work. I work at 1180 Peachtree and have to leave the building by exiting onto 14th Street. It already is a complete mess and it sometimes takes me 20 minutes just to get to the end of the block to West Peachtree. I hope these buildings somehow can dump their cars onto West Peachtree and not 14th Street. I don't see how 14th Street can be expanded.

Here is how I see it: we are currently at point A, which is a basically a suburban setup in which everybody drives. We want to get to point B, where the city is vibrant, urban, dense, with a variety of modes of transportation including transit, cycling, walking. Getting from point A to point B is a chicken and egg problem in which we either 1) start building the density and allow for temporary increase in automobile traffic congestion then have people resort to other modes for congestion relief, or 2) start building the infrastructure for the alternative modes (transit, bike lanes, etc) then build the density.
In the first case you will hear people complain about congestion. In the second case you will hear people complain about runaway government spending on useless infrastructure.
I cannot see any other way to get from point A to point B, and I believe pretty much everybody on this forum agrees that this needs to happen. What do you think?

Curious Atlantan · #**10240** Posted **Apr 30, 2014, 2:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by scania

This leaves you limited with what you can do after work. Depending on your lifestyle, this doesn't work. If you need to make an errand near by, or like a lot of my friends enjoy going to Happy Hour. Marta is cool within reason, but not extremely conducive for getting around the city.

Taking Marta will not work for everybody, but it will work for some people, and this might be enough to relieve the congestion to a certain degree. And if enough demand arises for expanding service so that it becomes more viable, let's hope that happens as well.