ATLANTA | Development Thread V

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by forj

But from what i have seen in Atlanta, only the DRC has teeth.

Dumb question, but do the DRCs have the final say or are they advisory?

[Terminus]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Dumb question, but do the DRCs have the final say or are they advisory?

The are advisory. Changes brought about by them are generally voluntary on the part of the builder.

[forj]

Originally Posted by Terminus

The are advisory. Changes brought about by them are generally voluntary on the part of the builder.

it seems to be that developers tend to take the Midtown DRC recommendations somewhat seriously.. maybe the Bureau of Planning works closer with them than they do with neighborhood planning groups? I dont think all neighborhoods necessarily have a Development Review Committee

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by forj

I dont think all neighborhoods necessarily have a Development Review Committee

I think the DRC's are set up for the major SPI districts.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by Verge

Sorry But I have to respectfully disagree-- This stuff is what I do for a living and I can assure you that this site plan is considerably less than mediocre-- there is higher density and more urbane stuff being built all around this site. Fuqua hires mediocre architects (most of the time) and dictates less than urbane goals for his projects-- He is a suburban formula oriented developer than does not understand urban environments-- And yes everything built in the core of the metro area should be pedestrian oriented-- that as how you build a city worth living in -- and I'm not backing down on that one. Ever.

The problem with putting auto oriented, suburban style projects in urban areas is that their effect goes far beyond that specific development. Once you put in a mega surface lot, you have changed the character of an area.

I understand the argument that somebody can come along 30 or 40 years later and redevelop it again, but those are awfully long cycles. Why not get it right from the beginning?

[Libertarian]

Perhaps cities like Seattle, Denver and Minneapolis would be good peer cities for Atlanta to benchmark to?

Atlanta should provide leadership and cooperate with other mid-sized similar economic and demographic cities, especially ones in this southeast region. Nashville, Charlotte, Jacksonville, Tampa, New Orleans, and Memphis are good candidates. We can find many best practices in such places and they can learn from us.

[Verge]

Originally Posted by arjay57

I think the DRC's are set up for the major SPI districts.

For the most part DRCs and Zoning are joined at the hip-- With city representatives at every meeting-- Zoning will always have to go by the strict interpretation of the ordinance however. DRC representatives can make any comment that they like (IE I like purple polka-dots on my buildings), including things not required by zoning--

[thepope117]

I may be in the minority here but im holding out hope that 90,14th development doesn't happen. I would much rather see a big office tower there. Don't get me wrong whats proposed is stellar but i think the best use for the lot is office.

[Verge]

Originally Posted by Libertarian

Atlanta should provide leadership and cooperate with other mid-sized similar economic and demographic cities, especially ones in this southeast region. Nashville, Charlotte, Jacksonville, Tampa, New Orleans, and Memphis are good candidates. We can find many best practices in such places and they can learn from us.

These cities are all substantially smaller than Atlanta (1/3 the size?) and face very different (occasionally similar) problems-- Atlanta's scale is much closer to Dallas, Houston or Miami and its problems more like LA than Nashville...

[Libertarian]

These cities are all substantially smaller than Atlanta (1/3 the size?)

That's a misconception.
http://www.biggestuscities.com

[arctk2014]

Originally Posted by Libertarian

That's a misconception.
http://www.biggestuscities.com

Population and Population Density are by far very different metrics that skew the list you quoted. Metro Nashville ranks higher because they opted to capture the entire county as within the city limits. Atlanta's city limits captures "parts" of Fulton and Dekalb Counties but by far is much larger at the core of urban development than Nashville and Charlotte - let alone Metro area for Atlanta leaps beyond Nashville's metro

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_North_American_metropolitan_areas_by_population

[Libertarian]

Anyway I believe we could benefit from studying best practices of our other southern cities. I suggest let's move this to the Atlanta community discussion thread.

[Verge]

Originally Posted by Libertarian

That's a misconception.
http://www.biggestuscities.com

I'm afraid city limits and populations mean next to nothing-- Atlanta's area is quite small in a metro that is quite large-- (Only 138 sq mi). Atlanta's MSA population is 5.25M and its CSA population is approaching 6.3M-- compare that to Charlotte (around 2.4M) or Nashville (1.8M). Metro areas and even CSAs (Consolidated Statistical Areas) as defined by the census bureau are much better in determining actual 'city' size-- City boundaries are arbitrary constructs. Dallas and Houston are high because they annexed a large part of their metro areas-- places like Miami, San Francisco or Boston (or Atlanta) are small because they have small 'city proper' areas. metro Atlanta is the 10th or 11th biggest place in the country-- those other cities are much, much smaller--

[Verge]

Originally Posted by Libertarian

That's a misconception.
http://www.biggestuscities.com

Actual CSA list-- this is a much clearer comparison of relative city size in the US--
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_primary_statistical_areas_of_the_United_States

[micropundit]

Wood Partners said Monday it has started 33 Peachtree Place, a $100 million residential and retail community that includes a 21-story high-rise 369-unit apartment development, a mid-rise residential building and about 20,000 square feet of retail along West Peachtree Street next to the Midtown MARTA station.The project is expected to be finished in the third quarter of 2016.
http://www.ajc.com/news/business/construction-starts-on-midtown-mixed-use-project/nhnh

[thebigATL]

Originally Posted by thepope117

I may be in the minority here but im holding out hope that 98,14th(correction) development doesn't happen. I would much rather see a big office tower there. Don't get me wrong whats proposed is stellar but i think the best use for the lot is office.

I totally disagree, I rather for 3 tall skyscrapers with retail space of 90,000+ sqf than 1 office tower right there.If you currently look at the site, these 3 towers will make a dramatic image of Midtown's skyline rather than 1.Also refering to that you got 1163,1125,1138,22 14st,AMLI & etc. to help make the city dense(NYC & HONG KONG FEEL).But for an office tower I will like to see one towards or near the SoNo district to support that area and fill in some gaps in the skyline.

[RocketSurgeon]

Tiny tidbit: The crown on 1180 Peachtree has been out for several days. I wonder if they're modifying it..? I thought it used to be a lot brighter when it first opened, but I might be remembering it wrong. We could definitely use some more interesting lighting on the skyline, so I'm keeping my hopes up. Maybe something just broke

Originally Posted by micropundit

The project is expected to be finished in the third quarter of 2016.

I thought it was going to be built in phases. It's good to hear it's all happening at once.

[RATBOYKEV]

Construction fencing has gone up at 13th & Peachtree. It appears that this is where construction trailers will be located for 60 11th st.

[foxmccleod]

There is a bobcat on site of the future One Museum Place breaking up the asphalt drive at the entrance off of Peachtree.

[RocketSurgeon]

Originally Posted by foxmccleod

There is a bobcat on site of the future One Museum Place breaking up the asphalt drive at the entrance off of Peachtree.

I suspect that will start soon. I think most or all of the units have been sold.