ATLANTA | Development Thread V

[Tuckerman]

[QUOTE=testarossa50;6993080]That article is a good primer on the basic issues, from an advocate's perspective. To sum:

Couldn't agree more. Time to put this idea into the trash and use those $ somewhere else on transportation. Amtrak has little or no traction in the South and with the continuing hostility of our State legislature towards public transportation and commuter rail, coupled with the railway corporation's disinterest in passenger service, there is negative hope for this multi-modal project. Time to give up and move on. The citizen's of Fulton, Dekalb and Clayton are the main hope of expanding MARTA and the multi-modal station makes little sense related to any expansion - that is needed to North Fulton and in the Clifton Rd Corridor. An intelligent plan for metro-Atanta transportation is possible, but not in the near future. Planning should begin around 2030.

[jsvh]

The MMPT makes a lot of sense as a central hub. Of course, we don't need to put the cart before the horse and have it all built out until there is a need for it. Building it out is phases, as proposed, makes a lot of senses. If Amtrak wants to leave their current station at some point in the future, the MMPT is where it should move to.

There probably won't be any action on the MMPT soon, the only potential service is MARTA commuter rail from Clayton. That and Amtrak would probably be enough to warrant a first phase.

Edit: Maybe MARTA Commuter Rail from Gwinnett could be Phase II: http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2015/04/16/marta-to-gwinnett-county-the-people-want-it.html

[Dettmann1]

I really think the push and success of an MMPT will come from any rail service to Columbus (Very real possibility if you look at the report by GDOT on feasiblitiy) and Savannah. If those get off the ground and can be proven successful, I could really see a good argument for moving Amtrak to the MMPT, even if it involved a heck of a lot of coordination.

[Libertarian]

Amtrak doesn't like to "shove" loaded trains; this means all movements must be a pull-through movement.

Amtrak doesn't like to? Well, that's their problem. It's always been done all over Europe in major rail hubs. It's the only way to have service in cities with limited track space for spokes going in multiple directions.

[GeorgiaPeanuts]

In the morning part of the catwalk on the billboard was still up, so looks like it is being removed

[RocketSurgeon]

Originally Posted by Libertarian

Amtrak doesn't like to? Well, that's their problem. It's always been done all over Europe in major rail hubs. It's the only way to have service in cities with limited track space for spokes going in multiple directions.

I can't imagine why they would bend over backwards to move a station that sees a few hundred riders a day just because some urban planner hobbyists think a bustling transit hub would look great in the middle of Downtown. Hardly anyone in this region uses trains or buses to travel. Why would they when they all own cars and driving takes half the time?

If the MMPT happens in our lifetimes it will be a $1.5 billion bus station with more pork than passengers. Pray that it doesn't. There are more important transit-related things to spend that money on; things that would benefit the real Atlanta, not whatever fantasy version all those MMPT renderings depict.

[PremierAtlanta]

MARTA to Gwinnett County?

I know this is not the transportation thread. I also know to many ITPers view Gwinnett County as some far away place. It is however an important part of the metro area. As the second most populated county in the metro area, it should definitely have rail transit. I think the results of a recent poll by the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce is quite interesting but not surprising. It seems that the tide has turned for public transit in Gwinnett County.

MARTA is a jewel in the crown for Atlanta. Heavy rail transit has an amazing ability to carry a large number of people. Atlanta is in the small company of some great US cities blessed with heavy rail systems. Here in the DC Metro, I can truly see the benefit of having a comprehensive heavy rail system. If the Atlanta metro area is smart, it can leverage this jewel to insure continued quality growth. Competition for the Millennial crowd will boil down to offering the things most important to this group. One, apparently, is access to public transit.

I'm sure losing one of their F500 companies (NCR) to transit and amenities rich Midtown in the city is playing a small role in this shift towards transit.

From the article:

A big majority of likely voters in Gwinnett County want MARTA extended into the county and are willing to pay for it, according to a new survey from the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce.

The survey found 63 percent of likely voters support expanding MARTA into Gwinnett, with the strongest support coming from the southern portion of the county -- District Two (70 percent favor) and District Three (65 percent favor).

And the majority of likely voters in Gwinnett support a 1 percent sales tax to fund the expansion.

Perhaps the state of Georgia will wake up and support the 8th busiest transit system in the US. This will definitely give the edge to Atlanta over other formidable competitors.


Read more here: http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2015/04/16/marta-to-gwinnett-county-the-people-want-it.html

[Tuckerman]

[QUOTE=PremierAtlanta;6993527]MARTA to Gwinnett County?


I believe it would be great if Gwinnett came into the MARTA system. It makes sense to extend the Doraville line further NorthEast. I hope this happens. Nonetheless, we still have to overcome a State legislature that has no clue about urban problems and public transportation needs. They are stuck in a view that Georgia is still a sleepy rural southern state and are in very opposed to do anything for public transportation and especially for the Atlanta region. Overtime this attitude may change, especially when the Atlanta metro becomes more and more dominant. When Cobb county wants to join MARTA and comment up to the rest of the metro area we will have reached a possibility for some kind of comprehensive transit system in the area. IMO the current political picture in Georgia does not recognize the urban issues that need to be dealt with. I stick with my view that around 2030 this discussion will move forward because of absolute congestion and population growth in the Atl metro area. Of course, by that time,the solutions will be incredibly complicated and expensive compared to now.

[RocketSurgeon]

Originally Posted by PremierAtlanta

MARTA to Gwinnett County?

The "majority" who supported the tax was only 50%, which likely isn't enough to pass it. Interesting detail for the Chronicle to leave out. I'm not surprised so many Gwinnett residents are keen to the idea, though... I think you'd probably see similar poll results in Cobb, but as far as I know MARTA isn't considering either at this time. With Clayton just getting started and expansion being planned in Fulton and DeKalb, I imagine it will be awhile before they'll want to add a fourth or fifth county to the mix. So to answer your question: No, MARTA isn't going to Gwinnett.

[RATBOYKEV]

Azure on the Park - 8 of the 11 structures have been demo'd so far.

[testarossa50]

Fantastic!

Meanwhile, Seventh is going vertical fast, and 1010 West Peachtree has fencing up (not sure if that was reported yet).

[micropundit]

(A view of the site where the new NCR Midtown campus will be built at 8th Street and Spring Street, looking northeast)

The ABC is reporting that Cousins Properties Inc., the largest real estate investment trust based in Atlanta, will develop the new Midtown campus for technology giant NCR Corp.Cousins, known for developing Atlanta landmarks such as the 55-story Bank of America Plaza and One Ninety One Peachtree Tower, beat out real estate companies including Atlanta-based Carter and Houston-based Hines for the prestigious project.

The first phase of the NCR project could include 300,000 to 400,000 square feet of office space at 8th and Spring streets, becoming part of Georgia Tech’s Technology Square.

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/print...perties-will-develop-new-ncr-campus.html

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by RocketSurgeon

The "majority" who supported the tax was only 50%, which likely isn't enough to pass it. Interesting detail for the Chronicle to leave out. I'm not surprised so many Gwinnett residents are keen to the idea, though... I think you'd probably see similar poll results in Cobb, but as far as I know MARTA isn't considering either at this time. With Clayton just getting started and expansion being planned in Fulton and DeKalb, I imagine it will be awhile before they'll want to add a fourth or fifth county to the mix. So to answer your question: No, MARTA isn't going to Gwinnett.

Not sure how you read that survey and get "No, MARTA isn't going to Gwinnett" as your conclusion. I think this is a sign that we will see serious discussions between MARTA and Gwinnett start to take place and Gwinnett vote to join MARTA within 5 years given that they already have support from a majority of voters and that will only grow.

[Atlanta3000]

MARTA - Gwinnett - Cobb
The one truth we know to be self evident are Leaders in Gwinnett and Cobb could be give 2 (or 3) sh!ts about opinion polls from their constituents. However, they do care about the opinions of the business community which is they are locating to areas that are attractive to Millennials and ones that have access to mass transit. It is still early in the day so I have not started drinking', but I firmly believe in the next 5 years you will see a shift in both of these areas with respect to mass transit and creating true live - work - play urban areas.


OMNI TO FLAG SUNTRUST PARK HOTEL
https://www.bisnow.com/atlanta/news/mixed-use/omni-to-flag-suntrust-park-hotel-45018

sources say the hotelier will operate the planned 250-room hotel in the mixed-use development, pictured here.

AIG EYEING ABERNATHY 400 DEVELOPMENT
I previously heard from my sources AIG was considering anchoring 50 Allen Plaza. Hopefully this is not a done deal!

https://www.bisnow.com/atlanta/news/office/aig-eyeing-abernathy-400-development-45019

anchoring Abernathy 400, a planned office mixed-use project by Ackerman & Co at the linchpin corner of Abernathy Road and GA 400. AIG, which has long been in the market with plans to potentially consolidate five area offices into a 300k SF requirement, could take more than half of the 570k SF office project that's being developed in a JV with Cousins Properties.

Amazon’s cloud biz blows into Atlanta

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/print...ana=sm_atl_ucp83&b=1429193655%5E17052181

Amazon is likely expanding its Amazon Web Services (AWS) business in Atlanta. Amazon will take a floor, or about 20,000 square feet, at Terminus 200 in Buckhead.

[Tuckerman]

[QUOTE=Atlanta3000;6994332]MARTA - Gwinnett - Cobb


One note is related to the development of the old GM plant. if, in fact, it develops and becomes all that is expected then the MARTA line ending at Doraville will obviously be greatly enhanced if it is not just an end station for North bound trains. Gwinnett leaders would be foolish to lose the logical connection to this development from their county. I see the Gwinnett extension as pretty straightforward because of the rail lines already extending out parallel to Buford Hwy. The Cobb situation looks much more complex from both an engineering and a political point of view. Although it is rather obvious that the Cumberland Mall area and the new Brave's complex could benefit from a connection to MARTA from Arts Center.

[RocketSurgeon]

Originally Posted by jsvh

Not sure how you read that survey and get "No, MARTA isn't going to Gwinnett" as your conclusion. I think this is a sign that we will see serious discussions between MARTA and Gwinnett start to take place and Gwinnett vote to join MARTA within 5 years given that they already have support from a majority of voters and that will only grow.

That support isn't new. Gwinnett voted to join in the 1960s but rejected the tax. The poll indicates that would still be the case today. If MARTA has any intention to woo Gwinnett into paying the tax they've kept it a very big secret so far.

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by RocketSurgeon

That support isn't new. Gwinnett voted to join in the 1960s but rejected the tax. The poll indicates that would still be the case today. If MARTA has any intention to woo Gwinnett into paying the tax they've kept it a very big secret so far.

Considering the last MARTA vote by Gwinnett was in 1990 and rejected it 70-30, I think things have changed a lot.

The political / demographic landscape is changing rapidly in Gwinnett. In 1990 The county way 90% white, now it 44%.

The business & development community has got to be getting tired of loosing companies to transit connected areas like Midtown and Perimeter. http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local-govt-...ols-importance-of-transportation-/nkZmM/

The 50% + 1 still is a majority so if this poll was binding, Gwinnett would have MARTA. But yes, they will probably wait till polls are closer to 60% to be sure it will pass.

[NickH]

Just an FYI - They weren't taking the billboard down at the 811 site, they were replacing the ad. There's something new up today. Didn't catch the company.

[GeorgiaPeanuts]

Originally Posted by NickH

Just an FYI - They weren't taking the billboard down at the 811 site, they were replacing the ad. There's something new up today. Didn't catch the company.

It is Iphone ad again. It looks like they replaced the catwalk and a panel of the backing of the billboard.. They were cutting the catwalk off with a torch yesterday.

[kamden99]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaPeanuts

It is Iphone ad again. It looks like they replaced the catwalk and a panel of the backing of the billboard.. They were cutting the catwalk off with a torch yesterday.

Perhaps it was just a drill... Integral asked the vendor, "How fast can you disassemble this billboard?"

Literally the ad is back just as it was. The catwalk is restored. The cones are all gone. It's as if nothing happened!