ATLANTA | Development Thread V

[TarHeelJ]

Originally Posted by Verge

The current addition was paid for by the Henson Family--

They donated the entire $14 million? I think they donated a portion of it or paid for a particular display, but not for the entire thing.

[arctk2014]

Originally Posted by TarHeelJ

I don't have any idea how much they advertised it, but the CfPA raised $14 million for expansion and renovation with the "Believe in Make Believe" campaign. http://www.puppet.org/believeinmakebelieve/index.shtml

I probably need to see it finished before I would complain about it. Is it definite that this expansion is poor design? Some people are acting like it is.

Have you driven or walked by the construction lately? It speaks for itself how ill the addition is positioned "toward" the community - especially from a pedestrian, urban design perspective even before construction is finished.

[Verge]

Originally Posted by TarHeelJ

They donated the entire $14 million? I think they donated a portion of it or paid for a particular display, but not for the entire thing.

All or at least a substantial portion of it--

[cabasse]

the green diamond pattern is pretty awful, but i wonder if the rendering is making it look even worse than it will in real life. if that was to be some sort of green wall covered in ivy it would be much prettier.

[Stairstars]

Originally Posted by Verge

All or at least a substantial portion of it--

I agree. I think they were nowhere near the total when it became a reality. Most of the new space will become the largest Henson display in the world. I was in discussion with them a few years ago about a long term display of my film used puppets, and they were enthusiastic in several emails and phone calls I had with staff. Then, the Henson deal came together and nothing. I am not against the project, and I have displayed at Heather Henson's Puppet Festival, but Atlanta will be the official Henson archive, and we mere mortals will have to look elsewhere.

[GeorgiaPeanuts]

Took some construction photos this morning:

782 Peachtree


Broadstone Terraces

[Pemgin]

Is AMLI Arts Center still a go? That's moving at a glacial pace, it seems.

[RocketSurgeon]

Originally Posted by arctk2014

Source for what? Was mostly commenting on how the current addition was a missed opportunity for the center to really make a statement about expanding it's mission as a community asset. But it doesn't even address the street/public realm.

I thought you meant the costs would be offset by ticket sales but I think what you really mean by "offset" is that it would be worth the cost to them to make the neighbors happier. Well, everything doesn't have to be everything to everyone. All this talk of rooftop event spaces with skyline views and things like that seems completely out of context... that's essentially a children's museum and they're not going to recoup millions in construction costs by putting a sign on the sidewalk asking for money or having a martini social now and again, nor would they be able to get the financing for such a project even if they were irresponsible enough to try. I'd rather they keep their very limited funds inside the museum where the important stuff is. There will be nothing else like it in the world and that's a hell of a lot more of an asset to the community than a patio.

Originally Posted by GeorgiaPeanuts

Took some construction photos this morning:

782 Peachtree

When is that supposed to open? They sure are taking their time with it, only pouring a slab every couple weeks. I think it will be a few more months before the basic structure is done.

Aspire Waterworks seemed frozen in time forever but its parking deck is up now so it's finally moving along.

[GeorgiaPeanuts]

There is a new map of development activity plus spreadsheets published by the Midtown Alliance for north and south portions of the core midtown area:

http://www.midtownatl.com/_files/docs/midtown-development-activity-maps.pdf

According to this doc AMLI Arts Center will start construction 17-August

[Matthew]

State Farm at Park Center:
A ground-level view of the site. Workers were at the site on Saturday, but I don't think any of them appeared in my photographs.


Credit: Me


Credit: Me


Credit: Me

Hammond/Peachtree Dunwoody Site:
The former Sanford Brown College site had a sign for a grading company and it appears as if grading is underway at the site. Due to the fence, none of the photographs of the site are worth sharing.

[Chris Creech]

Couple of questions, I work in midtown on Peachtree.

1) I drive by the Proton Center everyday. The back part is pretty much finished, the lights are on, but the front part, the part that faces Peachtree, I haven't seen any activity in weeks, or months now. No crews, no activity, no machinery, rusting rebar - are they redesigning that part or something?

2) The old Southern Bell Parking deck (now AT&T I guess), the really nasty old one, very plain, harsh, right to the sidewalk on on Spring. I've noticed for the past couple of weeks that it's all closed up and no one parks there anymore. Is something going on there? That's like the biggest eyesore in midtown. That's going to be right across the street from the high-speed computing center, I'd love for them to do something with that.

[Pemgin]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaPeanuts

There is a new map of development activity plus spreadsheets published by the Midtown Alliance for north and south portions of the core midtown area:

http://www.midtownatl.com/_files/docs/midtown-development-activity-maps.pdf

According to this doc AMLI Arts Center will start construction 17-August

Woot! Thanks!

[Martinman]

Originally Posted by Chris Creech

Couple of questions, I work in midtown on Peachtree.

1) I drive by the Proton Center everyday. The back part is pretty much finished, the lights are on, but the front part, the part that faces Peachtree, I haven't seen any activity in weeks, or months now. No crews, no activity, no machinery, rusting rebar - are they redesigning that part or

2) The old Southern Bell Parking deck (now AT&T I guess), the really nasty old one, very plain, harsh, right to the sidewalk on on Spring. I've noticed for the past couple of weeks that it's all closed up and no one parks there anymore. Is something going on there? That's like the biggest eyesore in midtown. That's going to be right across the street from the high-speed computing center, I'd love for them to do something with that.

According to a Business Chronicle article the project has yet to secure financing for the second phase which is acquiring and installing the high tech equipment to do the treatment. They expect to have financing in place in the next 3 months.

No clue about #2.

[alco89]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaPeanuts

There is a new map of development activity plus spreadsheets published by the Midtown Alliance for north and south portions of the core midtown area:

http://www.midtownatl.com/_files/docs/midtown-development-activity-maps.pdf

According to this doc AMLI Arts Center will start construction 17-August

I think that's saying they expect AMLI Arts center to be completed in August 2017.

[pica]

Originally Posted by arctk2014

Have you driven or walked by the construction lately? It speaks for itself how ill the addition is positioned "toward" the community - especially from a pedestrian, urban design perspective even before construction is finished.

There are some valid criticisms about the way the addition interacts with the historic structure, and how it addresses the street, and the mature trees that were removed when it could have been built on an existing parking lot instead — but those crooked windows on the front are to me the most unforgivable thing about the whole project. If the green harlequin print didn't scream cheap and cheesy, setting square windows at a random diagonal says it loud and clear.

There's a way to create architecture appropriate to something as charming and creative as puppetry arts, but this building takes those themes and embodies them in the goofiest, most literal way possible.

[atlwarrior]

Originally Posted by Canguy

They are trying to reconfigure where a crane would be able to sit and be efficient during construction. Cranes are in such high demand these days that I am sure they took those pieces and moved them to another job site and put Modera in line for the next one.

It did seem a bit to early to have a crane up before the foundation was laid.

[GeorgiaPeanuts]

Originally Posted by alco89

I think that's saying they expect AMLI Arts center to be completed in August 2017.

I thought that but in the other section they have dates like that listed as Month-Year, not Year-Month.

[RATBOYKEV]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaPeanuts

There is a new map of development activity plus spreadsheets published by the Midtown Alliance for north and south portions of the core midtown area:

http://www.midtownatl.com/_files/docs/midtown-development-activity-maps.pdf

This list has Post Midtown UC with 90,400 SF of retail. I hadn't heard of any retail for this project. Anyone have more information on what is in store at the ground level?

Architect's renderings show a pretty standard base

[ATLSkyPalaceOwner]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaPeanuts

I thought that but in the other section they have dates like that listed as Month-Year, not Year-Month.

I drove by this morning on my way to work and there was no signs of activity. In fact, that parking lot seemed as packed as it could be.

[GeorgiaPeanuts]

P@ BL - Land Development
Sitework and Infrastructure installation necessary for the construction of 228 unit apartment community and (2) restaurants.

Permit filed for 965 North Ave. NE.; On Google Maps that address is an old house currently.