ATLANTA | Development Thread V

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by RocketSurgeon

The Battery looks pretty good, so it's not impossible

"The Battery" is on par with his other projects like Edgewood Retail District. It is one nice looking street surrounded by BigBoxes TM and parking. That style of drive-to-urbanism is little more than an outdoor mall.

If he does just one building like his "Morningside Heights" project, it is not bad. But his mega site projects usually lack any real street grid or character.

On the plus side, the Beltline Overlay required street grid should hold up and so he could be forced to build a decent project here as a result.

[Pemgin]

Originally Posted by jsvh

"The Battery" is on par with his other projects like Edgewood Retail District. It is one nice looking street surrounded by BigBoxes TM and parking. That style of drive-to-urbanism is little more than an outdoor mall.

If he does just one building like his "Morningside Heights" project, it is not bad. But his mega site projects usually lack any real street grid or character.

On the plus side, the Beltline Overlay required street grid should hold up and so he could be forced to build a decent project here as a result.

I really hope you're right, but isn't this what was said about 800 Glenwood, and look how that turned out.

[Zanarkand A East]

There's some serious dirt being moved at western end of the AMLI Arts Center site this week. This morning, I saw a dump truck drop off a ton of what looked like gravel.

[Zanarkand A East]

Originally Posted by ATLSkyPalaceOwner

I drove by 14th and W Peachtree. As someone mentioned earlier, there is machinery on the southwest corner of 14th and W Peachtree where the Related Group building is to go. It looks like they are doing tree removal stuff but I'm not 100% positive. The parking lot has a notice saying it is closed and anyone who parks there will be towed.

Is this project all ready to go? I don't know if they have all of their permits, but I'm surprised that it seems to be starting with so little fanfare.

That lot has been empty for at least a few weeks, and I've seen some crews onsite, although they could have just been from the construction site across West Peachtree.

[GeorgiaPeanuts]

Originally Posted by jsvh

"The Battery" is on par with his other projects like Edgewood Retail District. It is one nice looking street surrounded by BigBoxes TM and parking. That style of drive-to-urbanism is little more than an outdoor mall.

If he does just one building like his "Morningside Heights" project, it is not bad. But his mega site projects usually lack any real street grid or character.

On the plus side, the Beltline Overlay required street grid should hold up and so he could be forced to build a decent project here as a result.

I disagree about his "The Battery": http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/atl/ballpark/suntrust-park/renderings/the-battery-atlanta-renderings/

It looks much more cohesive. I don't see any parking lots near the retail; And while it is currently designed insular the parking lots flanking the outskirts are more easily redeveloped to something more urban than the parking lots in the big box disaster at ERD.

The problem with CoA is that they let him get away with creating "new streets for the grid" by considering the throughways in the parking lots as streets. CoA needs to be more aggressive about rejecting this and demanding a true street grid.

[Ant131531]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaPeanuts

I disagree about his "The Battery": http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/atl/ballpark/suntrust-park/renderings/the-battery-atlanta-renderings/

It looks much more cohesive. I don't see any parking lots near the retail; And while it is currently designed insular the parking lots flanking the outskirts are more easily redeveloped to something more urban than the parking lots in the big box disaster at ERD.

The problem with CoA is that they let him get away with creating "new streets for the grid" by considering the throughways in the parking lots as streets. CoA needs to be more aggressive about rejecting this and demanding a true street grid.

I disagree. The mixed used apartment complexes are not even the wrap around parking garage type so good frontal street design is only on the main street. Look at those exposed parking garages on the side...truly awful.

It's faux urban just like Avalon. I mean, even Atlantic Station feels more urban than the Battery because the parking is 'underground" and isn't exposed from the actual retail area.

If you're crossing a street on the main street on the Battery, look to your right as your headed towards the Stadium, you instantly see bad street design and an exposed parking garage.

[arjay57]

I was over at Lindbergh today and the AMLI apartment project is moving right along, as is the Fuqua Kroger.

The townhome project next to the Kroger (I'm not sure who the developer is) is also well under way.

[GeorgiaPeanuts]

Looks like Atlanta is about to get an additional SPI district SPI 23 created for the Memorial Drive corridor.
http://atlantacityga.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=30&ID=76954&MeetingID=1511

Maybe this will give Reynoldstown citizens more teeth against Fuqua.

[Student]

Can someone chronologically and simply break down the development process in Atlanta?
If you could take it from project conception to permitting to groundbreaking and include the nuances (NPUs, SPIs, DRCs)it would be greatly appreciated.

[micropundit]

http://atlanta.curbed.com/archives/2015/11/25/map-midtown-atlanta-development.php

[Terminus]

Originally Posted by Student

Can someone chronologically and simply break down the development process in Atlanta?
If you could take it from project conception to permitting to groundbreaking and include the nuances (NPUs, SPIs, DRCs)it would be greatly appreciated.

There's no one set process.

Zoning Entitlement: Non-SPI, Non-Overlay, No Variances
No process of any type. You can just go pull a building permit
This applies to 80% of the City

Zoning Entitlement: SPI or BeltLine Overlay, No Variances
File Special Administrative Permit
Present SAP to DRC for informational purposes only. DRCs have ZERO approval authority, despite what people thing.
City approves SAP
Apply for building permit

Zoning Entitlement: SPI or BeltLine Overlay, Variances
File Variance
Present
File Special Administrative Permit
Present SAP to DRC for informational purposes only. DRCs have ZERO approval authority, despite what people thing.
City approves SAP
Apply for building permit

Rezoning:
File rezoning
Present to neighborhood, NPU, then ZRB
City Council approves
Then go through one of the processes above, as applicable.

[Ant131531]

Terminus, I know you work for the planning department for Atlanta or something similar. Is there anything huge cooking up currently in the works for next year? Based on my theory of huge projects being announced 2-3 years after full recovery(2014 for ATL) in any given market, that would mean Atlanta would get a big announcement in 2016 or 2017.

[arjay57]

Wasn't there supposed to be some TOD out around the Kensington station? Did anything ever happen with that?

[ATL_J]

Originally Posted by Ant131531

Terminus, I know you work for the planning department for Atlanta or something similar. Is there anything huge cooking up currently in the works for next year? Based on my theory of huge projects being announced 2-3 years after full recovery(2014 for ATL) in any given market, that would mean Atlanta would get a big announcement in 2016 or 2017.

The only huge projects I can think of are The Gulch that the Mayor alluded to, which I think we should start hearing something in the next few weeks, and then obviously Turner Field and whatever happens with Civic Center.

I'm not sure what sort of "huge" project you're looking for however. There have been tons of huge projects - Ponce City Market, Atlanta Dairies and what is happening on Memorial, the unprecedented multifamily growth in Midtown (and all over town really), the GM Site redevelopment by Integral, the Braves Stadium in Cobb, the new Falcons stadium, a bunch of office in Dunwoody and corporate relocations such as Mercedes-Benz, suburban development like Avalon, etc.

So there have been tons of huge projects, I'm not sure what you're expecting / waiting for.

[arjay57]

Seems like this may have been commented on before.

If all of this and the Oliver McMillan project gets built that will be a lot of new office space.

Loudermilk Cos. poised to redevelop massive block in East Village

[Martinman]

Originally Posted by Ant131531

Terminus, I know you work for the planning department for Atlanta or something similar. Is there anything huge cooking up currently in the works for next year? Based on my theory of huge projects being announced 2-3 years after full recovery(2014 for ATL) in any given market, that would mean Atlanta would get a big announcement in 2016 or 2017.

We've already had huge projects announced. 98 14th Street includes two towers over 50 stories, Yoo on Peachtree is over 50 stories, and 1125 Peachtree was reported to be a 50 story mixed-use tower.

[Ant131531]

Originally Posted by ATL_J

The only huge projects I can think of are The Gulch that the Mayor alluded to, which I think we should start hearing something in the next few weeks, and then obviously Turner Field and whatever happens with Civic Center.

I'm not sure what sort of "huge" project you're looking for however. There have been tons of huge projects - Ponce City Market, Atlanta Dairies and what is happening on Memorial, the unprecedented multifamily growth in Midtown (and all over town really), the GM Site redevelopment by Integral, the Braves Stadium in Cobb, the new Falcons stadium, a bunch of office in Dunwoody and corporate relocations such as Mercedes-Benz, suburban development like Avalon, etc.

So there have been tons of huge projects, I'm not sure what you're expecting / waiting for.

You're right. Guess when I mean big project, I'm referring to a potential new supertall. Several cities around the country have or are building supertalls at the moment so I'm wondering if maybe Atlanta would eventually join in on the fun there.

[Martinman]

Originally Posted by Ant131531

You're right. Guess when I mean big project, I'm referring to a potential new supertall. Several cities around the country have or are building supertalls at the moment so I'm wondering if maybe Atlanta would eventually join in on the fun there.

But outside of New York and Miami each supertall is because of one corporation that wanted a lot of office space in the center city. It would take a similar company that wanted that kind of presence in Atlanta. Actually a couple of the supertalls are because of one company and a large spire on the top of the building, but that's another story.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by Ant131531

You're right. Guess when I mean big project, I'm referring to a potential new supertall. Several cities around the country have or are building supertalls at the moment so I'm wondering if maybe Atlanta would eventually join in on the fun there.

As I recall Regent submitted plans for another tower similar to 3344 Peachtree. Certainly not a supertall but still a good sized building.

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by Pemgin

I really hope you're right, but isn't this what was said about 800 Glenwood, and look how that turned out.

As I understand it, the Beltline Streegrid did hold up at 800 Glenwood. They just put surface parking lots in the middle of it. However, at the LP site the grid is closer together, so while they could still put surface lots in the middle of the streets if they want they will still have to break up a big box.