Atlanta Project Thread IV

[smArTaLlone]

I bolded the committee's comments on both projects that I am most excited to read.

High Performance Computing Center

Portman's new mixed-use development consists of three buildings: a 21-story office tower, a three-story data center and the existing Crum & Forster building. Located on the east side of Spring Street, between Armstead Place and 4th Street, the project includes approximately 620,000 SF of office, a 100,000 SF data center, 46,500 SF of street-level retail, and 600 parking spaces. The two wings of the office tower connect vertically through a stair tower that provides the opportunity for collaborative space between floors. The site plan is anchored by a large public gathering space intended to function as an “outdoor living room.” The public plaza is being designed by Thomas Balsley Associates and will act as the hinge between the Tech campus and the Midtown community. Preliminary place-making schemes for the plaza include design elements such as landscape features, cloud columns, organic land forms, communal seating and video screens to define and activate the space. The Development Review Committee commended the applicant for the energy and creativity incorporated into initial concepts for the plaza space. The committee also challenged the applicant to reimagine how similar treatments could be employed to create stronger connections between the buildings and the public sidewalks, at a more human scale. The committee requested further study in several key areas of the overall design: (1) the façade treatment of the data center, particularly along Armstead Place, (2) the ground floor storefront spaces around the perimeter of the project, (3) the east and west entrances into the public plaza as well as more specificity about the components that will be used to create a sense of place within the middle third of the site plan. The applicant will make a follow-up presentation at a subsequent DRC meeting to provide this information.

The Standard

The Standard is the proposed mixed-use student housing development by Landmark Properties and Selig Enterprises on the southwest corner of Spring Street and 4th Street. The 19-story project includes 280 furnished residential units for students and 11,200 SF of commercial space at the street-level. Parking is provided in a 10-story precast parking deck that is wrapped with residential units on the street-fronting façades. The Development Review Committee challenged the applicant to rethink the vehicular circulation associated with the Starbucks in order to remove the curb cut on Spring Street. Removing this curb cut achieves multiple objectives that are fundamental to the Blueprint Master Plan: it will maintain the integrity of the pedestrian environment, allow for more retail space and on-street parking, and afford more opportunities to add usable open space at the street level (the current proposal reaches 90% of usable open space required by Midtown’s zoning code).

Additionally, the committee asked for further study of the ground floor façades, with an emphasis on increased transparency around the leasing office on Spring Street and more activity and visual interest within the bike storage area on 4th Street. Bike maintenance facilities are necessary amenities in student housing developments and the committee encouraged the applicant to feature this space more prominently in the design by incorporating wall-mounted bike parking and bike repair equipment. The applicant will make a follow-up presentation at a subsequent DRC meeting to provide this information.

[smArTaLlone]

Originally Posted by cabasse

these are both looking quite good - i'm really liking the newest update to the hpcc.

The HPCC design has grown on me and I'm interested to see how the design progresses. I like that the plaza will be accessible from both streets. I know I've gone on an anti-plaza rant several times but this one has a chance to be successful, unlike the NCR plaza (JMO). But I am most pleased that the DRC addressed the street level because nothing about it looks human scaled at this stage.

[krownroyale]

I own a small condo in Cornerstone Village, and I bought this thing without truly understanding how much development is going on in the immediate area. It almost seems like my location is right smack in the middle of all of it. Do you think all of this stuff is going to hurt my property value? Any hypotheses on the future of Cornerstone? I am a little worried...

[forj]

Originally Posted by krownroyale

I own a small condo in Cornerstone Village, and I bought this thing without truly understanding how much development is going on in the immediate area. It almost seems like my location is right smack in the middle of all of it. Do you think all of this stuff is going to hurt my property value? Any hypotheses on the future of Cornerstone? I am a little worried...

why would it hurt your property value? if anything i think all the new development would increase your value. demand is there

[smArTaLlone]

I agree with forj. All of the construction is indicative of the desirability of the neighborhood and the demand for new residential which is all positive for property values. The fact the nearly all of the new construction is apartments and zero new construction in the price range of Cornerstone can only improve the value of your property.

[GeorgiaPeanuts]

I'd add that with each new development comes more and more retail options, plus more residences which makes more retail types viable will continue to improve the neighborhood and as a result the property values. Plus the new developments are more pleasing to look at then tore up parking lots.

Heck, according to ABC condo values appreciated faster than single family homes in the Atlanta city limits for the first time in the history of the city last year. Hopefully that isn't a bubble, cause I also own in Midtown

[smArTaLlone]

http://atlanta.curbed.com/2016/3/17/11249212/first-look-grant-park-proposal-future-beltline-

The southward creep of Beltline investment continues. A five-story, multifamily project with 220 units is in the works near Maynard Jackson High School, on the Grant Park side of the Beltline's future Southside Trail. Early renderings suggest the project could be called, inventively, "842 Berne Street."

Lafarge Building Materials submitted an application for rezoning to city officials earlier this month that, if successful, would switch several properties along Berne and Killian streets to an MRC-3 Beltline designation, allowing for mixed residential and commercial uses.

[SteveD]

Originally Posted by smArTaLlone

http://atlanta.curbed.com/2016/3/17/11249212/first-look-grant-park-proposal-future-beltline-

Looks like more of the same of what is happening along the Beltline already to the north, but neighborhood opposition to this is already fierce on a FB neighborhood group page.

[smArTaLlone]

Bernie Marcus to give $75 million for Piedmont expansion


Conceptual rendering

[smArTaLlone]

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/print...ndos-will-be-among-priciest-in-city.html

Atlanta developer Jarel Portman believes the city already has enough glass and stucco condo towers along its skyline. “I wanted to try something different, something that was inspiring,” said Portman, whose JPX Works LLC wants to break ground on its new 21-story condo tower in Buckhead this August. It’s calling the project Emerson, with 44 units that will start at $1.8 million, among the priciest new units in the city.

[darkcarrington]

Originally Posted by smArTaLlone

Bernie Marcus to give $75 million for Piedmont expansion


Conceptual rendering

WOW that will be a huge improvement from the Sheffield building aesthetically. The rendering makes it look like it is in the middle of a suburban office park though.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by smArTaLlone

Bernie Marcus to give $75 million for Piedmont expansion

Wow! What an incredible boost to Piedmont and the city in general.

Isn't there another medical office building going in across the street?

[GeorgiaPeanuts]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Wow! What an incredible boost to Piedmont and the city in general.

Isn't there another medical office building going in across the street?

Yep


This render is outdated because I have seen a more modern looking proposal on a sign at the site.

[smArTaLlone]

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/real_...s-331-unit-apartment-building-along.html

We have met with the city and made it clear that we want a game-changer for downtown,” Kaplan Residential Chairman and CEO Morris Kaplan tells Atlanta Business Chronicle.

This is great for downtown and they have been marketing that site for development for a long time.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaPeanuts

Yep


This render is outdated because I have seen a more modern looking proposal on a sign at the site.

Thanks! That looks good.

I also like the new downtown apartment building.

Good stuff going on all over the city these days!

[ATLswede]

Corrected my message. Just saw storefront.

[smArTaLlone]

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/print...ed-use-project-set-for-west-midtown.html

A gritty reminder of West Midtown’s industrial past is making way for a $210 million mix of offices, apartments, restaurants and possibly an organic grocer. The Allen Morris Co. plans to redevelop the Star Iron and Metal Co. scrap yard at 11th Street and Howell Mill Road, where the expansion of Midtown westward from Peachtree is colliding with an area that has a rich blue-collar past.

[smArTaLlone]

Across the street from the office proposal, renderings of Allen Morris' apartment project have been revealed.

407 apartments, 16,500 SF retail

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by smArTaLlone

Across the street from the office proposal, renderings of Allen Morris' apartment project have been revealed.

407 apartments, 16,500 SF retail

Very nice! These look like a step up from what we often see.

[Martinman]

I agree. I am actually really excited to see a developer do something outside of the standard for midrise apartments. And I think it will complement the industrial chic character of the area.