ATLANTA | Development Thread VI

[Pemgin]

Does anyone have the scoop on the student tower at 120 Piedmont. Wasn't that targeted for a start at the beginning of the year?

[jsvh]

The closing of Underground Atlanta has been delayed again. Reed is giving WRS until the end of January to get the deal done: http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/...rground-atlanta-deal-faces-deadline.html

[shivtim]

Construction barriers were set up yesterday for 880 W.Peachtree. It looks like the drew eckl farnham building is about ready to come down. Thankfully they've followed city ordinances and blocked off a general travel lane on W.Peachtree to provide for pedestrians, similar to the situation at CODA.

[ATL_J]

I do not think the WRS / Underground deal will happen. Besides WestEdge in Charleston, and I do not know the extent of their involvement - it could (probably) is as a very junior partner - WRS does not have the experience necessary to pull this off. That, coupled with the market timing, does not bode well for them finding financing. Newport pulling out says all you need to know about what they thought. WRS might drag this on for awhile, missing ever moving deadlines, but when it is all said and done I have a feeling someone else besides WRS will have to be the one to redevelop this area.

[Ant131531]

Originally Posted by ATL_J

I do not think the WRS / Underground deal will happen. Besides WestEdge in Charleston, and I do not know the extent of their involvement - it could (probably) is as a very junior partner - WRS does not have the experience necessary to pull this off. That, coupled with the market timing, does not bode well for them finding financing. Newport pulling out says all you need to know about what they thought. WRS might drag this on for awhile, missing ever moving deadlines, but when it is all said and done I have a feeling someone else besides WRS will have to be the one to redevelop this area.

Well they just said Atlanta is only giving them until the end of the month or the deal is off. I don't think it's going to happen either.

[ATL_J]

Originally Posted by Ant131531

Well they just said Atlanta is only giving them until the end of the month or the deal is off. I don't think it's going to happen either.

I know they said that, but didn't they already miss a few deadlines? Regardless, my prediction is WRS can't put the deal together, misses the deadline, and Newport sweeps in and takes it.

[Libertarian]

Yep. It seems plausible that WRS wanted Newport as a money partner, Newport took a look and decided WRS in their role didn't really bring anything to the table and is letting the clock run on WRS and will then close the deal with the city themselves. Any other theories?

[megalopolis]

Originally Posted by arctk2014

I'm sure if someone's willing to donate to build-out the future phases as planned they'd stick with the original master plan. It's not that difficult to come back in and program these spaces with the skate park and the community garden spaces. For the most part they're still sticking to the plan. I'd rather go ahead and see them create the pedestrian connection from Piedmont Ave to the Piedmont Commons area in the mean time.

According to the Piedmont Park Conservancy, they're cleaning things up along that section of Piedmont Avenue and removing the ugly fence, but it will not be a entrance into the park until phase II of the master plan is complete. Somehow it'll remain closed off, but I wasn't able to find out how.

[testarossa50]

GSU acquisition of Turner Field is complete.

Well, if I had to pick between this and Underground redevelopment, I'd pick this one. This could be transformative for the south side.

[Nanosolar]

Originally Posted by testarossa50

GSU acquisition of Turner Field is complete.

Well, if I had to pick between this and Underground redevelopment, I'd pick this one. This could be transformative for the south side.

It's a big win for all parties involved. GSU, Atlanta, and Georgia. Building an entire university campus in the center of a major city has to be pretty rare.

[arctk2014]

ATL City Council Eyes 15th Street Extension from W. Peachtree to Williams St (doesn't include bridge over connector just yet)

Plans are in the works to build an extension of 15th Street in Midtown Atlanta.

Under a resolution Atlanta City Councilman Kwanza Hall introduced this week, the city, the Georgia Department of Transportation and the Midtown Alliance would share in the cost of the $3.5 million project.

The project would extend 15th Street from its current end point at West Peachtree Street two blocks west to Williams Street. The scope of the work calls for new traffic signals, vehicular travel lanes, turn lanes, sidewalks, bicycle facilities and streetscaping. Eventually, the extension could connect to a bridge across the Downtown Connector.

Green said preliminary engineering and design work is due to start during the second quarter of this year. Environmental studies would take two years, followed by a construction period of a year to 18 months, he said.

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/...ouncil-eyeing-15th-street-extension.html



GA Tech Issues RFP for 14th Street and Howell Mill

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2017/01/06/georgia-tech-eyes-new-west-midtown-project.html

The property, which has views of the Midtown skyline, consists of several parcels that once housed United Rentals, along with Barking Hound Village.

Several groups are said to be candidates to develop the site, including Atlanta-based Noble Investment Group, one of the city’s top hotel developers.

A Georgia Tech spokesman confirmed an RFP was issued by Georgia Advanced Technology Ventures, a nonprofit that supports the school.

Tech wants to control about 50,000 square feet of loft office space at the project for startups growing out of Georgia Advanced Technology Ventures incubators.

Tech also wants the project to include affordable housing for junior faculty, graduate students and researchers who want to live near the campus. It hopes to extend its campus deeper into West Midtown.

[Street Advocate]

I find that proposal for Howell Mill and 14th to be very intriguing. There are a lot of parcels between Northside, 11th, Howell Mill, and 14th (~1/3 of the acreage of that superblock, image below with aforementioned parcels in blue) owned by the same corporation, VLP TWO LLC, with a GT address. This includes the large northwest and central parcels.

If VLP TWO LLC is indeed Georgia Tech, we may see a lot more interesting development expand to West Midtown based off what we've seen with Tech Square. No matter what is developed here, I really hope we see the street grid expanded.



The more development I see over in West Midtown, the more I get confused about where/how transit should be prioritized. Maybe the best idea would be to scrap a lot of the crosstown streetcars and simply add dedicated lane CNG trolleys, similar to what GT runs between Midtown and their campus. Essentially create BRT on Northside, 14th/10th, North Ave, Capitol Ave, MLK, Ralph David Abernathy, etc.

[foxmccleod]

Originally Posted by Street Advocate

I find that proposal for Howell Mill and 14th to be very intriguing. There are a lot of parcels between Northside, 11th, Howell Mill, and 14th (~1/3 of the acreage of that superblock, image below with aforementioned parcels in blue) owned by the same corporation, VLP TWO LLC, with a GT address. This includes the large northwest and central parcels.

If VLP TWO LLC is indeed Georgia Tech, we may see a lot more interesting development expand to West Midtown based off what we've seen with Tech Square. No matter what is developed here, I really hope we see the street grid expanded.

I have seen one proposal that adds up to five street connections to the interior of the property. Expanding the grid connections is certainly being considered here.

[Street Advocate]

Originally Posted by foxmccleod

I have seen one proposal that adds up to five street connections to the interior of the property. Expanding the grid connections is certainly being considered here.

Hallelujah! Thanks for chiming in! Always good to hear from you. Any other interesting developments we are not aware of rumbling about?

[MdtwnATL]

[/QUOTE]The more development I see over in West Midtown, the more I get confused about where/how transit should be prioritized. Maybe the best idea would be to scrap a lot of the crosstown streetcars and simply add dedicated lane CNG trolleys, similar to what GT runs between Midtown and their campus. Essentially create BRT on Northside, 14th/10th, North Ave, Capitol Ave, MLK, Ralph David Abernathy, etc.[/QUOTE]

Only thing that makes sense to me is to extend MARTA subway from Midtown to West Midtown.

[megalopolis]

Originally Posted by arctk2014

ATL City Council Eyes 15th Street Extension from W. Peachtree to Williams St (doesn't include bridge over connector just yet)



http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/...ouncil-eyeing-15th-street-extension.html

So this is at least 4 years away from opening. With all of the construction in Midtown going on now, this will be badly needed by then.

[Street Advocate]

Originally Posted by megalopolis

So this is at least 4 years away from opening. With all of the construction in Midtown going on now, this will be badly needed by then.

I'm having difficulty envisioning how they'll pull off the bridge and extend 15th to Williams at the current grades, but here's hoping for both. Atlanta benefits from expanding its grid, as well as providing more bridges over our highways. Allows for greater accessibility and flows more people and vehicles to alternative routes, helping improve connectivity as well as alleviating congestion.

[robertjhajek]

When are we going to start seeing movement and progress on the transportation tax that passed?

[Pemgin]

Originally Posted by megalopolis

So this is at least 4 years away from opening. With all of the construction in Midtown going on now, this will be badly needed by then.

Yeah, that's weird. I thought it was happening in conjunction with the construction of the AMLI Arts Center tower.

[ATLontheRISE]

Originally Posted by robertjhajek

When are we going to start seeing movement and progress on the transportation tax that passed?

Check this link below....It gives an update on things to come 👍. I have a good feeling about Marta. As long as Keith Parker is at the helm. To be honest , I'm glad the focus is more inward...Around all of the new developments in the city. Pushing Marta outward can and should be the thing of the past as companies look inward. Not saying that's reality today. But we've gotta take care of Atlanta. If Alpharetta wants to come along. So be it. But if not, Marta is on the move with heavy and light rail.


http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/...gislature-to-finish-what-it-started.html