Atlanta Project Thread IV

[atlHawks]

Originally Posted by Street Advocate

There’s a storage facility component to that project, isn’t there?

Yes, this ugly monstrosity.

“Our goal is to create a dynamic structure that not only serves its main purpose of self-storage but embodies a timeless style for years to come,” parent company SAFStor, Inc. states on its website.

Link

[smArTaLlone]

If they move forward with this, independent of the Gulch plans, it could explain why they have so much retail at the Norfolk Southern building. They seem to be very bullish on downtown Atlanta.

https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news...roject.html?iana=hpmvp_atl_news_headline

It would include 325 hotel rooms, 386 residential units, almost 200,000 square feet of office space and just over 50,000 square feet of retail space. The project could rise next to the ongoing renovations of the former Norfolk Southern Corp. buildings along Ted Turner Drive.

[Martinman]

I'm trying to imagine what it would be like if the gulch was one of the biggest draws in the metro. Clearly CIM is thinking big with Centennial Yards and they are moving forward with smaller projects surrounding the gulch.

I thought the story about them leasing space to Flying Biscuit in Castleberry Point was odd but I guess they view all of this as supportive of the main project.

[jpk1292000]

Originally Posted by Martinman

I'm trying to imagine what it would be like if the gulch was one of the biggest draws in the metro. Clearly CIM is thinking big with Centennial Yards and they are moving forward with smaller projects surrounding the gulch.

I thought the story about them leasing space to Flying Biscuit in Castleberry Point was odd but I guess they view all of this as supportive of the main project.

It needs to be one of the biggest draws. As I've said on this forum before, Atlanta is a great city and I love living here but a huge, gaping hole that the city has is the lack of a large, active, and desirable pedestrian area with restaurant and entertainment options downtown near convention facilities. At least two of our southern competitors for job relocations - Nashville and Austin - have much better downtown restaurant/entertainment districts than Atlanta. I am convinced that improved downtown entertainment/nightlife offerings will pay massive dividends in job recruitment, as the area around a convention center often leaves the first impression on professionals from another city.

[Sura]

And then we can think about reconnecting Atlanta with the Stitch.

[Martinman]

Originally Posted by jpk1292000

It needs to be one of the biggest draws. As I've said on this forum before, Atlanta is a great city and I love living here but a huge, gaping hole that the city has is the lack of a large, active, and desirable pedestrian area with restaurant and entertainment options downtown near convention facilities. At least two of our southern competitors for job relocations - Nashville and Austin - have much better downtown restaurant/entertainment districts than Atlanta. I am convinced that improved downtown entertainment/nightlife offerings will pay massive dividends in job recruitment, as the area around a convention center often leaves the first impression on professionals from another city.

That's probably more true for downtown specifically. Unlike those cities, Atlanta has several large "nodes". So much so that downtown is just one part of the equation and not necessarily the most important part. I do agree that having an active, walkable district downtown will have a huge effect on the perception of the city.

[jpk1292000]

Originally Posted by Martinman

That's probably more true for downtown specifically. Unlike those cities, Atlanta has several large "nodes". So much so that downtown is just one part of the equation and not necessarily the most important part. I do agree that having an active, walkable district downtown will have a huge effect on the perception of the city.

I'm definitely referring to downtown Atlanta specifically. Atlanta has a number of walkable pedestrian areas like Midtown, Beltline, 04W. And those are all much more active than downtown outside of big sporting events. It does feel though like downtown is beginning to quickly move in the right direction though. Even since 12 months ago, activity and announcements about downtown have really picked up the pace.

[Street Advocate]

Originally Posted by Sura

And then we can think about reconnecting Atlanta with the Stitch.

Stitch is great, but I wish Atlanta would aim higher. Let’s say: remove highways within 285.

Here’s a fun project:

Remove I-20 from Hamilton E Holmes to Glenwood
Convert the connector to a multimodal boulevards between Cheshire Bridge, Moore’s Mill, and Langford Parkway
Remove the Grady Curve
Remove Freedom Parkway
Then extend the city’s grid- reconnecting its neighborhoods.

Now determine how many new residents, transportation lines, and miles of new bike & trail networks we could add to the city rather than accommodating people who drive to or merely pass through the city.

[AtlHeel]

Street - that's a vision I like to hear! wouldn't that be incredible?

[montydawg]

Originally Posted by AtlHeel

Street - that's a vision I like to hear! wouldn't that be incredible?

Maybe I’m too stubbornly pragmatic, but what large city in the US does not have a major highway serving/within 10 miles of it’s CBD? It seems this move would reverse investment in the city. I think a better dream would be to bury the connector from I-20 to 17th street and build out commuter rail to all the major suburbs. Philadelphia has highway 76 buried right through town and a full commuter rail network. Atlanta should strive for this

[Street Advocate]

Originally Posted by montydawg

Maybe I’m too stubbornly pragmatic, but what large city in the US does not have a major highway serving/within 10 miles of it’s CBD? It seems this move would reverse investment in the city. I think a better dream would be to bury the connector from I-20 to 17th street and build out commuter rail to all the major suburbs. Philadelphia has highway 76 buried right through town and a full commuter rail network. Atlanta should strive for this

Cities existed and thrived prior to highways existing. We do not need them in our urban cores. The only reason they exist now is we pumped significant funding into creating them and enabling the culture. All depends on the future you want to create.

[Libertarian]

Wow, you guys exist in an alternate reality. I too have my own reality but it's a different one! You do realize your reality would produce a lot more cost, inefficiency and carbon overhead?

[Ant131531]

Originally Posted by Street Advocate

Cities existed and thrived prior to highways existing. We do not need them in our urban cores. The only reason they exist now is we pumped significant funding into creating them and enabling the culture. All depends on the future you want to create.

Let's be real. That's not happening. You need a highway to serve your CBD core in America...this is not Europe. Even the most urban cities like Chicago, SF, NYC, Philly, Boston have highways in or near Downtown.

[montydawg]

Originally Posted by Libertarian

Wow, you guys exist in an alternate reality. I too have my own reality but it's a different one! You do realize your reality would produce a lot more cost, inefficiency and carbon overhead?

Naw, with jobs and then residents fleeing Atlanta for places like Cumberland, dunwoody and Charlotte, where mobility is better, Atlanta would experience much less traffic and congestion, and perhaps scooter deaths would plummet in the city too

[jpk1292000]

Originally Posted by montydawg

Naw, with jobs and then residents fleeing Atlanta for places like Cumberland, dunwoody and Charlotte, where mobility is better, Atlanta would experience much less traffic and congestion, and perhaps scooter deaths would plummet in the city too

You’re joking right?

[montydawg]

Originally Posted by jpk1292000

You’re joking right?

I was somewhat sarcastically speculating on what would happen if the interstate system was dismantled inside the perimeter. If anything, the ‘freeing the freeways’ campaign in the late 80’s which built the connector into a mega wide highway (wider than any major city in the US outside of Texas to my knowledge) was the worst thing for sprawl that happened to Atlanta. If we had a more modest interstate system in town and commuter rail, we would be in a much better position today. I agree with street that the current interstate system is toxic for city life however I think a modest interstate system serving the city is necessary for commerce and jobs. Shrinking the interstate system and increasing transit would be a better approach in my opinion.

[shivtim]

Originally Posted by jpk1292000

I'm definitely referring to downtown Atlanta specifically. Atlanta has a number of walkable pedestrian areas like Midtown, Beltline, 04W. And those are all much more active than downtown outside of big sporting events. It does feel though like downtown is beginning to quickly move in the right direction though. Even since 12 months ago, activity and announcements about downtown have really picked up the pace.

I wouldn't want downtown Atlanta to try to emulate downtown Nashville. The city has some decent neighborhoods, but the main strip of downtown Nashville is just tourist crap. Drunk tourists stumbling from awful bar to awful bar. Locals don't go there. Rather than aiming for something like that, Atlanta needs to keep encouraging and subsidizing downtown residential. More locals on foot/bike/transit, and the restaurants and street life will follow.

[tallpez]

http://media.bizj.us/view/img/11416789/screen-shot-2019-08-19-at-91026-am*750xx3446-1938-0-37.jpg

PruittHealth, which provides care at nursing homes and assisted-living facilities, plans to redevelop the existing property at 5238 Peachtree Road into a 197,455-square-foot, five-story office building with a fitness center and cafe.

To read PruittHealth's complete plans, https://media.bizj.us/view/img/11417374/pruitthealth.pdf
The project is scheduled to go before Chamblee's Design Review Board on Aug. 28.

Source: https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news...-hq-by.html?iana=hpmvp_atl_news_headline

Another mid-rise commercial project at the Chamblee MARTA station. Will continue the transformation of this area. Love these small mid rise, but pushed to the street in former suburban locations.

Here is what is there now: https://goo.gl/maps/SaqjRndercy14Hyf8

[smArTaLlone]

The exterior shell of the main building of the Spring Hill facility ( ± 20,000 SF) has been designated historic (LBS) by the Atlanta Urban Design Commission as well as the northern gardens. The LBS portion of the property is 1.037 acres and leaves approximately 3.07 acres of fully developable land with SPI - 16 zoning.

https://www.crexi.com/properties/236918/georgia-1020-spring-street

[L.ARCH]

Very cool! Always thought this parcel had a ton of potential..