Atlanta Project Thread IV

[jpk1292000]

Originally Posted by DNR

At least the Toll Brothers project designers thought "outside of the box" a little, but Portman's project tower is just one more squatty office building that could of been so much more. At least give us some real building height if your going to just do average design work.

I wish we had the power to put a moratorium on mediocre designs for the sake of "infill".

Why couldn't JPX (lilli developer) get into the office development game and give it a try.

To each their own. I like the Portman design.

[DNR]

Originally Posted by jpk1292000

To each their own. I like the Portman design.

It's definitely not a horrible design by any means, but I was hoping for something a little less "standard box" looking.

After taking into account the underwhelming Anthem towers, I was hoping Portman would push the envelope a little more for this prominent site.

I would definitely like to see more height.

It was indicated that this was now supposed to be a speculative office building given all the Tech Tenant potential of Midtown. Maybe if they waited for an actual anchor tenant, they could go higher.

[He's Back]

Originally Posted by DNR

It's definitely not a horrible design by any means, but I was hoping for something a little less "standard box" looking.

After taking into account the underwhelming Anthem towers, I was hoping Portman would push the envelope a little more for this prominent site.

I would definitely like to see more height.
fghg
It was indicated that this was now supposed to be a speculative office building given all the Tech Tenant potential of Midtown. Maybe if they waited for an actual anchor tenant, they could go higher.

Are you aware Portman's building is 30 stories and almost 400 feet? The Anthem buildings are like 21 stories. Additionally, the residential building @ 1020 Spring is 37 stories. Net - net, this is a significant bump in heights from what we have seen.

[He's Back]

Rumors - take it for what is worth
- Atlanta is on the short list for Verizon's HQ
- Netflix is going to 14th & Spring
- CNN/Warner Media is going to Echo Street West. Wynn Resorts is buying CNN Center. I guess this is why it has remained so quiet because it will be quite controversial. With that said, it could position Atlanta to be the top convention city on the East Coast.
- Both Cousins' projects in Buckhead and Midtown could be moving forward shortly.
- Facebook is in the market for up to 500K sqft.

[Atlriser]

Verizon to Atlanta. What a joke! That ain’t happening.

[He's Back]

Originally Posted by Atlriser

Verizon to Atlanta. What a joke! That ain’t happening.

Why do you say that? You think their old suburban Basking Ridge, NJ HQ is a great asset to attract Millennial tech workers?

[smArTaLlone]

https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2021/05/11/portman-holdings-atlanta-midtown-tech-hub.html

Portman Holdings plans to start construction early next year on a 500,000-square-foot office tower, suggesting it can move ahead even without tenants signed to leases because of a surge of technology jobs into Atlanta.

It could develop over 700,000 square feet on the site, but for now it is not designing its project to that scale.

Portman is confident it will obtain the construction financing for the 30-story speculative tower, part of a larger development that includes a boutique hotel and an apartment building.

[ATLmangum]

Originally Posted by smArTaLlone

https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2021/05/11/portman-holdings-atlanta-midtown-tech-hub.html

Portman usually is pretty smart when it comes to developing “spec.” I would not be surprised if they already have a major tenant lined up and this grows to 700k.

[atlHawks]

Originally Posted by He's Back

Rumors - take it for what is worth
- Atlanta is on the short list for Verizon's HQ
- Netflix is going to 14th & Spring
- CNN/Warner Media is going to Echo Street West. Wynn Resorts is buying CNN Center. I guess this is why it has remained so quiet because it will be quite controversial. With that said, it could position Atlanta to be the top convention city on the East Coast.
- Both Cousins' projects in Buckhead and Midtown could be moving forward shortly.
- Facebook is in the market for up to 500K sqft.

Uhhh this is a juicy rumor.

[DNR]

Yes, it is 30 stories, which I am happy about, but it appears "visually" shorter when compared to the first 700k renderings back in 2020 with the signature sloping crown feature. That was eliminated and replaced with a flat roof and the size was lowered to the 500k - even in a time period where Midtown's office market seems ever-resilient and ripe for growth.

Cousin's Midtown project, on the other hand, appears much taller in comparison. That particular design has a more vertical effect and would appear to be taller by comparison, even though it is about the same number of stories.
To be fair though, the Cousin's tower does appear to have and a few false stories at the top as part of it's Pinnacle design.

Not trying to "split hairs" just my first glance / gut reaction to that particular revised rendering.

[ATLresident85]

Originally Posted by atlHawks

Uhhh this is a juicy rumor.

Super Juicy!
And the Cousins project in Buckhead, you referring to 3354 Peachtree?

[Pemgin]

The way some of y'all respond to a building's shorter height reminds me of the way my dates respond to mine: disappointment

lol

[smArTaLlone]

1018 West Peachtree Street

Toll Brothers and WDG Architecture presented updated plans based on feedback received last month from the DRC. The overall phased project, including a 37-story tower with 376 units and 4,900 square feet of retail, remained as previously presented. However, new modifications focused on pedestrian circulation, relocating outdoor dining, reconfiguring loading and additional screening on the parking deck.

DRC recommendations included:

• Maximizing retail auto parking in balance with providing accessible bike parking at street level.
• Adding more patio dining at the southeast corner of the building.
• Simplifying the building’s exterior materials and making the parking deck appear more seamless.

Next Steps: The committee expects to receive updated plans that be reviewed electronically to confirm that recommendations have been addressed.







1020 Spring Street


Portman Holdings and HKS returned with Phase Two of their project at 1020 Spring Street, a mixed-use three tower development organized around the historic H.M. Patterson & Son- Spring Hill Chapel building. The committee reviewed the latest plans for the 30-story office tower fronting on Williams St.

Notable improvements have been made since the project was last seen in February. These include adjoining two curbcuts along Williams St., refining the upper-level plaza and storefronts accessible from the circular drive along Spring St., redesigning a pedestrian stair that connects the upper-level plaza to the Williams St. sidewalk level, and various architectural refinements to the office tower and parking podium.

The DRC commended the development team for the overall architectural composition. However, the committee also suggested:

• Making pedestrian and bike circulation refinements along with street level refinements to better engage Williams St. Portman agreed to maintain an 8’ wide clear sidewalk for Williams St., but the committee requested the developer improve vertical accessibility via the stair along Williams St. by moving the stair to be more visible and accessible from the upper plaza, along with providing a more convenient elevator.
• Replacing one loading bay in the adjacent street-level space along Williams Street. provide habitable space in place of one loading bay. At the Williams Street curbcut the DRC recommended signals and signage to minimize potential conflict with pedestrians and bicyclists.
• Redesigning the pedestrian and bike path from Spring Street to the plaza and stair to be less circuitous and more convenient.

Next Steps: The applicant is requested to refine the noted items and follow-up with the DRC.

[He's Back]

Originally Posted by ATLresident85

Super Juicy!
And the Cousins project in Buckhead, you referring to 3354 Peachtree?

https://twitter.com/cbenderatl/status/1388802414514511873?s=20

[PhunkyPho]

What is the rocket ship/steeple?

[ATLarchitect]

PhunkyPho

What is the rocket ship/steeple?

I had the same thought, lol - looks like an existing cell phone tower that's well hidden but about to be a lot more exposed.

Let's make it art Midtown Alliance!

http://www.google.com/maps/@33.7827953,-...mbPHfdKxEfk6yz3xFvAsA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

[atlwarrior]

Originally Posted by He's Back

Why do you say that? You think their old suburban Basking Ridge, NJ HQ is a great asset to attract Millennial tech workers?

It looks like a glorified Red Roof Inn complex.

[montydawg]

Originally Posted by ATLarchitect

I had the same thought, lol - looks like an existing cell phone tower that's well hidden but about to be a lot more exposed.

Let's make it art Midtown Alliance!

http://www.google.com/maps/@33.7827953,-...mbPHfdKxEfk6yz3xFvAsA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

That tower has been there for decades, and I believe at one time they had radio/television broadcast from that tower, as it was much taller in the 80’s. I predict that they will install the cell receivers on top of a building in the near future, and sell that land. The cell tower will not be very effective with a 30+ story building right next to it.

Actually, I believe I remember that tower land being owned by Comcast. They used to use that tower to receive all the television signals from TBS, WSB, WXIA, etc, so they could rebroadcast the signals on their cable network. I’m not sure how they rebroadcast the signals these days, but I suspect they stopped using this when television switched from analog to digital. I would be curious if Comcast still uses this land, or if it is only used for cellular these days.

[ThrashATL]

Originally Posted by atlwarrior

It looks like a glorified Red Roof Inn complex.

Like a Red Roof Inn would be in Branson.

[atlantaguy]

Originally Posted by Atlriser

Verizon to Atlanta. What a joke! That ain’t happening.

Exactly. Verizon is too Northeast-centric to ever leave the Tri-State. If they're worried about attracting millennials, they'll opt for Manhattan or Jersey City.