ATLANTA | Development Thread V

[micropundit]

Originally Posted by simms3_redux

^^^I'm not going to make any comments on 285 Marietta. I think it's fascinating and I really sincerely hope it comes to fruition. Not that I am public or important, but I know some of those involved with that project and I can only wish them the best of luck. Seven Oaks and Legacy have some really good track records. Seven Oaks is led by Bob Voyles, who was director of development for Hines and was responsible for defining towers in Atlanta (1180 Peachtree for one), and Legacy has literally transformed that area and has a great team.

I can only urge anyone wanting to make their own predictions for the project to visit those firms' websites:

http://www.sevenoakscompany.com/

http://www.legacyproperty.com/

I hear you. It is speculative except ,perhaps, for the retail. If a civic leadership effort is mounted by CNN/Turner ,this may happen sooner than later.

[shivtim]

Work on the lot at 8th and Williams near Tech Square. Not sure what's going on here:









And the crane near the southwest corner of Tech's campus:

[GNofAtlanta]

The work you see on 8th Street by GA Tech is site prep for Cavalia:

http://unrevedeliberte.cavalia.net/fckDocs/file/Maps/Atlanta%20Site%20Map%201118x864pix.pdf

http://unrevedeliberte.cavalia.net/en/odysseo/

[GNofAtlanta]

Renovation of the Arts Center (thanks MidtownPatch):
http://midtown.patch.com/articles/georgia-tech-plans-to-renovate-arts-center

Also, Georgia State is getting a Willy's next to the Waffle House in the Petit Science Center, construction underway:
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/print-edition/2011/06/24/willys-opening-1st-florida-store.html

[simms3_redux]

I believe the construction on the SW corner of Tech's campus is in Technology Park and is that totally sustainable, carbon-neutral green tech research building going up. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

http://www.space.gatech.edu/planning/assets/PlnFile_0_20091110103111.pdf

Also, I noticed that STK's sign is up, still pending the scrolling marquee. A pop-up shop closed in 999 Peachtree, but it looks like another one, possibly the same, moved into a space next to the Jersey Mike's and old Silk in Metropolis.

Bobby Berk is making really significant progress, as well.

[micropundit]

The state program allows new or existing businesses located in an opportunity zone that hire at least two employees within one year to receive an annual income tax credit of $3,500 for each job they create. Credits are good for up to five years, or $17,500.

The master redevelopment plan for Fort McPherson that calls for a 127-acre biotech research complex, a 21-acre federal Department of Veterans Affairs clinic, 153 acres of green space and 1,780 new residential units.

The McPherson Implementing Local Redevelopment Authority hopes to announce the first tenant next year






http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2011/10/26/fort-mcpherson-chosen-for-state-jobs.html

[micropundit]

Developers are planning a 195-unit apartment building and shops along Howell Mill Road in West Midtown — the latest intown multifamily project to enter the development pipeline.

Westbridge Realty Partners LLC filed for a special administrative permit from the city of Atlanta Oct. 19 for a more than 250,000-square-foot project at Howell Mill Road and 14th Street, next to the Room & Board and showroom building.( It was a necessary step in the process to obtain a building permit.)

The project, known as 691 14th Street, will likely be closer to 180,000 square feet.




http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/print...-for-the-west-side.html?ana=twt&page=all

[jnihiser]

uh....awesome, much? I've been hoping this corner would get bought and re-purposed into multi-family for a minute...the views to midtown are going to be sick.

Anyone have access to some designs for this project?

I couldn't find this project on ARC.

Originally Posted by micropundit

Developers are planning a 195-unit apartment building and shops along Howell Mill Road in West Midtown — the latest intown multifamily project to enter the development pipeline.

Westbridge Realty Partners LLC filed for a special administrative permit from the city of Atlanta Oct. 19 for a more than 250,000-square-foot project at Howell Mill Road and 14th Street, next to the Room & Board and showroom building.( It was a necessary step in the process to obtain a building permit.)

The project, known as 691 14th Street, will likely be closer to 180,000 square feet.




http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/print...-for-the-west-side.html?ana=twt&page=all

[mike1986]

Originally Posted by jnihiser

uh....awesome, much? I've been hoping this corner would get bought and re-purposed into multi-family for a minute...the views to midtown are going to be sick.

Anyone have access to some designs for this project?

I couldn't find this project on ARC.

I think I might have found renderings for it...

http://www.squarefeetstudio.com/portfoli...mmunity-places/west-midtown-development/

[smArTaLlone]

Originally Posted by mike1986

I think I might have found renderings for it...

http://www.squarefeetstudio.com/portfoli...mmunity-places/west-midtown-development/

Unless they've somehow converted the same plans into 185 apartments, that was for a 115 unit condo project that was planned on the same site during the height of the condo boom. But since it does say apartments in the description maybe that is the case.

[micropundit]

Seventeen years after the first plan was unveiled to build a major transit hub in downtown Atlanta, the Georgia Department of Transportation is trying again.

The agency Monday is scheduled to sign a $12.2 million contract for a new master plan with a team of contractors experienced in large-scale developments. It's led by Atlanta-based Cousins Properties and The Integral Group, along with Cleveland-based Forest City Enterprises.

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, U.S. Rep. John Lewis and other dignitaries will join DOT officials to affirm the deal with the master development team.

The contract team's task: create a central hub linking MARTA, intercity buses and rail, help buy land for the project, identify public and private sources of financing, and surround the hub with commercial development. In the end, the transit hub could change the face of downtown, rerouting roads and rail lines and providing a central place for buses that are now sprawled across the central business district





http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/gulch-transit-hub-plans-1213467.html

[simms3_redux]

What does everyone think of MARTA spending $18.3M on improvements to the Buckhead MARTA station?

As someone who lives in Midtown and commutes to Buckhead where I work in a tower literally right down from the station, I think it is a HUGE waste. The intent is to "beautify" the station, re-open the north entrance, and connect the station's north entrance over 400 to Stratford Rd (from Tower Place).

NOBODY in Tower Place takes MARTA, and it is not because the North Entrance is not open, it is because they all drive nice cars and can park in a reserved spot in each building within Tower Place. My building the same (Terminus).

Can we even take a guess as to whether or not the residents along Stratford Road will now use the MARTA station? Let's see...hypothetically speaking I just dropped $3M on a condo in Mansion, I have my Mercedes or Prius valeted, I either work down the street already or I am a woman who spends my time shopping at Lenox and Phipps, where I don't dare walk, but I have my car valeted there, too. Am I a MARTA rider? Pass/Fail

Instead, MARTA could have used the money to upgrade Art Center Station, which leaks, has security and visibility issues, is old and crummy looking, and takes up an inefficient amount of space. They then would have had money to upgrade Midtown Station, which has easements and parcels all over the empty Cousins/AGL Resources block across the street. How about MARTA spend some money to free up that land as much as possible to be redeveloped so Cousins no longer has an excuse to sit on its ass.

Then, with money leftover from that, it could have "beautified" North Ave Station, got rid of the stench, improved visibility and in turn security, and modernized it a tad.

Instead, we are spending $18.3M on people who don't and won't use MARTA.

[BunkyWay]

Anyone else think too many apartments are being built in West Midtown? It seems that is the only housing type that has been built there. I wouldn't mind seeing some Brownstone-type townhouses or maybe even some condos. I know the housing market sucks, but how many apartments can that area support?

It is exciting to see an urban "center" of West Midtown is emerging on Howell Mill, in between 10th Street and 14th Street. Maybe the city could get invovled and improve the streetscape along that stretch?

[BlueSangha]

Originally Posted by simms3_redux

What does everyone think of MARTA spending $18.3M on improvements to the Buckhead MARTA station?

As someone who lives in Midtown and commutes to Buckhead where I work in a tower literally right down from the station, I think it is a HUGE waste. The intent is to "beautify" the station, re-open the north entrance, and connect the station's north entrance over 400 to Stratford Rd (from Tower Place).

NOBODY in Tower Place takes MARTA, and it is not because the North Entrance is not open, it is because they all drive nice cars and can park in a reserved spot in each building within Tower Place. My building the same (Terminus).

Can we even take a guess as to whether or not the residents along Stratford Road will now use the MARTA station? Let's see...hypothetically speaking I just dropped $3M on a condo in Mansion, I have my Mercedes or Prius valeted, I either work down the street already or I am a woman who spends my time shopping at Lenox and Phipps, where I don't dare walk, but I have my car valeted there, too. Am I a MARTA rider? Pass/Fail

Instead, MARTA could have used the money to upgrade Art Center Station, which leaks, has security and visibility issues, is old and crummy looking, and takes up an inefficient amount of space. They then would have had money to upgrade Midtown Station, which has easements and parcels all over the empty Cousins/AGL Resources block across the street. How about MARTA spend some money to free up that land as much as possible to be redeveloped so Cousins no longer has an excuse to sit on its ass.

Then, with money leftover from that, it could have "beautified" North Ave Station, got rid of the stench, improved visibility and in turn security, and modernized it a tad.

Instead, we are spending $18.3M on people who don't and won't use MARTA.

i agree, esp as a marta rider. just another example of misguided spending.

[Student]

I don't think MARTA is that heavily invested in this as we think. This article suggests that BCID raised funds and contributed of it's own funds to pay for the project.

http://buckheadcid.wordpress.com/2011/03/28/introducing-buckhead’s-future-marta-concourse-bridge…/

[shivtim]

Originally Posted by Student

I don't think MARTA is that heavily invested in this as we think. This article suggests that BCID raised funds and contributed of it's own funds to pay for the project.

http://buckheadcid.wordpress.com/2011/03/28/introducing-buckhead’s-future-marta-concourse-bridge…/

Yep. My understanding is that MARTA is paying less than half of the price for the improvements to Buckhead Station. More than half is Federal funding, and then there is a few million from BCID and other local sources. They didn't have those matches for any improvements to other stations. Maybe you should write an e-mail to the Midtown Alliance and tell them to spend money on improving all of the MARTA stations in Midtown, instead of spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on a study to find ways to improve the aesthetics of 75/85 for motorists passing through.

[K-SawDude]

Originally Posted by BunkyWay

Anyone else think too many apartments are being built in West Midtown? It seems that is the only housing type that has been built there. I wouldn't mind seeing some Brownstone-type townhouses or maybe even some condos. I know the housing market sucks, but how many apartments can that area support?

It is exciting to see an urban "center" of West Midtown is emerging on Howell Mill, in between 10th Street and 14th Street. Maybe the city could get invovled and improve the streetscape along that stretch?

As a resident of this exact stretch, I couldn't be happier to see efforts to increase resident density here. We do have condos, at least at White Provision. But you're right that there are lots of apartments along Howell Mill. Even so, most of these apartments are filling while the condos are STILL not completely sold. I don't think West Midtown needs any more new construction for sales; multi-family rental seems smart for now.

Westbridge (who also did White Provision) is a responsible developer, and they won't do cookie-cutter, either. If anything, I'd be a bit worried they might have trouble filling in some of the street level retail, as the bottom floor retail in White Provision and in 1016 Lofts is still somewhat vacant.

The area between 10th and Marietta along Howell Mill still needs some help. And Northside in this part of town needs a major face-lift. It's a shame it's so pedestrian-unfriendly, because the neighborhood is getting increasing foot traffic every year.

Maybe West Midtown needs to form a CID?

[sevensixtwo]

simms3_redux lol

BunkyWay: I don't. The King of Saudi Arabia is on his death bed in NYC. The heir just died last week and the heir apparent is not an ally. The energy crisis is going to end the model exurban and even suburban living. There's a price where a 75 minute commute just stops being possible. All these people are going to move to places like these new apartments. Large scale demographic inversion.

[Chris Creech]

Blue Sangha -

Remember though that not only do you have the corporate types with the expensive condos. You have all the people that work in the shops in that area. You have hotels with huge house cleaning staffs. Restaurants with support staff, all those buildings have janitors, maintenance and security staff.

Plus also you have to think that if ANYWHERE in Atlanta you could get someone out of their car for just the pure convenience and time saving of MARTA it might be a lawyer or corporate type living there in a Buckhead condo and working at Peachtree Center.

[BlueSangha]

Originally Posted by Chris Creech

Blue Sangha -

Remember though that not only do you have the corporate types with the expensive condos. You have all the people that work in the shops in that area. You have hotels with huge house cleaning staffs. Restaurants with support staff, all those buildings have janitors, maintenance and security staff.

Plus also you have to think that if ANYWHERE in Atlanta you could get someone out of their car for just the pure convenience and time saving of MARTA it might be a lawyer or corporate type living there in a Buckhead condo and working at Peachtree Center.

That may be the cae, but I don't think a bridge to Stratford is warranted. What exists now is perfectly fuctional and can get you to either side of Peachtree with ease. I don't see how this will make access any better, but whateves, I don't see myself making the detour.