ATLANTA | Development Thread V

[micropundit]

The Bloomingdale's space, slated to close at Perimeter Mall in metro Atlanta, won't stay dark long.Davenport, Iowa-based Von Maur announced Thursday it will take the soon-to-be vacant department store space, making it the second Von Maur store in the area.







http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/blog/...aur-to-take-space-at-perimeter-mall.html

[boomtown]

Originally Posted by micropundit

http://whatnowatlanta.com/2012/01/04/vid...idtowns-soon-to-open-dual-branded-hotel/

Wow...what a dog.
I thought midtown's zoning overlay prevented this type of unconcealed parking deck.....apparently not. I think it could have been salvaged with some fairly minor design changes to weave the deck pedestal into the building above.

[testarossa50]

Originally Posted by boomtown

Wow...what a dog.
I thought midtown's zoning overlay prevented this type of unconcealed parking deck.....apparently not. I think it could have been salvaged with some fairly minor design changes to weave the deck pedestal into the building above.

Yeah, the deck with siding as shown is a huge bummer.

But it is what it is. We're talking about 230 hotel rooms and a restaurant on ~.75 acres, 3 blocks from a transit station, and in a somewhat undesirable location (the front door to the hotel will be ~100' from northbound connector lanes). I'm still looking forward to this shabbily-designed building opening for business because at least it's small footprint, dense, transit-accessible, and not occupying a critical piece of land where something much better can be put. (As an aside, one wonders what portion of their guests will even arrive by car, given its very good airport access by MARTA.)

The other two buildings between 10th and 14th seem to be under construction in earnest right now. Every time I see them they look completely different--material deliveries, clearing and grubbing, preliminary earthwork etc.

[shivtim]

I'm a bit confused, because I remember at an NPU-E meeting last year they were very concerned about the obviously visible parking deck, and wouldn't approve it until there was a re-design.

I know the city isn't required to follow an NPU's recommendations, but I thought in cases like this the NPU's stamp of approval is usually needed.

[simcityaustin]

View of project from 12th/Crescent.

[briantech]

Originally Posted by ChadK

I love the idea of more bridges... but for the sake of keeping things simple, I'm just pushing for a realignment of 12th street. haha. I can already see a stream of cars popping the curb at 12th and Crescent. Watch out pedestrians!

But seriously, I don't know why straightening out 12th street wasn't the first thought of the developers. It just make sense to even things out for ease of travel. Leaving the road disjointed creates YEARS of problems and the land is there to make the adjustments.

I don't really see the amount of vehicular traffic on 12th increasing. It is only used for local access, no one uses it as a thru-street to anywhere.

Keep it crooked, who cares.

[Terminus]

Originally Posted by boomtown

Wow...what a dog.
I thought midtown's zoning overlay prevented this type of unconcealed parking deck.....apparently not. I think it could have been salvaged with some fairly minor design changes to weave the deck pedestal into the building above.

It prevents the cars from being seen, which this screening accomplishes. There is no requirement for the facade to look like there's habitable space behind it.

This said, this is gonna be one awful looking building.

[mike1986]

Originally Posted by simcityaustin

View of project from 12th/Crescent.

This project is going to do so much for that corner... especially with the street level retail. It will really help extend the Crescent Ave district. I can't wait for this to be completed.

Also, I think you guys are being too harsh about the dual-branded hotel. It isn't THAT bad... could have been way better though but I'll take it over a parking lot.

[ChadK]

Originally Posted by briantech

I don't really see the amount of vehicular traffic on 12th increasing. It is only used for local access, no one uses it as a thru-street to anywhere.

Keep it crooked, who cares.

No one uses it much now, but both 77 12th street and skyhouse guarantee additional traffic daily, so 12th street will most certainly be used a lot more in the very near future.

[jpk1292000]

Originally Posted by mike1986

This project is going to do so much for that corner... especially with the street level retail. It will really help extend the Crescent Ave district. I can't wait for this to be completed.

Also, I think you guys are being too harsh about the dual-branded hotel. It isn't THAT bad... could have been way better though but I'll take it over a parking lot.

Agreed. While it's not the most amazing building ever built in this city, it:

1. Gets rid of another surface parking lot in Midtown, on an undesirable corner.
2. Will have a street-level entrance and a street-level restaurant.
3. Will probably do quite well given its location close to GA Tech, Turner, etc.

[RobMidtowner]

Originally Posted by ChadK

No one uses it much now, but both 77 12th street and skyhouse guarantee additional traffic daily, so 12th street will most certainly be used a lot more in the very near future.

Not only that, but the current configuration causes the intersection to be split-phased (i.e. side-street approaches go one after another rather than at the same time). Split-phased intersections are less efficient overall and it disrupts progression along Peachtree.

[Terminus]

All, if you'd read earlier you'd have seen my response that the jog on 12th IS being removed. Here's the final site plan.

[ChadK]

I've seen the image you posted, Terminus. As well as this larger version but it still looks out of line to me. You're correct that the intersection is greatly improved, but the bend is still there (6th bush)

[boomtown]

GA Tech arena construction taken today....kind of a cool view of it.

[ATLaffinity]

Another red fields to green fields article.

Considering ATL has no waterfront or mountains or anything, why not have the most green space of any major city in the US. I guess $ is the reason. But we're going to need more than the Beltline to keep this city desirable.

Atlanta’s quality of life to improve if we transform our ‘red fields’ into ‘green fields’

[Terminus]

[QUOTE=ChadK;5540151]I've seen the image you posted, Terminus. As well as this larger version but it still looks out of line to me. You're correct that the intersection is greatly improved, but the bend is still there (6th bush)

But the offset is gone, meaning you can go straight through the intersection. When people talk about "straightening out" an intersection, that's usually what they mean. As a city planner, I hear that term all the time. Nobody talks about removing horizontal curvature as it speeds up traffic speeds, which are usually undesirable in an urban context where retail is envisioned.

[midtownblue]

OK -- I know this isn't construction related, but the current lead story at ajc.com conveniently doesn't allow for comments. The story: MARTA crime (theft) is way up to . . . wait for it . . . 24 incidents in 2011.

Let the MARTA bashing by ATL haters begin!

Unbelievable that this is the lead story.

[briantech]

Originally Posted by midtownblue

OK -- I know this isn't construction related, but the current lead story at ajc.com conveniently doesn't allow for comments. The story: MARTA crime (theft) is way up to . . . wait for it . . . 24 incidents in 2011.

Let the MARTA bashing by ATL haters begin!

Unbelievable that this is the lead story.

What was it in 2010?

[RudyJK]

Originally Posted by midtownblue

OK -- I know this isn't construction related, but the current lead story at ajc.com conveniently doesn't allow for comments. The story: MARTA crime (theft) is way up to . . . wait for it . . . 24 incidents in 2011.

Let the MARTA bashing by ATL haters begin!

Unbelievable that this is the lead story.

That's 24 robberies in the last quarter of 2011.

From the AJC article:
"Overall crime numbers for MARTA for fiscal 2011 -- which ran from July 2010 through June 2011 -- showed 48 robberies, 83 aggravated assaults, 216 larcenies and 63 auto thefts."

Here's the link: http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/more-robberies-on-marta-1291422.html

[midtownblue]

...for the clarification. Still, this is an exceptionally low rate for a metro area.