ATLANTA | Development Thread V

[Terminus]

Originally Posted by Immovable_Media

AMLI Ponce Park:
The large parking deck trend continues! IMO but hey, at least it's 5 floors of infill right?! Crews should be breaking ground on the apartment building any day now.

So until more Atlantans learn to be like me and NOT OWN A CAR, what do you propose? Surface parking lots? Underground parking is too expensive and would kill these already-fragile deals.

[Frankster87]

Originally Posted by GTdan

Has anyone come across renderings of the JLB apartment project that may be built at 5th and Peachtree? I'm very curious what this will look like and how it may address the street from a pedestrian perspective.

Dying for details as well...

[scania]

Originally Posted by Terminus

So until more Atlantans learn to be like me and NOT OWN A CAR, what do you propose? Surface parking lots? Underground parking is too expensive and would kill these already-fragile deals.

First of all, this isn't NY, SF, Chicago, etc. The transit system here is not that great. There isn't a lot to do in any of these sub-districts by itself, around the Metro area. This includes Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, etc. it annoys when people act as if you shouldn't get a car here in Atlanta.

[delarosa]

Originally Posted by scania

First of all, this isn't NY, SF, Chicago, etc. The transit system here is not that great. There isn't a lot to do in any of these sub-districts by itself, around the Metro area.

Not to split hairs, but is it that the transit system isn't that great or that the land use is such that public transit becomes substantially more expensive if not often not feasible? Personally I find it annoying when folks have purchased housing at all corners of an expansive metro area, work in all sorts of different corners, and then fault public transit for being insufficient. Personally I think it's damage done near-term, and it'll take continued efforts at densification and development of an infrastructure to enable short and longer trips w/out a vehicle. Same applies to the idea of public transit currently for more localized trips even across some of these intown neighborhoods, though that's likely to continue improving sooner rather than later. Until then, as the initial poster was intending to point out, not providing parking options is a tough sell when so many individuals use cars and businesses leasing properties are dependent on customers who will use cars to reach them.

[arjay57]

I'm okay with parking decks so long as they are done well. While they are not the ultimate in land use, as Terminus says they are a reality in our present world. They sure beat surface lots!

And for what it's worth, there are plenty of parking decks in dense cities like NYC and San Francisco.

[Frankster87]

Originally Posted by scania

First of all, this isn't NY, SF, Chicago, etc. The transit system here is not that great. There isn't a lot to do in any of these sub-districts by itself, around the Metro area. This includes Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, etc. it annoys when people act as if you shouldn't get a car here in Atlanta.

It annoys me when people act as if you NEED a car in Atlanta. Many of us get along just fine without one.

[ATL_J]

Originally Posted by delarosa

Not to split hairs, but is it that the transit system isn't that great or that the land use is such that public transit becomes substantially more expensive if not often not feasible? Personally I find it annoying when folks have purchased housing at all corners of an expansive metro area, work in all sorts of different corners, and then fault public transit for being insufficient. Personally I think it's damage done near-term, and it'll take continued efforts at densification and development of an infrastructure to enable short and longer trips w/out a vehicle. Same applies to the idea of public transit currently for more localized trips even across some of these intown neighborhoods, though that's likely to continue improving sooner rather than later. Until then, as the initial poster was intending to point out, not providing parking options is a tough sell when so many individuals use cars and businesses leasing properties are dependent on customers who will use cars to reach them.

100 % agree. Also, land use patterns in much of the metro area has made efficient, reliable transit near impossible and will prevent areas from ever being walkable. Inward focused cul-de-sac communities, all spilling out on arterial roads, which in turn spill out onto the highway don't lend themselves to walkability or transit use. People often complain about MARTA, but the culprit is, as you said, inefficient land use.

[chris08876]

Originally Posted by delarosa

Not to split hairs, but is it that the transit system isn't that great or that the land use is such that public transit becomes substantially more expensive if not often not feasible? Personally I find it annoying when folks have purchased housing at all corners of an expansive metro area, work in all sorts of different corners, and then fault public transit for being insufficient. Personally I think it's damage done near-term, and it'll take continued efforts at densification and development of an infrastructure to enable short and longer trips w/out a vehicle. Same applies to the idea of public transit currently for more localized trips even across some of these intown neighborhoods, though that's likely to continue improving sooner rather than later. Until then, as the initial poster was intending to point out, not providing parking options is a tough sell when so many individuals use cars and businesses leasing properties are dependent on customers who will use cars to reach them.

It's going to take time for the metro system to become efficient. Give it time and it will work well. The city itself has grown around the automobile and only time and changes in the infrastructure can allow for it to become worthwhile to use the metro system. Density overtime, and a effort among the city to make it work needs to occur. Of course over many years. Can it be done? Yes!

[Tuckerman]

Originally Posted by delarosa

Not to split hairs, but is it that the transit system isn't that great or that the land use is such that public transit becomes substantially more expensive if not often not feasible? Personally I find it annoying when folks have purchased housing at all corners of an expansive metro area, work in all sorts of different corners, and then fault public transit for being insufficient. Personally I think it's damage done near-term, and it'll take continued efforts at densification and development of an infrastructure to enable short and longer trips w/out a vehicle. Same applies to the idea of public transit currently for more localized trips even across some of these intown neighborhoods, though that's likely to continue improving sooner rather than later. Until then, as the initial poster was intending to point out, not providing parking options is a tough sell when so many individuals use cars and businesses leasing properties are dependent on customers who will use cars to reach them.

I agree with this. Before we moved to ATL we had not owned a car for > ten years and relied entirely on public transit, walking, taxis and an occasional rental for the countryside. Of course, we were not living in this country. When we moved to ATL we purposely bought a house within walking and MARTA bus dx from work. Still, we had to have one car to get everywhere else in this sprawled metro. Unfortunately my office location was just one of many held by CDC and I soon found that I needed to take the car on most days just to get to meetings at the spread out components of my workplace. CDC never managed to consolidate all employees in one spot and has now given up on that. So, eventually, after much deliberation, we bought a second car. This was the first time, in a lifetime of > 70 years, that I owned 2 cars. Now, retired only one is necessary and a potential relocation in the future to mid-town might make the return to no car possible. Nonetheless, it is quite clear to me that land use and convenient public transit are highly interconnected and the likelihood of significantly lower car use in cities like ATL remains nearly impossible.

[echinatl]

Looks like the Coke building renovations are set to start soon.
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/print...coke-campus-revamp-ready-to-ramp-up.html

[scania]

Originally Posted by Frankster87

It annoys me when people act as if you NEED a car in Atlanta. Many of us get along just fine without one.

Please comprehend! I didn't say you NEED a car. It depends on your lifestyle, be it hangouts, job, etc. My point is that no one should tell someone to buy or not buy a car. That's absurd!

[delarosa]

Originally Posted by Tuckerman

When we moved to ATL we purposely bought a house within walking and MARTA bus dx from work.

And to be clear and emphasize your point, I too have made my housing decisions here based on proximity to MARTA. And I use it for commuting and otherwise as often as makes sense. Even given these values/preferences (which are clearly extremely in the minority in this city), I find it very often impractical. Is it possible? Yes, of course. But that fact is that most people do not make transit decisions (or any other economic choice for that matter) based on what is strictly possible or not, but rather based on costs and prefs. I agree that things will, with time, get better here (and think I recognized this from the get go), but that is a rather long-term play.

[micropundit]

Westside's growing cache as a retail and dining destination should get another boost if a developer's plans come to fruition at a Howell Mill Road site opposite the Westside Provisions District. The Atlanta Business Chronicle reports a partnership called Westside Ironworks LLC plans to spend $6 million to acquire and redevelop the 1.6-acre site that hosts the aged but attractively industrial-looking Ironworks building and two others. The plans call for razing one building and flipping the others into 18,000 square feet of shops and restaurants — much of it with alluring views of the Midtown skyline. The development team has the Ironworks property under contract and expects to close a deal in September; they previously submitted an application to rezone the property for mixed-use development, the newspaper reports. Developers say they intend to preserve the industrial character of the remaining buildings, with a goal of attracting a chef-driven restaurant and five to seven shops.

http://atlanta.curbed.com/archives/2013/...for-next-westside-redevelopment.php#more

[Shayan Panjwani]

Had the opportunity to take a nice shot of the Midtown Skyline from Spire last week, so I wanted to share it here. I really love how the 12th and Midtown development and Skyhouse are really making midtown a dramatic scene.



-
Shayan Panjwani

[ChrisInmanPark]

Another 2-way cycle track coming to Atlanta, just like the one on 10th street. From Central Atlanta Progress.

The Atlanta Downtown Improvement District and the City of Atlanta are building a cycletrack along Peachtree Center Avenue between Peachtree Street and Edgewood Avenue to provide a safe and convenient north-south cycling route through the heart of Downtown.
A cycletrack is a separated bicycle facility that runs alongside a roadway. The proposed cycletrack will convert the westernmost northbound lane on Peachtree Center Avenue to a two-way, 8-foot-wide cycle track with 2-foot minimum buffer delineated by thermoplastic striping, flexible plastic bollards, and durable green pavement markings in conflict zones. On-street parking and/or formal loading zones will be provided along the east side of Peachtree Center Avenue.
The planned bike facility is funded by the City of Atlanta to help achieve Mayor Reed's goal to make Atlanta a Top Ten U.S. Cycling city. This cycletrack will connect to other facilities planned in Downtown on Peachtree Street, John Portman Boulevard, Edgewood Avenue and Auburn Avenue, as well as a citywide network proposed by the CycleAtlanta plan.

You are invited to attend an Open House Public Meeting to learn more about the project and share your comments.
During the informal, drop-by session the project planners and the consultant design team will share conceptual designs and receive your feedback regarding the planned improvements.
Wednesday, July 31st
4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.
Peachtree Center Mall
near the Guest Services Kiosk in the center of the mall
225 Peachtree Street NE, Lower Level, Atlanta, Georgia 30303

[Libertarian]

It's interesting to contemplate that autos were once the disruptive technology in North American cities, and now the shoe's on the other foot. Those of you who support reversion to mass transit, please remember that the US auto industry did everything possible to kill mass transit including buying up local trolley companies and removing the tracks. Today they are even more dinosaur-like and predatory, and are ensconced in every level of the economy and politics, so don't be so naive to think they will just roll over and accept innovative solutions. The key word is innovative. There are quite a few interactive apps that promote for example efficient taxi service, car sharing, marshrutkas, light rail, etc. You can be sure the Establishment is not too keen on such disruptive tech advances. After all, transportation is the second biggest cost for the consumer, and government policies will always favor status quo forces.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by Libertarian

There are quite a few interactive apps that promote for example efficient taxi service, car sharing, marshrutkas, light rail, etc.

Sorry to be so naive but I had not heard of marshrutkas before. Read the Wikipedia article on them and am still not entirely clear.

Would these be similar to the private bus routes (e.g., Royal) that run on the Buford Highway?

[Libertarian]

Yes, but what's interesting is they're now being equipped with GPS and you can track them and order to your location without need of human interface, other than the driver.

[Libertarian]

this on steroids would be a marschrutka dispatcher app

Sorry for the diversion from building construction. I'll stop now.

[Frankster87]

Originally Posted by scania

Please comprehend! I didn't say you NEED a car. It depends on your lifestyle, be it hangouts, job, etc. My point is that no one should tell someone to buy or not buy a car. That's absurd!

EXCUSE ME, I never said anything about that. I'm merely stating that there are two sides to it. Just as many people, if not more, want to criticize Atlantans for thinking they can live without a car.

My comprehension skills are just fine. Maybe you need to learn some manners.