ATLANTA | Development Thread V

[ATLaffinity]

Anyone know more about this proposed reuse of Pullman Yards? Hope they are able to go through with this. Greatly needed intown.

[Alfred E Neuman]

[QUOTE=echinatl;6269160]Went to the ferris wheel and had to wait an hour to get on it. First time on it at night and was impressed. Seems like it's doing really well, so well a guy that worked there told me they're planning on making it larger, and keeping it around longer than originally planned.

As I understand it, the current wheel is a trial balloon which over an 18 month run will determine whether Merlin Entertainments, owner of the London Eye, will erect a permanent 45-story Atlanta Eye. The name Atlanta Eye has been copyrighted by Merlin... That much is known. Hope this is more than just chatter.

[briantech]

[QUOTE=Alfred E Neuman;6270306]

Originally Posted by echinatl

Went to the ferris wheel and had to wait an hour to get on it. First time on it at night and was impressed. Seems like it's doing really well, so well a guy that worked there told me they're planning on making it larger, and keeping it around longer than originally planned.

As I understand it, the current wheel is a trial balloon which over an 18 month run will determine whether Merlin Entertainments, owner of the London Eye, will erect a permanent 45-story Atlanta Eye. The name Atlanta Eye has been copyrighted by Merlin... That much is known. Hope this is more than just chatter.

45 stories would be sick

[RudyJK]

[QUOTE=briantech;6270396]

Originally Posted by Alfred E Neuman

45 stories would be sick

I think that would be too big; it would like out of proportion to the rest of the area and the skyline in general. The current one looks right. It has a pleasing scale; especially coming down Luckie Street by the Aquarium. When you round the corner, the wheel looks fantastic.

I hope echinatl is correct and the thing makes money and sticks around. I work nearby and can see it out my office window. I rarely see a line forming to get in. Could the worker be engaged in some puffing?

[Alfred E Neuman]

[QUOTE=RudyJK;6270505]

Originally Posted by briantech

I hope echinatl is correct and the thing makes money and sticks around. I work nearby and can see it out my office window. I rarely see a line forming to get in. Could the worker be engaged in some puffing?

The Eye would be located elsewhere... toward Phillips and the MMPT (Gulch project )

[bigstick]

[QUOTE=briantech;6270396]

Originally Posted by Alfred E Neuman

45 stories would be sick

Awesome, I love the one currently, but this would make a huge statement.

[bryantm3]

[QUOTE=bigstick;6270563]

Originally Posted by briantech

Awesome, I love the one currently, but this would make a huge statement.

the problem is, what kind of statement are we making?

are we just going to become another las vegas? a lot of flash and nonsense for the tourists but not a lot of real city for the people that actually live here?

i mean, if this is a private venture and they want to put a huge ferris wheel here of their own volition, i say go for it. but i'm in general referring to the mayor's push for big and flashy nonsense to give himself a 'legacy' rather than the unique and resident-centred development that atlanta really needs— namely the beltline, parks, and more subway stations.

[briantech]

[QUOTE=bryantm3;6270744]

Originally Posted by bigstick

the problem is, what kind of statement are we making?

are we just going to become another las vegas? a lot of flash and nonsense for the tourists but not a lot of real city for the people that actually live here?

i mean, if this is a private venture and they want to put a huge ferris wheel here of their own volition, i say go for it. but i'm in general referring to the mayor's push for big and flashy nonsense to give himself a 'legacy' rather than the unique and resident-centred development that atlanta really needs— namely the beltline, parks, and more subway stations.

A bit extremist are we? One ferris wheel makes us another Las Vegas? Come on.

Downtown NEEDS stuff like this. The more tourists, the more tax dollars there are, the more we can clean up the bad parts of downtown and actually make it worthy of visiting.

No one's putting a ferris wheel in Decatur Square, or in the middle of Piedmont Park, or next to Westside Provisions District, or on Peachtree Battle. The "real city" is left exclusively to the residents, so at least let Downtown build itself up with the only industry it can: tourism.

[RudyJK]

[QUOTE=Alfred E Neuman;6270553]

Originally Posted by RudyJK

The Eye would be located elsewhere... toward Phillips and the MMPT (Gulch project )

Near the MMPT? You mean the one that will probably not happen in our lifetime...if at all? Who would the target market be in that area?

No. If the wheel is going to be successful anywhere, it needs to stay closer to the park. For the next dozen years anyhow.

[Frankster87]

Originally Posted by bryantm3

the problem is, what kind of statement are we making?

are we just going to become another las vegas? a lot of flash and nonsense for the tourists but not a lot of real city for the people that actually live here?

i mean, if this is a private venture and they want to put a huge ferris wheel here of their own volition, i say go for it. but i'm in general referring to the mayor's push for big and flashy nonsense to give himself a 'legacy' rather than the unique and resident-centred development that atlanta really needs— namely the beltline, parks, and more subway stations.

I think it's all coming together at the same time. Intown Atlanta is going to be much more dense in the coming years, which will then support the resident-centered development we are all looking for. Downtown will eventually catch on with the apartment booms going on in Midtown and Buckhead. Heck look at how much the 04W area has changed in the past couple of years.

Subway expansion will be crucial to our success as a major city. I'm not talking about up 400, but specifically more lines to get around intown Atlanta. I didn't think I would be saying this so soon but Marta seems to be heading in the right direction with being in the black for the first time in years and promising increased frequency.

I'm pretty bullish on Atlanta right now.

[scania]

[QUOTE=bryantm3;6270744]

Originally Posted by bigstick

the problem is, what kind of statement are we making?

are we just going to become another las vegas? a lot of flash and nonsense for the tourists but not a lot of real city for the people that actually live here?

i mean, if this is a private venture and they want to put a huge ferris wheel here of their own volition, i say go for it. but i'm in general referring to the mayor's push for big and flashy nonsense to give himself a 'legacy' rather than the unique and resident-centred development that atlanta really needs— namely the beltline, parks, and more subway stations.

Vegas has a lot for tourists and people that live there...super bad example.

[atlantaguy]

Originally Posted by Frankster87

I think it's all coming together at the same time. Intown Atlanta is going to be much more dense in the coming years, which will then support the resident-centered development we are all looking for. Downtown will eventually catch on with the apartment booms going on in Midtown and Buckhead. Heck look at how much the 04W area has changed in the past couple of years.

This. The residential boom will be coming to Downtown, it's just a matter time. Downtown continues to improve and has never looked this good in a long time, if ever actually in most of our lifetimes. Don't forget all of the blocks around Allen Plaza that Post controls.

Subway expansion will be crucial to our success as a major city. I'm not talking about up 400, but specifically more lines to get around intown Atlanta. I didn't think I would be saying this so soon but Marta seems to be heading in the right direction with being in the black for the first time in years and promising increased frequency.

I'm pretty bullish on Atlanta right now.

I am too, Franskter87! I think we may see LRT & Streetcar lines in the City instead of subway expansion, but yes to everything you stated. It would seem that MARTA made a good choice with the new CEO. I'm pretty impressed so far, and he's only been here for several months.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by atlantaguy

This. The residential boom will be coming to Downtown, it's just a matter time. Downtown continues to improve and has never looked this good in a long time, if ever actually in most of our lifetimes.

Completely agree. I think it's important to remember that when it comes to urban development we're talking about changes that happen over decades rather than a few years.

[Zanarkand A East]

[QUOTE=RudyJK;6270792]

Originally Posted by Alfred E Neuman

Near the MMPT? You mean the one that will probably not happen in our lifetime...if at all?

It's happening all right. Groundbreaking as early as 2015.

http://www.dot.ga.gov/doingbusiness/p3/projects/mmpt/Documents/MMPT_spring_newsletter_Final.pdf

[Newnan_Eric]

[QUOTE=Zanarkand A East;6271667]

Originally Posted by RudyJK

It's happening all right. Groundbreaking as early as 2015.

http://www.dot.ga.gov/doingbusiness/p3/projects/mmpt/Documents/MMPT_spring_newsletter_Final.pdf

You are awfully optimistic, or naive. This thing has been around for years - decades, without any tangible progress to date. There have been studies, plans, proposals, etc. without anything moving forward.

I would love to be proven wrong. The MMPT is a key piece to stiching together the open wound that is the Gulch downtown. The synergies it would provide of combining the different transit systems would be fantasic. But there is one problem:

There is no funding!

Maybe, with the Public-Private-Partnership, the developmnet of this can move forward. But there has to be some mechanism to provide money for this. Even with the PPP, there has to be a part of the development that makes this financially viable as a development. I don't see an office component doing it, there hasn't been enough absorbtion to drive demand. As far as residential goes, there is enough going on with the other developers to suck up that demand. I don't see any hotels signing up for this either. This is going to take some deep pockets from the Feds or the State. There hasn't been the political will for something like this yet. Heck, the State still won't give any money to MARTA, so why should we expect them to roll out the dough for this?

Lastly, as far as the link you posted goes... it says ground breaking COULD occur as soon as 2015. This is the same qualified language that all of these proposals use. If, maybe, could, would, should...

I'm sorry to sound negative, but I'll believe it when I see it.

[AtlantaMustang]

Just took this. Streetcar making quick progress on Luckie Street.

[AtlantaMustang]

Another update, 930 Spring.

They have taken down some trees at the corner of 8th and Spring. They've also taken down the old fence on that corner and replaced it with what appears to be a more temporary fence. Hopefully this one is getting started.

[66native]

Just not that excited about the ferris wheel.

[ATL_J]

Originally Posted by Newnan_Eric

You are awfully optimistic, or naive. This thing has been around for years - decades, without any tangible progress to date. There have been studies, plans, proposals, etc. without anything moving forward.

I would love to be proven wrong. The MMPT is a key piece to stiching together the open wound that is the Gulch downtown. The synergies it would provide of combining the different transit systems would be fantasic. But there is one problem:

There is no funding!

Maybe, with the Public-Private-Partnership, the developmnet of this can move forward. But there has to be some mechanism to provide money for this. Even with the PPP, there has to be a part of the development that makes this financially viable as a development. I don't see an office component doing it, there hasn't been enough absorbtion to drive demand. As far as residential goes, there is enough going on with the other developers to suck up that demand. I don't see any hotels signing up for this either. This is going to take some deep pockets from the Feds or the State. There hasn't been the political will for something like this yet. Heck, the State still won't give any money to MARTA, so why should we expect them to roll out the dough for this?

Lastly, as far as the link you posted goes... it says ground breaking COULD occur as soon as 2015. This is the same qualified language that all of these proposals use. If, maybe, could, would, should...

I'm sorry to sound negative, but I'll believe it when I see it.

Studies, plans, and proposals are necessary to move forward. As you said, funding is key, and you're not going to get federal funding without following the proper procedures. There's many studies that have to be done which are tedious, I understand, but necessary.

"In July 2012 redevelopment plans for The Gulch moved ahead when President Barack Obama announced the final selection of the MMPT as one of a small group of projects from across the country to participate in the Dashboard initiative, putting the permitting process for the Terminal on the fast track, cutting the timeline by as much as one year." (http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2012/07/25/white-house-to-fast-track-atlanta.html)

So while the MMPT might have been an idea in the past, I'm not sure there was ever anything actually put together. Please source if I'm wrong, but I'm not sure where you're coming with this.

Along with GDOT the MMPT includes Cousins, The Integral Group, Forest City Enterprises, FXFOWLE, and local architects Cooper Carry. I've seen the renderings they should release soon of the final building. Honestly, not sure why they haven't been released yet?

Regardless, between the federal government, GDOT, and the private component the funding will be there. The facility includes not only transportation facilities (obviously), but mixed used components as well.

[Zanarkand A East]

[QUOTE=Newnan_Eric;6271856]

Originally Posted by Zanarkand A East

You are awfully optimistic, or naive. This thing has been around for years - decades, without any tangible progress to date. There have been studies, plans, proposals, etc. without anything moving forward.

I would love to be proven wrong. The MMPT is a key piece to stiching together the open wound that is the Gulch downtown. The synergies it would provide of combining the different transit systems would be fantasic. But there is one problem:

There is no funding!

Maybe, with the Public-Private-Partnership, the developmnet of this can move forward. But there has to be some mechanism to provide money for this. Even with the PPP, there has to be a part of the development that makes this financially viable as a development. I don't see an office component doing it, there hasn't been enough absorbtion to drive demand. As far as residential goes, there is enough going on with the other developers to suck up that demand. I don't see any hotels signing up for this either. This is going to take some deep pockets from the Feds or the State. There hasn't been the political will for something like this yet. Heck, the State still won't give any money to MARTA, so why should we expect them to roll out the dough for this?

Lastly, as far as the link you posted goes... it says ground breaking COULD occur as soon as 2015. This is the same qualified language that all of these proposals use. If, maybe, could, would, should...

I'm sorry to sound negative, but I'll believe it when I see it.

I said "as early as" in my post, and the President personally fast-tracked approval for this project. It's happening, and the new Falcons stadium is a big reason why.