Atlanta Project Thread IV

[clexmond]

Originally Posted by smArTaLlone

I hope this gets off the ground soon. It looks like a few of the spaces may be leased.

Paragon Salon is already there but BB&T is new, that's good to see.

[smArTaLlone]

Originally Posted by clexmond

Paragon Salon is already there but BB&T is new, that's good to see.

I was referring to BB&T. Also the leasing flyer has the Art of Touch spa going into the rest of the second level. I just cant figure out how they thought a grocery store would work anywhere in this property.

[smArTaLlone]

• 1117 Spring Street (Midtown Medical Office Project)
  Project Type: New construction of a 17-story (200,000 SF) state-of-the-art medical office facility.
  
• 33 Peachtree Place
  Project Type: New construction of a 19-story mixed-use development with ground level retail and structured parking for residents, retail patrons and employees of the AGL Building located across the street.

http://www.midtownatl.com/_files/docs/agenda-09-10-13.pdf

[bryantm3]

Originally Posted by smArTaLlone

I was referring to BB&T. Also the leasing flyer has the Art of Touch spa is going into the rest of the second level. I just cant figure out how they thought a grocery store would work anywhere in this property.

the grocery store will go in— it's facing sixth street.

[clexmond]

Originally Posted by smArTaLlone

• 1117 Spring Street (Midtown Medical Office Project)
  Project Type: New construction of a 17-story (200,000 SF) state-of-the-art medical office facility.
  
• 33 Peachtree Place
  Project Type: New construction of a 19-story mixed-use development with ground level retail and structured parking for residents, retail patrons and employees of the AGL Building located across the street.

http://www.midtownatl.com/_files/docs/agenda-09-10-13.pdf

Ok, just got back from the meeting. I didn't get any great pictures but I can summarize.

1117 Spring Street: State of the art in this case apparently means a 1000 space, 10 floor parking deck spanning most of the northern half of the block south of 13th, with 7 floors of office space on only one half of the deck. It looked really bad and they were requesting a variance to allow 5 parking spaces per 1000 sqft when the ordinance calls for 2.5 maximum, as well as a variance to allow 3 curb cuts, one each on Spring, West Peachtree and 13th. Awful all around.

33 Peachtree Place: ~350 units in a 19 story tower on the southwest corner of the block and a ~5 story building along Cypress and about 20,000 sqft of retail, mostly along West Peachtree. There is significant outdoor space between the two buildings over the MARTA tunnel. They were requesting variances for 5 curb cuts total, 1 on Peachtree Place, one on West Peachtree and 3 on 8th. The parking deck is also massive with 1050 spaces to absorb the AGL employee parking and provide an additional 550 spaces for retail and apartments.

All in all I was disappointed with what seemed like excessive parking in both cases. 1117 is 2 blocks from MARTA and 33 is of course adjacent. I would have thought we would be looking at reductions significantly below the maximums allowed.

[smArTaLlone]

Originally Posted by clexmond

Ok, just got back from the meeting. I didn't get any great pictures but I can summarize.

1117 Spring Street: State of the art in this case apparently means a 1000 space, 10 floor parking deck spanning most of the northern half of the block south of 13th, with 7 floors of office space on only one half of the deck. It looked really bad and they were requesting a variance to allow 5 parking spaces per 1000 sqft when the ordinance calls for 2.5 maximum, as well as a variance to allow 3 curb cuts, one each on Spring, West Peachtree and 13th. Awful all around.

33 Peachtree Place: ~350 units in a 19 story tower on the southwest corner of the block and a ~5 story building along Cypress and about 20,000 sqft of retail, mostly along West Peachtree. There is significant outdoor space between the two buildings over the MARTA tunnel. They were requesting variances for 5 curb cuts total, 1 on Peachtree Place, one on West Peachtree and 3 on 8th. The parking deck is also massive with 1050 spaces to absorb the AGL employee parking and provide an additional 550 spaces for retail and apartments.

All in all I was disappointed with what seemed like excessive parking in both cases. 1117 is 2 blocks from MARTA and 33 is of course adjacent. I would have thought we would be looking at reductions significantly below the maximums allowed.

Thanks for the report Clexmond.

While I'm not opposed to parking (this is Atlanta) if done properly - disguised to appear a part of the building, this does appear to be overkill. A 10 story parking deck?!?!

I am also opposed to the curb cuts on West Peachtree especially at 33 Peachtree Place. With retail lining both sides of the street, that stretch has the chance to become a nice retail node in the neighborhood.

[clexmond]

Originally Posted by smArTaLlone

Thanks for the report Clexmond.

While I'm not opposed to parking (this is Atlanta) if done properly - disguised to appear a part of the building, this does appear to be overkill. A 10 story parking deck?!?!

I am also opposed to the curb cuts on West Peachtree especially at 33 Peachtree Place. With retail lining both sides of the street, that stretch has the chance to become a nice retail node in the neighborhood.

I agree 100% and unfortunately it looks as if it'll take some complaints from the community to make sure the appropriate changes are made. I was surprised that the DRC seemed all too willing to acquiesce to their demands.

[joecool]

I know I've read on here several times before that the parking deck has to look the same as the rest of the building as far as anything new being built in Midtown. So lets hope that is true. Did you see any retail for the medical building? Did they talk about anything else or than these 2 buildings?

[Libertarian]

The 1117 Spring Street construction will clear out several old nasty and mostly empty retail buildings. Good news.

[smArTaLlone]

Originally Posted by Libertarian

The 1117 Spring Street construction will clear out several old nasty and mostly empty retail buildings. Good news.

A lot of people disagree that those buildings are nasty. They add character especially when compared with what will most likely replace them.

[clexmond]

Originally Posted by joecool

I know I've read on here several times before that the parking deck has to look the same as the rest of the building as far as anything new being built in Midtown. So lets hope that is true. Did you see any retail for the medical building? Did they talk about anything else or than these 2 buildings?

The parking deck underneath the actual building was wrapped, but the rest of the deck on the adjoining portion of the lot was not. There was some retail (I think ~6500 sqft) on the corner of 13th and Spring.

I did catch the tail end of discussion about what looked to be quite a nice expansion and renovation of the center for puppetry arts.

[bryantm3]

Originally Posted by smArTaLlone

A lot of people disagree that they buildings are nasty. They add character especially when compared with what will most likely replace them.

+1, i always thought those buildings were sort of charming. especially compared to a friggin 10 story parking deck. they're going to have to start limiting this crap down seriously.

[L41A]

Originally Posted by smArTaLlone

A lot of people disagree that they buildings are nasty. They add character especially when compared with what will most likely replace them.

+2, The very charming apartment building (not too far from 1117) that I lived in during the 1990s was torn down. In that case, nothing has replaced it. I absolutely love Atlanta but believe we can do better to maintain some buildings that has some character especially when the replacement is nothing (vacant for years) or something soul-less like a parking deck.

[AtlantaMustang]

Originally Posted by clexmond

Ok, just got back from the meeting. I didn't get any great pictures but I can summarize.

Did you get any crappy pictures? I'd still like to see anything you can provide, even if they're terrible.

[Newnan_Eric]

Originally Posted by clexmond

The parking deck underneath the actual building was wrapped, but the rest of the deck on the adjoining portion of the lot was not. There was some retail (I think ~6500 sqft) on the corner of 13th and Spring.

I did catch the tail end of discussion about what looked to be quite a nice expansion and renovation of the center for puppetry arts.

I'm dissappointed to hear about the details for the Medical Office tower. There are several empty lots and surface parking lots in that area. I'd be happier if some of those got re-developed. But, alas, until the city gets serious about discouraging surface lots, we're stuck with them. Also, in most cases these lots are asking crazy prices. With the parking revenue and a low tax structure on parking or un-improved lots, the owners can hold out until the get what they want for the property.

As far as the Peachtree Place apartment development goes, while the parking element isn't great, I'm still pleased to see this surface lot get developed. I hope this along with the student housing project two blocks to the West will continue to add street life in this part of Midtown.

I'm also glad to hear that the Center for Puppetry Arts is finally moving forward with their expansion. This will hopefully pick up a very under-utilized prominent corner of town. This could also turn the CfPA into more of a destination. They have a relationship with the Henson family that could turn this into a great museum full of Muppet memorbilia.

[smArTaLlone]

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/real_talk/2013/09/wood-partners-plans-19-story-tower-in.html

Atlanta-based multi-family developer Wood Partners LLC is planning a mixed-use development on four acres in Midtown.
The roughly 400,000-square-foot project (called now by its address, 33 Peachtree Place) would include 350 apartments and 20,000 square feet of retail space.
It would be built on an existing parking lot that spans roughly two city blocks across Peachtree Place from the Midtown MARTA station. Structures on the site would vary in height with the tallest portion soaring 19 stories above West Peachtree.

Wood Partners said Wednesday it could break ground during the first half 2014. The goal is to complete construction in 2016.

[smArTaLlone]

Originally Posted by clexmond

I agree 100% and unfortunately it looks as if it'll take some complaints from the community to make sure the appropriate changes are made. I was surprised that the DRC seemed all too willing to acquiesce to their demands.

That is surprising but I suppose if Novare can put up two awful detached parking decks without a hitch, this must have seemed like the Rockefeller center in comparison.

Maybe its time for the DRC to adjust their expectations for Midtown development. Midtown is not the same place it was 10-15 years ago.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by clexmond

1117 Spring Street: State of the art in this case apparently means a 1000 space, 10 floor parking deck spanning most of the northern half of the block south of 13th, with 7 floors of office space on only one half of the deck. It looked really bad and they were requesting a variance to allow 5 parking spaces per 1000 sqft when the ordinance calls for 2.5 maximum, as well as a variance to allow 3 curb cuts, one each on Spring, West Peachtree and 13th. Awful all around.

I guess that is to accommodate anticipated patient parking?

Is still sounds like a lot!

[smArTaLlone]

Here's a run-of-the-mill rendering of downtown's Hyatt House .

[trnsplnt]

I'm about this >< close to blowing a fuse. Can someone please explain the economics of building an above ground parking structure versus an underground structure a la Colony Square?

I read somewhere that the city of Atlanta sits on a hard rock foundation making blasting for underground construction costly, but doesn't it seem that the material removed for parking spaces, particularly if its granite, could be reused in the buildings or resold in the marketplace. Would that not offset the cost of blasting?