ATLANTA | Development Thread V

[smArTaLlone]

Originally Posted by briantech

If what happens?

"Atlanta city population of around 570k by the 2010 census"

[Rail Claimore]

Originally Posted by Optimus Prime

It's unfortunate that they're using Texas-esque lighting for the downtown connector.

Originally Posted by atl2phx

dimension?

they look distracting to me. i can't imagine they will compliment any view of the city, day or night.

The Stevenson and Dan Ryan Expressways in Chicago have intense high-mast lighting that is beyond anything you can imagine in Houston. Neither corridor's high-mast lighting is what I'd call distracting.

Originally Posted by Atlantan26

I like the light poles along the connector. gives some dimension to that side of the freeway.

Likewise. This is a nice change in a metro area that is notorious for having unlit freeways and arterial roads.

[atl2phx]

Originally Posted by Rail Claimore

The Stevenson and Dan Ryan Expressways in Chicago have intense high-mast lighting that is beyond anything you can imagine in Houston. Neither corridor's high-mast lighting is what I'd call distracting.

yeah, i'm only speculating since i haven't seen them lit at night.

i noticed driving south on 75/85 these masts distract from what used to be a farily free and clear view of downtown, now you see the masts at the forefront of the skyline.

i'm not familiar with either corridor in chicago or houston, are they both as close to dowtown/midtown as the atlanta masts?

regardless, it is what it is, they just seem so very fit for a rural interchange.

[alleystreetindustry]

Originally Posted by Rail Claimore

Likewise. This is a nice change in a metro area that is notorious for having unlit freeways and arterial roads.

i enjoy atlanta not being as lit up as other cities of similar size. unnecessary lighting further depletes atlanta of a night sky, as well as wasting electricity. i think the connector was fine before. and wont it have some sort of negative impact on those postcard shots of the skyline/interstate @ night?

and speaking of night sky, what is up with half of the buildings in the skyline not being lit @ night? has it always been that way?

[Atlwest281]

Wednesday, July 1, 2009, 4:06pm EDT | Modified: Wednesday, July 1, 2009, 4:19pm
Airport terminal financing clears city council panel
Atlanta Business Chronicle - by Dave Williams Staff Writer

Bond financing proposals aimed at completing construction of an international terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport sailed through an Atlanta City Council committee Wednesday.

The Finance/Executive Committee unanimously approved two bonds providing nearly $1.4 billion for the planned Maynard Jackson International Terminal, sending both ordinances to the full council for a vote on Monday.

The bonds include up to $800 million in new money and up to $590 million in existing revenue to be refinanced at a better interest rate.

Together, they represent enough funding for a revised budget for the project of about $1.35 billion, down from an original price tag of $1.68 billion.

“We are blessed, I hate to say it, with recessionary contract bids,” airport General Manager Ben DeCosta told committee members. “Everything is coming in within budget or below budget.”

Atlanta Business Chronicle first reported June 19 Hartsfield-Jackson officials’ intent to re-enter the bond market.

Financing for the project has been on hold since last year, when Delta Air Lines Inc. withdrew its support for the bonds during a dispute with the city over a new 30-year airport master lease and future capital projects at the airport.

DeCosta said he and his staff have been working with officials from the airlines to bring down the costs of the project. While some of that has been accomplished, he said efforts are continuing to reach a target of $400 million in reductions.

Re-entering the bond market would potentially save the project from a near certain shutdown.

Construction in recent months hasn’t slowed, but fresh bond financing is critical to avoid a suspension of work on the project.

Delta and the city have agreed that construction will continue on the international terminal for as long as funds hold out.

DeCosta said the airport is asking for $42 million in federal stimulus funds for the new terminal, $33 million from the U.S. Transportation Security Administration and $9 million from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Toward that end, the city council’s Transportation Committee voted Wednesday to accept a $2.8 million grant from the FAA for construction of a ramp at the terminal.

If the council approves the bonds on Monday, the city plans to put them up for sale late this summer.

Developing...

For a while a lot of people have been saying it was not going to be built, Delta is leaving Atlanta, they wont reach terms etc etc. The terminal though late, is well under construction, I pass extremely close to it almost everyday. It will be a great facility and will make International travel here in the Metro and for connecting pax alot easier.

Interesting that the city and Delta actually can work together and get things done, and all of it with out state interference.

[Terminus]

Originally Posted by jnihiser

Another restaurant has opened up in the Luckie-Marietta district...

Max's Coal Oven Pizzeria
www.maxsatl.com

I'm about to walk over there right now for some pizza. I hear it's great!

[briantech]

Originally Posted by atl2phx

yeah, i'm only speculating since i haven't seen them lit at night.

i noticed driving south on 75/85 these masts distract from what used to be a farily free and clear view of downtown, now you see the masts at the forefront of the skyline.

i'm not familiar with either corridor in chicago or houston, are they both as close to dowtown/midtown as the atlanta masts?

regardless, it is what it is, they just seem so very fit for a rural interchange.

Rural?

[briantech]

Originally Posted by alleystreetindustry

i enjoy atlanta not being as lit up as other cities of similar size. unnecessary lighting further depletes atlanta of a night sky, as well as wasting electricity. i think the connector was fine before. and wont it have some sort of negative impact on those postcard shots of the skyline/interstate @ night?

and speaking of night sky, what is up with half of the buildings in the skyline not being lit @ night? has it always been that way?

Wait so on one hand you think lighting up the busiest stretch of highway in atlanta is "wasting electricity"...

but then go on to complain that half the buildings in the skyline aren't lit up for no reason? lol

[atl2phx]

Originally Posted by briantech

Rural?

yeah, i see them quite often along I-20 and I-10 between georgia and arizona, most often at interchanges in the middle of nowhere and truck weigh stations.

[Austin Rises]

Atlanta is really looking quite nice.

[Austin Rises]

Is there anyone that can take some pictures of the skyline; im sure there
are some great photographers and there sure are vantage points!

[CokeisBomb]

Other than the giant flag they put up, it's been pretty quiet over here since late last year.

Although they reported about six weeks ago they'd start back up in July, they are reporting September today.

It sounds like a few places -- Equinox and a few retailers have had to leave because of the recession, but it could be worse.

I hope that construction starts back up in September like they claim.

We'll just wait and see. They are still hoping for a Fall 2010 opening, seems a bit ambitious right now..

[briantech]

Kind of a crappy stitching together, but thats the view from my office.

[alleystreetindustry]

Originally Posted by briantech

Wait so on one hand you think lighting up the busiest stretch of highway in atlanta is "wasting electricity"...

but then go on to complain that half the buildings in the skyline aren't lit up for no reason? lol

why light up the freeway twice when there has been lighting present?
and on top of that, is it necessary for the light to come from 150 ft. in the air?

and it wasnt a complaint about the skyline, i am just shocked as to why they arent lit. its almost like earth day/lights out, everyday. and clearly, i like that.

[joecool]

I REALLY like what they are doing to the 14th street bridge. It starting to look funky and cool (= The 14th street exit is looking very clean and nice also.

[shivtim]

Midtown, 07/02/09:

[nature's calling]

Here are some gentrification in Atlanta. I'm telling you, it's looks real nice. Atlanta is really doing great in gaining density. As of the July 1, 2008 census, it's was 4,018 sq/mi. Not bad, still have some ways to go.

[gttx]

Good stuff over on the west side of Midtown. One or two more construction booms and this might be THE place to be in Atlanta.

[Terminus]

Originally Posted by gttx

Good stuff over on the west side of Midtown. One or two more construction booms and this might be THE place to be in Atlanta.

I think that the coolest project of all over there is a 15 foot deep residential building going up on a sliver of land between Marietta Street and the railroad, just south of North Avenue. This is the exact scale and creativity level that we need more of.

[Atlantan26]

Originally Posted by shivtim

Midtown, 07/02/09:

Beautiful!