ATLANTA | Development Thread V

[thebigATL]

Originally Posted by micropundit

According to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, a new museum devoted to Southern music is planned for downtown.A new group called the Southern Music Foundation has formed to salute genres rooted in the South, including blues, jazz, gospel, country, bluegrass, rock and hip hop.

The group plans to build a roughly  $40 million interactive museum at  downtown venue 200 Peachtree. It could honor such Southern performers as Ray Charles, James Brown, Gladys Knight or Michael Stipe.
The museum would sit in the lower level of 200 Peachtree, which is near the Peachtree Center MARTA station and along the Atlanta Streetcar route that should start service later this year.

The 45,000-square-foot space was formerly the “cellar” when the circa-1927, Philip Shutze-designed building operated as Macy’s department store. It was converted for event and retail space in 2010.The goal is for the Southern music museum to open in April 2016.
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/print...thern-music-museum-planned-downtown.html

Whoomp Whoomp!!!

Another win for Downtown, more tourist more money!Not to mention that 191 Peachtree is 92% fully leased.

[micropundit]

In an exclusive interview, Mayor Reed outlines his vision for Underground Atlanta's future as a mixed use project with high rise residential that could be announced in early 2015: http://www.11alive.com/story/news/local/downtown/2014/09/05/underground-atlanta/15143289/

[Itsthepopei]

Originally Posted by micropundit

In an exclusive interview, Mayor Reed outlines his vision for Underground Atlanta's future as a mixed use project with high rise residential that could be announced in early 2015: http://www.11alive.com/story/news/local/downtown/2014/09/05/underground-atlanta/15143289/

That will be awesome, a 30+ story building in that area will be great for massing and spurring development in the area.

[Kenn]

Hi All:

I grew up in Atlanta but currently reside in Los Angeles. I have occasion to visit Atlanta two to three times per year and still consider the city my home. I recently spent six days exploring and what follows are my personal observations and criticisms. I'll restrict my comments specifically to midtown and downtown save for an impassioned rant at the end which will include the city as a whole.
- Midtown has two spectacular design dingers, colony square and the FDA structure. It's a shame that the current retrofitting and redesign of colony square doesn't seem to address the complex's biggest aesthetic flaw - the unusable and useless parking entrance/exit smack out in front on Peachtree street. It's a pathetic relic of the bunker mentality which defined the original design. This area should be an extension of the sidewalk promenade which, for the most part (save the undeveloped lots), flows along most of Peachtree through midtown. The current upgrades also seem to lack any attempt at creating an organic connection between the street, the plazas, and the interior mall. Notably, the concrete bulwarks defining much of the ground floors appear to be in no danger of coming down. If any one has a rendering of the completed project or any insight into any future phase of the redesign such information would be appreciated. As for the FDA and it's castle and moat like imposition on Peachtree I can add no more invective than has already been deservedly thrown. There will be no transformation of this eyesore. They need to leave, period, and the land redeveloped responsibly.
- Downtown has a shabby energy which I almost found endearing. The area actually feels like its own neighborhood and save for the profusion of eateries and obvious lack of retail has a street scape palette and enough varied activity via Georgia St, the tourist attractions, and the government centers to constitute a sense of place. What a waste then that the two recently completed hotel redesigns, the Hyatt and the Westin, did nothing to activate Peachtree. The Westin in particular casts its hulking, ugly concrete mass directly over the street. When just down the block at 191 and 200 Peachtree sit two examples of semi successful attempts to address the city such indifference is irritating. Unfortunately, this pattern of responsible and irresponsible building occurs with regularity. For example, the NCCHR is a solid work but predictably has come lockstep with a goofy step backward. To wit, does the new college football hall of fame really need to embody the clunky visual metaphor of a football helmet? And near the same disaster as the ark metaphor of the aquarium? And just around the corner from the thunderously unimaginative football field park between the gwcc and the dome? How stupid are we, I ask? Pretty stupid since we can't seem to shake the safety of infantile simpleton architecture. I'll actually pause here to praise the Atlantic Station monument for being merely dull and not, thank the muses, a dumb ass 30 foot high steel beam. Speaking of metaphors without a home the International Peace Fountain in Woodruff Park is not international and has nothing to do with peace. And why not the International My Left Foot fountain? Or the Peace Commode? Oh well, at least it doesn't have ten foot high letters spelling P-E-A-C-E. And near the ATL shaped playground no less. Get it - the letters "ATL" in Atlanta? Get it?
- Finally, I'll ask all assembled to take a good look at the numerous photos on this thread and notice the profusion of vulgar and vile power and utility lines. And they only seem to multiply each time I visit. Georgia Power must have one of the most antiquated and inefficient grids imaginable since even sparse and underdeveloped areas around the city have the semi high tension lines. This is a major aesthetic blunder and Atlanta will never be a great city until all these lines are buried. Other cities seem far, far more aware of just how vital a subject this is. Los Angeles has a built environment which has virtually no charm and is for the most part an amalgam of the cheap and the superficial but at least the city planners saw fit to bury or hide the vast majority of the power and utility cables. Atlanta and her dense rolling forrest and tree canopy are gifts from nature which should be the envy of most cities worldwide. But we've squandered this gift by grafting onto it a ubiquitous and grotesque power and utility assault. I'm not tech savvy but I know there are online petition sites to address this issue to the powers that be. Perhaps someone can get this going. Awareness is the first step followed by a comprehensive plan to do something. This might take a generation or two but the city will be transformed.
Thank for listening!
Ken

[Tuckerman]

Kenn

Thanks for the rant, with much of which I can sympathize. I use the Peachtree entrance to Colony Sq parking all the time - mainly because it is the most convenient and the 14th St entrance is often blocked by traffic. In any case it is not aesthetic from the pedestrian perspective. You are spot on with the overhead wires. It is resoundingly pathetic that a major city street, with major skyscrapers of note (14th St.), should have massive poles running down the middle. If anything says "hayseed", this is it.

Visit often. Incidentally, the helmet is symbolic - it is to protect the brains of anyone crazy enough to go inside.

[Dale]

There are not many North American cities that don't have lots of overhead wires. Was in Toronto awhile back and was astonished by the overhead wires there. Atlanta is comparatively less messy in that regard.

[TarHeelJ]

Originally Posted by Dale

There are not many North American cities that don't have lots of overhead wires. Was in Toronto awhile back and was astonished by the overhead wires there. Atlanta is comparatively less messy in that regard.

That was my first thought as well...many of the "most livable" cities like Vancouver and others are just as bad or worse in that regard. Actually, a lot of complaints/criticisms I read online about Atlanta are commonly found in other beloved cities but for some reason are often highly magnified when discussing Atlanta. These things are obviously real and undeniable, but not unique to our city. It's easy to look around and find these faults and wish they would disappear, but it takes funding, planning, and motivation/vision. Atlanta seems to have a good bit of vision and has come a long way over the past few decades towards some of these goals, so I fully expect it to continue improving.

[AtlantaMustang]

Centergy North has glass going up:









University House:





Bonus Lantern Parade:

[TarHeelJ]

Centergy is really moving! I love the lantern parade shots...very cool.

[testarossa50]

I'm struck by the compactness of Centergy's footprint. Really a fantastic project for the area.

[AtlantaMustang]

Originally Posted by AtlantaMustang

Found some more pics of University House. Really excited about that street level.



Here's a PDF that has some new renders and a retail plan, which looks great. Surprised to see a patio on Peachtree Place.

http://www.mscretail.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/UH-Midtown-Brochure8.pdf

And here's the site.

http://www.mscretail.com/property-listing/uh-midtown/

[ATLcubs]

Originally Posted by AtlantaMustang

Found some more pics of University House. Really excited about that street level.



Here's a PDF that has some new renders and a retail plan, which looks great. Surprised to see a patio on Peachtree Place.

http://www.mscretail.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/UH-Midtown-Brochure8.pdf

And here's the site.

http://www.mscretail.com/property-listing/uh-midtown/

I like the look of it, but it has always sort of looked like a modern hospital to me.

[RocketSurgeon]

Originally Posted by AtlantaMustang

Is Centergy North going to be shorter than planned? It doesn't look like the crane is tall enough for 25 floors.

It's astonishing how much faster that building is going up than University House. I don't see how the latter can be finished next summer.

[mayhem]

Originally Posted by RocketSurgeon

Is Centergy North going to be shorter than planned? It doesn't look like the crane is tall enough for 25 floors.

It's astonishing how much faster that building is going up than University House. I don't see how the latter can be finished next summer.

The crane will be raised as the project rises.

[thebigATL]

They Falcons did Great today!The dome was so turnt,especially the tailgaters.I seen all the AINTS fans walking out sad and quiet and our fans were just picking at them.Our Fan base is stronger this year that I can say,and the "falcons march" a new tradition for the falcons culture is awesome it really gets the fans excited before the game.When we get that superbowl "claiming this year!" and that new stadium built,People can't sait **** about us!!!

Im sorry yall but im a a die hard fan for every Georgia Sports team!

[RocketSurgeon]

Originally Posted by mayhem

The crane will be raised as the project rises.

Ah. I didn't think about that, but it makes sense.

On a somewhat related note, apparently some of them build themselves:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx5Qt7_ECEE

[Triptychtwo]

DATE: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014
TIME: 4:30 PM - *note earlier start time*
LOCATION: 999 Peachtree Street

4:30 FOLLOW-UP: 22 Fourteenth Street, Related Group
Project Type: New construction of a mixed-use project consisting of a residential tower with approx. 400 units above a structured parking podium. The project includes approx. 6,500 SF of retail space at the corner of 14th and West Peachtree.

5:00 NEW APPLICATION: 8th Street and Williams (Mill Creek)
Project Type: New construction of a 29-story apartment tower with +/- 350 units and 12,300 SF of retail
at the corner of 8th Street and Williams Street.
Applicant(s): Jessica Hill, [email protected]

5:30 NEW APPLICATION: 6th Street and Juniper (Alliance Residential Company)
Project Type: New construction of an 8-story apartment building with approx. 218 units on the SE corner of Juniper at 6th Street.

6:00 NEW APPLICATION: 8th Street and West Peachtree (Trammel Crow)
Project Type: New construction of a 22-story mixed-use development containing approx. 10,000 SF of retail and +/- 356 residential units. Off-street parking (546 spaces) will be provided in a naturally-ventilated structure (Levels 1-7) which will be wrapped on the north and east sides by residential units.

6:30 NEW APPLICATION: 75 Peachtree Place
Project Type: Renovation of an existing office building to be converted into a lounge. Proposed scope of work includes façade enhancements and a new ramp to provide ADA access into the building.

[mayhem]

Wow lots of nice infill we haven't heard about yet!

[echinatl]

Castleberry Park rendering (Hotel/Apartment) Similar to a Commercial/Condo project that died during the recession 7 years ago. Would love to see this happen in this part of town.
Render
Details

[Verge]

Originally Posted by Triptychtwo

DATE: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014
TIME: 4:30 PM - *note earlier start time*
LOCATION: 999 Peachtree Street

4:30 FOLLOW-UP: 22 Fourteenth Street, Related Group
Project Type: New construction of a mixed-use project consisting of a residential tower with approx. 400 units above a structured parking podium. The project includes approx. 6,500 SF of retail space at the corner of 14th and West Peachtree.

5:00 NEW APPLICATION: 8th Street and Williams (Mill Creek)
Project Type: New construction of a 29-story apartment tower with +/- 350 units and 12,300 SF of retail
at the corner of 8th Street and Williams Street.
Applicant(s): Jessica Hill, [email protected]

5:30 NEW APPLICATION: 6th Street and Juniper (Alliance Residential Company)
Project Type: New construction of an 8-story apartment building with approx. 218 units on the SE corner of Juniper at 6th Street.

6:00 NEW APPLICATION: 8th Street and West Peachtree (Trammel Crow)
Project Type: New construction of a 22-story mixed-use development containing approx. 10,000 SF of retail and +/- 356 residential units. Off-street parking (546 spaces) will be provided in a naturally-ventilated structure (Levels 1-7) which will be wrapped on the north and east sides by residential units.

6:30 NEW APPLICATION: 75 Peachtree Place
Project Type: Renovation of an existing office building to be converted into a lounge. Proposed scope of work includes façade enhancements and a new ramp to provide ADA access into the building.

Wow-- another wave of projects--