ATLANTA | Development Thread V

[arctk2014]

Anyone else been keeping up with the Bell Building in Downtown Atlanta? IT could be an interesting opportunity right on the Streetcar route near Woodruff Park.

Georgia State University owns the long-empty Bell Building. They have plans to demolish it, as noted in this Saporta Report piece. We think they should preserve it instead.

Old structures like this add authenticity to city streets; studies even show that they make streets more inviting to pedestrians. With the building’s face on Auburn Avenue alongside the streetcar route, preservation and re-use makes good sense. This is a perfect opportunity to allow the streetcar to enable investment in blighted buildings.

This is not about saving historic architecture — this is a very humble building. Our concern here is in losing a key part of the urban fabric in Downtown Atlanta, where too many structures from our history have been lost.

http://savethebell.org/

[MdtwnATL]

[QUOTE=arctk2014;7132079]Anyone else been keeping up with the Bell Building in Downtown Atlanta? IT could be an interesting opportunity right on the Streetcar route near Woodruff Park.


Of course they want to demolish it. This is Atlanta, and that's an old building with character and charm.

[Tuckerman]

What is so extraordinary about this building? Where is the character of this building? Is it the mismatched styles and whimsey of a little building pretending to be important. I guess one could go the "gut and stuff" approach that Walgreens is doing at Underground

[Martinman]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaPeanuts

Permit filed for 965 North Ave. NE.; On Google Maps that address is an old house currently.

I'm thinking that address is a typo. I highly doubt that 200 apartments are planned for that block.

[Libertarian]

I highly doubt that 200 apartments are planned for that block.

Yes that's not gonna happen. Maybe they are planning to rehab the old school across the street into apartments?

[arctk2014]

Originally Posted by Tuckerman

What is so extraordinary about this building? Where is the character of this building? Is it the mismatched styles and whimsey of a little building pretending to be important. I guess one could go the "gut and stuff" approach that Walgreens is doing at Underground

The building - better known as the Ivy- Walnut Exchange - was originally built to serve as a telephone switchboard exchange. This brought the "dial tone" to Atlanta - in lieu of an operator - in the early 20th century. The older structure - (in steel) to the right - ended up being cantilevered from the concrete structure (one the left) to stabilize it's structure since it didn't have deep foundations and pretty much became one intertwined building structurally.

It's still plausible to have 4 additional stories in its place.

[RocketSurgeon]

What kind of condition is it in?

[Ant131531]

Why destroy it and have it be an empty lot for the next decade? I just don't get it. Unless they have something planned there almost immediately, why destroy it?

Also, didn't someone say that a project was going to be announced or proposed on the lot at Peachtree and 7th? What happened to that?

[bryantm3]

Originally Posted by Tuckerman

What is so extraordinary about this building? Where is the character of this building?

take a walk down that little alleyway and you'll see. that building has an unmistakable character and has always been one of my favourites around the GSU campus. the rendering doesn't show it, but there are actually bricked up windows and shopfronts all along that alleyway that could be reopened and utilized.

[Ant131531]

Looks like that O4W office project was denied by the zoning board.


Atlanta zoning board denies $55 million Old Fourth Ward project


http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/real_...-board-denies-55-million-old-fourth.html

A proposed $55 million office building in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward that would replace a cluster of dilapidated homes along North Avenue failed to clear a major zoning hurdle with the city.
Atlanta’s Zoning Review Board denied approval Aug. 13 of 525 North, a 165,000-square-foot office building meant to echo Old Fourth Ward landmarks such as the former Sears, Roebuck & Co. warehouse on Ponce de Leon Avenue. The new building is also meant to capture the vibe of cool urban projects in other cities, including the headquarters for The Gap Inc. in San Francisco.

It seems the neighborhood wants to build more single family housing(Why is this NOT surprising in Atlanta, one of the least urban cities in the country?). Hopefully, it can get approved the 2nd time it goes up for approval. We need to urbanize Atlanta more, not de-urbanize it. Keep single family homes out in the suburbs, not a 1 mile from downtown.

[Verge]

Originally Posted by bryantm3

take a walk down that little alleyway and you'll see. that building has an unmistakable character and has always been one of my favourites around the GSU campus. the rendering doesn't show it, but there are actually bricked up windows and shopfronts all along that alleyway that could be reopened and utilized.

Its a great little building with substantial historic features-- Some at GSU want to replace it with a surface parking lot--

[boomtown]

Originally Posted by Ant131531

Looks like that O4W office project was denied by the zoning board.

Anyone have more information about this?
Was it completely denied or were revisions requested?

[foxmccleod]

Originally Posted by Ant131531

Looks like that O4W office project was denied by the zoning board.


Atlanta zoning board denies $55 million Old Fourth Ward project


http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/real_...-board-denies-55-million-old-fourth.html



It seems the neighborhood wants to build more single family housing(Why is this NOT surprising in Atlanta, one of the least urban cities in the country?). Hopefully, it can get approved the 2nd time it goes up for approval. We need to urbanize Atlanta more, not de-urbanize it. Keep single family homes out in the suburbs, not a 1 mile from downtown.

The official minutes give conditional approval. I am not sure where report of a denial is coming from. The staff actually thought the proposed building was a better fit for the area than single family houses. From the minutes:

(3) Availability of other appropriate land zoned for proposed use; effect on balance of land uses with regard to the public need:
The zoning regulations indicate that this consideration is optional. The applicant has not presented any evidence that they own other land in the area that is suitable for this development.There is no negative impact on the balance of land uses. The proposed development will increase the available residential unit's base in the area and encouraging alternative commute to and from work.

(4) Effect on character of the neighborhood:
Staff is of the opinion that the proposed rezoning would have a positive impact on the neighborhood's character. The proposed development will
allow for the creation of an urban residential land use which may benefit the already existing neighborhood commercial use in the vicinity. Given the location of the site within Historic Old Fourth Ward Master Plan - adopted by the city in 2008, the proposed development will comply with the recommendations of the plan to develop the site with 5-9 story mixed-use development. This will improve the existing neighborhood by adding an urban sense, residential units, commercial possibilities and revitalizing the overall area.

See the full comments here. The application starts on page 8.
http://www.atlantaga.gov/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=19360

[Martinman]

Originally Posted by boomtown

Anyone have more information about this?
Was it completely denied or were revisions requested?

This project is very likely to move forward.

The project will go before the city council later this year, where it also has the backing of Councilman Kwanza Hall.

“I do believe it will pass,” Sutherland said.

[arctk2014]

Originally Posted by foxmccleod

The official minutes give conditional approval. I am not sure where report of a denial is coming from. The staff actually thought the proposed building was a better fit for the area than single family houses. From the minutes:

(3) Availability of other appropriate land zoned for proposed use; effect on balance of land uses with regard to the public need:
The zoning regulations indicate that this consideration is optional. The applicant has not presented any evidence that they own other land in the area that is suitable for this development.There is no negative impact on the balance of land uses. The proposed development will increase the available residential unit's base in the area and encouraging alternative commute to and from work.

(4) Effect on character of the neighborhood:
Staff is of the opinion that the proposed rezoning would have a positive impact on the neighborhood's character. The proposed development will
allow for the creation of an urban residential land use which may benefit the already existing neighborhood commercial use in the vicinity. Given the location of the site within Historic Old Fourth Ward Master Plan - adopted by the city in 2008, the proposed development will comply with the recommendations of the plan to develop the site with 5-9 story mixed-use development. This will improve the existing neighborhood by adding an urban sense, residential units, commercial possibilities and revitalizing the overall area.

See the full comments here. The application starts on page 8.
http://www.atlantaga.gov/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=19360

Douglas Sams from the Atlanta Business Chronicle is incorrectly reporting it....

He's notorious for being incorrect, late with developing projects.

[ATLmangum]

Any updates on the Modera cranegate fiasco ������

[GeorgiaPeanuts]

Related Group's 22 14th St. (across from the under construction Atlantic House) land development permit is in ready to issue state now.

Midtown is on fire.

[Terminus]

Originally Posted by boomtown

Anyone have more information about this?
Was it completely denied or were revisions requested?

It was a unanimous denial by the ZRB. I was at the hearing.

You people above have no idea what you're talking about. There was no "conditional approval." What you've cited is the staff report, not the official ZRB vote. The ZRB does NOT have to follow what staff recommends.

[Libertarian]

Why do I have the feeling that this is all a political circus at best, or at worst an extortion attempt? Sorry for the developer who has invested their time and money.

[Martinman]

Originally Posted by Terminus

It was a unanimous denial by the ZRB. I was at the hearing.

You people above have no idea what you're talking about. There was no "conditional approval." What you've cited is the staff report, not the official ZRB vote. The ZRB does NOT have to follow what staff recommends.

The article is suggesting that it was denied because they don't know what the second phase will be. Is this accurate?

I can't imagine that the city council will reject this when they review it. Thoughts?