ATLANTA | Development Thread V

[Verge]

Originally Posted by Triptychtwo

A little more specific information

Another suburban developer-- hopefully they understand this as an urban site-- if not zoning will likely force the issue--

[Libertarian]

Here's the Weingarten Realty website. You can see what they're about.
http://www.weingarten.com/home/default.aspx

[shivtim]

Originally Posted by Libertarian

Here's the Weingarten Realty website. You can see what they're about.
http://www.weingarten.com/home/default.aspx

Mostly crappy strip malls with surface parking, but they do have a few urban things in their portfolio. I can't imagine the city of Atlanta would let them build anything like the Fuqua Edgewood strip mall in this location. Best guess is a couple of 6 story apartment buildings wrapped around decks, with ground floor retail and some rowhouse style condos.

Some Weingarten developments:

[AtlHeel]

Originally Posted by shivtim

Mostly crappy strip malls with surface parking, but they do have a few urban things in their portfolio. I can't imagine the city of Atlanta would let them build anything like the Fuqua Edgewood strip mall in this location. Best guess is a couple of 6 story apartment buildings wrapped around decks, with ground floor retail and some rowhouse style condos.

Some Weingarten developments:

...still. I think that part of town deserves better than that. That type of development is everywhere. A quality and creative development (and closing Pine Street) could start the transformation of that area. It could finally start the connection of midtown and downtown.

[jpk1292000]

Originally Posted by AtlHeel

...still. I think that part of town deserves better than that. That type of development is everywhere. A quality and creative development (and closing Pine Street) could start the transformation of that area. It could finally start the connection of midtown and downtown.

Agreed. This development can be far better than 6 story apartments and some retail on the ground floor.

But, I should reserve judgement. Many recent proposals have exceeded my expectations, so I'll wait to criticize any further until I see a rendering.

[Tuckerman]

We can hope for the best possible. Most anything, however, would be an improvement. This could be a critical development as it borders on the Pine Street abyss that remains problematic. As a developer, I would be reluctant to invest in any higher quality building until that problem is resolved. In the meantime one would probably outline Plans A B C, depending on any Pine St. resolution. Meanwhile, Midtown will continue to expand north, east and west rather than to the south.

[Libertarian]

Nothing fantastic will happen until the shelter is moved. We know that.

[RocketSurgeon]

380 apartments, 20 townhouses, a grocery store and other retail and 250,000 square feet of office space

That's not much for four blocks worth of land. If they'll be using the entire lot for that it sounds to me like single-story retail with surface parking. It would be a shame but realistically it's hard to justify much investment in that area and I'm not sure there's any zoning in place to prevent it.

[Libertarian]

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/print...-cutting-edge-of-net-zero-buildings.html
Is this grant linked to anything currently in development?

[testarossa50]

The question, when you have a big parcel in a less-than-prime zone, is if you're going to grind out some development comparable to the surrounding area and serving retail needs thereof, or if you're going to make it into a big destination development that actually changes the area.

Atlantic Station is the prime example of this: there was NOTHING about the surrounding area that would justify that piece of land being a prime development opportunity. It was surrounded by industrial land, a mediocre neighborhood, an interstate, and a train track. Instead of building townhouses and strip malls, they built a massive bridge across the interstate with DOT help and turned it into one of Atlanta's biggest drawcards for suburban visitors and tourists (although many intowners scoff at it). A massive win and integral part of the city nowadays.

Personally I wish we could take a magic wand and raze all of the 2-3 floor fortress condos and apartments in that unlovable part of town. As it stands, I guess we'll just be happy that there will be at least some improvement from this redevelopment, even if it doesn't make full use of the land.

[foxmccleod]

Originally Posted by RocketSurgeon

That's not much for four blocks worth of land. If they'll be using the entire lot for that it sounds to me like single-story retail with surface parking. It would be a shame but realistically it's hard to justify much investment in that area and I'm not sure there's any zoning in place to prevent it.

I am not sure if the quote was cut off or the article updated, but here is what they are currently looking at for the Civic Center site. While still very low on residential, they are looking at other elements.

"The Invest Atlanta resolution outlined a project with more than 380 apartments, 20 townhouses, nearly a quarter-million square feet each of office and retail space, a grocer and 250 condominiums.

Many of those details are still in development, Carson said, but a park that will be an events center for the project also is planned."

[jsvh]

More on the Civic Center site: Texas developer to buy Atlanta civic center | ABC

Weingarten Realty Investors plans to tear down the center and build a $298 million mixed-use project on the property. The project would include 250,000 square feet of office space, 222,900 square feet of retail, a grocery store, 250 condominiums, 386 apartments and 20 townhomes.

[Tuckerman]

[QUOTE=testarossa50;7168770]

These are good observations. Of course a transformative development could be built on the civic center site and the outcome might well be like the Atlantic Station example. No doubt, much of the development of the Westside has been a result, directly and indirectly, of the AS development. I would even argue that in the longer run the AS development and the 17th St Bridge will lead to the joining of the GT and Westside areas to Midtown. Some of that is already happening and it is very exciting to see. We will see; the next few years will be very instructive.

[RocketSurgeon]

Originally Posted by foxmccleod

I am not sure if the quote was cut off or the article updated

Neither, I just made the mistake of using the AJC instead of an actual news source

With that much housing and retail it should be pretty dense. I'm surprised. Hopefully lenders will be generous.

[micropundit]

Georgia Tech has received a $30 million commitment from The Kendeda Fund to build what is expected to be the most environmentally advanced education and research building in the Southeast.The building will be integrated into Georgia Tech’s Eco-Commons, a series of campus green spaces designed to conserve natural resources and provide educational and recreational uses for the community. The building is expected to meet the rigorous Living Building Challenge 3.0 environmental sustainability building performance standards. The project is also expected to help Georgia Tech manage stormwater runoff and help protect drinking water sources.
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local-educa...ives-30m-kendeda-fund-grant-for-g/nnh5T/

[Urbannizer]

West Peachtree:


c/o SCA Consulting Engineers

[alco89]

Originally Posted by Urbannizer

West Peachtree:


c/o SCA Consulting Engineers

It took me a few seconds to figure out what the heck site this was.

It's the Hanover project. Looks SO different without the Checkers there.

[R1070]

Originally Posted by alco89

It took me a few seconds to figure out what the heck site this was.

It's the Hanover project. Looks SO different without the Checkers there.

Yes, same here. I had to look at it a couple times. Oh, the tipsy times spent at that Checkers...

[A-town]

60 11th Street with 33 Peachtree Place in the background. Interesting how this view is about to be walled off by buildings that weren't there a year ago.

[RocketSurgeon]

Originally Posted by A-town

60 11th Street with 33 Peachtree Place in the background. Interesting have this view is about to be walled off by buildings that weren't there a year ago.

So many buildings are taking shape now. With all the cranes it's easy to forget that it's been awhile since anything other than student housing was delivered... wasn't Skyhouse South the most recent? Midtown is going to be a different place once these current projects start opening. Take the recent change that happened from just a couple apartment towers and some vacant condo sales and multiply that by 3 or 4. I thought the boom in the mid-00s was impressive (Midtown Mile, Atlantic Station, etc.) but this is putting that to shame.